Traffic Accidents Rising In Los Angeles – Victims Unaware Of Financial Settlement Options

July 10, 2018

LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The number of traffic accidents is on the rise. According to the Los Angeles Times, overall traffic fatalities are down. However, pedestrian deaths are increasing. La Alianza Legal, a top Los Angeles Personal Injury firm, can attest to the frequency of serious accidents and how victims may be taken advantage of if not for legal representation, specifically within the Latino community.

Mayor Eric Garcetti established an initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities. However, pedestrian deaths increased by 80%. In 2015, 74 pedestrians were killed by drivers in Los Angeles. In 2017, the number rose to 234 – the highest in over 15 years. The most dangerous areas with the most reported traffic incidents include Venice Boulevard in West L.A., Sepulveda Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley and Temple Street in Historic Filipinotown.

La Alianza Legal stresses the importance of traffic safety, knowledge, and preparedness in Los Angeles. The attorneys work alongside clients to fight for their best interests, making sure they are not taken advantage of. Financial compensation after an accident is a major relief for the well-being of victims and their families.

Many people, including those within the Hispanic population, don’t seek the help of a personal injury lawyer. The average person injured in a traffic accident, according to RMIIA, receives $15,443 for bodily injury. This is only the cost for medical components. It doesn’t account for time lost from work, pain and suffering, as well as one’s future ability to walk, drive, or work.

If you have been injured because of a traffic accident, you deserve to seek financial compensation to make you whole again. This involves contacting a lawyer who will seek compensation for more than what the responsible party’s insurance can offer for bodily injury.

La Alianza Legal is raising awareness that immigration or financial status does not matter when filing a personal injury claim. Every victim has rights. These rights need to be defended. Insurance settlements are typically not enough to compensate for the full loss after an accident.

Learn more about your rights when you’re involved in a traffic accident by contacting Alianza Legal today.

Representation is offered at no upfront costs to our clients.

Contact:
Alianza Legal
844-589-4440
505 N. Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203

SOURCE La Alianza Legal

MoneyGram and UK Post Office Extend Long-Term Partnership

July 10, 2018

DALLAS, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — MoneyGram (NASDAQ:MGI) and Post Office Limited have extended their agreement to provide money transfer services inside thousands of UK Post Office locations through 2021.

“For more than two decades, MoneyGram and UK Post Office have partnered to drive financial inclusion in one of the most diverse regions in the world by offering our customers convenient and reliable financial services,” said Alex Holmes, chairman and chief executive officer at MoneyGram. “Today’s announcement is a testament to the strength of a shared commitment MoneyGram and the Post Office have to each other and most importantly to our customers. We look forward to continuing our partnership and exploring new opportunities to make money transfers easier.”

“Through our successful 22-year relationship with MoneyGram, we have made sending or receiving money around the world easier for millions of consumers through our branch network,” said Owen Woodley, chief executive, Financial Services & Telecoms at Post Office Limited. He continued, “Our 11,500 branches across the UK, which serve a huge range of communities – from busy urban areas to remote villages – make it easy for MoneyGram customers to access a wide range of services at a time and location that’s convenient for them. Building on this theme, we will now be actively exploring opportunities to also build new digital money transfer opportunities to support the Post Office’s core value in providing our customers with easy access to financial services.”

The Post Office, which serves over 17 million people a week, has been a MoneyGram agent since 1996, allowing customers to receive money conveniently and send funds directly to more than two billion bank accounts and mobile wallets or, to any MoneyGram location in over 200 countries and territories worldwide.

#moneygramnews

About MoneyGram International
MoneyGram is a global provider of innovative money transfer and payment services and is recognized worldwide as a financial connection to friends and family. Whether online, or through a mobile device, at a kiosk or in a local store, we connect consumers any way that is convenient for them. We also provide bill payment services, issue money orders and process official checks in select markets. More information about MoneyGram International, Inc. is available at moneygram.com.

