Avian Influenza: Current Situation

Avian Influenza: Current Situation: "Influenza A (H5N1) is an influenza A virus subtype that occurs mainly in birds, is highly contagious among birds, and can be deadly to them. Outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry are ongoing in a number of countries."

Plaquenil for Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis

Plaquenil for Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Totalis: "Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition resulting in hair loss and complete baldness (alopecia totalis)."

4-Day-A-Week Treatment Plan for HIV Infected Adolescents

4-Day-A-Week Treatment Plan for HIV Infected Adolescents: "This study will determine if taking anti-HIV drugs 4 days a week will control HIV-1 viral replication in patients who have already had at least 6 months of documented viral suppression with full-time treatment. If this strategy is shown to be safe in this study, a larger study will be undertaken to determine if the strategy can decrease overall drug exposure and help young people adjust more easily to a chronic medication schedule. "

IRS Postpones Taxpayer Deadlines in Areas Hit Hardest by Katrina

IRS Postpones Taxpayer Deadlines in Areas Hit Hardest by Katrina: "WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service is postponing taxpayer filing and payment deadlines for affected taxpayers hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina."

Warehouse Filth Prompts Seizure of Food from DC Firm

Warehouse Filth Prompts Seizure of Food from DC Firm: "At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a warrant on February 17, 2006, to seize various foods at Happy Valley Food, Inc., located in the District of Columbia."

New Labeling Rules Spur Major Improvements but Pitfalls Remain, Says CSPI�s Nutrition Action Healthletter

New Labeling Rules Spur Major Improvements but Pitfalls Remain, Says CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter: "New trans-fat labeling regulations that went into effect on January 1 have spurred many food processors to dump partially hydrogenated oils in favor of less harmful alternatives."

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES LAND SWAP BETWEEN ATLANTA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COLLEGE PARTNERS, INC.

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES LAND SWAP BETWEEN ATLANTA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COLLEGE PARTNERS, INC.: "ATLANTA - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced a land transfer between the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and the city's three historically black colleges"

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES LAND SWAP BETWEEN ATLANTA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COLLEGE PARTNERS, INC.

HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES LAND SWAP BETWEEN ATLANTA HOUSING AUTHORITY AND COLLEGE PARTNERS, INC.: "ATLANTA - Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced a land transfer between the Atlanta Housing Authority (AHA) and the city's three historically black colleges"

$134 Million to be Distributed to Enron Workers and Retirees

$134 Million to be Distributed to Enron Workers and Retirees: "WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced that Enron workers and retirees will receive $133.95 million in cash to be distributed through the company's retirement plans. The major portion of the cash total, $124.6 million, represents proceeds of the sale of the Enron Corp. bankruptcy claim to Bear Stearns Investment Products Inc., New York, N.Y.; the remaining $9.33 million was paid separately by Enron earlier this month as a distribution for part of the bankruptcy claim. "

Technical and Economic Assessment of Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6):

Technical and Economic Assessment of Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6): The U. S. Department of Commerce has released the final report on the technical and economic issues related to IPv6 adoption in the United States, including the appropriate role of government, international interoperability, security in transition, and costs and benefits of IPv6 deployment. The report was developed by the IPv6 Task Force, led by NTIA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Endometriosis : Traditional Medicine Vs Hormone Therapy

Endometriosis : Traditional Medicine Vs Hormone Therapy: "This 36-week study will determine whether traditional Chinese medicine (acupuncture and Chinese herbs) is as effective as hormone therapy for alleviating endometriosis-related pelvic pain. "

CDI Announces New Online Service for Insurance License Renewals and Change of Address Requests

CDI Announces New Online Service for Insurance License Renewals and Change of Address Requests: "SACRAMENTO - In an ongoing commitment to improve service that benefits both consumers and the insurance industry, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced Thursday a new online system that will allow licensees to renew licenses and change their address of record paper free."

