Racial And Gender Bias At Work Harmful For Women Of Color And Their Health

February 15, 2018

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Catalyst today released a new report, Day-to-Day Experiences of Emotional Tax Among Women and Men of Color in the Workplace, finding that a majority of women of color—specifically individuals who identify with Asian, Black, Latinx and multiracial backgrounds—experience an “Emotional Tax” in US workplaces affecting their overall health, well-being and ability to thrive. As a result of some workplaces undervaluing their unique contributions, as well as acts of bias or discrimination in society, women of color are in a constant state of being “on guard” because of their gender, race and/or ethnicity.

“Women of color continue to deal with some of the workplace’s most entrenched hurdles, such as pay inequities and near invisibility in top leadership roles, as well as daunting roadblocks that stifle the meaningful dialogue that would help make real progress,” says Dnika J. Travis, PhD, Vice President, Research, Catalyst. “Over time, these daily battles take a heavy toll on women of color, creating a damaging link between their health and the workplace. And because of consequences associated with Emotional Tax, companies must begin to take intentional action to avoid possible harm to their businesses and employees’ health and well-being.”

Key findings include:

Emotional Tax—There is an undue burden levied on women of color because of exclusionary behaviors, affecting their overall health and well-being as well as making them feel constantly on guard. The 58% of Asian, Black and Latinx employees who are on guard report they are also more likely to have sleep problems. This loss of sleep also jeopardizes employees’ productivity and ability to fully contribute at work. In addition, being on guard factors into their career decision-making, with 38% reporting they are more likely to frequently consider leaving their jobs.
On Guard—When feeling on guard, women of color feel they have to outwork and outperform their colleagues. Asian women (51%), Black women (58%), Latinas (56%) and multiracial women (52%) all report being highly on guard. Over 40% of Asian, Black, Latinx and multiracial employees feel on guard because they anticipate racial/ethnic bias. Multiracial women (58%), who identify as two or more of Asian, Black and Latina, are the most likely to be on guard due to their race/ethnicity.
Highly Motivated Top Talent—Despite being on guard, nearly 90% of women of color want to be influential leaders, have challenging and intellectually stimulating work, obtain high-ranking positions and stay at the same company. Asian, Black and Latinx employees who are highly on guard also report higher creativity (81%) and are more likely to speak up (79%)—demonstrating the benefit to companies of attracting and retaining top talent from all backgrounds.

In addition to examining women of color, the report’s data reveal the Emotional Tax experiences of men of color in US workplaces: over one-quarter of Asian, Black, Latinx and multiracial men who are on guard anticipate bias because of their gender, and, in general, far more experience Emotional Tax. Through its Engaging Men efforts and Men Advocating Real Change community, Catalyst believes men of color may also be penalized for demonstrating “masculine behaviors” such as being assertive—even though they are well-positioned to be allies for gender equality—while White men often are rewarded for exhibiting the same mannerisms.

“Women and men of color have unique talents and valuable creativity that adds up to a highly motivated and talented group of employees. Your employees should not only be fully leveraged to help address the country’s limited pool of talent, but they also bring a wealth of benefits and a competitive edge to companies,” says Deborah Gillis, President and CEO, Catalyst. “In times of talent and skill scarcity, companies must focus inward on employee retention and create inclusive workplaces; otherwise, every business becomes vulnerable to a major talent drain.”

The Day-to-Day Experiences of Emotional Tax Among Women and Men of Color in the Workplace findings are based on a survey of nearly 1,600 professionals working in corporate and non-corporate organizations—including nonprofits, educational institutions or government entities—in the United States at the time of data collection.

The report builds on a previously released Catalyst report, Emotional Tax: How Black Women and Men Pay More at Work and How Leaders Can Take Action (October 2016), focusing only on Black women and men. The term Emotional Tax was coined in the first report by Catalyst researchers Dnika Travis, PhD, Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon, PhD and Courtney McCluney, PhD.

Learn more or download the full report,Day-to-Day Experiences of Emotional Tax Among Women and Men of Color in the Workplace, at catalyst.org.