Media Contact:
Michelle Buckalew
[email protected]
Tel: 214-979-1418

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/600838/MoneyGram_International_Logo.jpg

SOURCE MoneyGram

Labor Commissioner Secures Over $1.1 Million Settlement for Prevailing Wage Violations Affecting 103 Workers

July 10, 2018

Labor Commissioner Julie Su, her staff and David Kersh of CCCC hand out checks to some of the workers owed wages (PRNewsfoto/Dept. of Industrial Relations)

LONG BEACH, Calif., July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su has secured over $1.1 million in wages and penalties from a settlement for a prevailing wage assessment issued against San Diego-based general contractor TB Penick & Sons, Inc. and its subcontractor, Newport Beach-based Champion Construction, Inc.

Champion, a drywall and framing contractor hired by TB Penick for the Browning High School construction project in Long Beach, maintained false payroll records over a six-month period to cover up wage theft affecting 103 workers who were not paid prevailing wage and fringe benefits. California’s prevailing wage laws hold general contractor TB Penick jointly liable for the violations of its subcontractor Champion.

“Prevailing wages create a level playing field for all contractors bidding on public construction projects,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “This case clearly demonstrates that general contractors who select contractors that don’t play by the rules will pay a heavy price. Under the law, they are responsible for the wage theft of their subcontractors.”

The Labor Commissioner’s Office opened its investigation after receiving a report of public works violations from the Carpenters Contractors Cooperation Committee (CCCC) in March 2016. The investigation included interviews with over thirty workers, site visits and an audit of pay records for the dozens of workers involved in the project.

The investigation led to civil wage and penalty assessments of $1,735,784. Penick entered into a settlement agreement to pay $1,187,078 of the penalties and wages owed. The group of 103 workers received $744,533, or an average of $7,228 each last week when the employer delivered its final payment. The settlement also included $8,080 for required apprenticeship training funds and $434,465 in civil penalties.

Subcontractor Champion was also found at fault for wage theft violations affecting 47 workers on a project in El Segundo last year. Champion’s state contractor license expired in July 2016 and public works contractor registration expired in 2017.

All workers employed on public works projects must be paid the prevailing wage determined by the Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), according to the type of work and location of the project. Failure to comply with public works requirements can result in civil penalties, criminal prosecution, or both.

Enforcement investigations typically include a payroll audit of the previous three years to determine minimum wage, overtime and other labor law violations, and calculate payments owed and penalties due. Civil penalties collected are transferred to the State’s General Fund as required by law.

The Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, or the Labor Commissioner’s Office, is the division within the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) with wide-ranging enforcement responsibilities, including public works enforcement, adjudicating wage claims, inspecting workplaces for wage and hour violations, investigating retaliation complaints and educating the public on labor laws.

In 2014, Labor Commissioner Su launched the Wage Theft is a Crime multilingual public awareness campaign. The campaign defines wage theft and informs workers of their rights and the resources available to them to recover unpaid wages or report other labor law violations.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Lucas Brown at (510) 286-1161, and are encouraged to subscribe to get email alerts on DIR’s press releases or other departmental updates.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. For general inquiries, contact DIR’s Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/716148/Calif_Dept_of_Industrial_Relations.jpg

SOURCE Dept. of Industrial Relations

Statement of Stacey D. Stewart, President, March of Dimes on the Mistreatment of Pregnant Women in Immigration Detention

July 10, 2018

WASHINGTON, July 9, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — March of Dimes released the following statement from President Stacey D. Stewart on the mistreatment of pregnant women being held in immigration detention:

“March of Dimes is horrified by recent reports of the mistreatment of pregnant women who are being detained while their immigration status is resolved. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to withhold lifesaving medical care or shackle pregnant women, regardless of their immigration status. Reports of systemic failures to protect the basic health of women and babies in U.S. government custody is unconscionable.”

“We call on the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately investigate these reports and ensure that all government employees, contractors, and facilities abide by existing guidelines and policies surrounding detention, restraint and provision of medical care to pregnant women. We further call on Congress to immediately initiate formal inquiries into these practices that violate Congressional directives, as well as existing DHS and Customs and Border Protection guidelines.”