Vitamin-D and Crohn�s Disease

Vitamin-D and Crohn�s Disease: "The purpose of this study is to examine whether vitamin-D treatment is effective in Crohns Disease."

IRS Streamlines Extension of Time to File for Business Taxpayers

IRS Streamlines Extension of Time to File for Business Taxpayers: "WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service has simplified the process for business taxpayers filing for an extension"

Title Company Accused of 2,442 Acts of Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices

Orange Coast Title CompanyAccused of 2,442 Acts of Deceptive and Unfair Business Practices: "SANTA ANA - Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced Thursday that he has issued an accusation against Orange Coast Title Company (OCTC) seeking $14 million in civil penalties for 2,442 alleged violations of the insurance code."

California Announces Sentencing of Former Farmers Insurance Agent for Insurance Premium Theft

California Announces Sentencing of Former Farmers Insurance Agent for Insurance Premium Theft: "Former agent sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $13,460 for three felony counts of Grand Theft"

Job-Seekers Training for Patients With Drug Dependence / Drug Addiction

Job-Seekers Training for Patients With Drug Dependence / Drug Addiction: "The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of a 12-hour basic job-training program designed to give drug abuse treatment patients the skills they need to find and secure a job and set vocational goals and methods for locating employment. The intervention to be evaluated is modeled after the Job Seekers' Workshop, which was manualized and has been tested in trials."

United States Patent & Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent

United States Patent & Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent: "WASHINGTON, D.C. The Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued patent No. 7 million to DuPont senior researcher John P. OBrien for "polysaccharide fibers" and a process for their production. The fibers have cotton-like properties, are biodegradable and are useful in textile applications. "

Life Skills Prisoners Program Grant Opportunity

Life Skills Prisoners Program Grant Opportunity - The Life Skills for State and Local Prisoners Program provides financial assistance for establishing and operating programs designed to reduce recidivism through the development and improvement of life skills necessary for reintegration of adult prisoners into society.

Gambling Income and Losses

Gambling Income and Losses: "Gambling winnings are fully taxable and must be reported on your tax return. Gambling income includes, but is not limited to, winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse and dog races and casinos, as well as the fair market value of prizes such as cars, houses, trips or other noncash prizes."

Dietary Variety Vs Dietary Fat Effects in Energy Intake

Dietary Variety Vs Dietary Fat Effects in Energy Intake: "We anticipate that the results of this investigation will lead to a greater understanding of the relative importance of eating patterns versus macronutrient composition in the etiology of obesity, and more specifically, dietary variety versus dietary fat in determining energy intake."

Paintball Markers Recalled for Ejecting CO2 Cartridges,

Paintball Markers Recalled for Ejecting CO2 Cartridges,: "The firm has received reports of at least 73 incidents involving the recalled paintball markers. Seven injuries have been reported including an eye injury, facial bruises, and lacerations. "

Espresso Makers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard

Espresso Makers Recalled Due to Fire Hazard: "The recalled espresso makers are black and silver, have a silver control panel, and can make two cups of espresso at once."

Buying, Giving, and Using Gift Cards

Buying, Giving, and Using Gift Cards: "Shopping for gifts can be a real dilemma. Just what do you get the person who has everything, your finicky Aunt Mary, your co-worker, or your child"s babysitter? Gift cards may be the answer: one size fits all, and the recipients can get exactly what they want. But before you buy a wallet full of gift cards from your favorite retailer or your local financial institution, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants you to know that some strings may be attached."

California Files Lawsuit Against H&R Block for Illegally Marketing and Selling High-Cost Loans as �Instant� Tax Refunds

California Files Lawsuit Against H&R Block for Illegally Marketing and Selling High-Cost Loans as "Instant" Tax Refunds: "(SAN FRANCISCO) - Attorney General Bill Lockyer today filed a lawsuit against H&R Block alleging the tax preparation giant has violated 15 state and federal laws in marketing and providing high-cost refund anticipation loans (RALs) mainly to low-income families."

