Toyota Connected North America Partners With Avis Budget Group To Enhance Customer Rental Experience

March 12, 2018

Connected Logo (PRNewsfoto/Toyota Connected)

PLANO, Texas, March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Toyota Connected North America, the global technology strategy business unit for Toyota, today announced a multi-year partnership with Avis Budget Group, a leading global provider of mobility solutions, that will add 10,000 Toyota vehicles to Avis Car Rental’s expanding fleet of connected cars. Avis Budget Group will utilize Toyota’s proprietary Mobility Services Platform (MSPF) to enable greater operational and rental fleet efficiency while creating a more seamless rental experience for customers.

“At Toyota Connected North America, we are leveraging the power of data science to develop and deliver new mobility services that create new value for businesses and customers alike,” said Zack Hicks, chief executive officer and president, Toyota Connected North America. “Toyota’s mobility services platform will provide Avis Budget Group with enhanced connectivity and visibility into their fleet, and bring travelers increased control and convenience over their rental experience.”

The Toyota vehicles will deliver increased benefits to Avis customers by tapping into Toyota’s proprietary MSPF, a suite of advanced software and connected services that support mobility businesses. The platform’s telematics data API (application programming interface) will enable customers to receive real-time rental information via the Avis mobile app, which includes virtual odometer readings and fuel levels, and will assist them in locating the vehicle. The connected services provided by the telematics interface will also allow for greater fleet management capabilities, improve informatics, and enable shorter vehicle check-in and check-out processing times.

Toyota’s MSPF is already being used to support a range of businesses and test programs, including car share programs, use-based car insurance pricing, and fleet management. Servco Pacific Inc., the distributor of Toyota vehicles in Hawaii, is currently using MSPF to launch a new Honolulu-based car share business through an application developed and managed by Toyota Connected North America that supports driver identification and authentication, plus payment and fleet management. Getaround, a San Francisco-based, peer-to-peer car-sharing company, is leveraging MSPF and connected car technology to allow drivers to seamlessly and securely rent, locate and drive Toyota vehicles with a Smart Key Box (SKB) that lets users lock and unlock vehicles and start the engine via a smartphone.

About Toyota Connected North America
Based in Plano, Texas, Toyota Connected North America (TCNA) was established in 2016 to drive Toyota’s global efforts for an intelligent mobile society. With big data collected from vehicles and analyzed on a cloud platform, TCNA humanizes the driving experience by freeing customers from the tyranny of technology via secure, seamless and contextual services, elevating the customer experience transparently while benefitting dealers, distributors, and partners. Analyzing traffic patterns, driver behavior and connecting drivers with infrastructure and other information is only part of TCNA’s work that will open new services and products to keep the car as a beloved companion.

Media Contacts

Brian Lyons
(469) 292-3573
[email protected]

Ming-Jou Chen
(469) 292-3799
[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/495464/Toyota_Connected_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Toyota Connected North America

Bourdais Leads Honda Sweep of Indy Car Season Opener

March 12, 2018

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Sebastien Bourdais scored a second consecutive victory Sunday at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, opening round of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series.

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida, March 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A thrilling late-race battle for victory ended in disappointment for Robert Wickens, and a second consecutive Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg win for Sebastien Bourdais, as Honda drivers and teams swept the season-opening round of the 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series. Honda drivers claimed the top six finishing positions and eight of the top 10.

Four Honda drivers led 105 laps of the 110-lap contest Sunday on the 1.8-mile downtown St. Petersburg circuit, with Wickens dominating at the point for a race-high 69 laps. But a late-race restart on Lap 108 gave the second-running Alexander Rossi an opportunity to mount a challenge for the lead. The pair of Honda drivers made contact in Turn One, with Wickens spinning and making light contact with the outside wall. An opportunistic Bourdais used the opening to jump from third to first, and claimed the victory as the race ended under caution.

A hard-charging Graham Rahal used all 110 laps to climb from last in the starting field – due to a spin in qualifying – to finish an excellent second; with Rossi recovering from his own slide following the contact with Wickens to complete the victory podium in third.

