ReportWire

Tag: Safety

  • New ambulance service for Montgomery County

    New ambulance service for Montgomery County

    [ad_1]

    MONTGOMERY COUNTY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — One Capital Region County is getting a new ambulance service after cutbacks forced law enforcement to pick up the slack. NEWS10 has the latest on the service that just kicked off on Monday.

    “Really it’s all about patient care and getting an ambulance to somebody who needs it in a timely manner,” said Sergeant Justin Smith with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

    Smith will oversee the sheriff’s office EMS division. He tells NEWS10 that it took nearly three years of planning to get to this point.

    “It’s been a long process so it’s kind of a Bittersweet moment here today we’ll see where this takes us. We built this from the ground up and we want to build it the right way,” said Smith.

    The county saw cutbacks in the industry after volunteer ambulances began to shutter. They relied on just a few companies to maintain EMS service.

    Within a couple of hours, the ambulance is already in use. Our cameras were rolling when the ambulance went on its first call, a non-emergency transport of a patient to St. Mary’s Hospital.

    Amsterdam Fire Chief Anthony Agresta says Monday was the perfect example of why this ambulance is needed. “We were in a situation where one of our two ambulances is out of service,” said Agresta.

    The county hired 16 people to staff the ambulance, two of them full-time. Two of them spoke to NEWS10 on their first day on the job. They tell me they live in the communities they serve and have seen the need for more ambulances.

    “It’s definitely a nice way to impact the community I live in,” said EMT Anne Clouthier.

    “It will be great to have improved EMS coverage in the county,” said EMT Michael Kent.

    Montgomery County Executive Matthew Ossenfort praises the Sheriff’s Office for the new service. “Today the real exciting part is we’re getting off the ground, we got it started and we’re here to supplement and work with providers who are already here,” said Ossenfort.

    [ad_2]

    James De La Fuente

    Source link

  • South Carolina vs North Carolina 2024: Which One Should You Call Home? – Southwest Journal

    South Carolina vs North Carolina 2024: Which One Should You Call Home? – Southwest Journal

    [ad_1]

    Whether you’re drawn to North Carolina’s vibrant cities and technological hubs or South Carolina’s historic charm and favorable taxation of retirement income, there’s much to explore.

    North Carolina tends to have a slightly higher cost of living but also boasts a robust education system and a higher graduation rate.

    On the other hand, South Carolina may offer a lower property tax rate and an overall subtropical climate that appeals to those looking for milder winters and hot summers.

    By assessing these and other factors, you can better determine which Carolina is the right fit for your lifestyle and aspirations.

    Key Takeaways

    • NC offers varied climates; SC has a consistently subtropical climate.
    • NC boasts mountains to coastlines; SC is known for its coastal and lowland beauty.
    • NC is slightly higher due to housing and taxes; SC offers lower property taxes and overall costs.
    • Both states have resilient job markets; NC is diverse with tech and banking, SC excels in manufacturing and tourism.
    • North Carolina is known for higher-ranked universities and a robust education system; SC focuses on improving its education outcomes.
    • NC shows improvement in healthcare quality; SC struggles with higher costs and accessibility issues.
    • North Carolina offers technological hubs and vibrant cities; SC is rich in historic charm and subtropical living.
    • NC invests in EV charging and rail upgrades; SC focuses on comprehensive transportation improvements.
    • North Carolina generally has lower crime rates; SC is working on reducing its higher crime rates.
    • NC displays a mix of political ideologies; SC leans more consistently conservative.

    Geographic Comparison

    In my examination of North Carolina and South Carolina, I observe distinct geographic features that influence each state’s climate and natural landscapes.

    Climate and Weather

    North Carolina presents a varied climate across its regions. My research points to cooler temperatures in the western mountainous areas, with the coastal plains enjoying milder weather. Summers are warm, and winters are generally mild, a pattern I’ve noted from a source detailing the state’s climate diversity.

    On the other hand, South Carolina maintains a more consistently subtropical climate. From my understanding, this translates to hotter and humid summers with again, mild winters, according to an insight into the state’s subtropical conditions.

    Natural Landscapes

    My exploration reveals that North Carolina boasts an impressive range of natural landscapes. From the Appalachian Mountains to the scenic Outer Banks, the diversity in elevation and terrain offers a rich tapestry of natural beauty.

    South Carolina, as I’ve learned, showcases its own charm with picturesque beaches like Myrtle Beach and the historic,lowcountry regions. The state’s natural landscapes are more focused on coastal and lowland environments, providing distinct vistas that differ from its northern neighbor.

    Cost of Living

    When deciding between North Carolina (NC) and South Carolina (SC) as your new home, it’s essential to weigh the cost of living in each state. This includes looking at housing affordability, tax implications, and daily living expenses. Let’s dive into these aspects to help you make a well-rounded decision.

    Housing Affordability

    In North Carolina, you might find yourself paying a bit more for housing than in South Carolina. The median home price in NC tends to be higher, reflecting the state’s investment in community infrastructure, including schools and higher education institutions.

    The actual cost can vary widely depending on where you choose to live. On the flip side, South Carolina offers more budget-friendly housing options, potentially saving you a significant amount on your monthly bills.

    For example, the median home cost in South Carolina might be around $284797, whereas in North Carolina, it could be closer to $318266, though these figures can fluctuate based on the specific area according to Zillow.

    Taxation

    Tax-wise, South Carolina is often seen as more appealing, especially for retirees, thanks to its lower personal income and property tax rates. For instance, South Carolina’s personal income tax rates range from 0% to 7%, depending on your income level according to Forbes. While property taxes are among the lowest in the country, with an effective rate of about 0.57%. North Carolina, however, employs a flat income tax rate, currently at 4.75%, which might benefit higher-income individuals as highlighted by SmartAssets. The property tax rate in NC is also relatively low, with an average effective rate of 0.77%.

    Everyday Expenses

    For Both States:

    • Groceries: Approximately $300 to $400 per month for a standard household.
    • Transportation: Around $150 to $200 monthly, influenced by commute distances and maintenance.
    • Utilities: Typically $100 to $200 per month, fluctuating with seasonal changes and consumption.

    Economy and Employment

    Both states offer unique job markets and industries that are growing and providing new opportunities.

    Job Markets

    South Carolina’s job market has shown resilience following the pandemic, with less of an impact on employment compared to the national average. Notably, the state has seen economic growth as we entered 2024, suggesting a booming job market according to BLS.

    North Carolina’s job market, comparatively, encompasses a range of industries across its diverse geography. The broad measure of labor underutilization, known as U-6, was 6.2 percent in 2023, aligning closely with the national rate, which indicates a stable employment climate.

    Industries and Opportunities

    In South Carolina, the economy thrives on several key industries including manufacturing, especially automotive and aerospace, tourism due to the state’s beautiful beaches and historical sites, and agribusiness. Major players like Boeing and BMW have facilities here, reflecting the state’s strength in manufacturing and export.

    North Carolina boasts a diverse array of industries that drive its economy. The Research Triangle Park (RTP) area is a hub for technology and research, drawing in a multitude of tech and pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, North Carolina has strong banking, healthcare, and educational sectors, with a notable presence of financial services firms in cities like Charlotte.

    Education Systems

    When deciding between North Carolina and South Carolina, the education systems are a pivotal factor. Both states offer unique advantages in higher education and public schooling that cater to different needs and preferences.

    Higher Education

    I find that North Carolina is recognized for its reputable higher education institutions, which include top-ranked universities such as Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This state’s commitment to education is evident in its goal to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world, as shown on the United States Education Dashboard. which typically fall into the top 100 but not as high as their NC counterparts.

    In South Carolina, universities like Clemson and the University of South Carolina also provide comprehensive higher education options. Which typically fall into the top 100 but not as high as their NC counterparts.

    Public School Systems

    North Carolina’s public school systems offer diverse educational experiences influenced by the geographic regions of the state. According to WalletHub’s analysis, North Carolina ranks 33rd overall in the US, indicating room for improvements in certain areas such as quality and safety.

    On the other hand, South Carolina’s schools have distinct characteristics, with a focus on subtropical living that influences the school culture. However, it’s essential to note the state’s standing in education, which can be a deciding factor for many families. South Carolina faces its own challenges, striving to improve its position and educational outcomes.

    Healthcare Services

    When considering healthcare services, I find it important to look at factors such as quality, accessibility, and cost. In my analysis, I highlight the differences that may sway someone’s decision between North Carolina and South Carolina.

    Quality of Healthcare: The quality of healthcare is a vital concern. It’s reported that the healthcare outcomes in North Carolina are varied but have shown improvement in recent years. On the other hand, South Carolina faces challenges, ranking lower in areas like cost, accessibility, and outcome as per a WalletHub study.

    Accessibility: Accessibility to healthcare services can influence decision-making. North Carolina boasts several renowned medical institutions with a presence of major healthcare systems. I’ve observed that South Carolina, while improving, still works towards increasing accessibility, especially in the more rural areas.

    Cost: Healthcare costs are an unavoidable aspect to consider. Forbes highlights that Southern states, including South Carolina, are among the worst for healthcare costs, which could be a deterrent for some people.

    A report from ValuePenguin mentions that the “Silver Classic” health insurance plan from AmeriHealth Caritas Next is considered the best cheap health insurance in North Carolina, costing as little as $428 per month.

    Here’s a simple comparison:

    Factor North Carolina South Carolina
    Quality Varied results with noted improvements Often ranks lower in healthcare outcomes
    Accessibility High with several established systems Improving but still has rural access issues
    Cost Competitive costs with other states Higher costs in comparison to some states

    While my presentation of healthcare services remains neutral, these distinctions are essential for anyone evaluating North or South Carolina as their potential new home.

    Culture and Lifestyle

    I’ll walk you through the characteristics of recreational activities, the depth of cultural attractions, and the storied sports rivalries that define each state’s unique social fabric.

    Recreational Activities

    North Carolina presents a diverse range of outdoor activities due to its unique geography. From the lofty peaks of the Appalachian Mountains to the serene beaches of the Outer Banks, outdoor enthusiasts revel in hiking, mountain biking, and beachcombing. Meanwhile, South Carolina is a haven for beachgoers and golfers, with Myrtle Beach’s sunny shores and numerous golf courses.

    Cultural Attractions

    My experience has been that North Carolina’s cultural scene is anchored by the Research Triangle’s plethora of universities, museums, and art galleries. Cities like Charlotte and Raleigh foster a vibrant arts scene with live performances and festivals. Similarly, in South Carolina, Charleston’s historical charm and rich history provide a backdrop for an array of cultural experiences, from historic plantations to the Spoleto Festival USA.

