The District of Columbia Emancipation Act

"On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia. Passage of this act came 9 months before President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. The act brought to conclusion decades of agitation aimed at ending what antislavery advocates called "the national shame" of slavery in the nation's capital..."
District of Columbia Emancipation

Police Blotter Listing the Assassination of President Lincoln, 04/14/1865

"On April 14, 1865, as he sat in Ford's Theater watching a comedy, President Lincoln was assassinated. The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police blotter lists the assassination among the more mundane police business of April 14, 1865. The entry begins: "At this hour the melancholy intelligence of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, President of the U.S, at Fords Theater was brought to this office, and information obtained from the following persons goes to show that the assassin is a man named J. Wilks [sic] Booth...".."
Lincoln's Assassination

EEOC Releases Fiscal Year 2018 Enforcement and Litigation Data

"The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today released detailed breakdowns for the 76,418 charges of workplace discrimination the agency received in fiscal year 2018. The comprehensive enforcement and litigation statistics for FY 2018, which ended Sept. 30, 2018, are posted on the agency's website, which also includes detailed breakdown of charges by state.

The EEOC resolved 90,558 charges of discrimination.  Overall, the EEOC secured $505 million for victims in private sector, state and local government, and federal workplaces. The agency reduced the charge workload by 19.5 percent to 49,607. It achieved this through deploying new strategies to more efficiently prioritize charges with merit, more quickly resolve investigations, and improve the agency's digital systems. The agency handled over 519,000 calls to its toll-free number, 34,600 emails and more than 200,000 inquiries in field offices, reflecting the significant public demand for the EEOC's services.

"The EEOC had a remarkable year working on behalf of those who came to the agency having experienced discrimination in their workplaces," said EEOC Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic. "Our fiscal year 2018 final statistics reflect significant  recoveries for individuals through our administrative enforcement and our litigation program.  The statistics also indicate the EEOC has been handling its workload in a more efficient manner, expanding tools to provide better timelier service to the public while sharpening our focus on meritorious charges and those that advance the public interest. The statistics reflect the agency's successes in taking advantage of new strategies to bring about the lowest inventory of private sector charges in a dozen years. Further, we cannot look back on last year without noting the significant impact of the #MeToo movement in the number of sexual harassment and retaliation charges filed with the agency. Last year was an incredibly important and productive year for the agency and my thanks go out to all of the staff who rose to the occasion," added Lipnic..."
EEOC enforcement data

Population 65 and Older

"This report provides a look at selected demographic, social, housing and economic characteristics of the 65 years and older population in the United States based on 2016 American Community Survey (ACS) one-year data. The report also draws comparisons between people ages 65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85 and older. The information includes population size, marital status, living arrangements, caregiving for co-resident grandchildren, English ability, language spoken, educational attainment, computer ownership, internet access, homeownership, disability, labor force participation, occupation, median earnings, income type and poverty status..."
Older population

Health Insurance in Rural America

"Rates of Uninsured Falls in Rural Counties, Remains Higher Than Urban Counties

More people had health insurance from 2013 to 2017 across the nation, including in every state and almost every county.

The interactive graphic below, that uses Small Area Health Insurance Estimates released today, highlights uninsured rates for 2017 at the county level and the change since 2013.

It compares the percentage of people without health insurance in rural and nonrural areas and in states that expanded Medicaid and those that didn’t, as of 2017.  

Counties are Classified

• “Mostly Urban” when less than one-half of their population lives in rural areas.
• “Mostly Rural” when more than half but not all of their population lives in rural areas.
• “Completely Rural” when everyone in the county lives in a rural area.

Highlights from the Interactive Graphic

• In 2017, county uninsured rates for people under age 65 ranged from 2.3 percent in Norfolk County, Mass., to 33.7 percent in Gaines County, Texas. The median county rate was 10.6 percent.
• Massachusetts’ 14 counties had one of the narrowest gaps among its counties. Texas had one of the widest ranges.
• Residents of rural counties still lack insurance at higher rates than those living in urban areas. About 12.3 percent of people in completely rural counties lacked health insurance compared with 11.3 percent for mostly rural counties and 10.1 percent for mostly urban counties.
• In nearly every county, whether completely rural, mostly rural or urban, the percentage of people without health insurance has declined since 2013..."

Health insurance

Preventing Youth Violence

"April 8–12 is National Youth Violence Prevention Week. Learn more about how to prevent youth violence with CDC’s resources!