Efficacy of Therapy With the Spironolactone Pills Compared to Minoxidil Lotion in Female Pattern Hair Loss

Efficacy of Therapy With the Spironolactone Pills Compared to Minoxidil Lotion in Female Pattern Hair Loss: "Efficacy of Therapy with the Anti-androgen Spironolactone compared to topical Minoxidil in Female Pattern Hair Loss. Subjects must be premenopausal women older than 18 with female pattern hair loss"

IRS Updates Tax Gap Estimates

IRS Updates Tax Gap Estimates: "Internal Revenue Service officials announced today that they have updated their estimates of the Tax Year 2001 tax gap based on the National Research Program (NRP). "

Study Finds Education Program Has Negative Impact on Welfare Recipients� Bottom Line

Study Finds Education Program Has Negative Impact on Welfare Recipients - Bottom Line: "Nearly ten years after welfare reform became law and encouraged millions of American workers to rejoin the workforce, a new study examined how a model community college training program affected the earnings of welfare recipients currently in the workforce. The study found that the program -- which consisted of general education followed by career-directed courses -- did not have positive impacts on earnings or help recipients to leave the welfare rolls. "

Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks

Identity Theft: Outsmarting the Crooks This interactive DVD will help you protect yourself from identity theft and know what to do if you are victimized. Also contains a comprehensive resource library of downloadable materials for consumers of all ages.

Are Tips Subject to Taxes?

Are Tips Subject to Taxes?: "Do you work at a hair salon, barber shop, casino, golf course, hotel or restaurant or drive a taxicab? The tip income you receive as an employee from those services is taxable income."

U.S. Summer Institutes for Pakistani Undergraduate Students

U.S. Summer Institutes for Pakistani Undergraduate Students: "The Near East/South Asia Branch, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces an open competition for public and private non-profit organizations to develop and implement the U.S. Summer Institutes for Pakistani Undergraduate Students, to take place in the U.S. during the summer of 2006. "

Stem Cell Transplant for High Risk Patients with Lymphoma

Stem Cell Transplant for High Risk Patients with Lymphoma: "If you have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's Disease you may be able to participate in a stem cell transplant clinical trial designed to evaluate methods to decrease graft-versus-host disease, promote engraftment, and improve immune system recovery following a bone marrow stem cell transplant procedure. "

New Federal Health Initiative to Improve Cancer Therapy

New Federal Health Initiative to Improve Cancer Therapy: "The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the Oncology Biomarker Qualification Initiative (OBQI) -- an agreement to collaborate on improving the development of cancer therapies and the outcomes for cancer patients through biomarker development and evaluation."

Microsoft Windows, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities

Microsoft Windows, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer Vulnerabilities: "Microsoft has released updates that address critical vulnerabilities in Windows, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer. "

Infrared Non-Cutting Laser Therapy for Acne - Clinical Trial

Infrared Non-Cutting Laser Therapy for Acne - Clinical Trial: "The purpose of this research project is to study the effect of non-ablative (non-cutting) laser therapy, a technique that uses laser energy to try to improve the appearance of the skin. In this study, we are interested in learning how well such a laser works to improve the symptoms of acne. The laser used in this particular study will be the CoolTouch II laser, manufactured by ICN Photonics, Inc., and has not been FDA-approved for the treatment of acne. "

Paying or Receiving Alimony?

Paying or Receiving Alimony?: "If you were recently divorced and are paying or receiving alimony under a divorce decree or agreement, you need to consider the tax implication for your 2005 federal income tax return"

USPTO to hold Open Source Software Community Meeting February 16, 2006

USPTO to hold Open Source Software Community Meeting February 16, 2006: "The Department of Commerce's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has created a partnership with the open source community to ensure that patent examiners have improved access to all available prior art relating to software code during the patent examination process"

Coming Soon to Internet Banking Customers: New Procedures for Verifying that "You are You

Coming Soon to Internet Banking Customers: New Procedures for Verifying that "You are You: "The latest in the federal government's fight against online fraud "

Fires, Floods and Other Misfortunes: Are You Prepared Financially?

