Thursday, February 28, 2019

Declarations under the National Emergencies Act, Part 2: Declarations No Longer in Effect

"On February 15, 2019, President Trump declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act to aid in the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico. Besides raising questions about whether a national emergency declaration can facilitate the construction of such barriers (a topic discussed in a related Sidebar), the declaration has also prompted more general interest in the National Emergencies Act, including in other emergencies declared under the Act that are currently in effect.

This Sidebar—the second of a two-part series identifying declarations issued under the National Emergencies Act, provides a Table identifying national emergency declarations that are no longer in effect as of February 15, 2019 (the companion Sidebar, identifying declarations that remain in effect, can be found here). The Table also lists statutory authorities cited to support the initial Executive Order or Presidential Proclamation, along with statutory authorities expressly cited in those documents as the legal basis for actions taken in response to the declared emergency. Finally, the Table identifies the executive action that ended the declared emergency.."
National emergencies

Declarations under the National Emergencies Act, Part 1: Declarations Currently in Effect

"On February 15, 2019, President Trump declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act to aid in the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico. Besides raising questions about whether a national emergency declaration can facilitate the construction of such barriers (a topic discussed in a related Sidebar), the declaration has also prompted more general interest in the National Emergencies Act, including in other emergencies declared under the Act that are currently in effect.

This Sidebar—the first of a two-part series identifying declarations issued under the National Emergencies Act, provides a Table identifying national emergency declarations that are currently in effect as of February 15, 2019 (the companion Sidebar, identifying declarations no longer in effect, can be found here). The Table notes when later Executive Orders or Presidential Proclamations modified the initial executive action in which a national emergency was declared. The Table also lists statutory authorities cited to support the initial Executive Order or Presidential Proclamation, along with statutory authorities expressly cited in those documents as the legal basis for actions taken in response to the declared emergency. Finally, the Table identifies the date when the declared emergency was last extended or, if it has not been extended, the date when it is currently set to expire.."
National emergencies

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Federal Trade Commission Cigarette Report for 2017

"1. INTRODUCTION
This report is the latest in a series on cigarette sales, advertising, and promotion that the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission”) has prepared since 1967. The tables appended to this report provide information on domestic cigarette sales and advertising and promotional activity by the largest manufacturers.1 The 2017 sales and expenditure information in the tables was compiled from data contained in special reports submitted to the Commission pursuant to compulsory process by the parent companies of the major manufacturers of cigarettes sold in the United States: Altria Group, Inc.; ITG Holdings USA Inc.; Reynolds American, Inc.; and Vector Group Ltd.

2 II. TOTAL SALES AND ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL EXPENDITURES
The total number of cigarettes reported sold by the major manufacturers, 229.1 billion in 2017, decreased by 11.4 billion units (4.7 percent) from 2016. Advertising and promotional expenditures decreased during that same period, from $8.706 billion to $8.637 billion. The largest single category of these expenditures in 2017 was price discounts paid to cigarette retailers in order to reduce the price of cigarettes to consumers, which accounted for $6.189 billion (71.7 percent of total advertising and promotional expenditures)..."
Cigarettes

Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Social Security Primer

"Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, and to the family members of deceased workers. Among the beneficiary population, almost 83% are retired or disabled workers; family members of retired, disabled, or deceased workers make up the remainder. In December 2018, approximately 62.9 million beneficiaries received a total of $84.4 billion in benefit payments for the month; the average monthly benefit was $1,342.

Workers become eligible for Social Security benefits for themselves and their family members by working in Social Security-covered employment. An estimated 94% of workers in paid employment or self-employment are covered, and their earnings are subject to the Social Security payroll tax. Employers and employees each pay 6.2% of covered earnings, up to an annual limit on taxable earnings ($132,900 in 2019)...."
Social security

U.S. Role in the World: Background and Issues for Congress

"Some observers perceive that after remaining generally stable for a period of about 70 years, the U.S. role in the world—meaning the overall character, purpose, or direction of U.S. participation in international affairs and the country’s overall relationship to the rest of the world—is undergoing a potentially historic change. A change in the U.S. role in the world could have significant and even profound effects on U.S. security, freedom, and prosperity. It could significantly affect U.S. policy in areas such as relations with allies and other countries, defense plans and programs, trade and international finance, foreign assistance, and human rights.