In a wild race that featured eight caution flags for a total of 21 laps, there still were 366 on-track passes in the race, a record for St. Petersburg. Honda drivers dominated the top 10, with James Hinchcliffe [Schmidt Peterson Motorsports], Ryan Hunter-Reay [Andretti Autosport] and Scott Dixon [Chip Ganassi Racing] claiming fourth through sixth, respectively, and five Honda teams represented in the top six. Ed Jones finished eighth in his first race with the Ganassi team and Marco Andretti took the checkers in ninth for Honda and Andretti Autosport.

Race day got under way with Arie Luyendyk Jr., star of the most recent season of The Bachelor, giving new fiancé Lauren Burnham a ride around the St. Petersburg circuit in the Honda “Fastest Seat in Sports” two-seater Indy car. Indy legend Mario Andretti then took Burnham for a second ride, this time at the head of the 24-car field, during the parade laps leading up to today’s race start.

Video recaps from this weekend’s Honda IndyCar Series season opener in St. Petersburg 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.

The Verizon IndyCar Series next heads west to ISM Raceway near Phoenix, Arizona, for the Desert Diamond Phoenix Grand Prix, the first Saturday night short-oval race of 2018, which will be broadcast live on the NBC Sports Network at 9 p.m. EDT on Saturday, April 7.

Sebastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan Honda) started 14^th, finished 1^st, second consecutive St. Petersburg victory, 37^th career Indy car win, sixth victory for the Dale Coyne Racing organization: “This is emotional, because I was able to come back from a few broken bones [suffered in his crash at Indianapolis last year] to this victory circle. I couldn’t be any happier for Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan, SealMaster and everybody…all the boys. They worked so hard. It’s a tiny group, but they work their tails off. We didn’t have the fastest car today, but we had consistency and we pulled it together. We were going to get a podium today, which was awesome. I was really happy for Robert [Wickens] and kind of heartbroken for him. But for us, it is just such an upset. I can’t quite put it into words.”

Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) started 12^th, finished 3^rd: “We started going for the win [leading to the contact with Wickens]. The ‘overtake’ [push-to-pass button] was active. Had a run on Robbie, and he missed the overtake and then went on through the marbles in a big way and I did everything I could to pull it up. Obviously, you don’t want that to happen in the race. They [race officials] briefly talked about how you can’t move and react in the drivers’ meeting.”

Robert Wickens (Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda) pole qualifier, led a race-high 69 laps before contact ended his race: “I didn’t want to defend too hard because there were so many ‘marbles’ offline. I figured if Alexander [Rossi] wanted to go there, go for it. I gave him space around the outside. I braked late [for Turn 1], I made the corner, and then we had some contact. Obviously, it put me into a spin into the wall. Not the way I imagined the day going for me, or my Lucas Oil guys. It was all a little bit confusing because I was told on the radio we were going green but they didn’t turn the lights off the pace car. So I didn’t get the best restart, probably my worst one of the whole day. I just need to see everything before I comment [more]. At the end of the day, when you are running up front the entire race and then you don’t finish, it doesn’t matter how your day goes, you never want that to happen.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s season-opening Honda sweep: “That was a great way to start the season! It’s always nice to see all the hard work put in by the HPD associates rewarded after a very busy off-season. Congratulations to Sebastien Bourdais for his repeat victory at his hometown event; to the Dale Coyne organization, and to new Honda team co-owners Jimmy Vasser and James Sullivan. Also congratulations to Graham for his run from last at the start to second at the checkers. I feel bad for Robbie [Wickens] after such a dominant performance. He clearly proved that he and the entire Schmidt Peterson Motorsports group are going to be a force to be reckoned with going forward.”