Fires, Floods and Other Misfortunes: Are You Prepared Financially?: "Disasters can impair your ability to conduct day-to-day money matters. This guide can help you plan appropriately."

U.S. Transportation Chief Declares Low Child Booster Seat Use �Unacceptable�

U.S. Transportation Chief Declares Low Child Booster Seat Use "Unacceptable": "National statistics showing less than one out of every five kids between the ages of four and eight is riding in a car booster seat are a sign of "failure" and must be addressed immediately, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said today during a visit to the Children"s Hospital of Philadelphia. "

Testosterone Replacement in Older Men and Atherosclerosis Progression

Testosterone Replacement in Older Men and Atherosclerosis Progression: "The primary purpose of this study is to look at the effects of testosterone replacement on the progression of atherosclerosis in older men. This study is also being done to find out whether replacement with testosterone in older men with low testosterone levels improves their health-related quality of life. "

Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable?

Are Your Social Security Benefits Taxable?: "How much, if any, of your Social Security benefits are taxable depends on your total income and marital status. Generally, if Social Security benefits were your only income, your benefits are not taxable and you probably do not need to file a federal income tax return."

Insurers Face Challenges as Injured Veterans Return from War

Insurers Face Challenges as Injured Veterans Return from War: "Employers and their insurers need to be prepared for the tens of thousands of physically injured veterans returning from conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the I.I.I."

Meals, Ready-To-Eat Sold on eBay - The U.S. Government Investigates

Meals, Ready-To-Eat Sold on eBay - The U.S. Government Investigates: "As a result of widespread congressional and public interest in the federal response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a limited investigation was conducted into allegations that military Meal, Ready-To-Eat (MRE) rations intended for use in the hurricane relief efforts were instead sold to the public on the Internet auction site eBay. "

CBP ensures pest-free flowers for Valentine�s Day

CBP ensures pest-free flowers for Valentine�s Day: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists are making sure that the bouquet of flowers you order for your sweetheart this Valentine�s Day is free from insects, pests and diseases that could harm the agricultural and floral industries in the United States"

Hurricane Victims Have More Time to Claim Losses on Prior Year Returns

Hurricane Victims Have More Time to Claim Losses on Prior Year Returns: "Victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita or Wilma wishing to claim disaster-related losses on their prior year federal income tax return will have until October 16, 2006, to make this choice, the Internal Revenue Service announced today."

BITS Fraud Prevention Guide: Protecting the Elderly and Vulnerable from Financial Fraud and Exploitation - February 16, 2006

BITS Fraud Prevention Guide: Protecting the Elderly and Vulnerable from Financial Fraud and Exploitation - February 16, 2006: "Financial institutions are in a unique position to help protect an aging population from financial fraud and exploitation. Join fraud prevention experts and advocates to hear about risks and "red flags" to look for to prevent financial crimes against the elderly and vulnerable."

AHRQ Launches New "Learning Resources" To Help Providers Adopt Health IT

AHRQ Launches New "Learning Resources" To Help Providers Adopt Health IT: "HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) today launched a new suite of 'learning resources' designed to help health care providers adopt health information technologies quickly and effectively. "

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi Announces Arrest of Man Charged with Felony Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud

Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi Announces Arrest of Man Charged with Felony Workers' Compensation Insurance Fraud: "Ventura carpenter breaks his leg while playing soccer, then allegedly falsifies workers' compensation claim"

POWERFUL WINTER STORM CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE NORTHEAST

POWERFUL WINTER STORM CONTINUES TO AFFECT THE NORTHEAST: " A classic nor'easter, the first major winter storm of 2006, continued its trek along the Northeast U.S. coastline Sunday, producing heavy snow, strong winds and coastal flooding from the mid-Atlantic states to Maine, according to the NOAA National Weather Service."