All young people deserve to grow up safely and thrive! The Division of Violence Prevention’s goal is to stop youth violence from happening in the first place and to promote approaches to reduce the immediate and long-term harms. Learn more about how to prevent youth violence with CDC’s resources!

Facts about Youth Violence

Youth violence is a significant public health problem that affects thousands of young people each day.

• Examples include bullying, fighting, threats with weapons, and gang-related violence.
• Every 24 hours, 14 young people are the victims of homicide—this is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10–24.
• Violence can increase a young person’s risk for depression, smoking, substance use, high-risk sexual behavior, academic difficulties, and suicide.
• Youth violence is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) linked to other forms of violence including child abuse and neglect, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicide, and adult intimate partner violence.

Youth Violence is Preventable

Community members, youth, and adults who care for youth have important roles in preventing violence, and their actions can contribute to the development of safe and supportive communities where young people can reach their full potential. Preventing youth violence requires addressing risk and protective factors at all levels of a young person’s life—individual, relational, community, and societal levels.

Resources for Prevention

Find ways to support youth violence prevention efforts in your community!

• CDC’s technical package, A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors, Cdc-pdf[4.9 MB] features strategies and approaches based on the best available evidence to help states and communities prevent or reduce youth violence. It is also available in Spanish. Cdc-pdf[3.89 MB]
• Violence Prevention in Practice focuses on taking action to select and implement the strategies in the youth violence technical package linked above. The resource is designed to support state and local health departments and other stakeholders who have a role in planning, implementing, and evaluating violence prevention efforts.
• Learn more about how CDC is addressing youth violence through the Youth Violence Prevention Centers (YVPCs).Through local partnerships, the YVPCs develop, implement, and rigorously evaluate innovative strategies to prevent violence and create safer, healthier family and community environments for youth..."
  Youth violence

Preventing Dog Bites

"Dog bites can cause pain and injury, but they can also spread germs that cause infection. Nearly 1 in 5 people bitten by a dog requires medical attention. Any dog can bite – know how to enjoy dogs without getting bitten.

Dogs can be our closest companions – in the United States, over 36% of households own at least one dog. Dogs have been proven to decrease stress, increase our exercise levels, and are playmates for children. But sometimes man’s best friend will bite. In addition to causing pain, injury, or nerve damage, dog bites can become infected, putting the bite victim at risk for illness or in rare cases death.

Although the idea of being bitten by a dog is scary, it doesn’t mean you need to avoid dogs completely. If you work or live around dogs, be aware of the risks and learn how to enjoy being around dogs without getting bitten.

Know the Risks

Children are more likely than adults to be bitten by a dog, and when they are, the injuries can be more severe. Over half of dog bite injuries occur at home with dogs that are familiar to us. Having a dog in the household is linked to a higher likelihood of being bitten than not having a dog. As the number of dogs in the home increases, so does the likelihood of being bitten. Adults with two or more dogs in the household are five times more likely to be bitten than those living without dogs at home. Among adults, men are more likely than women to be bitten by a dog.

How to Prevent Dog Bites

Do:

• Always ask if it is okay to pet someone else’s dog before reaching out to pet the dog.
• When approached by an unfamiliar dog, remain motionless (“be still like a tree”).
• If a dog knocks you over, curl into a ball with your head tucked and your hands over your ears and neck.
• Immediately let an adult know about any stray dogs or dogs that are behaving strangely.

Don’t:

• Don’t approach an unfamiliar dog.
• Don’t run from a dog.
• Don’t panic or make loud noises.
• Don’t disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.
• Don’t pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.
• Don’t encourage your dog to play aggressively.
• Don’t let small children play with a dog unsupervised..."
  Dog bites

Avoid bug bites

"Bugs, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and some flies, can spread diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and Lyme, all of which have risk of severe and lasting consequences. Several diseases spread by bug bites cannot be prevented or treated with vaccines or medicine, such as Zika, dengue, and Lyme. Reduce your risk of getting these diseases by taking steps to prevent bug bites.