The U.S. role in the world since the end of World War II in 1945 (i.e., over the past 70 years or so) is generally described as one of global leadership and significant engagement in international affairs. A key element of that role has been to defend and promote the liberal international order that the United States, with the support of its allies, created in the years after World War II. Other key elements have been to defend and promote freedom, democracy, and human rights as universal values, while criticizing and resisting authoritarian and illiberal forms of government where possible; and to oppose the emergence of regional hegemons in Eurasia or a spheres-ofinfluence world..."
U.S. role in the world

Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law

"The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the courts pause. Nevertheless, prosecutions in their name have brought to an end schemes that have bilked victims out of millions, and sometimes billions, of dollars. The statutes proscribe (1) causing the use of the mail or wire communications, including email; (2) in conjunction with a scheme to intentionally defraud another of money or property; (3) by means of a material deception. The offenses, along with attempts or conspiracies to commit them, carry a term of imprisonment of up to 30 years in some cases, followed by a term of supervised release. Offenders also face the prospect of fines, orders to make restitution, and forfeiture of their property.

The mail and wire fraud statutes overlap with a surprising number of other federal criminal statutes. Conduct that supports a prosecution under the mail or wire fraud statutes will often support prosecution under one or more other criminal provision(s). These companion offenses include (1) those that use mail or wire fraud as an element of a separate offense, like racketeering or money laundering; (2) those that condemn fraud on some jurisdictional basis other than use of the mail or wire communications, like those that outlaw defrauding the federal government or federally insured banks; and (3) those that proscribe other deprivations of honest services (i.e., bribery and kickbacks), like the statutes that ban bribery of federal officials or in connection with federal programs..."
Mail and wire fraud

Monday, February 25, 2019

Crime in the United states: 2017

"Since 1996, editions of Crime in the United States have been available on the FBI’s Web site, www.fbi.gov. First released in Portable Document Format (PDF) files, more recent editions have been published as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) files. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program staff are committed to improving their annual publications so that the data they collect can better meet the needs of law enforcement, criminologists, sociologists, legislators, municipal planners, the media, and other students of criminal justice who use the statistics for varied administrative, research, and planning purposes. For more information about how the UCR Program collects data, see About the Uniform Crime Reporting Program..."
Crime statistics

Condition of Education: 2018

"This website contains key indicators on the condition of education in the United States at all levels, from prekindergarten through postsecondary, as well as labor force outcomes and international comparisons. The indicators summarize important developments and trends using the latest statistics, which are updated throughout the year as new data become available. In addition, this website has Spotlight indicators that provide more in-depth analyses on selected topics.
The Condition of Education is a congressionally mandated report that is provided to Congress each year..."
Condition of Education



Health Statistics: Measuring Our Nation's Health

"Health Statistics: Measuring Our Nation's Health
NCHS Fact Sheet, February 2019

What are the leading causes of death in the United States?
How many Americans smoke?
How many Americans are obese?
Are drug-poisoning deaths increasing?*
The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects data needed to answer these and many other key questions about health and health care in the United States. NCHS is part of the federal statistical system, which includes agencies that are responsible for compiling, analyzing, and disseminating data for statistical purposes..."
Health statistics

QuickFacts: City of Madiosn, WI

Here you may find selected recent statistics for the City of Madison from the U.S. Census. Bureau.
City of Madison statistics

2016 Surgeon General's Report: E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults

"E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General is the first report issued by a Federal agency that comprehensively reviews the public health issue of electronic cigarettes and their impact on our nation’s young people. It is the 33rd Report of the Surgeon General on tobacco..."
2016 Surgeon General's Report

Tobacco use by youth is rising

"Tobacco product use among US youth is increasing. More than 1 in 4 high school students and about 1 in 14 middle school students in 2018 had used a tobacco product in the past 30 days. This was a considerable increase from 2017, which was driven by an increase in e-cigarette use. E-cigarette use increased from 11.7% to 20.8% among high school students and from 3.3% to 4.9% among middle school students from 2017 to 2018. No change was found in the use of other tobacco products, including cigarettes, during this time.
Among youth:
  • E-cigarettes are still the most commonly used tobacco product, ahead of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah, and pipes.
  • E-cigarettes are the most commonly used product in combination with other tobacco products.
  • E-cigarette use is highest for boys, whites, and high school students.
  • Tobacco product use among high school students—2018