Verizon IndyCar Series Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg
Circuit:	Bayfront Park (1.8-mile temporary street circuit) St. Petersburg, FL
2017 Winner:	Sebastien Bourdais (Dale Coyne Racing Honda) 95.391 mph average
Weather:	Sunny, mild, 74 degrees F

Top-10 Race Results:
Fn.		St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.		14.	Sebastien Bourdais	Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan	Honda	110	Led 30 laps, 86.207 mph avg.
	2.	24.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	110	+0.1269 seconds
	3.	12.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	110	Led 5 laps
	4.	7.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	110
	5.	6.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	110	Led 1 lap
	6.	9.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	110
	7.	13.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	110
8.		17.	Ed Jones	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	110
9.		18.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	110
	10.	2.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet	110
Other Honda Results
	12.	5.	Takuma Sato	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	110	Running
	16.	15.	Zach Veach	Andretti Autosport	Honda	109	Running
	17.	22.	Zachary Claman DeMelo-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	109	Running
	18.	1.	Robert Wickens	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	108	Led race-high 69 laps
	23.	19.	Jack Harvey-R	Michael Shank Racing	Honda	38	Did not finish – contact

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/652887/Sebastien_Bourdais.jpg
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/83597/honda_performance_development__inc__honda_racing_logo.jpg

SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD

Chronicled Releases 2017 Progress Report for Blockchain Platform for Track-and-Trace of Prescription Medicines

March 12, 2018

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SAN FRANCISCO, March 12, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Chronicled, Inc. today published its end-of-year report for The MediLedger Project, an exploration and development of blockchain solutions for the pharmaceutical industry.

MediLedger, which is primarily aimed at demonstrating compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), utilizes the innovative capabilities of blockchain technology to track and trace prescription medicines. The project also seeks to demonstrate an ability to prevent counterfeit medicines from entering the supply chain. The DSCSA, which has a number of staggered effective dates, requires the Pharma industry to adopt an “interoperable system” to manage records of ownership and transfers of prescription drugs in the United States. Chronicled believes that blockchain may be the technology best suited to enable this interoperable system.

Over the past several months, the MediLedger Project has developed a blockchain-based system for tracking legal change of ownership of prescription medicines. Its year-end report draws a number of encouraging conclusions. First, the Project’s blockchain-based system appears to fully meet the requirements set forth by DSCSA and is capable of acting as the interoperable system for the pharmaceutical supply chain prescribed in the Act. In addition, MediLedger has proven that it can meet the data privacy requirements of the pharmaceutical industry itself. In particular, it can guarantee that all supply chain handshake transactions posted to the blockchain are fully obfuscated, ensuring that no business intelligence is leaked. This will allow nodes in the blockchain system to be hosted by numerous unique parties while both safeguarding sensitive transactions and ensuring the immutability of each supply chain handshake transaction.

Additionally, MediLedger has proven its ability to verify the origin of serialized global trade identifiers (SGTINs) and to trace the provenance of drugs to their original manufacturers. Since each transaction forward in the supply chain can reconfirm the integrity of a specific product, the movement of products without an authentic pedigree can be prevented. This functionality has the potential to expedite investigations and recalls, making illicit drug movement detectable and greatly strengthening safety capabilities in the industry.

The trust established by a blockchain system is applicable to countless business scenarios, allowing for compounding benefits to industry if such a platform is established. “Our vision for an industrial blockchain ecosystem would have an open architecture, allowing a free, competitive market with appropriate governance,” said Chronicled executive Susanne Somerville. “The blockchain has the capability to bring trust and automation to the baseline business logic of the industry. We are excited to be working with such a strong group of partners through the MediLedger Project.”

The MediLedger Project (mediledger.com) was established in 2017 to bring Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Wholesale Distributors together to explore the potential of blockchain technology to track and trace prescription medicines. Its specific scope was to evaluate blockchain’s application to ensure compliance with DSCSA in the United States. The benefits of the system may well be applicable in other geographies where problems with counterfeits and illicit trade may be more aggravated. In 2018 the MediLedger Project plans to continue to advance the concept and implementation of a pharmaceutical blockchain ecosystem for the industry and companies that have not joined the working group already are encouraged to do so.