Join the social conversation following Catalyst on Facebook.com/catalystinc, Instagram.com/catalystinc and Twitter.com/catalystinc. Use the hashtags #EmotionalTax and #WomenOfColorAtWork.

About Catalyst
Catalyst is a global nonprofit working with some of the world’s most powerful CEOs and leading companies to help build workplaces that work for women. Founded in 1962, Catalyst drives change with pioneering research, practical tools, and proven solutions to accelerate and advance women into leadership—because progress for women is progress for everyone.

Contact:

Tia T. Gordon
Catalyst
+1 646 640 1375 or 202-906-0149
[email protected]

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SOURCE Catalyst

Puerto Rico’s Creditors Unite To Call For A Credible, Pro-Growth Fiscal Plan

February 14, 2018

NEW YORK, Feb. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A group of creditors (the “Creditors” or “we“), which collectively holds a substantial portion of Puerto Rico’s outstanding debt, released the below statement today in response to the most recent version of the Commonwealth’s Fiscal and Economic Growth Plan (the “Plan” or “FEGP“):

Although Puerto Rico’s creditors have differing perspectives on a number of issues related to the ongoing restructuring, we share a unified view that a pragmatic, transparent and growth-focused policy agenda is critical to the island’s recovery. This view has only strengthened since the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria exacerbated the already difficult economic situation on the island. Unfortunately, we believe the Commonwealth’s recently proposed FEGP represents a major step backward on the road to recovery. The Plan fails to provide a credible basis on which to restructure the island’s debt, while completely lacking a foundation for revitalizing the local economy and restoring access to the capital markets.

Perhaps the most troubling issue with the FEGP is that it was developed in an opaque manner, essentially relying on outputs from underlying analyses that have never been made public. This flies in the face of the Commonwealth’s commitment to transparency and undermines recent guidance from House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, who stated “[i]t is imperative the Oversight Board and Governor fully integrate those who hold the debt into the development of these [fiscal] plans, thereby guaranteeing accuracy and transparency in the underlying assumptions.”

As long-time lenders to the Commonwealth and its instrumentalities, we are committed to supporting the economic, commercial and social revitalization of Puerto Rico. Now is the time to lay the foundation for how private capital will augment federal aid and local revenues on the road to recovery. We believe an objective and thorough analysis of the Plan reveals a number of fundamental flaws that need to be addressed before moving forward, including:

Detailed, Substantive Growth Agenda is Needed

To date, the Commonwealth’s focus on litigation has distracted stakeholders from the fact that it has no vision for igniting growth. A number of government officials have grown alarmingly comfortable assuming continued population decline and economic stagnation. In addition, policymakers have not yet put forth a detailed plan to encourage citizens and businesses to remain on the island.

The government must create and drive a growth agenda that supports a vibrant economy, stems outmigration and incentivizes recent departees to return to the island as part of its revitalization. Towards this end, the Commonwealth should begin working with providers of private capital and industry experts to develop a broad, comprehensive economic development program.

Commonwealth Must Exhibit Fiscal Discipline

Reductions in government expenses under the Plan are minimal, with government payroll figures growing by 1.2% annually, even as population is projected to decline by 20% during the Fiscal Plan period. This disconnect stands in stark contrast to the reductions in government expenditures achieved in practically every other municipal restructuring. While Puerto Rico’s government expenses – on a per capita basis – are projected to increase by 2%¹ annually throughout the FEGP’s time horizon, the likes of Detroit, Stockton and San Bernardino exhibited annual declines of 5.2%, 3.0% and 3.7%, respectively, in the four-year periods following their restructurings.

Show Real Accountability and Transparency

We ask that the Commonwealth finally make public the underlying analyses shared with the Federal Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) to evaluate the FEGP. Right now, the Plan is unacceptably opaque on a number of levels, including:

Neglecting to distinguish between essential services and expenses the government would simply like to pay;
Failing to fully account for cash held at various accounts that may be available to meet needs outlined in the Plan;
Not sharing 2015 audited financials;
Relying on an outdated migration forecast; and
Using healthcare cost and plan participation assumptions that contradict the government’s own outmigration forecast.