    Sports and Rivalries

    Sports are a cornerstone of both states, with a keen rivalry between my home teams. College basketball is particularly intense in North Carolina with powerhouses like Duke and UNC Chapel Hill. South Carolina offers its own brand of fervor, particularly for college football, with the Clemson Tigers and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks engaging in passionate annual showdowns.

    Transportation and Infrastructure

    In my analysis of transportation and infrastructure, I’ve noted clear differences between North Carolina and South Carolina. My focus is mainly on the impact of recent legislative measures and their benefits to the states’ transportation systems.

    North Carolina has been allocated significant funds to aid in transforming its transportation landscape. According to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Fact Sheet, the state is poised to receive substantial support for the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network. North Carolina is also set to modernize and expand its passenger rail network, enhancing connectivity and reducing travel times.

    Personal Vehicle:

    • Gasoline: Average price per gallon ranges from $2.50 to $3.50.
    • Vehicle Maintenance: Average costs can range from $500 to $700 annually for regular maintenance.

    Public Transit:

    • Monthly Pass: Costs vary by city, but on average, $50 to $100 in major urban areas.

    Ride-Sharing (e.g., Uber, Lyft):

    Average Cost: Around $2 base fare plus $1 to $2 per mile.

    Infrastructure Investment Highlights for North Carolina:

    • EV Charging Network Expansion: $109 million
    • Rail Network Upgrades: Access to grants from $2.5 billion fund

    South Carolina:

    In South Carolina, the focus is similarly progressive with over $2.1 billion earmarked for wide-ranging transportation improvements. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law states that these investments cover roads, bridges, and public transportation, aiming to fortify and enhance the efficiency of the state’s transit infrastructure.

    Personal Vehicle:

    • Gasoline: Average price per gallon ranges from $2.40 to $3.40, slightly lower than NC due to lower state gas taxes.
    • Vehicle Maintenance: Similar to NC, with average costs ranging from $500 to $700 annually.

    Public Transit:

    • Monthly Pass: Generally, $40 to $90, depending on the city and services offered.

    Ride-Sharing:

    • Average Cost: Starts with a base fare of about $2 plus $1 to $2 per mile, comparable to NC.

    Infrastructure Investment Highlights for South Carolina:

    • Transportation Investment: over $2.1 billion
    • Roads, Bridges, and Public Transit: Comprehensive upgrades

    Both states show commitment to improving their transportation and infrastructure. My findings underscore the efforts to increase efficiency, safety, and prepare for future technologies. These developments broadly indicate that whichever state one might choose, they would be privy to transportation systems that are clearly looking forward.

    Safety and Crime Rates

    When I compare North Carolina and South Carolina in terms of safety and crime rates, it’s crucial to examine the most recent statistics and trends. In South Carolina, there was a decrease in violent crime, with incidents dropping slightly from 5.3 per 1,000 people to 5.2. Nevertheless, the state still has the highest rates of violent and property crime in the South Atlantic region.

    • Violent Crime in SC: 5.2 incidents per 1,000 people (decreased) according to SafeWise
    • Property Crime in SC: Fell from 27.2 per 1,000 people to 25.9

    In contrast, North Carolina’s crime rates appear to be lower when looking at both violent and property crime categories compared to its southern neighbor.

    • Violent Crime in NC: 4.3 incidents per 1,000 people as per Vivint
    • Property Crime in NC: Lower rate than SC

    When considering the safety of cities, it’s valuable to note that South Carolina’s safest cities have made significant progress in reducing crime. As for North Carolina, the emphasis is often on community safety initiatives that contribute to a sense of well-being.

    If safety and crime are significant factors in deciding between North Carolina and South Carolina, reviewing these trends and understanding the context of each state’s crime rates is essential. It’s equally important to consider personal safety preferences and the specific areas within each state, as rates can vary widely by region.

    Political Climate

    When considering North Carolina and South Carolina, I note a distinction in their political tendencies, evidenced by historical voting patterns and recent political landscapes.

    North Carolina:

    • Electoral oscillation between parties, demonstrating a swing state status.
    • A mixture of conservative and liberal representation in both the state government and federal level positions.
    • Governance: Historically diverse, with instances of flipped control between Democrats and Republicans.

    South Carolina:

    • More consistently leans Republican in federal elections.
    • Strong conservative representation in the state legislature and in Congress.
    • Policies: Reflect a more conservative ideology with tax structures and business regulations.

    Both states exhibit pride in their political engagement and a dedication to community values. However, each carries distinct legislative priorities that frame their approach to economic, environmental, and social issues.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do income taxes differ between North Carolina and South Carolina?

    North Carolina has a graduated income tax system with rates from 4.75% to 7.75%, while South Carolina employs a flat rate of 7%, which may be advantageous for higher earners.

    What are the political landscapes like in North Carolina vs. South Carolina?

    The political landscape is such that North Carolina often shows a mix of conservative and liberal voting patterns, whereas South Carolina tends to lean more consistently conservative.

    Can you compare the crime rates in North Carolina and South Carolina?

    Comparatively, the crime rates differ with North Carolina generally having a slightly lower crime rate, though it’s advisable to look at specific areas within each state for a clearer picture.

    How do the costs of living in North Carolina and South Carolina contrast?

    The cost of living in North Carolina can be higher, especially in urban areas. However, housing affordability tends to be more favorable for those with lower incomes.

    Which state offers better tax advantages for retirees, North Carolina or South Carolina?

    For retirees, South Carolina often provides better tax advantages with no social security tax and deductions on other types of retirement income, making it an enticing option for those looking to stretch their retirement dollars.

    Final Words

    Choosing between North Carolina and South Carolina involves a careful consideration of various factors including climate, cost of living, job market, education, healthcare, transportation, safety, and political climate.

    North Carolina offers a diverse landscape with technological hubs and a robust education system, making it ideal for those seeking a blend of urban and natural environments.

    On the other hand, South Carolina boasts historic charm, lower living costs, and a subtropical climate, appealing to those looking for a more relaxed lifestyle and favorable conditions for retirees. Ultimately, your decision will depend on personal preferences, lifestyle aspirations, and priorities in terms of employment, education, and quality of life.

    [ad_2]

    Srdjan Ilic

    Source link

  • State senators respond to fentanyl and retail theft crises with new legislation

    State senators respond to fentanyl and retail theft crises with new legislation

    [ad_1]

    SACRAMENTO — 

    A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the California senate on Monday announced a package of legislation to address the growing fentanyl crisis and untamed outbreak of organized retail thefts.

    Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who was sworn in as president pro tempore last month, recited sobering statistics to reporters as he introduced proposals he said will remedy the issues through a more rehabilitative approach.

    “There are more than 12,000 drug overdose deaths a year in California. More than half of those deaths are fentanyl-related,” McGuire said. “Black and Latino communities have seen a 200% increase in overdose deaths since 2017. Native Americans had a 150% increase in overdose deaths in the same period. The Hoopa Valley tribe faces a fentanyl death rate eight times greater than the state average.”

    The senate’s action comes after Assembly leaders this month presented their plans to remedy the issues, an indication that the drug and theft crises will be priorities this legislative session — and in California’s 2024 election.

    The set of 14 bills announced by McGuire and other Democrat and Republican Senate leaders takes a sweeping approach. The legislation, if passed and signed by the governor, would increase access to treatment, enhance addiction services for those in the criminal justice system and penalize criminal trafficking of xylazine, or “tranq,” a horse tranquilizer laced in fentanyl.

    Among those bills is SB 1144, authored by Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), which will tighten regulations to help prevent stolen goods from being sold online.

    Tinisch Hollins, executive director of the nonprofit Californians for Safety and Justice, called the package a “thoughtful approach to nuanced challenges.”

    Hollins said the package is needed “in an environment where special interests are gaslighting Californians with destructive and ineffective rollbacks.”

    She was referring to law enforcement agencies that have lobbied for changes to Proposition 47, a contentious ballot measure that reduced certain retail theft and drug offense charges to misdemeanors.

    Contra Costa County Dist. Atty. Diana Becton called for a strategic approach that strays from a one-size-fits-all approach to public safety.

    “I have seen firsthand the need to reimagine our approach to criminal justice,” she said. “To reexamine and reproach it through a lens of racial and socioeconomic disparity, with an eye to restorative justice programs and rehabilitation programs for nonviolent offenses.”

    [ad_2]

    Anabel Sosa

    Source link

  • Barberton High School Entrusts Metrasens Advanced Detection Technology to Strengthen Security Measures

    Barberton High School Entrusts Metrasens Advanced Detection Technology to Strengthen Security Measures

    [ad_1]

    NAPERVILLE, Illinois and BARBERTON, Ohio (PRNewswire-PRWeb) —  Metrasens, a leading provider of advanced detection systems for security and safety applications, is pleased to announce its partnership with Barberton High School (BHS), the primary high school within the Barberton City School District. BHS selected Metrasens as part of its proactive approach to fortify campus security measures and uphold a safe learning environment.

    With recent incidents of bomb threats targeting schools across the United States, concerns about safety in educational institutions have heightened. Recognizing the evolving challenges in maintaining a secure environment, Henry Muren, Principal of Barberton High School, emphasized the need for increased security measures. In response, BHS took proactive steps partnering with Metrasens to enhance existing security protocols and identify potential threats.

    “While no bomb threats were directed at BHS during recent incidents, the administration acknowledges the rising threat and the necessity to stay ahead of potential risks,” stated Henry Muren, Principal of Barberton High School. “We are not living in the world of comfort and security, as we once did.”

    The school successfully trialed Metrasens Ultra, an advanced metal detection technology with touchless and radiation-free screening. Metrasens demonstrated its capabilities at a BHS football game, followed by deployments at a basketball home game, with plans for further expansion to other events.

    BHS Principal Muren emphasized the significance of student participation in security measures, highlighting the school’s commitment to the Sandy Hook Promise and fostering a culture where everyone contributes to ensuring safety. Recognizing the growing prevalence of metal detectors in public spaces, Muren stressed the imperative to adapt to the evolving security landscape.

    “Our collective efforts to enhance the safety of our students, staff, and community members are crucial, and Metrasens plays an important role in providing advanced security solutions that align with our commitment to a secure and proactive environment,” Muren remarked.