To read the full report, please visit mediledger.com

About Chronicled

Based in San Francisco, Chronicled is a technology company leveraging blockchain and IoT to power smart, secure supply chain solutions. Chronicled secures IoT device identities, data, and event logs and automates IoT-dependent business logic through smart contracts. Chronicled is also a founding member of the Trusted IoT Alliance, with the mission of creating open source tools and standards to connect IoT and blockchain ecosystems to deliver business value.

Press Contact
Sam Radocchia, CMO
[email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/509495/Chronicled_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Chronicled, Inc.

Community Rally to Protest State Senator Ricardo Lara’s Support of SB 905 -The Dangerous 4 a.m. Bar Bill Experiment

March 11, 2018

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Alcohol Justice logo. (PRNewsFoto/Alcohol Justice)

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 11, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA), Alcohol Justice and the Los Angeles Drug & Alcohol Policy Alliance have organized a community rally to protest State Senator Ricardo Lara (D- Bell Gardens) in response to his continued support and co-authorship of SB 905 to extend alcohol sales at bars, restaurants and clubs to 4 a.m. in Los Angeles. The bill will be heard in the Senate Governmental Organization Committee this coming Tuesday (3/13) in Sacramento. Senator Lara is a member of the committee. A number of his Huntington Park and Long Beach constituents will be present.

WHAT: Protest Rally

WHEN: Monday, March 12, 2018, 12 p.m.

WHERE: Sen. Ricardo Lara’s Huntington Park District Office, 6550 Miles Ave., 2nd Floor Huntington Park, CA 90255

WHY:

On the heels of failing to pass a 4 a.m. bar bill last year (SB 384), State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and State Senator Ricardo Lara (D- Bell Gardens), have introduced SB 905, a dangerous six-city, five-year experiment to extend last call hours until 4 a.m.
This bill, like three others that have failed in previous sessions, will spread alcohol overconsumption, loss of life, injury, and nuisance across the state
Fatal DUI is a chronic, worsening problem for California
The U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force found that every 2-hour increase in last-call times results in greater vehicle crash injuries and E.R. admissions. (Hahn et al., 2010)
There is no such thing as “local control” in alcohol policy. The harm from one city’s decision to change last-call times “splashes” over to every surrounding community.
California already suffers over 10,500 alcohol-related deaths and $34 billion in costs annually
Senator Lara has accepted $62,171 in campaign finance contributions from beer, wine and liquor businesses. (followthemoney.org)

For more information:
Michael Scippa, Public Affairs Director, Alcohol Justice – (415) 548-0492 [email protected]
Jorge Castillo, Advocacy Director, Alcohol Justice – (213) 840-3336 [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/147418/alcohol_justice_logo.jpg

SOURCE Alcohol Justice

Los Angeles Community Town Hall on the 4 a.m. Bar Bill Concludes: 4 A.M. Last Call Means No Safety, No Peace, No Control

March 11, 2018

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LOS ANGELES, March 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA), Alcohol Justice, Institute for Public Strategies, and Behavioral Health Services in Hollywood sponsored a Community Town Hall meeting and panel discussion last Thursday for residents of Los Angeles and West Hollywood on allowing alcohol-serving establishments in California to stay open until 4 a.m.

The forum was organized in response to the State legislature’s fourth attempt over the past six years to change the state’s last call policy for alcohol sales at bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. At the end of the lively, passionate discussion, an overwhelming majority of those present were convinced that the current bill, SB 905, like the previous three that failed, will spread alcohol overconsumption, loss of life, injury, and nuisance across the state. Next steps were also declared: tell California’s elected leaders and the “late night entertainment” lobby – STOP the 4 a.m. Bar Bill!

Panelist Carson Benowitz-Fredericks, Research Manager at Alcohol Justice, presented data showing:

California already suffers more annual alcohol-related harm than any other state
10,572 deaths
17,700 hospitalizations
123,841 years potential life lost (chronic causes)
180,017 years potential life lost (acute causes)
$34 billion cost to public
$13.7 billion cost to government
Fatal DUI is a chronic, worsening problem for California.
There is no such thing as “local control” in alcohol policy. The harm from one city’s decision to change last-call times splashes over every surrounding community.