Unfortunately, our concerns have been validated by the federal government’s own refusal to provide taxpayer-backed Community Disaster Loan funding without improved transparency and accountability from the Commonwealth.

Credible Debt Sustainability Analysis is Essential

The Plan’s debt sustainability analysis is built on sparse data and outright mischaracterizations, including a comparison of Puerto Rico to U.S. states. This overlooks the fact that citizens of Puerto Rico do not pay federal income taxes. The Commonwealth has acknowledged this reality when trying to access the capital markets in the past, stating that the “GDB believes that any comparison of the public debt levels of Puerto Rico with the states should include state, local and federal debt.”²

Rather than comparing Puerto Rico’s debt levels to those of a state, we believe the Commonwealth’s municipal finance advisers should construct an overlapping debt analysis that is consistent with accepted public finance practices. Any objective assessment will evaluate the amounts of debt existing at all levels of government stateside relative to Puerto Rico. Only through this type of analysis can Puerto Rico’s burden and, therefore, debt sustainability be effectively measured.

We also suggest benchmarking Puerto Rico’s debt sustainability against sovereign debt metrics. Although the World Bank and International Monetary Fund have found that 18%-22% of revenues is a sustainable level of debt service for low-income countries³, the proposed FEGP projects debt service as a percentage of revenues at only ~8%. The Plan also reflects a debt versus Gross National Product ratio of ~20% and debt vs. Gross Domestic Product ratio of 13%, while the conservative New York Federal Reserve reports on Puerto Rico’s economy* have suggested 60% as a reasonable target level.⁴

A coherent analysis is needed to regain the confidence of creditors, citizens, and current and future enterprises contemplating economically-beneficial investments in Puerto Rico.

Reduce Excessive Title III Expenses

While creditors are told there is extremely limited money for debt service, and pensioners take cuts, the FEGP provides that hundreds of millions in excessive litigation expenses will be paid in full and in cash. Earmarking exorbitant fees for legal and financial advisors, whose interests are not closely aligned with those of Puerto Rico’s stakeholders, is a recipe for protracted litigation in lieu of consensual restructuring agreements. This reality is even more unsettling when taking into account the outsized fees paid to advisors working for the Federal Oversight and Management Board (“FOMB”) and Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority (“AAFAF”).

Together, we call on the Commonwealth and FOMB to carefully evaluate and address our valid concerns. Although this week’s revised FEGP was a small step forward, addressing these issues in a comprehensive manner will ensure Puerto Rico is put on a long-term path to growth and prosperity.

About the Signatories

The group of creditors responsible for this release is comprised of Ambac, Assured, the COFINA Seniors Coalition, National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation, the Mutual Fund Group, Syncora, the Puerto Rico Funds, and individuals living in Puerto Rico and the mainland. Collectively, the group holds or insures a substantial portion of Puerto Rico’s outstanding debt.

Media Contacts

Greg Diamond (for National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation)
[email protected]
914-765-3190

Greg Marose (for the COFINA Seniors Coalition)
[email protected]
212-446-1874 / 201-936-4126

Sean Silva (for Ambac)
[email protected]
212-279-3115

¹ Excludes the effect of the “Medicaid Cliff”. Including the projected expenses of the Medicaid Cliff results in a per capita expense increase of 5% per year over the projection period.
² “The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Update on Fiscal and Economic Progress, FY 2014 Q1 Investor Webcast – October 15, 2013,” gdb-pur.com/documents/UpdateonFiscalandEconomicProgressWebcast-Final.pdf, Page 57.
³ “Joint World Bank-IMF Debt Sustainability Framework for Low Income Countries” https://www.imf.org/en/About/Factsheets/Sheets/2016/08/01/16/39/Debt-Sustainability-Framework-for-Low-Income-Countries.
⁴ “An Update on the Competitiveness of Puerto Rico’s Economy,” https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/media/outreach-and-education/puerto-rico/2014/Puerto-Rico-Report-2014.pdf, Page 27.

