Tackling a Weighty Problem: America�s Obesity Epidemic

Tackling a Weighty Problem: America�s Obesity Epidemic: "Increasingly, more of us are entering the ranks of those who need to shed some pounds. Today, an estimated 64 percent of all American adults are overweight or obese. And this epidemic extends to our children, our nation�s future. Nearly 9 million children aged 6 years or older, from all states, socioeconomic, and ethnic groups, are obese. A disproportionate number of them are African-American, Hispanic, or American Indian."

West North Central Household Electricity Report

West North Central Household Electricity Report: "EIA's new regional report analyzes household energy consumption in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. EIA statistics indicate that the 7.4 million households in the West North Central States consumed 0.8 quadrillion Btu of energy in 2001, about one-twelfth of the total for U.S. households."

'Debt Elimination Program' Fails to Deliver Guaranteed Lower Interest Rates

'Debt Elimination Program' Fails to Deliver Guaranteed Lower Interest Rates: "The Federal Trade Commission and the Washington State Attorney General have asked a federal judge to order Debt Solutions Inc. and three other telemarketers in Washington and Florida to stop charging consumers hundreds of dollars for a "debt elimination program" that offers a false promise of substantially reduced interest rates and thousands of dollars in savings."

Town Hall Meetings to Confront Underage Drinking in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Communities

Town Hall Meetings to Confront Underage Drinking in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Communities: "The Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, chaired by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with state and local agencies and organizations, is spearheading a nationwide campaign to curb underage drinking before it starts. Town hall meetings, with the theme Start Talking before They Start Drinking, are being convened on and around March 28, 2006, in approximately 1,200 communities across the country."

Town Hall Meetings to Confront Underage Drinking in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Communities

Town Hall Meetings to Confront Underage Drinking in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia Communities: "The Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Prevention of Underage Drinking, chaired by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with state and local agencies and organizations, is spearheading a nationwide campaign to curb underage drinking before it starts. Town hall meetings, with the theme Start Talking before They Start Drinking, are being convened on and around March 28, 2006, in approximately 1,200 communities across the country."

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) - Update: Embargo of Birds from Specified Countries: "Based on concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus and its potential to cause illness in humans, CDC and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have taken steps to prevent importation of birds and unprocessed bird products from countries with the virus in domestic poultry. The import restrictions do not apply to U.S.-origin pet birds which will be allowed to return upon entering a USDA quarantine facility for 30 days. The import restrictions also do not apply to processed bird products that have been rendered noninfectious. Countries affected by the CDC and USDA import restrictions are outlined in the following table:"

California Announces $8.8 Million Agreement with Time Inc. to Reform Subscription Practices, Compensate Consumers

California Announces $8.8 Million Agreement with Time Inc. to Reform Subscription Practices, Compensate Consumers: "Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced Time Inc. (Time) will refund to consumers up to $4.3 million, and reform its practices related to automatic renewals of magazine subscriptions, under an agreement between the publisher, Lockyer and 22 other state Attorneys General."

Growth of Hispanic-Owned Businesses Triples the National Average

Growth of Hispanic-Owned Businesses Triples the National Average: "The number of Hispanic-owned businesses grew 31 percent between 1997 and 2002 - three times the national average for all businesses -according to a new report, Survey of Business Owners: Hispanic-Owned Firms: 2002 [PDF], released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. The nearly 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses generated nearly $222 billion in revenue, up 19 percent from 1997"

AHRQ Launches New Web-Based Tool for States To Measure Performance on the Quality of Health Care Across America

AHRQ Launches New Web-Based Tool for States To Measure Performance on the Quality of Health Care Across America: "HHS� Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality today released a new interactive Web-based tool for States to use in measuring health care quality. The new State Snapshot Web tool is based on the 2005 National Healthcare Quality Report (NHQR) and the 2005 National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR), originally released on January 9, and provides quick and easy access to the many measures and tables of the NHQR from each State's perspective"

Attorney General Seeks Applicants for Grants -Antitrust Settlement

Attorney General Seeks Applicants for Grants -Antitrust Settlement: "Attorney General Lockyer is soliciting applications from nonprofit organizations and public agencies for grants to benefit cancer victims or their families in California."