About March of Dimes
March of Dimes leads the fight for the health of all moms and babies. By lobbying for policies to protect them, working to radically improve the healthcare they receive, pioneering research to find solutions to the toughest problems and empowering families with the knowledge and tools to have healthier pregnancies, March of Dimes builds on an 80-year legacy of impact and innovation to support every mom and every baby. Visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/513643/March_of_Dimes_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE March of Dimes

McDonald’s Raises $100,000 for 100 Clubs of Texas

July 10, 2018

South Central Texas McDonald's owners and operators raise $100,000 in donations for area 100 Clubs of Texas (PRNewsFoto/McDonald’s USA)

SAN ANTONIO, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — McDonald’s owners and operators in South Central Texas are pleased to announce they have raised more than $100,000 in donations for the local chapters of the 100 Clubs of Texas to assist families of first responders killed or critically injured in the line of duty.

The fundraiser took place this past Good Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where 20 percent of lunchtime sales from all participating McDonald’s in South Central Texas were donated to participating 100 Clubs. Local owners were so overwhelmed with the public’s generosity, they came together and added an additional contribution to reach the $100,000 figure.

“McDonald’s in South Central Texas is a longtime, proud supporter of local 100 Clubs and greatly appreciates what they do for the families of fallen and critically injured first responders, the true heroes,” said Ned Stagg, McDonald’s owner/operator and founder of the Good Friday Fundraiser.

Dan Kinney, another owner/operator, added, “It was not a difficult decision for the owners to step up, match the support and kindness of so many in our community, and help in such a worthwhile cause.”

The Good Friday Fundraiser was established in 2001 to financially assist 100 Clubs in South Central Texas and support their mission of providing financial assistance to the families of first responders.

About McDonald’s USA
McDonald’s USA, LLC serves a variety of menu options made with quality ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at approximately 11,500 participating Wi‐Fi enabled McDonald’s U.S. restaurants. For more information, please visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter @McDonalds and Facebook www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/714227/McDonald_s__100K_Donation_to_100_Clubs_of_Texas.jpg

SOURCE McDonald’s USA

Visa launches Visa Loyalty Solutions, the first 100% digital loyalty platform in Latin America and the Caribbean

July 10, 2018

MIAMI, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the launch of Visa Loyalty Solutions (VLS), an omnichannel digital points redemption platform available to all issuing banks in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and offering consumers more than a quarter of a million redemption options. Visa Loyalty Solutions was co-created by Visa LAC in collaboration with global FinTech and InsurTech company novae.

This white-label solution, developed for Visa’s bank partners, enables issuing member banks of any size to offer top-of-the-line rewards and customer care programs they can adapt to their loyalty strategies and brand as their own. Visa Loyalty Solutions features a user-friendly mobile app and web portal, as well as chat and voice, to make points redemption and customer service faster and easier for cardholders and financial institutions around the region.

“Visa Loyalty Solutions offers a seamless and flexible digital experience that adds value for consumers, participating businesses and issuers, and can be easily adapted to each of our bank partners’ loyalty strategies,” said Ricardo Tafur, Vice President of Consumer Products for Visa Latin America and the Caribbean. “We are committed to innovate in order to provide the best consumer experience,” he added.

This new digital platform offers cardholders the option to redeem points and get preferential deals at more than 285,000 hotels, hundreds of airlines and a wide network of car rental companies–not to mention tours, amusement parks and other entertainment options–around the world.

“At novae we want to bring our partners disruptive technologies that are user-friendly, efficient and reliable. That’s why we’re so excited to be co-creating platforms and applications with Visa to create nimbler, simpler and smarter experiences for merchants and consumers,” said Sergio Arana, novae’s CEO and founder.

The platform’s innovative and flexible redemption process allows cardholders to either use their points or combine them with their cards to complete their purchases. Amounts are displayed in U.S. dollars as well as points to give cardholders a better idea of the real value of their purchases. Online and mobile customer service centers provide assistance and information via voice, live chat and video.