*Puerto Rico has been classified as a high-income economy that can support a higher level of sustainable debt service by the New York Federal Reserve.

SOURCE Group of Puerto Rico’s Creditors

The Home Depot Launches Interview Self-Scheduling to Attract More Than 80,000 Spring Hires

February 14, 2018

The Home Depot logo

ATLANTA, Feb. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot® has launched a new tool that allows job applicants to self-schedule in-person interviews as the company works to fill more than 80,000 positions for its busy spring selling season.

Using the tool, which is available 24/7 on any device, candidates who have completed an application for an open job in a Home Depot store or distribution center can easily choose the most convenient interview appointment available. About 80 percent of The Home Depot’s candidates have taken advantage of the tool since the pilot began this past November.

“Just as we’re continuously evolving to meet the changing expectations of our customers, we’re harnessing new technologies to do the same for job seekers,” said Tim Hourigan, EVP – Human Resources. “This consumer-like experience helps us hire the best talent to serve our customers.”

Candidate Self-Service is the latest in a series of enhancements The Home Depot has made to its application process. Last spring, the company saw a 50 percent increase in candidates after rolling out its 15-minute application, Mobile Apply and Text-to-Apply capabilities.

The Home Depot is also enhancing its onboarding experience this spring with the introduction of PocketGuide for associate training, a mobile application that leverages gamification to help associates learn while they’re in the aisles. PocketGuide delivers product knowledge and learning activities to the palm of an associate’s hand, significantly reducing backroom training. The application is rolling out to all garden associates for this spring season and will expand to more store departments throughout 2018.

Job seekers can visit careers.homedepot.com/retailjobs for a list of seasonal and permanent opportunities in their area. The time associates accrue during their seasonal assignments generally applies to eligibility for benefits like profit-sharing bonuses and vacation if they transition to a permanent role with The Home Depot.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,284 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2016, The Home Depot had sales of $94.6 billion and earnings of $8.0 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/118058/the_home_depot_logo.jpg

SOURCE The Home Depot

Digium Introduces Budget-Friendly IP Phones for Asterisk

February 14, 2018

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama, Feb. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Digium, Inc., the Asterisk Company, today announced the A-Series IP phones, a line of affordable desk phones for Asterisk-based systems. The new IP phones offer budget-minded Asterisk users the best value on the market with high quality components and a streamlined feature set. Starting as low as US$59, each model includes a full-color display, HD Voice, and multi-line functionality. The new A-Series phones for Asterisk offer the highest quality IP phones for the price and are backed by Digium, the creator, sponsor, and maintainer of the Asterisk project.

“Asterisk, the world’s most popular open source communications platform, is used by developers to create sophisticated, custom communications solutions, and low- or no-cost alternatives to proprietary phone systems. These systems often require budget-friendly IP phones, and the new A-Series phones for Asterisk fulfill that need,” said Charlie Wilson, director of developer products at Digium. “Users can now have dependable, Asterisk-branded phones to complement their Asterisk-based systems, and peace of mind they’re backed and supported by Digium. Additionally, purchases of the A-Series phones help fund the Asterisk open source project and support the greater Asterisk community.”

The new A-Series phones are easy-to-use and work with Asterisk-based phone systems including those that are freely distributed like AsteriskNOW, Issabel, Wazo, and others. The phones provide a straightforward deployment process and can be easily managed through an extensive web interface. Additionally, most models offer gigabit pass-through ports to support the advanced network needs of Asterisk users.

The new Digium A-Series IP phones for Asterisk include the following models:

A30 – An executive-level gigabit phone with a 4.3-inch full-color display, 6 line registrations, 10 Rapid Dial/Busy Lamp Field (BLF) keys with up to 45 contacts, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and 10/100/1000BASE-T network ports.
A25 – A mid-level gigabit phone with two full-color displays, 4 line registrations, 6 Rapid Dial/Busy Lamp Field (BLF) keys with up to 30 contacts, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and 10/100/1000BASE-T network ports.
A22 – An entry-level gigabit phone with a 2.8-inch full-color display, 2 line registrations, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and 10/100/1000BASE-T network ports.
A20 – An entry-level value phone with a 2.8-inch full-color display, 2 line registrations, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and 10/100BASE-T network ports.