Loud Noises Damage Hearing

"There is no cure for hearing loss! Damaged inner ear cells do not grow back. Protect your hearing by avoiding loud noise such as concerts and sporting events. Use earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs to protect your ears. If you already have hearing loss, take steps to keep it from getting worse. Get your hearing checked.
CDC supports the World Health Organization’s World Hearing Day, an annual event held on March 3rd each year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care across the world.
The theme for the World Hearing Day 2019 is “Check your hearing.” With the theme “Check your hearing“, World Hearing Day 2019 will draw attention to the importance of early identification and intervention for hearing loss. Many people live with unidentified hearing loss, often failing to realize that they are missing certain sounds and words. Checking one’s hearing would be the first step towards addressing the issue..."
Hearing

Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women

"Learn about heart disease and women and what you can do to keep a healthy heart.
Heart attacks and strokes can be catastrophic, life-changing events that are all too common. Heart disease and stroke are preventable, yet they remain leading causes of death, disability, and healthcare spending in the US. Alarmingly, many of these events happen to adults ages 35-64—over 800,000 in 2016.

Get Informed: Facts on Women and Heart Disease

High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, diabetes, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. LDL is considered the “bad” cholesterol because having high levels can lead to buildup in your arteries and result in heart disease and stroke. Controlling your blood pressure, managing your cholesterol, not smoking, and regular physical activity will reduce your chances for heart disease.
Some conditions and lifestyle choices increase a person’s chance for heart disease, including diabetes, overweight and obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use.
Black women are about 60 percent more likely than white women to have heart attacks, primarily because of socioeconomic factors such as poor insurance coverage, lack of quality care and insufficient prenatal counseling.
Top heart attack predictors included congestive heart failure, anemia and pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia, gestational high blood pressure, and an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes..."
Heart disease

Fruit and Vegetable Safety

"Eating a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables provides important health benefits, but it’s important that you select and prepare them safely.
Fruits and vegetables add nutrients to your diet that help protect you from heart disease, stroke, and some cancers. In addition, choosing vegetables, fruits, nuts, and other produce over high-calorie foods can help you manage your weight.
But sometimes raw fruits and vegetables contain harmful germs, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, that can make you and your family sick. In the United States, nearly half of foodborne illnesses are caused by germs on fresh produce.
The safest produce is cooked; the next safest is washed. Enjoy uncooked fruits and vegetables while taking steps to avoid foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning..."
Fruits and vegetables

Attention Adults: You Need Vaccines Too!

"Vaccinations aren’t just for kids, so follow CDC’s immunization schedule for adults. Doing so can help keep you from getting sick and missing work or school.
As an adult, you are busy with life and have many responsibilities — but don’t forget to take care of yourself! Every year in the United States, thousands of adults become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent. These diseases can be deadly for many adults. Make sure you are vaccinated for the best protection!
The need for vaccines does not go away with age. In fact, there are specific ages in your adult life when vaccinations are recommended. Also, protection from vaccines you received as a child can wear off over time, and there are more vaccines available now.

Talk to your healthcare professional about which vaccines are right for you!

The vaccines you need as an adult are determined by many factors including your age, lifestyle, health condition, and which vaccines you’ve received during your life. As an adult, vaccines are recommended for protection against:
  • Seasonal influenza (flu) – Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year as the best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications.
  • Pertussis, also known as whooping cough – The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine is recommended for women during each pregnancy and once for all adults who have not previously received it.
  • Tetanus and diphtheria – The Td vaccine is recommended every 10 years.
  • Shingles – The herpes zoster vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older.
  • Pneumococcal disease – Two pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for adults 65 years and older. One or both vaccines may be recommended for adults younger than 65 who have specific health conditions or who smoke cigarettes..."
    Adults and vaccines

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Business Travel

"Business travelers face different health risks than leisure travelers do. Find out what you can do to protect yourself.

Stay Safe and Healthy on a Business Trip

In 2017, an estimated 4.8 million US residents traveled overseas for business. With the increasingly global economy, this number is expected to increase. Because of the nature of the trip, business travelers may face different health risks than leisure travelers. Find out about some risks of business travel and what you can do to protect yourself.

"Smithers, I need you in Quito by Thursday morning."

You don't always know ahead of time when you’ll be going on a business trip. CDC recommends that you:
Business travel

Diabetes & Kidney Disease: What to Eat?

"One meal plan for diabetes, another for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Find out how you can eat well for both.
If you have diabetes and CKD, you’re definitely not alone—about 1 in 3 American adults with diabetes also has CKD. The right diet helps your body function at its best, but figuring out what to eat can be a major challenge. What’s good for you on one meal plan may not be good on the other.
Your first step: meet with a registered dietitian who’s trained in both diabetes and CKD nutrition. Together you’ll create a diet plan to keep blood sugar levels steady and reduce how much waste and fluid your kidneys have to handle.
Medicare and many private insurance plans may pay for your appointment. Ask if your policy covers medical nutrition therapy (MNT). MNT includes a nutrition plan designed just for you, which the dietitian will help you learn to follow.
Diabetes and CKD diets share a lot of the same foods, but there are some important differences. Read on for the basics.