To experience the new Visa Loyalty Solutions, click here.

About Visa
Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the leading digital payment company. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network that empowers people, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network is capable to handle more than 65,000 transaction messages per second. The company’s continuous focus on innovation is a catalyst for rapid business growth, connected through any device, as well as the engine behind a cash-free future for everyone, everywhere. While the world moves from analog to digital, Visa applies its brand, products, team, network and scale to the task of shaping the new future of commerce. For more detailed information, please visit usa.visa.com/aboutvisa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews. For news in Latin America, please visit @VisaNewsLatam.

About novae
novae leverages disruptive technologies to make mobile transactions, communications and other business-consumer interactions faster, easier and more enjoyable on any platform. Headquartered in San Francisco and with a business and innovation hub in Miami, an InsurTech hub in London and shared service centers in Buenos Aires and Bogotá, novae has clients across the Americas and Europe. novae is part of a&a Co, a global equity investment company based in San Francisco and focused on creating, acquiring and investing in ventures in the artificial intelligence (AI), mobile services and payments/loyalty realms. novae’s strategic partners include Visa, CyberSource, BPP, Expedia and Canopius Syndicate at Lloyd’s. Investors in novae include the private debt and equity capital funds CASEIF III LP and ExWorks Capital LLC. For more information, visit wearenovae.com (mobile-only experience) or Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media contacts:

Visa	novae
Catalina Bantula Camps	Theresa Rice
[email protected]	[email protected]
786.502.7305	786.514.4733

Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/716278/Mobile_Platform.jpg
Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/716279/novae_Logo.jpg

SOURCE novae; Visa

Panda Express Creates Pathway to Success for Potential Hires; Second Annual Panda Career Hiring Event Begins July 18

July 10, 2018

ROSEMEAD, California, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Looking to create career opportunities for more than 4,000 individuals, Panda Express, America’s favorite Chinese kitchen, will host its second annual Panda Career Event, from July 18 to 24, at 400 locations nationwide. The week-long initiative is focused on expanding the Panda family of talented and dedicated associates. Since it began in 1983, Panda Express has always been passionate about creating a pathway to success for potential new hires and fostering their personal and professional growth.

Celebrating its 35^th anniversary this year, Panda Express will continue its mission of inspiring better lives – in particular, for its associates who have committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences to Panda’s valued guests across the globe. Today, the family-owned restaurant is made up of over 35,000 associates and is dedicated to offering personal and professional development opportunities at every level. Because Panda believes that for the company to grow, its associates must grow as well, the company continues to invest in its associates. Expanding by over 100 locations each year, the restaurant consistently produces significant advancement opportunities for its devoted team members. In fact, all senior operations leaders at Panda Express have grown through the ranks, starting as general managers or other in-store positions.

“Our hope is that the Panda Career Event is not only a catalyst to welcome new associates into the Panda Family, but also shines a light on the lucrative career growth the restaurant industry has to offer,” said Leonard Yip, chief people officer at Panda Restaurant Group. “We look forward to discovering candidates who have the unwavering qualities of grit, grace, giving and humility – they’re the values we prize and see every day at our Panda Express restaurants.”

What began as a single restaurant, Panda Express has become the largest family-owned Asian restaurant concept in America. Led by Chinese immigrants Andrew and Peggy Cherng, the restaurant continues to be inspired by a “people-first” vision and family values upon which the company was founded, including its promise to uplift and support its Panda family members. With an annual investment of more than $200 million in its people last year alone, Panda Express associates are offered comprehensive benefits and perks to help them succeed in all facets of life:

Sustained Growth Opportunities – Panda Express continuously promotes from within, with the internal promotion rate from hourly to management positions being 70 percent; multi-unit managers and above are 100 percent internally promoted
Competitive Base Pay, Bonuses and Paid Time Off – In addition to paid time off and bonuses for all associates, Panda pays above the minimum wage rate nationwide by at least $0.50
Health and Wellness Benefits – Medical insurance with 80 percent of the premium covered by Panda and 50 percent for qualified dependents
Stock Options and Savings – Stock options and 401(k) savings accounts for eligible associates, with a 401(k) contribution match of up to four percent by Panda
Continuous Learning – Panda earmarks nearly $3 million in annual financial assistance to eligible associates in their journey to become high performing and inspirational leaders. Stipends for continuing education opportunities are provided for qualified associates, as well as scholarships with up to 60 percent of tuition coverage – a maximum of $2,000 per year per qualified associate
Associate Perks – Discounts to theme parks, movie tickets, mobile phones and service plans, gym memberships, Panda Restaurant Group restaurants, and more

A world leader in people development and an employer of choice, Panda Express is pleased to have more than doubled the number of stores that will participate in its nationwide Panda Career Event since its inaugural year. The restaurant will hold interviews for new positions at over 400 Panda Express locations across the U.S. and Canada. With openings at all levels, including general managers and cooks, Panda Express welcomes interested candidates to register for an interview and see how the growth of Panda’s associates is at the heart of the restaurant’s people-first culture.

More information regarding a career at Panda Express and information on how to schedule an interview may be found online at www.PandaCareers.com. Media inquiries may be directed to [email protected].

About Panda Express

Panda Express, America’s favorite Chinese kitchen, is best known for its wide variety of original recipes including its Original Orange Chicken™, SweetFire Chicken Breast®, award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp™ and Shanghai Angus Steak™. Founded in 1983 and now with more than 2,000 locations throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, Guam, Guatemala, Canada, Mexico, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Korea, and Japan, Panda Express is part of the family owned and operated Panda Restaurant Group, the world leader in Asian dining experiences that also includes Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/684882/Panda_Express_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Panda Express

Hispanics’ Consumer Confidence Deteriorating as Concerns Grow Over Perceived Rising Cost of Living in the U.S.

July 10, 2018

The Business and Economics Polling Initiative (BEPI) at Florida Atlantic University conducts surveys on business, economic, political, and social issues with main focus on Hispanic attitudes and opinions at regional, state and national levels.

BOCA RATON, Florida, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Consumer confidence among Hispanics in the U.S. has deteriorated compared to the beginning of the year, as concerns have grown over the perceived rising cost of living, according to a new national consumer sentiment index conducted by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI) in FAU’s College of Business.

The Hispanic Consumer Sentiment Index (HCSI), taken from April through June, stands at 86.4, down more than 12 points from the first quarter of 2018 when the Index stood at 98.9, which was the highest score since the index went to a quarterly count in January 2017. The index continues to trail the 98.2 score for the overall U.S. population as published in June by the University of Michigan.

Overall, only 56 percent of Hispanics indicate that they are financially better off today than a year ago, down 13 points from the first quarter of 2018.

The percentage of Hispanics who indicated they will be better off a year from now dropped six points to 72 percent in the second quarter. Younger Hispanics between 18-34 years old (81 percent) are most optimistic about their future financial situation compared to the other age groups (68 percent of 35-54 year olds and above 58 percent of those 55 and over).

Four out of five Hispanics said the cost of living has gone up, a 21 percent rise since the first quarter. This perception, along with increasing concerns over their level of debt, rising gas prices and interest rate hikes, may explain why only 51 percent said they think it is a good time to buy a house (down from 59 percent in the first quarter), and only 49 percent said it is a good time to buy a car (down from 62 percent).

U.S. President Donald Trump’s approval rating among Hispanics dropped from 37 to 33 percent in the second quarter of 2018. Of those surveyed, 14.5 percent identified themselves as Republicans, 36.1 percent Democrats, 19.8 percent Independents and 29.6 percent were not registered.