In a written statement, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz stated, “While we want our local businesses to thrive, no good can come from serving alcohol until 4 a.m. If this passes we can expect more DUIs, more drunk driving injuries and more alcohol related deaths.” He went on to say, “No district is an island and it is outrageous to call this a local discretion bill when its impacts will spill over into adjacent jurisdictions that will be stuck with the very expensive public safety bill – the cost of life and death.”

A peer-reviewed metal analysis by the U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force, Chaired by Jonathan Fielding, M.D., M.P.H., M.A., M.B.A, Distinguished Professor UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, found that every 2-hour increase in last-call times results in greater vehicle crash injuries and E.R. admissions. (Hahn et al., 2010)

Panelist Dr. Deborah Allen, ScD, Deputy Director of the Health Promotion Bureau at the LA County Department of Public Health, presented compelling data from Alcohol Outlet Density and Alcohol-Related Consequences by City and Community in Los Angeles County, 2013, a report from the department published in 2016.

“Los Angeles and West Hollywood have very large densities of bars, clubs and restaurants, which already impact the safety and livability of our neighborhoods,” said Sarah Blanch, Regional Director of the Institute for Public Strategies. “The communities we work and live in are concerned about increasing alcohol problems even further with longer serving hours.”

Gilbert Mora, Prevention Coordinator at Behavioral Health Services in Hollywood commented, “The research is clear. Extending closing times and removing restrictions on hours of sale is associated with increases in serious alcohol-related problems, including violence, emergency room admissions, alcohol-impaired driving, and motor vehicle collisions.”

In California, more than 75% of alcohol-related deaths come from homicide, poisoning, falls, and motor vehicle crashes, all of which could increase with the usual binge drinking cutoff time extending to 4 a.m. Levels of intoxication continue to increase for 30 to 90 minutes after the last drink, so for many 4 a.m. last call drivers, their intoxication could peak at 5 or 5:30 a.m., not an unusually early commute time for workers in many parts of the state.

“The negative cumulative effects on our neighborhoods has already and will continue to degrade our quality of life,” stated panelist Oren Katz, Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Councilmember. “We cannot achieve, as our mayor would like, ‘walkable streets’ when we our police department is already stretched thin; when we are in the middle of an ever-growing homeless crisis; when we are tasked with regulating the legalization of drugs; and we are in the middle of fighting the proposal to extend the drinking hours until 4 a.m.”

SB 905 is scheduled for a hearing in the California Senate Committee on Governmental Organization on Tuesday, July 13, 2018. Those opposed to changing last call alcohol sales policy in California are encouraged to visit AlcoholJustice.org and TAKE ACTION by telling committee members to stop SB 905, and choose California lives over nightlife commerce.

For more information:
Michael Scippa, Public Affairs Director, Alcohol Justice – (415) 548-0492 [email protected]
Sarah Blanch, Regional Director, Institute for Public Strategies – (310) 215-9924 x133 [email protected]

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/147418/alcohol_justice_logo.jpg

SOURCE Alcohol Justice

Labor Commissioner’s Office Cites Weight Loss Chain Over $8.3 Million for Wage Theft Violations

March 9, 2018

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SANTA ANA, California, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Labor Commissioner’s Office has cited Chino-based weight loss and fitness chain the Camp Bootcamp, Inc., doing business as the Camp Transformation Center, more than $8.3 million for multiple wage theft and labor law violations. Unpaid wages and damages are owed to 551 workers who worked in 15 locations throughout Southern California, including trainers, trainer assistants, facility managers and receptionists.

The Labor Commissioner launched an investigation last May after receiving a complaint. The investigation found that from August 2014 to August 2017, trainers and assistants at all locations were only paid for each class taught when they should have been paid per hour. They were shorted on wages due for travel between the class sites, as well as prep and clean up before and after each class.