The introduction of the A-Series phones launches Digium into a new segment of the IP phone market by offering customers a lower cost option. They complement Digium’s premium, award-winning D-Series business phones, which offer plug-and-play deployment, advanced applications, and the functionality to develop custom integrations with Asterisk phone systems. The D80 IP phone is Digium’s flagship offering, a completely touch-driven IP business phone for users who want an exceptional user experience.

The new Digium A-Series IP phones for Asterisk will be available beginning in March 2018 at the following suggested retail prices in USD: A20 – $59, A22 – $89, A25 – $119, and the A30 – $169. For more information about the new Digium A-Series IP phones for Asterisk, please visit www.digium.com/phonesforasterisk. To find a reseller or distributor near you, visit www.digium.com/where-to-buy. If you are interested in becoming a Digium partner, please visit www.digium.com/partner.

About Digium
Digium®, Inc. provides Asterisk® software, telephony hardware, and on-premise and hosted Switchvox business phone systems that deliver enterprise-class Unified Communications (UC) and UC as a Service (UCaaS) solutions at an affordable price. Digium is the creator, primary developer and sponsor of the Asterisk project; the world’s most widely used open source communications software. Asterisk turns an ordinary computer into a feature-rich communications server. A community of more than 80,000 developers and users worldwide uses Asterisk to create VoIP communication solutions in more than 170 countries. Since 1999, Digium has empowered developers to create innovative communications solutions based on open standards and open source software, providing an alternative to proprietary phone systems. Digium’s business communications products are sold through a worldwide network of reseller partners. More information is available at www.digium.com and www.asterisk.org.

The Digium logo, Digium, Asterisk, Switchvox, AsteriskNOW, and the Asterisk logo are trademarks of Digium, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Julie Webb	Avi Dines
Digium, Inc.	MSL
+1 (256) 428-6203	+1 (781) 684-0770
[email protected]	[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/146701/digium__inc__logo.jpg

SOURCE Digium, Inc.

Dr. Careaga offers a revolutionary skin tightening procedure

February 14, 2018

CORAL GABLES, Florida, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Doctor Daniel Careaga of Careaga Plastic Surgery defines the cutting edge of surgical technology as the first and only plastic surgeon in South Florida to offer his patients J-Plasma for minimally invasive skin tightening.

Body contouring is one of the most popular components of cosmetic plastic surgery. Procedures can essentially all be divided into fat removal procedures or skin tightening procedures. Obtaining excellent results through liposuction requires uniform skin tightening in order for the skin to have a natural tight appearance once all the fat has been removed. Patients with moderate to severe loose skin are usually better suited for skin removal procedures such as abdominoplasty or tummy tuck. Mild to moderately loose skin patients require additional measures to obtain an excellent result. Traditional methods such as ultrasonic or laser based treatments have given inconsistent results and can lead to burns due to the heat given off by the device.

J-Plasma® is an advanced energy device combining Radiofrequency (RF) energy with the unique properties of cold helium plasma. Helium plasma focuses RF energy for greater control of tissue effect, enabling a high level of precision and virtually eliminating unintended tissue trauma. J-Plasma can be done under local or general anesthesia. It takes about 45 minutes to treat the entire abdomen and the skin tightening effect is immediate. There is minimal bruising and swelling and downtime is a few days.

In addition to body contouring procedures, J-Plasma can also be done for face and neck rejuvenation. Patients with loose skin of the lower face and neck can benefit from instant tightening with this minimally invasive procedure with almost no downtime.

Dr. Daniel Careaga is an award winning Plastic Surgeon practicing in Coral Gables, Florida. He holds double board certification by both the American Board of Plastic surgery and the American Board of Surgery. Careaga Plastic Surgery, is dedicated exclusively to aesthetic surgeries and treatments including both surgical and non-surgical. Dr. Careaga has earned international recognition for his results and willingness to take on challenging cases.