    Metrasens has earned acclaim for providing a mobile and efficient security solution, receiving positive feedback from BHS administrators and the community. The district commends Metrasens for exemplary customer service during implementation. In line with their commitment to enhancing security measures without financial strain, the school actively seeks grant opportunities to acquire additional Metrasens detection systems.

    “We believe having another layer of security that is nonintrusive and is safe to use is a logical step forward,” said Jeff Ramnytz, Superintendent of Barberton City Schools. “We will highly recommend Metrasens to other school districts seeking to enhance their security measures as well.”

    Metrasens Ultra is designed to be safe for all individuals, including pregnant women and those with medical conditions, operating with a passive search method. The technology allows for efficient and respectful screening, ensuring a secure environment without hindering access.

    “We are thrilled to play an integral part in helping BHS achieve its objectives,” said Chris Arbeitman, Vice President of Market and Business Development at Metrasens. “We are aligned with BHS’s proactive approach and remain committed to supporting all of their security initiatives to ensure a safe and positive experience today and into the future.”

    About Metrasens
    Metrasens is the world’s leading provider of advanced magnetic detection technologies. With a technology center and manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom, a North American sales and customer service hub in Chicago and a global network of distributors, the company’s innovative products are designed to address deficiencies in conventional screening methods and make the world safer and more secure. Metrasens’ mission is to take cutting-edge science from the laboratory and use it to create revolutionary, award-winning products that meet the distinct and diverse security needs of its customers. Metrasens’ core technologies have a wide range of real-world applications, embodied by solutions that are easy to adopt and simple to use.
    For more information, visit  http://www.metrasens.com.

    About Barberton High School

    Barberton High School (BHS), is the primary high school within the Barberton City School District in Barberton, Ohio, serving 1,421 students in grades 9-12. The Barberton City School District offers academic, athletic and arts programs that give each student the opportunity to grow in knowledge, confidence and integrity. Barberton City School’s vision is building a better Barberton, one student at a time with the mission of meeting each child where they are at and growing them year-to-year until they are on one of three pathways – Enrolled, Enlisted, Employed. 

    Learn more at  www.barbertonschools.org 

    eSchool News Staff
    Latest posts by eSchool News Staff (see all)

    [ad_2]

    ESchool News Staff

    Source link

  • How to make your home safer – Growing Family

    How to make your home safer – Growing Family

    [ad_1]

    Collaborative post

    Nobody wants to live in an unsafe home – a home where, rather than being comfortable and secure, you’re at risk of injury. Plus, if you’re not the only one living in your home, whether the other residents are family, friends, or pets, you won’t want them to get hurt either. 

    To avoid issues, you need to take steps to ensure your home is as safe as it can be. If your home is safe, you’ll not only be reducing risk; you’ll also enjoy being there a lot more and you’ll be more relaxed, which in turn can make life happier.

    Here are three simple things you can do to get started on making your home safer.

    first aid kit for home safety

    Carry out regular maintenance checks

    Something that can make a house unsafe, or at least less safe, is maintenance issues that go unresolved.

    It might not seem like too much of a problem to ignore a dripping tap, for example, but that dripping tap could be a symptom of a larger leak that would lead to damage and mould, both of which are potentially dangerous. Or what about a loose floorboard or a piece of carpet, some faulty wiring, damaged foundations, or an out-of-date fire extinguisher… the list goes on. 

    By fixing these things as soon as you notice them, and by carrying out regular (perhaps monthly) maintenance checks around the home, you can ensure the place is as safe as possible for anyone who lives there or visits. 

    Fire safety measures

    One of the most frightening things that can happen in a home is for a fire to break out. Fires can get out of control very quickly, and the damage they cause can be catastrophic. And of course, a house fire can cause nasty injuries – or worse. That’s why having good fire safety measures in your home is vital. 

    Some examples of home fire safety measures include fire doors with the right fire door handles, in-date fire extinguishers, fire blankets, a fire exit plan (just in case there’s a fire, this plan means everyone knows how to get out safely and where to meet), and, of course, smoke detectors on every floor.

    man fitting a smoke detector on a ceilingman fitting a smoke detector on a ceiling

    A first aid kit

    No matter how safe and careful you are, accidents can still happen. This fact makes having a good, up-to-date, fully stocked first aid kit in your home a great idea. Having one on the premises means if anything untoward happens, you’ll have everything you need to help the injured person. 

    Your first aid kit should indlude:

    • bandages
    • plasters
    • dressings
    • alcohol wipes
    • tweezers
    • scissors
    • disposable gloves
    • eye wash solution
    • painkillers
    • antihistamines
    • plus anything else you think would be useful to specific members of the household.

    The more stocked your first aid kit is, the more help you can be. Of course, you might still need to see a doctor or call an ambulance after an accident, but as the name suggests, a first aid kit can help you provide the initial care when an accident occurs.

    Don’t forget to check your first aid kit on a regular basis, and restock it when you’re running low or when something is out of date. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

    [ad_2]

    Catherine

    Source link

  • Clean and secure your tagged high-rise or we’ll do it for you, L.A. proposes telling owner

    Clean and secure your tagged high-rise or we’ll do it for you, L.A. proposes telling owner

    [ad_1]

    After six trespassing arrests were made in less than a week related to a heavily tagged unfinished skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles, the City Council will consider ordering the property owners to clean up the site.

    Councilmember Kevin de León introduced a motion Feb. 2 that would instruct the Department of Building and Safety, the Bureau of Street Services and the Bureau of Engineering to order the Oceanwide Plaza owners to secure the property and clear debris from the public right of way. The council will vote on the motion Friday.

    “Our residents and businesses deserve safe and vibrant neighborhoods, which is why I’ve taken action to ensure the Oceanwide property is cleaned and made safe,” De León.

    If the owners do not comply by Feb. 17, the city will begin its own cleanup process, the motion said. There is currently scaffolding, plastic barriers and other debris on the sidewalks and in the bus lane adjacent to the building.

    The Department of Building and Safety issued an order to the property owners on Jan. 31 requesting they remove all graffiti and debris and securely fence the building.

    Oceanwide Plaza was slated to be a mixed-use development including luxury apartments and hotel and retail space, but construction was halted in 2019 when the Beijing-based developers ran out of money.

    The incomplete high-rise has attracted many taggers and graffiti artists in recent weeks, who have collectively tagged at least 27 stories of the building. De León’s motion described the development as “a blight on downtown Los Angeles” and “a black eye on an otherwise vibrant part of DTLA.”

    The development faces Crypto.com Arena, which hosted the Grammys last weekend, and is near the popular L.A. Live complex among shops and restaurants. De León represents Council District 14, which includes downtown Los Angeles.

    De León’s motion orders the owners of Oceanwide Plaza to “restore the public right of way to its original condition,” and instructs various city organizations to step in if the job is not completed by the deadline. The motion also asks the city administrative officer to identify funding for the cleanup and securing of the site.

    The building attracts criminal activity and has become a hazard for surrounding residents and businesses, the motion said. Los Angeles Police Department officers are also investigating a report of shots fired near the development last week.

    [ad_2]

    Caroline Petrow-Cohen

    Source link

  • How the Gun-Reform Movement Can Finally “Break” the Grip of the Firearm Lobby

    How the Gun-Reform Movement Can Finally “Break” the Grip of the Firearm Lobby

    [ad_1]

    “I see it as an extension of the fight to save our country and our democracy from extremism,” Emma Brown told me over the phone recently. She had just taken over as executive director of Giffords, the key gun-reform organization founded by former representative Gabby Giffords a little more than a decade ago, and we were talking about what the next 10 years of the movement might look like.

    Brown was optimistic, especially after recent legislative wins, like 2022’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which would have seemed “impossible” just a handful of years ago. But Brown—a veteran of both Democratic senator Mark Kelly’s 2022 campaign and Joe Biden’s 2020 team in Arizona—was also clear-eyed about the challenges that lie ahead: “The stakes couldn’t be higher” for the November election, she said.

    In a conversation, which has been edited for clarity and length, Brown sounded off on the apparent weakening of the NRA, the next big priorities of the gun-reform movement, and the importance of broadening the push beyond Democrats: “We really believe that we have to expand our coalition.”

    Vanity Fair: You’re taking over Giffords at an interesting moment for the movement. Several years of uphill fighting have seemed to pay off with some real wins recently, at the federal level, with the Safer Communities Act, as well as with some action in the states. At the same time, we’ve seen some new challenges arise—I’m thinking of Bruen [the Supreme Court decision that did away with the legal requirement to show “proper cause” when applying for a concealed carry license in New York], for instance*.* If you had to take the temperature of the current state of the movement, where would you say we are right now compared with, say, 10 years ago?

    Emma Brown: It’s a good question. So first, a lot of people look at this issue and feel like we’re trying to push a boulder. But I think if you step back on it, it has been a tremendous amount of success in a short period of time. In the last 10 years, we have gotten from a place where guns were really on the third rail of politics to a place where it is a major component of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign. I have seen that evolution myself, up close in battleground states across the country over the last 10 years. So there’s really been a significant political development.

    Secondly, we’ve passed over 600 gun-safety laws during the time that Giffords has existed, really improving the strength of safety laws across the country. And then obviously, in 2022, we saw the major federal gun-safety law passed, the first one in 30 years, breaking a big logjam. So I think when you look at all of that, and the history of social movements in the United States, this one is relatively young—and the gun lobby had a century head start, but we are making legal and policy strides. And the cultural and political progress, which is part of what we’re really after, is not far behind. That’s obviously thanks to the groups that have been organizing for many decades—our law center being one of them, along with some of the more recent groups like March for Our Lives and Mothers of the Movement. I think we have supercharged in the last decade.

    The gun lobby was obviously once seen as a kind of Goliath figure on this issue, but it has seemed somewhat chastened recently. We’ve seen the resignation of Wayne LaPierre at the NRA, but we’ve also seen just kind of the culture shift around this issue. Is it right to see the gun lobby as being in retreat? Or is that wishful thinking a little bit? Is there danger of spiking the ball too early on that?

    No doubt, thanks to the work of the larger gun-violence-prevention movement and Giffords, the NRA and the lobby’s influence has significantly decreased. That is how we have been able to pass all those laws at the state level. It’s how we were able to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. I will say that I think it would be a mistake to assume that the lobby’s grip is not strong on state legislatures and Congress. A big part of where I think we are going as an organization, and as a movement, is looking to finally break that grip. I think if you step back, there is a big gulf in America, as you know, between public opinion and public policy on guns—and you ask yourself, If Americans believe that gun violence is a very big problem, and nearly all of Americans—90% of Republicans—support the same safety measures, how are these not law?