The survey was conducted nationally from April 1 to June 30. The random polling sample consisted of 850 Hispanics, 18 years of age and older, with a margin of error of +/- 4.0 percent.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/214770/bepi_at_florida_atlantic_university_logo.jpg

SOURCE Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative

Teen crash risk highest during first three months after getting driver’s license

July 10, 2018

BETHESDA, Maryland, July 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Teenage drivers are eight times more likely to be involved in a collision or near miss during the first three months after getting a driver’s license, compared to the previous three months on a learner’s permit, suggests a study led by the National Institutes of Health. Teens are also four times more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as rapid acceleration, sudden braking and hard turns, during this period. In contrast, teens on a learner’s permit drove more safely, with their crash/near crash and risky driving rates similar to those of adults. The study appears in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

“Given the abrupt increase in driving risks when teenagers start to drive independently, our findings suggest that they may benefit from a more gradual decrease in adult supervision during the first few months of driving alone,” said Bruce Simons-Morton, Ed.D., M.P.H., senior investigator at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and one of the authors of the study.

The study is one of the first to follow the same individuals over time, from the beginning of the learner period through the first year of independent driving, while continuously collecting information using software and cameras installed in the participants’ vehicles.

The study also evaluated parents’ driving in the same vehicles, over the same time, on similar roads and under similar driving conditions as their children. Near-crash events were those requiring a last-moment maneuver to avoid a crash, while crashes were physical contact between the driver’s vehicle and another object.

The study enrolled 90 teenagers and 131 parents in Virginia, and the data collection system was developed by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, Blacksburg.

Overall, the study found that the crash/near crash rate for teenagers did not decline over the first year of independent driving, while the rate of risky driving modestly declined. According to the researchers, if teenagers were learning from their experiences, one would expect that the driving risks would consistently decline over time.

Teenagers also had a higher risky driving rate under favorable conditions—daytime or dry roads—compared to less favorable conditions—nighttime or wet roads. This finding implies that teenagers may be more careful and less inclined to take risks during unfavorable driving conditions.

When comparing male and female teens, the study team found that the risky driving rate did not differ by gender during the learning period. However, when teenagers entered independent driving stages, males had a higher risky driving rate. This rate did not consistently decrease over time for males but did decrease for females. The crash/near crash rate was similar across genders and driving periods.

“During the learner’s permit period, parents are present, so there are some skills that teenagers cannot learn until they are on their own,” said Pnina Gershon, Ph.D., the study’s lead author. “We need a better understanding of how to help teenagers learn safe driving skills when parents or other adults are not present.”

The researchers aim to identify factors that may improve safety and reduce specific driving risks. They plan to address whether the duration and quality of practice driving can predict future outcomes in the independent driving period. They also will explore how passengers influence driving risk during learner and independent driving periods.

ARTICLE:
Gershon P, Ehsani JP, Zhu C, Klauer S, Dingus T, and Simons-Morton B. Crash risk and risky driving behavior among adolescents during learner and independent driving periods. Journal of Adolescent Health DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.04.012 (2018)

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD conducts and supports research in the United States and throughout the world on fetal, infant and child development; maternal, child and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit NICHD’s website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

SOURCE Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Hinchcliffe, Honda Charge to Victory in Iowa

July 9, 2018

James Hinchcliffe scored his first victory of the season, and the sixth 2018 IndyCar Series win for Honda, Sunday at Iowa Speedway.

NEWTON, Iowa, July 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Making the correct calls throughout ever-changing track conditions, James Hinchcliffe worked his way to the front of the Verizon IndyCar Series field, then dominated the final 50 laps to win Sunday’s Iowa Corn 300 at Iowa Speedway. The win is the first for Hinchcliffe in 2018, and the sixth for Honda.

Starting 11^th after a brief slide during his qualifying run on Saturday, Hinchcliffe gained seven positions in the first 35 laps around the 7/8^th-mile Iowa oval, the shortest track on the IndyCar Series schedule. He worked his way up to second by the first round of scheduled pit stops, and remained among the leaders as he and his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team made adjustments to compensate for hotter conditions throughout the race.