“Employees must be paid for all hours worked, including travel between worksites,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “Employers should not expect to pass the cost of doing business to their workers – this is wage theft.”

Investigators found that trainers were required to teach classes in different locations, which resulted in driving time of more than an hour between worksites in some cases. The Camp Bootcamp issued separate paychecks to trainers or assistants who worked at multiple locations, with workers receiving up to six paychecks for a single pay period. As a result, the employer did not pay the workers overtime. Managers and other employees were not paid for mandatory staff meetings, and receptionists were not provided required rest or meal breaks.

The Camp Bootcamp was ordered to pay $1,188,536 in unpaid minimum wages, $421,979 for unpaid overtime, $5,882 for unpaid split shift premium pay, $1,388,847 in liquidated damages, $392,106 for meal and rest period violations, $522,166 for waiting time penalties and $190,600 for failure to provide itemized wage statements, totaling $4,110,116 payable to the workers. The citations also include $1,250,200 in civil penalties. The Camp Bootcamp was further ordered to pay the workers $2.95 million in contract wages owed. The Labor Commissioner has the authority to issue citations for unpaid minimum wages, but contract wages above the minimum are usually sought through a civil action.

When workers are paid less than minimum wage, they are entitled to liquidated damages that equal the amount of underpaid wages plus interest. Waiting time penalties are imposed when the employer willfully fails to pay all wages due to the employee at the time of separation. This penalty is calculated by taking the employee’s daily rate of pay and multiplying it by the number of days the employee was not paid, up to a maximum of 30 days. The civil penalties collected will be 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 inspecting workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicating wage claims, investigating retaliation complaints and educating the public on labor laws.

In 2014, Labor Commissioner Julie A. 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 Jeanne-Mairie Duval 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

SOURCE Dept. of Industrial Relations

Amid Greater FCC Investment In Puerto Rico’s Hurricane-Damaged Communications Networks, Health Group Focuses On “Lifeline”-Enabled Crisis Network

March 9, 2018

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai toured Puerto Rico this week and promised $954 million to restore communications networks knocked out by Hurricane Maria. At the same time, the National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved (NHIT Collaborative), in cooperation with HIMSS and HX360, hosted the “Leveraging Health IT to Address Health Disparities: A Leadership Conference“, which brought together national leaders who discussed how to leverage the federal Lifeline program, which the FCC administers, as part of a disaster preparedness-and-response network.

An estimated 550,000 Puerto Ricans participate in the Lifeline program, which was designed to ensure that low-income households in the United States are able to partake of telecommunications advances and all of the benefits that they bring, including the ability to find and keep jobs, maintain good health, contact emergency services when needed, and preserve strong family and community ties. The FCC has recently proposed several changes to the programs that have drawn concern from a diverse group of commenters.

Luis Belen, CEO, National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved, said: “In many ways, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are a microcosm both of why Lifeline is so urgently needed and how it can work to make life better for its target audience. It is vital that the over 550,000 Puerto Rico participants in the Lifeline program, who consists of our most vulnerable, continue to have access to it.”

At the NHIT Leadership Conference this week, Belen highlighted the “NHIT Care Campaign – The Importance of the Lifeline Program During Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico, USVI and Underserved Populations Nationwide.”

Working with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), the Puerto Rico Primary Care Association Network and other groups, this cutting-edge combination of the federal Lifeline program and other technology will allow officials to notify and communicate with millions in the Lifeline program, including sending alerts, tracking patients in “hot spots” and teaming up with federal partners during disasters for communications. NHIT Collaborative and its partners are working to leverage and link with other federal initiatives such as the ASPR Empower Model and Patient Unified Lookup System for Emergencies, or PULSE to create an immediate ALERT network for the most vulnerable populations.

Belen said: “In Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and portions of the mainland United States, it is increasingly clear that we haven’t had all the right tools in place in the past to communicate with citizens at times of natural disasters. This is a particular concern when it comes to low-income individuals, who in many ways are uniquely vulnerable to such disasters. The NHIT Care Campaign brings together the best available tools – including Lifeline – to make sure that we take care of our poorest citizens when they are most at risk. Chairman Pai needs to understand the critical importance of having a strong Lifeline program in Puerto Rico and elsewhere.”