    [ad_2]

    Eric Lutz

    Source link

  • Opinion: ‘Just say no’ can kill kids. Teach them how to stay safe in the fentanyl era

    Opinion: ‘Just say no’ can kill kids. Teach them how to stay safe in the fentanyl era

    [ad_1]

    Melanie Ramos was only 15 years old when she died of a suspected overdose in a high school bathroom in Hollywood. Police reported that she and a friend had purchased pills they thought were prescription painkillers but which were likely fakes containing fentanyl, a potent opioid incorporated into counterfeit pills widely available in the illicit drug market.

    Fentanyl has caused such overdoses to rise sharply despite declining drug use among young people. Recent data suggest it kills an average of 22 teens every week around the nation. Tragic stories like Melanie’s are playing out across the country — and at an unprecedented rate. In a new analysis in the New England Journal of Medicine, we found that fatal overdoses among U.S. teens aged 14-18 hit an all-time high in 2022.

    Melanie was one of 111 teens who died between 2020 and 2022 in L.A. County, a hot spot where overdoses have spiked. We found hot spot counties across the U.S., but Southern California was uniquely hard hit. Of the 19 such counties we identified nationwide, six were in this region: Los Angeles, Orange (61 deaths), San Bernardino (55), Riverside (41), San Diego (36) and Kern (30).

    There are signs that teen overdoses in California dropped from 2021 to 2022, but this trend is still new, and hot spots can still occur anywhere — often unexpectedly. Every corner of America should be prepared.

    Overdose deaths are preventable. However, reducing teen overdoses requires a dramatic shift in drug-prevention programming: It needs to emphasize safety rather than abstinence alone.

    Drug use by teens is becoming more deadly, not more common. From 2002 to 2022, the share of high school seniors who had ever used illicit drugs declined from 21% to 8%. Teen drug use overall is at its lowest rate in decades. But fentanyl, which is found not only in counterfeit pills but also as a contaminant in other drugs, puts teens at unprecedented risk. Nearly two-thirds of teens who die from fentanyl have no known prior opioid use, a reminder that even first-time or infrequent exposure can be deadly.

    Drug prevention has long focused on keeping teens from trying drugs, which is a worthy goal. But it has lacked messaging for teens who do use and may end up in danger as a result. Teachers, parents, medical practitioners and others who provide drug prevention counseling should clearly communicate that any pill not prescribed by a physician or dispensed by a pharmacy has a significant chance of being a counterfeit containing a potentially lethal amount of fentanyl.

    This does not mean using scare tactics, which have been shown to backfire. As modeled by programs such as Safety First, available through Stanford, this approach should instead tap into teens’ desire to keep themselves and their peers safe and give them strategies to do so.

    These strategies include never using alone (so someone is available to intervene in an overdose), starting with a small amount of a drug (e.g., a quarter pill rather than a whole pill) to assess its potency, and avoiding mixing pills with alcohol and other sedating substances.

    Programming should also help teens recognize the signs of an overdose and teach them how to respond — by calling 911 and providing the nasal spray naloxone (Narcan) if it’s available. Schools should have naloxone on the premises — as has been the case in the L.A. Unified School District since late 2022, following Melanie Ramos’ death — and help teens understand how to access it on and off campus. Narcan recently became available over the counter, and teens can obtain it at pharmacies or get a doctor’s prescription for it.

    Teens who seek out pills to address depression, anxiety, trauma or other mental health concerns additionally need referrals to evidence-based mental health treatment such as counseling and, when appropriate, medications — which should be distinguished from the counterfeit pills widely available on the illicit market.

    There are some young people who might intentionally seek fentanyl, including the 1 in every 100 U.S. teens who has an opioid addiction. Keeping these adolescents safe requires educating them and their peers on how to recognize signs of addiction, where to receive care and the effectiveness of buprenorphine, a lifesaving but underused treatment for opioid misuse. Given the urgent need to intervene early, schools, families and doctors should be aware of local treatment programs and refer teens to them; the federal government maintains a searchable directory.

    Emphasizing safety in drug use messaging to young people will encounter opposition from policymakers and others, as it means confronting the uncomfortable reality that some teens use drugs. However, research indicates that teaching safety does not cause teens to use more drugs. Drug-prevention programming can still tell teens they shouldn’t use substances while equipping them with the tools to protect themselves if they do. Teens need this knowledge before more young lives are tragically lost.

    Scott Hadland (@DrScottHadland) is the chief of adolescent medicine at Mass General for Children and an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Joseph Friedman (@JosephRFriedman) is a substance-use researcher at UCLA.



    [ad_2]

    Scott Hadland and Joseph Friedman

    Source link

  • Metrasens' Advanced Detection Technology Chosen by Moore Public Schools for Enhanced Safety at Extracurricular Events

    Metrasens' Advanced Detection Technology Chosen by Moore Public Schools for Enhanced Safety at Extracurricular Events

    [ad_1]

    NAPERVILLE, Illiois and MOORE, Oklahoma (PRNewswire-PRWeb) —  Metrasens, a leading provider of advanced detection systems for security and safety applications, today announced its collaboration with Moore Public Schools (MPS), Oklahoma’s fourth-largest public school district. Together, they aim to bolster safety measures across the district by deploying Metrasens Ultra detection systems, ensuring a secure environment for extracurricular events at 35 campus sites and various large venues.

    Committed to maintaining the highest safety and security standards, MPS consistently evaluates and updates its protocols. The district, known for its proactive approach, embraces new initiatives and technologies to enhance existing security measures. Building on a successful pilot of Metrasens Ultra detectors in the previous academic year, MPS officially integrated them at the start of the 2023-2024 school year.

    In alignment with their ongoing commitment to safety, several schools within the district have already incorporated Metrasens detection systems. The decision to choose Metrasens was influenced by the unmatched reliability and durability of its detectors, which seamlessly align with the district’s overarching safety goals, whether implemented district-wide or at individual campuses.

    Following a rigorous evaluation process of various detector options, Metrasens stood out with its comprehensive product offerings and exceptional service. The company provided on-location assistance and training, earning high praise from the district.

    Dustin Horstkoetter, MPS Safety and Security Director, expressed his satisfaction, stating, “The reliability and quality of Metrasens solutions are incomparable. We appreciate the partnership we have with Metrasens and the client care and technical support they can provide a district of our size.”

    Metrasens Ultra utilizes state-of-the-art sensor technology to swiftly and accurately identify potential threats, including concealed weapons. Its unique flexibility for both indoor and outdoor use, coupled with portability that allows easy movement within and between facilities without physical contact, set it apart from competitors. Metrasens Ultra met key MPS criteria, including non-threatening design, portability, flexibility, ease of use, battery power option, weather resistance, zonal indication, and accuracy.

    “We are thrilled to play an integral part in helping MPS achieve their objective to accurately identify prohibited threat items before entry into their venues,” said Chis Arbeitman, Vice President of Market and Business Development at Metrasens. “MPS is utilizing the Metrasens Ultra to screen patrons before entering middle school and high school events, including football and basketball games, cheerleading competitions, graduations, and school board meetings. We remain committed to supporting all of their security initiatives to ensure a safe and positive experience for all participants in these venues.”

    About Metrasens
    Metrasens is the world’s leading provider of advanced magnetic detection technologies. With a technology center and manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom, a North American sales and customer service hub in Chicago and a global network of distributors, the company’s innovative products are designed to address deficiencies in conventional screening methods and make the world safer and more secure. Metrasens’ mission is to take cutting-edge science from the laboratory and use it to create revolutionary, award-winning products that meet the distinct and diverse security needs of its customers. Metrasens’ core technologies have a wide range of real-world applications, embodied by solutions that are easy to adopt and simple to use.
    For more information, visit  http://www.metrasens.com.

    About Moore Public Schools

    Moore Public Schools is Oklahoma’s fourth-largest public school district, serving 24,191 students and their families. Our vision is “Shaping Today’s Students Into Tomorrow’s Leaders” and we strive to achieve this vision by providing exceptional and varied opportunities for every student’s personal, physical, and academic growth. We have produced countless National Merit Finalists and academic all-state students over the decades, along with innumerable 6A athletics titles and superior fine arts, STEM, and career exploration offerings. These opportunities work to develop our students into young adults of character and resilience, prepared for their next chapters after graduation.

    Learn more at www.mooreschools.com

    eSchool News Staff
    Latest posts by eSchool News Staff (see all)

    [ad_2]

    ESchool News Staff

    Source link

  • Do Water Filters Really Work — And Which Ones Are the Best?

    Do Water Filters Really Work — And Which Ones Are the Best?

    [ad_1]

    It actually depends on where you live.
    READ MORE…

    [ad_2]

    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal

    Source link

  • Holiday Home Safety Tips: A Guide to a Secure and Festive Season

    Holiday Home Safety Tips: A Guide to a Secure and Festive Season

    [ad_1]

    The smell of freshly baked cookies and the sight of twinkling lights throughout your neighborhood can only mean one thing – the holiday season is here. Decorating your home, opening stockings by the fire, lighting the menorah, or toasting to the New Year with friends and family are festivities many people look forward to every year. 

    While there is plenty of fun to be had during the holiday season, there’s also an increased chance for something to go wrong if you’re not cautious or well prepared. From home fires and snow damage to theft and home burglaries, there are plenty of problems that can arise. Keep these home safety tips in mind this winter so you can be as safe as possible for the festivities to come.

    Holiday Light Safety

    Few traditions are more beloved than stringing lights throughout your home during the holiday season. While lights can certainly put you in the holiday spirit, they can be one of the most dangerous decorations. In fact, according to the NFPA, holiday lights are responsible for around 40% of Christmas tree fires. Before decking the halls, consider these precautions:

    • Replace light strands that are old, fraying, or have exposed wires.
    • Never plug more than three strands into one extension cord.
    • Never string together multiple extension cords.
    • Use light clips rather than nails or screws as they can conduct electricity. 
    • Secure loose light strands to avoid pulling or tugging by pets or children.
    • Use LED lights over incandescent lights; they use less energy and are less likely to start fires from emitting too much heat. LED lights can also save money on energy bills.
    • Never run lights through doors or windows.
    • Turn off lights when you leave your home, or be sure to keep lights on a timer.
    • Keep your tree properly hydrated; dry and dying trees are more likely to result in fires.