What You Should Know Before You Go

Current Risks to Consider

• Dengue viruses are spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms of mild dengue include fever with any of the following: nausea, vomiting, rash, aches and pains (eye pain typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain).Mild dengue symptoms can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency. There is no vaccine to prevent dengue, and there is no treatment. Protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites.
• Zika virus is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected mosquito. Many people infected with Zika won’t have symptoms or will have only mild symptoms, which can include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis (red eyes), and muscle pain. There is no vaccine to prevent Zika, and there is no treatment. Zika can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects. Healthcare providers should discuss the risk of Zika to pregnant couples or couples trying to get pregnant who plan to travel to an area with risk of Zika.
  • Risks for Pregnant Women: Some infections, including Zika can spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, CDC recommends pregnant women and couples trying to become pregnant within the next 3 months work with their health care providers to carefully consider the risks and possible consequences of travel to areas with risk of Zika. If you must travel to an area with past or present Zika transmission, strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites while traveling. When used as directed, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Because infection during pregnancy can cause severe brain defects, CDC recommends that pregnant women do not travel to areas with Zika outbreaks.
• Malaria is a parasitic disease spread by mosquitoes. It can lead to serious illness and can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms of malaria can include fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, and body aches. If symptoms of malaria occur, travelers should seek medical attention immediately. Before you leave, check your destination for a risk of malaria. If malaria is present, consult your doctor to assess your risk and choose the most appropriate anti-malarial medicine.
  • Risks for Pregnant Women: Pregnant women infected with malaria can transmit the parasites to their child during pregnancy, or before or during delivery. CDC recommends that pregnant women talk to their doctor if traveling to areas with risk of malaria. When used as directed, EPA-registered insect repellents are safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women..."
    Bug bites

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day

"April 10th is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day

(NYHAAD). NYHAAD is the first annual observance day set aside to recognize the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on young people.

National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) serves as a reminder that investing in young people’s health and education is a critical step to achieving an AIDS-free generation. This annual observance was created in 2013 by partners to educate the public about the impact of HIV/AIDS on youth.

Youth in the United States

In the United States, 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses were among young people aged 13-24 years.  Getting tested for HIV is an important step toward prevention; however, testing rates among high school students remain low. Only 9% of U.S. high school students have ever been tested for HIV.

The recently released YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report Cdc-pdf[16.7 MB] focuses on four priority areas closely linked to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including sexual behavior, high-risk substance use, violence victimization, and mental health over the past decade. This report shows that although overall students are making better decisions about their health, there are still too many students reporting risky sexual behaviors, high-risk substance use, violence victimization, and poor mental health..."
Youth and AIDS

TSA Reminds Travelers of REAL ID Identification Requirements

"Enforcement begins in 18 months at all U.S. airport checkpoints

WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration is reminding travelers that beginning October 1, 2020, every traveler must present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, or another acceptable form of identification, to fly within the United States. TSA has launched a public awareness campaign about the upcoming identification changes to ensure that every traveler is prepared for the airport security checkpoint process when the REAL ID Act goes into full enforcement.

“TSA is doing everything we can to prepare our partners and the traveling public for the REAL ID deadline next year,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “The security requirements of the REAL ID Act will dramatically enhance and improve commercial aviation security.”

Travelers will begin seeing new signs at airports nationwide in the coming weeks to remind people that REAL ID-compliant licenses or other acceptable forms of ID, such as a valid passport, federal government PIV card or U.S. military ID, will be mandatory for air travel beginning on October 1, 2020. Critically important, on October 1, 2020, individuals who are unable to verify their identity will not be permitted to enter the TSA checkpoint and will not be allowed to fly.

REAL ID-compliant licenses are generally marked by a star on the top of the card. Travelers who are not sure if their ID is compliant should check with their state driver’s license agency..."
Travelers ID

Fungal Infections - Protect Your Health

"Have you wondered about your chances of getting a fungal infection? Here are 10 questions you can use to understand fungal infections, learn how you can get sick, and know what you need to do to stay healthy.

Fungi are everywhere. There are millions of different species of fungi on Earth, but only about 300 of those are known to make people sick. Fungal infections are often caused by microscopic fungi that are common in the environment. Fungi live outdoors in soil and on plants as well as on many indoor surfaces and on human skin.

Mild fungal skin infections can look like a rash and are very common. For example, ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm! Fungal infections in the lungs can be more serious and often cause symptoms that are similar to other illnesses, such as the flu or tuberculosis. Fungal meningitis and bloodstream infections are less common than skin and lung infections but can be life-threatening. Because the symptoms of fungal infections can be similar to those of other illnesses, proper diagnosis and treatment are often delayed. The more you know about fungal infections and your chances of getting one, the better you can protect your health..."
Fungal infections

Congressional Subpoenas: Enforcing Executive Branch Compliance

"Congress gathers much of the information necessary to oversee the implementation of existing laws or to evaluate whether new laws are necessary from the executive branch. While executive branch officials comply with most congressional requests for information, there are times when the executive branch chooses to resist disclosure.