Diabetes Diet

A healthy diabetes diet looks pretty much like a healthy diet for anyone: lots of fruits, veggies, healthy fats, and lean protein; less salt, sugar, and foods high in refined carbs (cookies, crackers, and soda, just to name a few). Your individual carb goal is based on your age, activity level, and any medicines you take. Following your meal plan will help keep your blood sugar levels in your target range, which will also prevent more damage to your kidneys.

Say No to Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements aren’t safe if you have kidney disease. Some can hurt your kidneys and even make kidney disease worse. Some vitamins can cause kidney problems too and should also be avoided. Always talk to your doctor before taking any supplements or vitamins.

Kidney Diet

With a CKD diet, you’ll avoid or limit certain foods to protect your kidneys, and you’ll include other foods to give you energy and keep you nourished. Your specific diet will depend on whether you’re in early-stage or late-stage CKD or if you’re on dialysis..."
Diabetes and kindey disease

Cronobacter Infection and Infants

"Getting sick from Cronobacter does not happen often, but infections in infants can be deadly. Learn what steps you can take to protect your baby from getting sick.
Cronobacter sakazakii, formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, is a germ found naturally in the environment. The germs can live in dry foods, such as powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas, and starches. Anybody can get sick from Cronobacter, but infection occurs most often in infants.

Rare but Serious Illness in Infants

Cronobacter infections are rare, but they can be deadly in newborns. Infections in infants usually occur in the first days or weeks of life. About four to six cases are reported to CDC every year, but this figure may not reflect the true number of illnesses because state health departments are not required to report Cronobacter infections.
Cronobacter germs can cause a dangerous blood infection (sepsis) or make the linings surrounding the brain and spinal cord swell (meningitis). Infants 2 months of age and younger are most likely to develop meningitis if they get sick from Cronobacter. Other infants more likely to get sick are those born prematurely and those less able to fight germs and sickness due to illness or medical treatment, such as chemotherapy for cancer.
The first symptom of Cronobacter infection in infants is usually a fever, accompanied by poor feeding, crying, or very low energy. You should take an infant with these symptoms to the doctor..."
cronobacter infection

Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Whooping Cough Vaccination

"Whooping cough, or pertussis, can be a serious disease for people of all ages but especially for babies. Whooping cough vaccines offer the best protection against this very contagious disease. Make sure you and your loved ones are up to date with your whooping cough vaccines.
Two vaccines in the United States help prevent whooping cough: DTaP and Tdap. These vaccines also provide protection against tetanus and diphtheria. Children younger than 7 years old get DTaP, while older children, teens, and adults get Tdap.

CDC Recommends Whooping Cough Vaccines for People of All Ages

The vaccine recommended for someone depends on their age. The graphic below gives information, by age, about CDC’s whooping cough vaccine recommendations.
Graphic depicting young children, preteens, pregnant women, and adults, all of which need whooping cough vaccines...."

Whooping cough

Pet Food Safety

"Pet Food Safety

 A healthy diet is important for everyone, even your pets! When picking out the right food for your pet, there are important things to consider.

Raw pet foods can make pets and people sick

CDC does not recommend feeding raw diets to pets. Germs like Salmonella and Listeriabacteria have been found in raw pet foods, even packaged ones sold in stores. These germs can make your pets sick. Your family also can get sick by handling the raw food or by taking care of your pet.

What about dry and canned pet food?

Dry and canned pet food also can be contaminated with germs. Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, talk with your veterinarian.

Tips to stay healthy while feeding your pet

  • Always wash your hands with soap and water right after handling pet food or treats; this is the most important step to prevent illness.
  • When possible, store pet food and treats away from where human food is stored or prepared and away from reach of young children.
  • Don’t use your pet’s feeding bowl to scoop food. Use a clean, dedicated scoop, spoon, or cup.
  • Always follow any storage instructions on pet food bags or containers.."
    Pet food

Food Safety and Dining Out

"Going out to eat? When choosing a restaurant, look for one that keeps food safety on the menu. Here are tips to stay healthy while dining out.