    More often than not, you’ll need to use a ladder if you plan to decorate outdoor trees, the front of your home, light posts, or any other structure far from the ground. When using a ladder to hang outdoor lights:

    • Wear slip-resistant shoes.
    • Choose the proper size ladder; don’t attempt to stand on the top of the ladder or stack one ladder on top of another.
    • Work with a partner to hold the ladder as an extra safety measure.
    • If possible, avoid using metal ladders to prevent an electric shock.

    Fire Safety 

    The risk of home fires is highest during the holiday season, so installing smoke detectors becomes even more critical during this time of year. If you already have these installed, be sure to test them and replace the batteries if needed. Now may also be a good time to upgrade to a smart smoke detector that sends alerts directly to your phone.

    Candles

    • Always put out candles if you intend on being out of the room for an extended period of time.
    • Keep decorative candles and/or menorahs at least 3 feet away from flammable objects and out of reach from kids and pets.
    • Never put real candles on Christmas trees. 
    • Ensure candles are placed in a sturdy holder and on flat surfaces.

    Heating 

    • Have a professional chimney sweep and furnace inspection annually.
    • Avoid hanging stockings, garlands, or other dangling holiday decorations near heating sources like fireplaces or space heaters while they’re in use.
    • Don’t toss wrapping paper into the indoor fireplace.
    • Ensure your home has a properly functioning carbon monoxide detector near every sleeping area. 

    Cooking 

    • Always watch what you are cooking. Unattended cooking is the most common cause of fires in the kitchen. 
    • Have a fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen.

    Christmas Trees

    • If you decide to get a live tree, be sure it’s watered sufficiently and frequently. If you opt for an artificial tree, ensure that it’s flame retardant.
    • Place trees as far away from heat sources, such as fireplaces or space heaters, as possible.
    • Once the holiday season has ended, or your live tree becomes too dry or dead, dispose of it right away as it can quickly become highly flammable.

    Fireworks 

    • Only light fireworks away from your home and buildings, as well as bushes, trees, or other vegetation.
    • Don’t relight fireworks that fail to explode. 
    • Follow all local laws and regulations. 

    warm-holiday-home-decor

    Home Security

    While the holiday season is supposed to be about spreading joy, theft and burglary rates are known to spike during this time of year. To prevent your home from being a burglar’s next culprit, step up your security game and consider these home safety tips:

    • If your tree is visible from a window, don’t display gifts under it.
    • Make sure you are home for package deliveries if possible. If you can’t be home, consider sending high-value items to the post office instead. 
    • When bringing home gifts, always unload your car in the garage with the door closed and don’t leave gifts in your car overnight. 
    • Make sure doors and windows are always locked and secure.
    • If you’ll be traveling, put lights on timers and let your family members or most trustworthy neighbors know so that they can keep an eye on your property, shovel your driveway, or pick up your newspapers to maintain the impression that someone is home.
    • Never post about travel plans on social media.

    If you don’t have a home security system, now may be the right time to invest in one. With the rise in home automation choices available, it’s become easier and more affordable to keep a remote eye on your property. There are plenty of smart home tech devices that can help you keep your home safe and secure this holiday season; such as smart locks, video camera doorbells, and security cameras. If you plan to be away and don’t have someone to look over your home, there’s also smart home lighting, thermostats, and sprinkler systems that can be controlled from anywhere. 

    Cold Weather Safety: Winterize Your Home 

    Snow may be beautiful, but the winter months can be a hazard for your loved ones and your home if you’re not careful. Icy driveways, ice dams, and frozen pipes are just a few problems that can arise. Before the deep chill of winter sets in, be sure to winterize your home.

    • Swap out screens for storm windows, and be sure to seal gaps around doors and windows with weather stripping.
    • Clean up debris around the landscape of your home as well as the roof.
    • Check all exterior vents and be sure they’re closed.
    • Prevent ice dams from forming on your roof by minimizing the amount of snowmelt; clean your gutters and keep your attic cool and ventilated. Icicles can be a sign that an ice dam is forming.
    • Carefully remove icicles that are within reach; if they’re too high up or don’t easily knock off, hire a professional to remove them to avoid potential injuries. 
    • Keep your driveway and sidewalk clear by shoveling off snow, or using a snow blower, and applying a deicer. 
    • Drain all remaining water from outdoor faucets or sprinkler systems to protect your pipes from freezing.  

    Your habits on the road matter in the winter, too. Prepare your car by ensuring you have snow brushes and ice scrapers, and consider putting salt or kitty litter in the trunk in case you encounter icy driveways or roads. Make sure to stock your vehicle with all the staples, such as first aid kits, road flares, and a jack. If you’re concerned about breaking down in the cold, store a few extra blankets and coats as well. For those in areas prone to very heavy snowfall, such as Minneapolis, don’t forget about snow tires and chains. 

    [ad_2]

    Mekaila Oaks

    Source link

  • How and when to replace your fuse box – Growing Family

    How and when to replace your fuse box – Growing Family

    [ad_1]

    Collaborative post

    Your fuse box is the control centre of your household’s power supply, which consists of various circuit breakers and fuses. Your fuse box can be used to control how and when electricity is distributed throughout your home, and plays a vital role in the safety of your property.

    As such an important piece of technology in your home, it’s crucial that you know when and how to replace your fuse box.

    person flicking switch on a fuse box

    When to replace your fuse box

    If you have an old fuse box, it may or may not be time to have it replaced. While an old fuse box may be outdated when compared with the latest standards, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need to have it fully replaced.

    A qualified electrician must perform the tests needed (in relation to British Safety Standards) to verify whether it’s time to replace your fuse box.

    With all that said, here are some scenarios in which it may be time to have your fuse box replaced by a professional:

    • It’s time to have your fuse box replaced if it is too outdated to meet modern safety standards.
    • You need to have your fuse box replaced if it is unsafe (for example, it has been worn down, a component is broken, or your fuse box and earthing to gas and water are not sufficiently safe).
    • A qualified electrician recommends you get a new fuse box (perhaps because they are concerned it will become unsafe in the near-to-medium future).
    • You simply want to opt for a safer, modern fuse box. Among the upsides of modern fuse boxes is the inclusion of an RCD or RCBOs. These can serve the purpose of protecting you and other members of your household from electric shocks, as well as other fault issues that can arise.  While older units will only trip when they experience an overload, an RCD or RCBOs can offer further protection in a way that isn’t available with older units. Ultimately, RCDs and RCBOs can trip in cases of non-overload fault scenarios, offering extra safety.

    How to get a new fuse box

    An electrician will be needed to verify the safety status before replacing your fuse box, or moving its location.

    Consulting with your electrician and electricity supplier

    If you want to replace or move your fuse box location, you must let your electric supplier know in advance and time things in such a way that they can turn off the power (if your supplier and the electrician decides it’s necessary) to your home. 

    It’s likely this will be required before the work gets underway and until the fuse box has been replaced or moved.

    In either case, the fuse box must be fully fitted and good to go per the electrician’s verification before the power is safe to be turned back on. Again, what the supplier and electrician will recommend and require for this work could vary depending on the nature of the job and the fuse box in question.

    electrician testing a fuse boxelectrician testing a fuse box

    You must hire a professional

    As we’ve already mentioned, you must hire a qualified electrician for replacing a fuse box. This is not a DIY-friendly task. Attempting such work by yourself could prove fatal.

    Once you’ve found the right person for the job, they’ll need to perform various electrical tests before they can move on to actually replacing your fuse box.

    If you’re not sure whether a new fuse box is required or even recommended, or if you have any other additional questions, be sure to consult with your electrician. They’ll be able to advise and help ensure you make the right calls to keep members of your household safe from electric hazards.

    Finding the right person for the job

    When it comes to hiring a qualified electrician, you may want to secure quotes from three or more electricians in your area. You can then compare their quotes and other aspects (such as online ratings or reviews) before deciding who to hire.

    Final thoughts

    To sum up, it’s essential that you have your fuse box replaced if it’s becoming worn and posing a safety risk.

    Also, even just the fact that older units lack the same levels of safety as modern units is arguably reason enough to replace your old fuse box as soon as you can.

    You must hire a qualified electrician to first perform various tests to check the status of your fuse box, and then carry out the work of replacing or moving it.

    [ad_2]

    Catherine

    Source link

  • Opinion: California didn’t ban Skittles. But it tackled a food safety problem the FDA hasn’t solved

    Opinion: California didn’t ban Skittles. But it tackled a food safety problem the FDA hasn’t solved

    [ad_1]

    Last month, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law California’s Food Safety Act banning four ingredients that are linked to health risks. These substances — red dye no. 3, propyl paraben, brominated vegetable oil and potassium bromate, currently found in some candies, sodas and baked goods — will not be allowed in the state’s foods starting in 2027. All four are banned from foods in the European Union (which only allows red no. 3 in candied and cocktail cherries), but, California aside, they remain perfectly legal in the U.S.

    New York is considering a similar law that would also ban a fifth substance previously included in California’s law — titanium dioxide, which is used in Skittles. That’s why the California measure got dubbed the “Skittles ban” (a name that stuck even after titanium dioxide was cut from the draft).

    California is the first state to go beyond Food and Drug Administration regulations by banning the other four additives. Should it have deferred to the FDA?

    The challenges facing the FDA make the case for state action. Sluggish and irregular safety reviews, a fast-track ingredient approval loophole that is abused by manufacturers, and a focus on acute food poisoning over long-term diet all hinder the agency’s ability to address the growing risks associated with our food supply.

    The FDA is required to review the safety of any new food additive and grant approval before it can be used. If evidence indicates that an additive is unsafe, the FDA is supposed to decline or limit its use. Three of the substances in California’s law were approved by this standard review: potassium bromate, Red Dye No. 3 and brominated vegetable oil. But the FDA is reevaluating the safety of the latter two and has proposed, though not finalized, a rule to ban brominated vegetable oil from the food supply.

    The fourth substance set to be banned in California, propyl paraben, was approved through what’s effectively a loophole in the FDA system. Ingredients classified as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) are exempt from the additive category and thus from careful FDA review. Congress crafted this exemption to be used infrequently, primarily to keep common ingredients like salt and spices on the market without an onerous approval process. But as food companies sought to avoid the rigorous food additive review, GRAS applications piled up.

    Without the resources to research the applications, and lacking further support from Congress, the FDA allowed manufacturers to skip the application and determine GRAS status with only a “voluntary notification process.” This means companies can choose whether to let the FDA know they believe their substance is GRAS — in which case FDA can affirm that decision — or they can self-affirm GRAS status and market the substance without ever notifying the FDA. Thousands of substances have entered the food supply this way. Even when companies voluntarily notify, as was the case for propyl paraben in 1984, the FDA does not conduct a full safety review to affirm GRAS status.