When Congress finds an inquiry blocked by the withholding of information by the executive branch, or where the traditional process of negotiation and accommodation is inappropriate or unavailing, a subpoena—either for testimony or documents— may be used to compel compliance with congressional demands. The recipient of a duly issued and valid congressional subpoena has a legal obligation to comply, absent a valid and overriding privilege or other legal justification. But the subpoena is only as effective as the means by which it may be enforced. Without a process by which Congress can coerce compliance or deter non-compliance, the subpoena would be reduced to a formalized request rather than a constitutionally based demand for information..."
Congressional subpoenas

Free Speech and the Regulation of Social Media Content

"As the Supreme Court has recognized, social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have become important venues for users to exercise free speech rights protected under the First Amendment. Commentators and legislators, however, have questioned whether these social media platforms are living up to their reputation as digital public forums. Some have expressed concern that these sites are not doing enough to counter violent or false speech. At the same time, many argue that the platforms are unfairly banning and restricting access to potentially valuable speech.

Currently, federal law does not offer much recourse for social media users who seek to challenge a social media provider’s decision about whether and how to present a user’s content. Lawsuits predicated on these sites’ decisions to host or remove content have been largely unsuccessful, facing at least two significant barriers under existing federal law. First, while individuals have sometimes alleged that these companies violated their free speech rights by discriminating against users’ content, courts have held that the First Amendment, which provides protection against state action, is not implicated by the actions of these private companies. Second, courts have concluded that many non-constitutional claims are barred by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, 47 U.S.C. § 230, which provides immunity to providers of interactive computer services, including social media providers, both for certain decisions to host content created by others and for actions taken “voluntarily” and “in good faith” to restrict access to “objectionable” material..."
Free speech

Staying Safe in a Tornado

"To stay safe during a tornado, prepare a plan and an emergency kit, stay aware of weather conditions during thunderstorms, know the best places to shelter both indoors and outdoors, and always protect your head.

Tornadoes continue to impact locations across the country every year, bringing massive winds and destruction in their paths.

The 2016 tornado season claimed the lives of 18 individuals and injured another 325. Seventy-eight percent of those victims were in a mobile home or trailer park at the time of the tornado. These storms caused an estimated $183 million in property damage.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA)External there is no guaranteed safety during a tornado. Even the possibility of a tornado must be taken seriously. Although the most violent tornadoes can level and blow away almost any house and those within it, extremely violent EF5 tornadoes are very rare. Most tornadoes are much weaker. You can survive a tornado if you follow safety precautions. Here are three important tips to help keep you safe.

TIP ❶: Be prepared.

The best way to stay safe during a tornado is to be prepared with:

• fresh batteries and a battery-operated TV, radio, or internet-enabled device to listen to the latest emergency weather information;
• a tornado emergency plan including access to a “safe shelter” for yourself and for people with special needs;
• an emergency kit (including water, non-perishable food, and medication); and
• a list of important information, including telephone numbers.

Be sure your children know what a tornado is, what tornado watches and warnings are, what county or parish they live in (warnings are issued by county or parish), and what makes a location a “safe shelter,” whether at home or at school..."
Tornadoes

Teen Substance Use & Risks

"Parents play a critical role in their children’s lives. As their children grow to pre-teens and teens, parents worry about new risks they may experience. One such risk is the use of substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other drugs. Parents can help by talking to their teen’s pediatrician about screening for substance use.

Substance use by teens can have a big impact on their health and well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a guide for implementing substance use screening in pediatric practices to help pediatricians address substance use concerns. The AAP recommends screening for substance use in children, starting at 9 years of age.

Substance Use Among Teens

The guide highlights the most commonly used substances and the extent of the problem, such as

• Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are substances most commonly used by adolescents.¹
• By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students have tried alcohol.¹
• About half of 9th through 12th grade students reported ever having used marijuana.²
• About 4 in 10 9th through 12th grade students reported having tried cigarettes.³
• Among 12th graders, close to 2 in 10 reported using prescription medicine without a prescription.¹

Although it is illegal for people under 21 years of age to drink alcohol, the findings show that people from 12 to 20 years of age consume about one-tenth of all alcohol consumed in the United States..."
Teen susbtance abuse