Dr. Careaga underwent seven intensive years of training with world renowned plastic surgeons and has since performed over 7,000 aesthetic operations in private practice with impeccable results. He is routinely sought after by the media for opinions on current trends and new technology in plastic surgery.

You can contact Careaga Plastic Surgery at 305-960-7511, [email protected].

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641645/Careaga_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Careaga Plastic Surgery

Statement from the Board of Directors of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

February 13, 2018

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Since its founding, the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been committed to ensuring that its organization is managed with dignity, respect, and a careful stewardship of its financial resources.

The board of directors is grateful for Javier Palomarez’s service to the organization. Under his stewardship, the USHCC has grown into one of the nation’s most influential advocacy groups for Hispanics and American small business. Nonetheless, after much deliberation and careful consideration for the future of the USHCC, Mr. Palomarez and the board of directors have mutually agreed to undergo a leadership transition for the organization effective immediately. A Governance Committee has been appointed to oversee leadership changes.

An interim Chief Operating Officer will be named to lead the transition along with the Board of Directors and chamber staff to ensure a seamless transition, including uninterrupted support and promotion of its members.

“I am extremely proud of my 9 year tenure as the President & CEO of the USHCC,” said Mr. Palomarez. “I will always value what we, as a team, have accomplished for America’s 4.4 million Hispanic-owned businesses and corporations. I know that representing those individuals is a mission too important for distractions and internal division, and so I look forward to working with the Board and staff over the coming weeks to put in place a leadership team that can inspire more in our community to build businesses and achieve the American dream,” he said.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Carmen Castillo

Joseph DeLeon

Fernand Fernandez

Regina Heyward

Juan Carlos Liscano

Jose Mas

Betty Manetta

Monika Mantilla

Joe Mella

Alice Rodriguez

Aleida Rios

Don Salazar

Rosa Santana

Peter Villegas

SOURCE United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

2018 Honda Accord and Odyssey Named ‘Best New Cars’ by Good Housekeeping

February 13, 2018

TORRANCE, California, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The all-new 2018 Honda Accord 1.5T and Odyssey have won Good Housekeeping’s 2018 “Best New Car Awards,” topping the sedan and minivan categories, respectively. The winners will appear in the February issue of Good Housekeeping.

To determine winners of its Best New Car Awards, Good Housekeeping Institute works in partnership with experts at Car & Driver magazine to assess hundreds of new vehicles focusing on the things drivers care about most, including value, safety performance, reliability, NVH (noise, vibration and harshness), handling, interior design, comfort and technology. More information about Good Housekeeping’s 2018 “Best New Car Awards” can be found at goodhousekeeping.com/travel-products/car-reviews.

The 5^th-generation Odyssey was completely redesigned for the 2018 model year to even better meet the needs of changing American families by raising the bar for performance, cabin quietness, family-friendly interior space, comfort and connectivity. The reimagined 2018 Accord is the 10^th-generation of Honda’s iconic midsized sedan that boasts more aggressive and premium styling with increased focus on stance and proportion, a spacious interior, torque-laden turbo engines in both 1.5- and 2.0-liter capacities, agile drive dynamics and rich feature content.

For More Information

Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/honda. Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2018 Honda models is available at hondanews.com.

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V and Pilot sport/utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2017, nearly 93% of all Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641621/American_Honda_Motor_Co_Inc_2018_Honda_Accord_Touring_1_5T.jpg

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/460855/american_honda_motor_co_inc_logo.jpg

SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

“Ghost Tax Preparers” Continue to Victimize Taxpayers

February 13, 2018

SACRAMENTO, California, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — It is a problem that continues to haunt federal and state enforcement teams every tax season. Tax preparers who set up a storefront during tax season, serve countless taxpayers and disappear right after the tax deadline.

“Enforcement teams have very little information to go on because the paper trail is so weak. They never sign the tax returns or stay in one place. They are definitely masters of the disappearing act,” said Lester Crawford, chair of the California Tax Education Council (CTEC), a state-mandated nonprofit organization that manages the registration of more than 40,000 unlicensed tax preparers.