    Since GRAS notification is voluntary, the FDA does not know all the substances in our food supply. One study found that of the 4,284 GRAS determinations made as of January 2011, just 582 were cleared through the FDA’s voluntary notification process.

    Although the FDA has the authority to revoke GRAS status or an additive approval, the agency reviews the safety of greenlighted ingredients sporadically, rather than regularly — and often slowly.

    Take for example, trans fat from partially hydrogenated oils, a GRAS substance used for decades in commercial baked goods and other products. A 2004 citizen petition asked the FDA to look into the safety of these oils, but it wasn’t until 2015 that the FDA determined that they were not GRAS and banned them in food starting in 2020. By the time the FDA got around to this, New York City had already banned them in restaurants (in 2006), as had California (in 2008).

    The under-regulation of food additives is part of a larger challenge. FDA vetting focuses more on acute risks, such as food-borne illness, than on longer-term risks from diet. Of the agency’s more than $1 billion budget for its foods program, only 7% goes to nutrition and labeling, its major strategies to address diet-related disease. Yet while foodborne illness causes about 3,000 deaths per year, 1.5 million deaths in 2018 — more than half of all deaths that year — resulted from conditions linked to diet.

    But states moving to ban substances isn’t a perfect solution either. They generally don’t have the resources to conduct comprehensive safety reviews, and it would be more efficient to beef up the FDA’s infrastructure than to duplicate costly systems across states and potentially create a confusing patchwork of bans.

    We desperately need change at the federal level. The Government Accountability Office reported on flaws in the GRAS system in 2010, and the FDA has not addressed the majority of the recommendations, such as regularly reviewing the safety of GRAS substances and requiring companies to provide basic information about these substances. The FDA urgently needs additional Congressional funding to take action on food safety for all ingredients, with a particular eye toward diet-related chronic disease.

    In the meantime, states like California will have to keep taking the lead on evaluating harmful ingredients and show the federal government how it can be done.

    Emily Broad Leib is a clinical professor of law at Harvard Law School and faculty director of the school’s Food Law and Policy Clinic.

    [ad_2]

    Emily Broad Leib

    Source link

  • From WWE wrestling to global AI summit: The unlikely rise of Michelle Donelan

    From WWE wrestling to global AI summit: The unlikely rise of Michelle Donelan

    [ad_1]

    LONDON — Britain’s tech chief is no stranger to dealing with big egos. She used to promote superstar wrestlers.

    U.K. Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan’s past career as a marketeer for WWE wrestling may stand her in good stead at Bletchley Park on Wednesday, as she hosts representatives from more than 100 tech companies, countries and academic institutions on the first day of a U.K.-hosted summit which aims to grapple with one of the biggest challenges of our time — the rise of artificial intelligence. 

    Working at the fast-paced WWE was “very much like” being at her busy Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Donelan tells POLITICO — somewhat improbably — in an eve-of-summit interview at her sparsely-decorated office on Whitehall.

    The oddball world of commercial wrestling was also good training for politics.

    “It was an eye-opener to different personalities, and how to deal with those different personalities,” she says — ideal for “dealing with big egos, in terms of British politics.”

    A low-profile Tory MP who only bagged her first junior ministerial job in 2019, Donelan makes for a surprising compère for the first day of Rishi Sunak’s much-hyped AI summit.

    Unlike Sunak, the 39-year-old was no self-professed tech geek when she was entrusted with setting up his new science and technology department in February 2023. By her own admission she doesn’t regularly use generative AI tools like ChatGPT. 

    But Donelan, who was pregnant with her first child when she was handed the science and tech brief, has been wading through piles of binders detailing technical information as she tries to get to grips with the subject. Colleagues note admiringly (and sometimes despairingly) how she operates on just a few hours sleep.

    “I think my journey on this has been a deeper understanding of … just how vital it is that we do lead in this, that we aren’t passive, that we don’t wait for others,” she says.

    Summit going on

    Since February, Donelan has been laying the groundwork for a summit Sunak hopes will be one of the defining moments of his premiership, with the objective of convincing world leaders to agree on the risks posed by AI.

    She, like the PM, is concerned about the potential disruption artificial intelligence could pose. “The risks are very daunting, there’s no denying that,” she says, while acknowledging “there is a debate about whether they will materialize or not.”

    Her critics say the summit is wrongly focused on long-term risk, however, and argue not enough is being done to tackle AI’s more immediate threats.

    The U.K. is “way behind” in terms of bringing forward actual legislation, said Peter Kyle, Donelan’s opposite number in the Labour Party, who has not been invited to this week’s summit. Donelan’s department has not yet even published a response to its own consultation on an artificial intelligence white paper published way back in March, he pointed out.

    Donelan insists the summit is “only part” of the U.K.’s work on artificial intelligence, however and that it plans to say more about the white paper — a first step toward legislation — “by the end of the year.”

    “We’re not afraid to legislate. There will have to be legislation in this space eventually,” she says.

    But specifics are thin on the ground. She refuses to be drawn on “arbitrary timelines.”

    Surviving the hospital pass

    It was Donelan’s embrace of the government’s controversial Online Safety Bill, which she inherited in her previous ministerial role during the short-lived premiership of Liz Truss, which attracted the attention of Sunak.

    In the hard-fought Tory leadership campaign of July and August 2022, Truss and Sunak both promised to scrap parts of the bill focused on policing “legal but harmful” online content. It was Donelan, appointed as culture secretary by Truss, who was left to unravel those pledges.

    Her “no-nonsense” and “methodical” approach to the bill, and her willingness to take the views of her MP colleagues seriously, impressed Sunak when he arrived in No. 10 following Truss’ self-destruction.

    For that reason he kept her in post — and then chose her to set up the new department for science and technology earlier this year, according to a No. 10 official closely involved with that decision, granted anonymity to discuss internal government business.

    “I think Rishi, like me, can see that she is one of those effective secretaries of state that will deliver outcomes,” said former Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi, whom Donelan worked alongside prior to her promotion to Cabinet.

    Finally getting the Online Safety Bill into law was a notable achievement. Donelan’s previous claim to fame had been her unwanted record of being the shortest-serving Cabinet minister in British history. She took the job of education secretary, and then resigned 35 hours later, in the chaotic final days of the Boris Johnson administration. 

    Child protection

    Donelan’s resolve to get the bill through parliament had been hardened by a one-to-one meeting with campaigner Ian Russell last November. His daughter Molly took her own life after viewing suicide content online.

    Donelan has kept the dossier of Molly’s posts handed to her by Russell at that private meeting, according to one U.K. government official. “From that [meeting] she was more determined to do something on child protection,” they said.

    “It was heart-wrenching to hear his story, and those of other bereaved parents and I felt very passionately that we had an opportunity to really make a difference on this and to and to change the nature in which we regulate the online world,” Donelan says.

    Her approach was strikingly different to the long line of Tory ministers who preceded her. Her willingness to simply pick up the phone to relevant business leaders — often bypassing official government channels — has won her admirers in the exasperated U.K. tech industry, which has endured a succession of different ministers overseeing a bill plagued by uncertainty.

    “It was a complete breath of fresh air when she came in,” said Dom Hallas, executive director of tech lobbying outfit the Startup Coalition. “At industry roundtables she is to the point and well-briefed, but she is also frank when something is not going to happen.”

    “She actually gets things done, which I would contrast with the previous [Boris Johnson-led] regime. She does listen and seems interested in trying to find out what various stakeholders think about things,” Julian David, chief executive of industry body TechUK, added.

    Donelan feels she has skin in the game. Her son was born in the spring, and the tech secretary says the new online laws make her “a lot more confident in his use of social media, when he’s old enough.”

    Donelan confirms, however, that being handed a new government department, while heavily pregnant, and about to take maternity leave, was no small challenge. 

    “I’m not going to lie. It’s a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. Before you have a child you don’t appreciate you are going to have things like ‘Mum guilt’,” she says. “It was easier in my head and harder in reality.”

    The long game

    Donelan’s unshowy style belies a burning ambition, according to multiple MPs and officials who have tracked her career to date.

    She told both the Mail on Sunday and the BBC’s Political Thinking podcast that she decided to become a politician at the age of six, after seeing Tory icon Margaret Thatcher on television.

    In 1999, aged just 15, she spoke at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool. She was just 26 when she first stood for election, as a no-hoper in the safe Labour seat of Wentworth and Dearne in 2010.

    Three years later she became the Conservative candidate for the Lib Dem held seat of Chippenham — going on to overturn a 2,470 Lib Dem majority in the 2015 general election.

    On arriving in parliament, Donelan’s ambition was obvious to colleagues. One recalls her immediately asking for advice on how to climb the career ladder.

    Soon after she took her first step up, as a parliamentary private secretary — a lowly unpaid aide to a minister — the Conservative whips’ office created a leaderboard tallying the workrate of the 40-odd MPs holding similar roles. Donelan led the way, smashing every target by a significant margin, one minister said.

    “If she’s given a task she will attack it like nothing else. I’m not so sure about the bigger picture stuff — wider strategizing and setting a direction herself. But give her a direction and she’ll go at it,” the same minister said. 

    In her private life, Donelan is a committed Christian who shies away from the darker side of politics. She is “extremely respectful of Cabinet colleagues,” another former government official who worked with her said. “She doesn’t seem to be involved in backdoor skulduggery. It is all very earnest, but it is working for her in a way that is quite refreshing.”

    Yet she raised eyebrows at the Conservative Party conference in October with a main stage speech clearly designed to please the grassroots and capture a few right-wing headlines. Donelan vowed a crackdown on the “creeping wokeism” she claimed is threatening scientific research — and went viral for all the wrong reasons.

    A difficult interview with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire at the same conference also landed her less-than-positive headlines.

    For an ambitious minister looking to wrestle her way onto the world stage this week, these are nothing more than hazards of the job.

    Emilio Casalicchio contributed reporting

    [ad_2]

    Annabelle Dickson and Tom Bristow

    Source link

  • US and China join global leaders to lay out need for AI rulemaking

    US and China join global leaders to lay out need for AI rulemaking

    [ad_1]

    BLETCHLEY PARK, England — The United States and China joined global leaders to sign a 27-country agreement on the risk of AI that launched a two-day AI Safety Summit.