Following the final round of pit stops on Lap 224, Hinchcliffe rapidly chased down race leaders Josef Newgarden and Spencer Pigot, taking the lead on Lap 256 and pulling away to a seven-second lead over the field on Lap 285. Contact on Lap 294 between a sliding Ed Carpenter and Takuma Sato resulted in the race ending under the caution flag, but with Hinchliffe still 2.6 seconds clear of the field at the checkers.

Despite the light contact with Carpenter, Sato completed his own charge in the final 50 laps to finish third, his best finish since winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2017. Completing a near-perfect day for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports, Hinchcliffe’s rookie teammate, Robert Wickens, finished fifth.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series racing activities in Iowa – as well as Acura Motorsports action from Canadian Tire Motorsports Park – are available on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

Next week, the Verizon IndyCar Series returns to one of the most popular stops on the schedule at the July 15 Honda Indy Toronto, which will be contested on a temporary street circuit on the grounds of Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

James Hinchcliffe (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) Started 11^th, finished 1^st; 6^th career win; 6^th Honda IndyCar Series win of 2018: “A very good day. The best day. You know, it’s so nice to be back up top after the month of May that we had [not qualifying for the Indianapolis 500]. But we’ve had a couple good [race] weekends in a row now, strong performances from the whole team, and we kind of felt some momentum coming in here. We didn’t qualify particularly well, had a bit of a problem. But we got through a bunch of cars in that first stint, [then] got through a couple more in the pit cycle. Then, at that last [pit] stop, the Arrow crew just nailed it, gave us a really good change, and the car just came alive. I was able to put it wherever I needed to get through traffic, and the reason I was able to catch Josef [Newgarden] and ultimately get by him was just our ability through traffic. I can’t thank the guys enough for such a great car and great job in the pits. Overall, it was a great result for the Arrow car and for Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in general.”

Takuma Sato (Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda) Started 10^th, finished 3^rd: “Yeah, I’m really, really pleased. In fact, Spencer [Pigot] and I had a lot of great, side-by-side racing, but I think we respected each other all the time. I think we gave a great show for the fans, put on a really good race. For me particularly, obviously I’m very happy to be on the podium, but this was a great achievement from Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. We really struggled [early in the race weekend], but I think all the engineers did a fantastic job improving the car, and in the end, I think we pulled a really great car. So, a big ‘thank you’ to the whole team, the No. 30 car was fantastic today.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s Honda IndyCar Series win at Iowa Speedway: “This was an interesting result that attests to the unpredictable character of Iowa Speedway. The [setup] changes that James [Hinchcliffe] and his Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team made during the race demonstrated [team owners] Sam Schmidt’s and Ric Peterson’s commitment to building a championship-caliber team. The fifth-place finish for [teammate] Robert Wickens is just further proof of the advancements made by SPM this year. Also, congrats are in order to Takuma and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing for his best result since winning Indianapolis in 2017, and to everyone at HPD for another exciting Indy car victory today.”

Verizon IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300
Circuit:	Iowa Speedway (0.894-mile oval) Newton, Iowa
2017 Winner:	Helio Castroneves (Team Penske) 139.172 mph average
Weather:	Sunny, warm, 79 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:
Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	11.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	300	149.636 mph average
2.	10.	Spencer Pigot	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	300	+2.649 seconds
3.	7.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	300
4.	2.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	300
5.	7.	Robert Wickens-R	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	300
6.	1.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet	299
7.	12.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	299
8.	4.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	299
9.	9.	Ed Carpenter	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	298
10.	5.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	298
Other Honda Results
11.	15.	Sebastien Bourdais	DCR with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	297	Running
12.	6.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	296	Running
13.	8.	Ed Jones	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	295	Running
16.	19.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	293	Running
19.	20.	Zachary Claman de Melo-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	291	Running
19.	3.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	283	Did not finish – suspension
20.	14.	Zach Veach-R	Andretti Autosport	Honda	279	Running

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/715714/levitt_0718_CORN_10378.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing

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