Tax preparers are required by law to sign (typed or handwritten) federal and state tax returns they prepare for a fee.

California is one of the few states to set standards for professional tax preparers. State law requires anyone who prepares tax returns for a fee to be either an attorney, certified public accountant (CPA), CTEC-registered tax preparer (CRTP) or enrolled agent (EA). Each professional must pass an initial test and follow educational requirements. Tax preparers who do business without a legal designation may face penalties up $5,000 from the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB).

In addition to California requirements, tax preparers are required by the Internal Revenue Service to provide a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) on all federal tax returns they prepare for a fee.

“I think people get scared about reporting tax preparers because they feel like they’ll get in trouble or are just embarrassed they got taken for a ride,” said Esperanza Escobedo, CRTP and CTEC board member. “But enforcement teams rely on reports from taxpayers.”

Beware of tax preparers that…

List “self prepared” on the tax return instead of signing it with their individual name.
Stick a business label on the tax return instead of signing it by name. Clients get the “label” copy so it looks as though they signed it; however, a blank copy without a business label is often filed.
Claim they “forgot” to sign the tax return and promise to sign it after you’ve paid them.

Taxpayers can report tax preparers at ctec.org or visit reporttaxpreparerfraud.org for more tips. CTEC is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1997 by the California State Legislature to protect taxpayers against fraud and incompetent tax preparers.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640999/California_Tax_Education_Council.jpg
Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641001/FINAL_Ghost_Tax_Preparer_ENGLISH.mp4
Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641002/CTEC_Ghost_Tax_Preparer_FIX.mp4
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641000/CTEC_Logo.jpg

SOURCE California Tax Education Council

“CONFESIONES DE MUJERES TRAFICANTES”: Real Stories Told By Women Trafficking Drugs Across Borders

February 13, 2018

“CONFESIONES DE MUJERES TRAFICANTES” features the stories of four Latino women who smuggled drugs in their luggage and even inside their own bodies, and got caught.

MIAMI, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Drug-trafficking is a business primarily led by men. Yet, there are some infamous females who get their start in the “narco” business as international drug traffickers. “CONFESIONES DE MUJERES TRAFICANTES” features the stories of four Latino women who smuggled drugs in their luggage and even inside their own bodies, and got caught. The new one-hour documentary will premiere February 25 at 10pm E/P as part of the Discovery a Fondo Investigation Block, and live on the GO app.

Lidia from Argentina swallowed 28 cocaine capsules while pregnant; Raquel from Spain was arrested after numerous trips while flying out of Argentina carrying 18 kilos of cocaine; Yolanda from Colombia agreed to take drugs to Israel despite her financial stability, and a friend of Mexican-born Linda, hid drugs in her luggage when she was returning from vacationing in Colombia. Knowingly or unknowingly, all these women fell victim to an illegal business where human mules often end up in jail.

“CONFESIONES DE MUJERES TRAFICANTES” the real stories of these women who open up and tell how they entered the world of drug trafficking, their experiences, how they got arrested, their lives in prison, the impact on their families, and their attempts to reintegrate into society.

The new documentary is a Discovery en Español original production headed by Michela Giorelli, Rafael Rodríguez and Carlos Cediel, and produced by Nippur Media.

For more about network programming, please follow us on facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

About Discovery en Español
Discovery en Español connects Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the world and all its wonder and possibilities. It provides quality programming focusing on bold storytelling across core genres including adventure, ingenuity, natural history, investigation and current affairs. Created by Discovery Communications, Discovery en Español is widely distributed on Hispanic tier packages throughout the country. It also reaches audiences across screens on the ”Discovery en Español GO”TV Everywhere app. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/641606/Discovery_en_Espanol_Mujeres_traficantes.jpg

SOURCE Discovery en Espanol

Good Times and Great Adventures Await this Spring Break in San Antonio

February 13, 2018

Spring Break fun on the San Antonio River Walk

SAN ANTONIO, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With San Antonio’s Tricentennial anniversary celebration in 2018, visitors have more to discover this Spring Break than ever before. New rides, slides and shows will provide seemingly endless entertainment at San Antonio’s theme parks, while special exhibits and events at cultural institutions will disguise learning as fun. Families will want to see for themselves why “National Geographic Traveler” named San Antonio one of the “Best of the World” for 2018.