    In a major diplomatic coup for the British hosts, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo took the stage on Wednesday morning alongside Wu Zhaohui, China’s vice minister of science, at the summit at Bletchley Park — a former military installation north of London where British engineers used early forms of computers to break German codes during World War II.

    The site — symbolic of what London believes is a similar global need to rein in the potential harms of artificial technology — forms the backdrop for efforts by politicians, tech executives and academics to find new ways to police a technology evolving faster than almost all governments can respond to it.

    This week alone, the U.S. government and G7 group of leading Western democracies published separate efforts to regulate artificial intelligence in the form of a White House executive order and voluntary code of conduct, respectively. The EU expects to complete its separate Artificial Intelligence Act by early December and the United Nations’ newly-created AI advisory board will provide its own recommendations by the end of 2023.

    “We will compete as nationals. But even as we compete vigorously, we must search for global solutions for global problems,” said Raimondo, who is traveling to the United Kingdom alongside U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. “The work, of course, does not begin and end with just the U.S. and the U.K. We want to expand information sharing, research, collaboration, and ultimately policy alignment across the globe.”

    In a summit communiqué, published Wednesday, 27 countries and the EU signed the so-called Bletchley Park Declaration on AI. The document focuses solely on so-called “frontier AI,” or the latest version of the technology that has become popular via digital services like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. 

    The signing countries include both China and the U.S. despite the world’s two largest economies battling over everything from technology to geopolitical power. The voluntary statement commits governments to work together toward trustworthy and responsible AI — catchwords for the safe use of the emerging technology.

    “China is willing to engage on AI governance for the promotion of all mankind. That’s our objective,” Wu Zhaohui, China’s vice minister of science and technology, told the audience in Bletchley. The official sat on stage next to the U.S.’s Raimondo despite the countries’ ongoing tension.

    References to global AI regulation efforts undertaken by international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which were featured in an earlier draft, did not make it to the final communiqué. Questioned about that in a press briefing, U.K. Digital Minister Michelle Donelan said that the summit “complements and doesn’t cut across the existing processes” unfolding at the international level, and that officials from the U.N. and the OECD see the U.K.’s initiative as “as a missing piece of the [AI regulation] puzzle” as it specifically deals with advanced frontier AI.

    The British government announced the next AI Safety Summit will be held in South Korea in May, 2024 and a third event is planned for France by the end of next year. The U.K. and the U.S. also announced plans to work together on AI Safety Institutes, which are expected to exchange analyses.

    Věra Jourová, the EU’s digital chief, welcomed the renewed efforts to rein in potential risks associated with the most advanced systems of artificial intelligence. The 27-country bloc has been working on its own AI legislation for the last three years. But the Czech politician acknowledged much had changed over that time period when it came to what AI systems could now do.

    “We have a common obligation for doing this right,” Jourová told the British audience Wednesday in reference to global efforts to set guardrails for the emerging technology. “The future will ask us if we did the right thing at the right moment.”

    [ad_2]

    Mark Scott, Tom Bristow and Gian Volpicelli

    Source link

  • British PM Rishi Sunak secures ‘landmark’ deal on AI testing

    British PM Rishi Sunak secures ‘landmark’ deal on AI testing

    [ad_1]

    BLETCHLEY, England — The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday said that under a new agreement “like-minded governments” would be able to test eight leading tech companies’ AI models before they are released.

    Closing out the two-day artificial intelligence summit in Bletchley Park on Thursday, Sunak announced the agreement signed by Australia, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the U.S. and the U.K. to test leading companies’ AI models. 

    “Until now the only people testing the safety of new AI models have been the very companies developing it. That must change,” said Sunak to a room full of journalists. 

    “Like-minded governments and AI companies have today reached a landmark agreement. We will work together on testing the safety of new AI models before they are released… it’s made possible by the decision I have taken along with Vice President Kamala Harris for the British and American governments to establish world leading AI safety institutes with public sector capability to test the most advanced frontier models.”

    Sunak said the eight companies — Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, Google, Google DeepMind, Inflection AI, Meta, Microsoft, Mistral AI and Open AI — had agreed to “deepen” the access already given to his Frontier AI Taskforce, which is the forerunner to the new institute. The access is currently given on a voluntary basis, though under its Executive Order, the U.S. government has put binding requirements to hand over certain safety information. 

    Sunak also announced further details of an agreement reached with countries yesterday to establish an international advisory panel on frontier AI risks. 

    Modeled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), it will be formed from representatives from the 28 countries attending the summit. The British government said it would provide secretariat support for it.

    The panel will also support academic Yoshua Bengio in producing a “State of Science” report into the risks and capabilities of frontier AI. The report will not make policy recommendations, but is designed to inform international and national policy making. It will be published ahead of the next safety summit in South Korea in the first half of next year.

    [ad_2]

    Vincent Manancourt

    Source link

  • Hamas is fighting ‘sacred’ war with Israel, says Hezbollah chief

    Hamas is fighting ‘sacred’ war with Israel, says Hezbollah chief

    [ad_1]

    Press play to listen to this article

    Voiced by artificial intelligence.

    The leader of the Hezbollah militant group has thrown his backing behind Palestinian militants and praised the attacks that killed more than a thousand Israeli civilians, in his first public appearance since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas last month.

    In a televised speech broadcast on Friday from an unknown location, Hassan Nasrallah praised the “martyrs” who have died fighting Israeli troops, denied the Hamas attacks had been coordinated by Iran, and said fighters loyal to him were “prepared to make unlimited sacrifices” in supporting their cause.

    “This operation is great; this sacred operation was 100 percent Palestinian, and was implemented by Palestinians,” he said. 

    However, he stopped short of explicitly declaring war on Israel and opening a second front in the conflict, despite predictions that he could seek to escalate tensions dramatically.

    Nasrallah has led Hezbollah since 1992, when his predecessor was killed by Israeli forces. While the group maintains it is comprised of both a political party and a separate military wing, Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist organization in its entirety by Israel, the U.S., the U.K., the Arab League and a number of EU member states. It has close ties to Iran, which also backs Hamas in the Gaza Strip, as well as the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and paramilitaries in Iraq and Yemen — all of which are vehemently opposed to Israel and its Western partners.

    Hezbollah maintains a tight hold over southern Lebanon, effectively ruling the region independently from the Middle Eastern nation’s elected government. Its fighters have carried out attacks and drone strikes on Israeli positions across the line of contact in recent days amid a sharp spike in violence across the region, with Israeli officials ordering the evacuation of citizens from 42 communities in the surrounding area.

    Ahead of Nasrallah’s speech, schools and government buildings throughout Lebanon closed and crowds gathered in the capital of Beirut as well as in other Middle Eastern countries to watch the address. While many in the tiny nation — home to just five and a half million people — fear a renewed conflict with Israel, Hezbollah is effectively able to operate entirely independently from the state and retains high levels of support from the Shia Muslim community.

    The Israel Defense Forces earlier Friday said it was on “very, very high alert” along its northern border with Lebanon.

    Southern Lebanon was effectively occupied by Israeli forces from 1985 until 2000, fighting a series of military offensives and running battles with militant groups during and after the country’s 15-year civil war. Hezbollah and Israel also fought a brief but bloody war in 2006, with hundreds killed on both sides and no decisive result.

    French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu was in Beirut Friday afternoon, declaring that his country “will continue to provide support to the Lebanese Armed Forces … because the stability of Lebanon is key for the country and for the region.”

    Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel amid growing calls for a “humanitarian pause” in the fighting to allow Palestinian civilians to flee as Israel steps up its offensive in the Gaza Strip. Blinken reiterated Israel’s right to defend itself and said “no country would, or should, tolerate the slaughter of innocents.” However, he did call for greater protection for Palestinians amid the worsening military confrontation.

    Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in Israel amid growing calls for a “humanitarian pause” | Jonathan Ernst/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza claims that 9,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict last month, while Israeli troops have taken control of key strategic points in and around Gaza City, telling non-combatants to leave their homes and seek safety in southern Gaza — which has also been targeted by air strikes.

    More than 1,400 people have been killed on the Israeli side of the border since Hamas launched its major offensive, with fighters infiltrating the country by land, air and sea.

    Laura Kayali contributed reporting.

    [ad_2]

    Gabriel Gavin

    Source link

  • Taber Innovations Group Successfully Demonstrates Pioneering OWL System, Reinventing First Responder Situational Awareness

    Taber Innovations Group Successfully Demonstrates Pioneering OWL System, Reinventing First Responder Situational Awareness

    [ad_1]


    LEBANON, Tenn., October 29, 2023 (Newswire.com)
    –
    On Friday, in an impressive display of technological prowess, Taber Innovations Group LLC (TIG), a Las Vegas Nevada based technology company, unveiled its groundbreaking Over Watch Locator™ (OWL™) system to an enthralled audience in Lebanon, Tennessee. This event heralds a new era in safety and efficiency for first responders, offering an unparalleled level of situational awareness.

    Addressing a Historical Challenge

    For generations, incident commanders have faced immense challenges in maintaining accurate, real-time awareness of their teams’ positions during critical operations. The OWL™ system, underpinned by TIG’s patented LEAP™ technology, provides an answer to this long-standing problem. “OWL™ is more than just a product; it’s a reflection of our commitment to those who put their lives on the line for us daily,” commented Phil Taber, founder of TIG and a 22-year combat veteran of the USAF.

    A Leap Ahead with LEAP™

     TIG’s demonstration showcased OWL’s robust real-time tracking, offering incident commanders an immediate visual on team movements and positions. Its versatility extends to various professionals, from firefighters to underground workers and event safety personnel. Furthermore, the system’s interoperability fosters collaboration across services, ensuring cohesive coordination during joint operations.

    Local Collaboration Proves Crucial

    A highlight of Friday’s demonstration was the strong collaboration between TIG and the Lebanon Fire Department (LFD). Chief Jason Baird of Lebanon Fire Department noted, “I know for firefighters, everything needs to be simplistic, quick, and practical and [TIG] has hit all three. [LFD] is very impressed with the technology.”

    Looking to the Future 

    With an eye on revolutionizing the protocols of over 30,000 municipal fire departments nationwide, TIG aims to not only introduce this groundbreaking tech but also foster continued engagement with its data storage and Visualized Incident Replay system.

    Join the Revolution 

    Taber Innovations Group extends an invitation to potential investors and collaborators keen on participating in a transformative journey, ensuring the safety and amplified efficiency of our first responders. For further information, please visit https://taberinnovations.com and https://overwatchlocator.com.