Food Safety Tips for Eating at Restaurants

  • Check inspection scores. Check a restaurant’s score at your health department’s website, ask the health department for a copy of the report, or look for it when you get to the restaurant.
  • Look for certificates that show kitchen managers have completed food safety training. Proper food safety training can help improve practices that reduce the chance of spreading foodborne germs and illnesses.
  • Look for safe food-handling practices. Sick food workers Cdc-pdf[272 KB] can spread their illness to customers. Most kitchens are out of the customer’s sight, but if you can see food being prepared, check to make sure workers are using gloves or utensils to handle foods that will not be cooked further, such as deli meats and salad greens.
  • Order food that’s properly cooked. Certain foods, including meat, poultry, and fish, need to be cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful germs that may be present. If you’re served undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs, send them back to be cooked until they are safe to eat.
  • Avoid food served lukewarm. Cold food should be served cold, and hot food should be served hot. If you’re selecting food from a buffet or salad bar, make sure that the hot food is steaming, and the cold food is chilled. Germs that cause food poisoning grow quickly when food is in the danger zone, between 40˚F and 140˚F.
  • Ask your server if they use pasteurized eggs in foods such as Caesar salad dressing, custards, or hollandaise sauce. Raw or undercooked eggs can make you sick unless they’re pasteurized to kill germs.
  • Take care of your leftovers quickly. Refrigerate within 2 hours of eating out. If it is above 90ºF outside, refrigerate leftovers within 1 hour. Eat leftovers within three to four days. Throw them out after that time...."
    Food safety and dining

Cholesterol Myths and Facts

"Cholesterol can be confusing! Learn answers to common questions about blood cholesterol.
What do your cholesterol numbers mean? Can the foods you eat change your cholesterol levels? Learn the difference between cholesterol myth and fact. Then commit to getting your cholesterol checked this year so you know your numbers and your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Myth: All cholesterol is bad for you.

Fact: Some types of cholesterol are essential for good health. Your body needs cholesterol to perform important jobs, such as making hormones and building cells. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout the body:
  • LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol raise your risk for heart disease and stroke.
  • HDL (high-density lipoprotein), or “good” cholesterol carries cholesterol back to the liver. The liver then flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower your risk for heart disease and stroke..."
    Cholesterol

National ALS Biorepository

"Learn how ALS researchers from around the world can access and use ALS Biorepository samples as a valuable resource in their fight to identify the causes of ALS.
The National ALS Biorepository is a component of the National ALS Registry that will increase the number of biological samples from persons with ALS available for research.  These samples, along with the extensive data collected by the National ALS Registry, are a valuable resource in the fight to identify the causes of ALS.
The National ALS Biorepository collects, processes, stores, and distributes a variety of biological specimens such as blood, urine, and tissue from a sample of persons with ALS enrolled in the National ALS Registry who agree to take part in the Biorepository.
The National ALS Biorepository is different from other biorepositories because it collects specimens from a geographically representative sample of people with ALS that is not tied to a specific clinic or location..."
ALS

Does Heart Disease Run in Your Family?

"Take time to collect information about your family health history of heart disease, and share this information with your doctor and other family members. Your doctor can help you take steps to lower your chances of getting heart disease.

Collect and Share Your Family Health History of Heart Disease

Each year in the United States, over 610,000 people die from heart disease. Some medical conditions, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes, and lifestyle factors, such as an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking, can make you more likely to develop heart disease. In addition, having close blood relatives with heart disease can make you more likely to get heart disease.
Infographic: Treat Familial Hypercholesterolemia to Prevent Heart Disease
Recent data suggest that more than 1.3 million people (1 in 250) in the United States have FH and that many of them are undertreated, even when they know they have high cholesterol.
If you have a family health history of heart disease, collect information on your relatives with heart disease, including what age they were diagnosed. This is especially important if you have a parent, brother, or sister with heart disease. Share this information with your doctor so you can work together on steps to lower your chances of getting heart disease...."

Heart disease

Thursday, February 7, 2019

2018 Fourth Warmest Year in Continued Warming Trend, According to NASA, NOAA

"Earth's global surface temperatures in 2018 were the fourth warmest since 1880, according to independent analyses by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Global temperatures in 2018 were 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit (0.83 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 1951 to 1980 mean, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York. Globally, 2018's temperatures rank behind those of 2016, 2017 and 2015. The past five years are, collectively, the warmest years in the modern record.
“2018 is yet again an extremely warm year on top of a long-term global warming trend,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt.
Since the 1880s, the average global surface temperature has risen about 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius). This warming has been driven in large part by increased emissions into the atmosphere of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases caused by human activities, according to Schmidt...:
2018 warmest year