Click to Tweet: Good times and great adventures await this Spring Break in San Antonio. https://ctt.ec/T6Uen

THEME PARK THRILLS:

The world’s first single-rail coaster will premiere at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in early March, as the park completes its DC Super Hero Trilogy of Rides with the first-ever Wonder Woman-themed coaster. WONDER WOMAN™ Golden Lasso will operate on a one-of-a-kind single rail coaster giving riders unobstructed views as they twist and turn above the 100-foot quarry walls. Riders will experience a thrilling 90-degree drop, overbanked wave turn, zero-g roll and a steep uphill spiral.

Aquatica San Antonio, SeaWorld’s Waterpark™, will debut its high-speed racing water slide, Taumata Racer^®March 10. Named for a famous hill in New Zealand, Taumata Racer allows riders to zoom downhill head first on foam bodysurfing mats in one of six side-by-side lanes. Spring Break at SeaWorld also means Wild Days – an action-packed month of events, shows and up-close animal encounters.

Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built for everyone’s enjoyment, will be open daily March 9-18. Experience fun shows including “Music, Mutts, Magic and More,” in addition to more than 25 wheelchair-accessible rides and playscapes.

CULTURAL FUN FOR ALL AGES:

Make memories and take family selfies while discovering San Antonio’s famous River Walk aboard one of Go Rio River Cruises’ new electric river boats.

Get moving at The DoSeum’s special exhibit “Run! Jump! Fly! Adventures in Action.” Kids will build skills in balance, strength and coordination as they master poses in the Yoga Station, navigate their boards through mountains and oceans in Surf Snow and maneuver across a rocky wall in Climbing Canyon. Exhibit open through April 8.

Beginning March 1, experience history like never before with the Alamo Reality app. Using a careful blending of technology and scholarship, this new smartphone app invites users to travel back in time to explore the legendary siege of the Alamo. Through augmented reality, visitors to the Shrine of Texas Liberty can inspect the mission grounds, walls, gates and barracks and learn more about the stories behind the legend.

Celebrate San Antonio’s Tricentennial at The Witte Museum with “Confluence and Culture: 300 Years of San Antonio History,” a multi-faceted exhibit that portrays San Antonio as the hub of the frontier over three centuries. Opening March 3, the exhibit illustrates how early Spanish settlement in San Antonio influenced the economic and cultural development of the city through modern times.

Explore nature at the San Antonio Botanical Garden’s Spring Break events March 12-23, including a plant sale, native plant walks, bird walks, dog days, butterfly walks and Starlight Movies in the Garden.

Experience Texas as it was in the 1880’s with “Spring Break on the Back 40” at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures. Learn about life on the frontier while seeing buildings and artifacts from the period up close.

ACTIVITIES FOR THE BUDDING ARTIST:

The Briscoe Western Art Museum will host its Lil Partners Spring Break Film Series March 13-15, featuring kid-friendly westerns including “Back to the Future Part III,” “Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron” and “Rango.”

The McNay Art Museum will host family-friendly hours on March 13-14, 2-4 p.m. featuring art activities, tours, lawn games and special performances inside and outside the museum, all inspired by work featured as a part of its “100 Years of African American Art” exhibition.

The San Antonio Museum of Art will host a free Spring Break family day on March 13. Enjoy family art activities inspired by San Antonio’s Tricentennial and the “San Antonio 1718: Art from Viceregal Mexico” exhibit.

Additional media information, photos and video: media.visitsanantonio.com

Media Contact:
Megan Lagrone
[email protected]
210-207-6808

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640621/Visit_San_Antonio_River_Walk_Go_Rio.jpg

SOURCE Visit San Antonio

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