    Source: Taber Innovations Group LLC

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Gaza offensive in ‘next stage,’ Israel says, as bombing causes blackout

    Gaza offensive in ‘next stage,’ Israel says, as bombing causes blackout

    [ad_1]

    Israel expanded its military operations in northern Gaza, including bombardments that cut off communications and internet connections, as military officials suggested an anticipated ground offensive against the Hamas militants was starting.

    “We moved to the next stage in the war,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in remarks broadcast Saturday. “Last evening, the ground shook in Gaza. We attacked above ground and underground,” he added.

    “The instructions to the forces are clear. The campaign will continue until further notice,” Gallant said.

     The Israel Defense Forces reissued a call for residents to evacuate northern Gaza, warning: “Your window to act is closing, move south for your own safety.”

    Aid groups and civil society organizations said they have lost touch with staff and families in the Gaza Strip as a result of the connection outages.

    “Last night, the ground forces entered and continued expanding the ground force operations. Infantry, engineering and artillery are accompanied by heavy gunfire,” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said on Saturday. Senior Hamas officials, including the head of the militant group’s aerial operations, were killed, he said.

    “Overnight, IDF fighter jets struck Asem Abu Rakaba, the head of Hamas’ Aerial Array. Abu Rakaba was responsible for Hamas’ UAVs, drones, paragliders, aerial detection and defense,” the IDF said on social media. Abu Rakaba took part in planning the October 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel and “was responsible for the drone attacks on IDF posts,” the IDF said.

    Israel’s stepped-up military moves heightened fears that a widely anticipated ground invasion of Gaza was coming neareer. Residents in the enclave have already suffered large losses from air strikes and targeted raids. 

    The head of the World Health Organization said on Saturday that “reports of intense bombardment in Gaza are extremely distressing,” adding that “evacuation of patients is not possible under such circumstances, nor to find safe shelter.”

    “The blackout is also making it impossible for ambulances to reach the injured. We are still out of touch with our staff and health facilities. I’m worried about their safety,” WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement. He appealed to “all those who have the power to push for a cease-fire to act NOW.”

    The U.N. General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution on the Israel-Hamas crisis, calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities.” The Israeli government dismissed the U.N. resolution, saying Israel will continue to defend itself. “Israel will do what must be done to eradicate Hamas’ capabilities,” said Gilad Erdan, the Israeli ambassador to the U.N.

    EU leaders on Thursday agreed to call for “pauses for humanitarian needs” to allow aid into Gaza, with European Council President Charles Michel welcoming the “strong unity” among the bloc’s governments.

    Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, killing over 1,400 people. Israel has retaliated with daily airstrikes on the blockaded Palestinian enclave, killing an estimated 7,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

    [ad_2]

    Pierre Emmanuel Ngendakumana

    Source link

  • Lawmakers and unions defend burdensome airline regulations with bogus statistics

    Lawmakers and unions defend burdensome airline regulations with bogus statistics

    [ad_1]

    The aviation industry is up in the air: There is a shortage of commercial airline pilots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering whether to regulate smaller airlines out of existence. And Congress has struggled to pass a bill that would reauthorize the FAA through 2028. (Ahead of an October 1 shutdown, lawmakers agreed to extend the deadline to the end of the year.)

    In each case, the argument is over safety: whether current regulations are sufficient, too strict, or not strict enough. Some feel that the rules governing major airlines protect passengers, and that any attempt to soften them would be catastrophic.

    Some industry stakeholders, such as the world’s largest pilot union, are using spurious statistics to make their case—and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are going along with it.

    On February 12, 2009, Colgan Air Flight 3407 from Newark to Buffalo crashed on approach to land. All 49 passengers and crew, plus one person on the ground, were killed. An investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed pilot error.

    In response, Congress passed the Airline Safety and Federal Aviation Administration Extension Act of 2010. Most consequentially, the law required pilots to log “at least 1,500 flight hours” in order to qualify for airline transport pilot (ATP) certification and be eligible to fly commercially. Previously, passenger airline pilots needed only 250 hours; most European countries still only require 250 hours as well.

    At the time, the industry was skeptical. Smaller airlines worried that requiring so many more hours would cause a shortage of pilots. Roger Cohen, head of the Regional Airline Association, told NPR the new number was “arbitrary.”

    Just as predicted, the U.S. is now experiencing a pilot shortage. Geoff Murray, Daniel Rye, and Lindsay Grant of the consulting firm Oliver Wyman wrote in October 2023 that they expected the North American airline industry’s pilot shortage to grow to 13,300 by 2032. But the authors also noted that “the tight supply has proved to be less dire in Canada. Based on current figures, we expect to see a mild pilot shortage this year, with pilot supply and demand converging in 2024.” One factor in Canada’s favor, they noted, was “the absence of the US rule that requires pilots to earn a minimum of 1,500 flight hours before being allowed to work for an airline.”

    That’s bad news for passengers, though it’s good news for existing pilots: Recent pilot contracts have included a 34 percent raise at Delta and a raise of as much as 46 percent at American Airlines. Clearly, when your services are more in demand, you can command a higher price for your labor.

    The Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the world’s largest pilot union, has a simple position on the pilot shortage: There is no pilot shortage.

    “There are more than enough certificated pilots to meet demand here in the United States,” claims the union’s website. “The aviation industry is currently producing more pilots capable of immediately stepping into the right seat than there are jobs available to them.” It notes that from July 2013 to March 2023, the U.S. generated nearly 64,000 ATP-certificated pilots while airlines only hired about 40,000, thereby generating a surplus of nearly 24,000.

    Those numbers “suggest that every single ATP pilot will be an airline pilot, hence supply is greater than demand,” counters Murray. “But data indicates that many pilots (about a third) who have ATPs don’t fly for the airlines but rather fly the corporate/general aviation sector.” In that case, ALPA’s surplus shrinks nearly to zero.

    Nevertheless, some lawmakers have stuck by the 1,500-hour rule. This summer, the House passed an FAA reauthorization bill that would allow aspiring pilots to count 250 hours of flight simulator training toward their 1,500 hour minimum. (Under current law, they can only count 100 simulator hours.) Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D–Ill.) declared that if the change was allowed, her colleagues would have “blood on your hands.” To date, the Senate has not passed an FAA reauthorization.

    Similarly, when Republic Airlines asked the FAA for permission to hire pilots with 750 hours from its own flight school (matching an exception granted to former military pilots, who also need only 750 hours), the agency declined, stating that this exception “is not in the public interest and would adversely affect safety.”

    Implicit in such warnings is the idea that the 1,500-hour rule is necessary to ensure flight safety. But there is little evidence that the beefed-up requirements have any bearing on safety—not now, and not when the rule was passed. “The FAA was unable to find a quantifiable relationship between the 1,500-hour requirement and airplane accidents and hence no benefit from the requirement,” the agency determined in 2013. In 2010, NTSB Chair Deborah Hersman told a Senate subcommittee, “We’ve investigated accidents where we’ve seen very high-time pilots, and we’ve also investigated accidents where we’ve seen low-time pilots. We don’t have any recommendations about the appropriate number of hours.”

    Some industry stakeholders credit the 1,500-hour rule with the near-absence of U.S. passenger airline fatalities since the Colgan crash. ALPA and its president, Captain Jason Ambrosi, often claim that since the law was passed, U.S. airline passenger fatalities have dropped 99.8 percent. The number appears on their website, in their press releases, in written Senate testimony, and in news articles that quote Ambrosi. It also showed up in a June letter to Sen. John Thune (R–S.D.), who had supported the provision to allow more simulator hours. (“Why,” wrote Ambrosi, “when we have reduced the number of airline passenger fatalities by 99.8 percent since the current pilot training and qualification rules were implemented, would such a roll back even be considered?”)

    And it was cited on the House floor: During the June debate over the FAA reauthorization bill, Rep. Brian Higgins (R–N.Y.) claimed that “commercial aviation fatalities have decreased by 99.8 percent” since Congress “significantly increased the number of required flight training hours from just 250 to 1,500 hours.”

    In response to Reason‘s request for clarification, an ALPA spokesperson pointed to a bar chart on its website. The chart lists annual U.S. airline passenger fatalities since 1990, using the 2010 law as the dividing line. Before 2010, there are multiple years with 50 or more fatalities; there are no deaths in each year from 2011 to 2017 and 2020 to 2021, with tiny single-digit blips in 2018 and 2019.

    The first problem with the chart is that the 1,500-hour rule didn’t go into effect until July 15, 2013—meaning it had no bearing on the dearth of fatalities in 2011, 2012, and the first half of 2013. (And since the chart makes 2010 the dividing line, it obscures the fact that there were just two commercial airline deaths that year). Further, there are multiple years before 2010 with zero fatalities, including the two years prior to the Colgan crash.

    The “99.8 percent” claim is also misleading. It doesn’t refer to annual deaths, as that statistic would require at least 500 per year before the law and one per year after in order to show a 99.8 percent decline. Instead, ALPA appears to be comparing the total deaths from 1990–2010 to the total from 2011–2021. Not only does this compare a 20-year period to a 10-year period, but it elides the fact that not every crash is the result of pilot error—and even among those that are, the 1,500-hour rule would often have made no difference.

    In fact, the pilots on the Colgan flight that spawned the rule each had more than 1,500 hours of flight time: Captain Marvin Renslow had 3,379 hours logged, while First Officer Rebecca Shaw had 2,244, of which 774 were in planes like the one involved in the crash. According to the NTSB’s investigation of the accident, Renslow “experienced training problems throughout his flying career” and showed “continued weaknesses in basic aircraft control and attitude instrument flying.” As a result, Renslow “would have been a candidate for remedial training,” but “Colgan [Air] was not proactively addressing his training and proficiency issues.”

    Similarly, ALPA’s data includes Alaska Airlines Flight 261 that crashed on January 31, 2000, killing all 88 passengers and crew. But the NTSB determined that crash was caused by mechanical failure. ALPA also includes American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed in Belle Harbor, New York, in 2001, killing 260 people. (ALPA’s numbers do not include the September 11 attacks, as NTSB data excludes fatalities resulting from terrorism, suicide, or sabotage.) But while the NTSB did determine that Flight 587 was brought down by pilot error, the officer in question had 4,403 flight hours—nearly three times the current legal requirement.

    The 1,500-hour rule would not have kept those negligent pilots out of their cockpits. But it can keep out skilled pilots who could alleviate a shortage.

    [ad_2]

    Joe Lancaster

    Source link