Deadline Looming for California Tax Shelter Resolution Initiative - Taxpayers Stand to Save Millions

Deadline Looming for California Tax Shelter Resolution Initiative - Taxpayers Stand to Save Millions: "The Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is reminding taxpayers and tax professionals that April 3, 2006, is the last day to apply for the California Tax Shelter Resolution Initiative. The initiative was announced in FTB Notice 2006-1 and follows the IRS tax shelter settlement initiative as outlined in IRS Announcement 2005-80."

USGS Announces $5.5 Million in Earthquake Research Grants Available for 2007

USGS Announces $5.5 Million in Earthquake Research Grants Available for 2007: "(Reston, Virginia) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced today that it will award up to $5.5 million in National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) grants for earthquake research in 2007. Researchers interested can review the grant announcement and apply online at www.grants.gov. Applications are due May 2, 2006."

USGS Announces $5.5 Million in Earthquake Research Grants Available for 2007

USGS Announces $5.5 Million in Earthquake Research Grants Available for 2007: "(Reston, Virginia) The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced today that it will award up to $5.5 million in National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) grants for earthquake research in 2007. Researchers interested can review the grant announcement and apply online at www.grants.gov. Applications are due May 2, 2006."

Deaths Possibly Connected to Medical Abortion with Mifeprex Prompt Health Advisory

Deaths Possibly Connected to Medical Abortion with Mifeprex Prompt Health Advisory: "The Food and Drug Administration has been informed of two additional deaths following medical abortion with mifepristone (Mifeprex). The Agency received verbal notification of the deaths in the United States from the manufacturer, Danco Laboratories."

John Garamendi Announces Landmark Settlement with Zurich American Insurance Co. to End Practice of Paying Secret Commissions

John Garamendi Announces Landmark Settlement with Zurich American Insurance Co. to End Practice of Paying Secret Commissions: "Agreement calls for full disclosure of all commissions; California policyholders will share in related financial settlement of $172 million"

Acupuncture and Massage for Depression During Pregnancy

Acupuncture and Massage for Depression During Pregnancy: "This study evaluates the efficacy of acupuncture and massage for the treatment of depression during pregnancy. The study also examines differential effects of study treatments on delivery outcome and post partum depression. "

How to Maintain a Healthy Weight

How to Maintain a Healthy Weight: "Whether you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, it's important to understand the connection between the energy your body takes in (through the foods you eat and the beverages you drink) and the energy your body uses (through the activities you do). To lose weight, you need to use more calories than you take in. To maintain a healthy weight, you need to balance the calories you use with those you take in. No matter which results you want, eating a healthy diet and being physically active can help you reach your goal. "

Massage Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment-Related Swelling of the Arms

Massage Therapy for Breast Cancer Treatment-Related Swelling of the Arms: "The purpose of this study is to examine the short-term and long-term efficacy of massage therapy alone compared to massage therapy plus compression bandaging in the treatment of breast cancer treatment-related swelling of the arms and legs. "

Mediation Week� Features Program That Returned Nearly $2 Million to Consumers Last Year

'Mediation Week'Features Program That Returned Nearly $2 Million to Consumers Last Year: "SACRAMENTO -Consumers help drive a California economy that ranks as the world's sixth largest. But what can a consumer do if a good deal goes bad? For thousands of California consumers, the answer is the Department of Consumer Affairs'Complaint Mediation Program or similar programs statewide"

Mediation Week� Features Program That Returned Nearly $2 Million to Consumers Last Year

'Mediation Week'Features Program That Returned Nearly $2 Million to Consumers Last Year: "SACRAMENTO -Consumers help drive a California economy that ranks as the world's sixth largest. But what can a consumer do if a good deal goes bad? For thousands of California consumers, the answer is the Department of Consumer Affairs'Complaint Mediation Program or similar programs statewide"