The National Health IT Collaborative for the Underserved, with guidance from supporting partners, launched the NHIT Care Campaign to restore the health safety net for the people of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Given the significant damage to Puerto Rico’s national infrastructure, FQHCs and affiliated primary care provider networks have urgent needs for power, medical supplies, communications, and telemedicine support to conduct emergency medical response and coordinate care in coordination with disaster response operations across Puerto Rico. For low-income individuals, Lifeline is seen as an essential part of the emergency communication model that is now emerging.

NHIT COLLABORATIVE

The NHIT Collaborative has mounted a long term campaign to include a consortium of federal agencies and other key private sector and community-based stakeholders to improve the quality of care, increase access to care and care-related service, and reduce the cost of care among the underserved so that no community is left behind. NHIT represents national, regional, and local organizations focused on addressing health disparities through the use of new and innovative technologies and peripheral mobile devices.

SOURCE NHIT Collaborative, Washington, DC

Mazda and Toyota Establish Joint-Venture Company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.”

March 8, 2018

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HUNTSVILLE, Alabama and HIROSHIMA, Japan and TOYOTA-CITY, Japan, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have established their new joint-venture company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.” (MTMUS) that will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/652222/Mazda_Toyota_Logo.jpg

The new plant will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of Mazda’s crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla. The facility is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs. Toyota and Mazda are investing $1.6 billion towards this project with equal funding contributions.

“We hope to make MTMUS a plant that will hold a special place in the heart of the local community for many, many years,” said Mazda’s Executive Officer Masashi Aihara, who will serve as President of MTMUS. “By combining the best of our technologies and corporate cultures, Mazda and Toyota will not only produce high-quality cars but also create a plant employees will be proud to work at and contribute to the further development of the local economy and the automotive industry. We hope that cars made at the new plant will enrich the lives of their owners and become much more than just a means of transportation.”

“The new plant, which will be Toyota’s 11^th manufacturing facility in the U.S., not only represents our continuous commitment in this country, but also is a key factor in improving our competitiveness of manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Hironori Kagohashi, executive general manager of Toyota and MTMUS’s Executive Vice President. “We are committed to realizing a highly competitive plant and producing vehicles with the best quality for customers by combining Toyota and Mazda’s manufacturing expertise and leveraging the joint venture’s synergies. Based on this competitiveness, we will make every effort to becoming a best-in-town plant that will be loved by our hometown,” he added.

In collaboration with the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville, MTMUS will soon begin land preparation for the new plant, and the full-scale construction of the plant is expected to start in 2019.

Overview of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.

Company name	Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTMUS)
Location	Huntsville, Alabama
Ratio of capital contribution	Mazda Motor Corporation: 50%, Toyota Motor Corporation: 50%
Date of establishment	March 1^st, 2018
President and executive vice president	President: Masashi Aihara (Executive Officer of Mazda Motor Corporation) Executive Vice President: Hironori Kagohashi (executive general manager of Toyota Motor Corporation)
Production capacity	300,000 units per year (150,000 units each for Mazda and Toyota)
Production model	Mazda: crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market Toyota: Corolla
Start of production	2021
Employment	Up to 4,000 team members

About Mazda
Mazda Motor Corporation, based in Hiroshima, Japan, was established in 1920, and became a vehicle manufacturer in 1931, when it began producing three-wheeled trucks. Mazda began selling vehicles in North America 50 years ago, with the establishment of affiliate companies in Canada (Mazda Canada, Inc.) in 1968, in the United States (Mazda Motor of America, d/b/a Mazda North American Operations) in 1971 and in Mexico (Mazda Motor de Mexico) in 2004. Currently, Mazda does business in more than 130 countries around the world, and produces vehicles in Japan, Mexico, China and Thailand. Building passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and crossover SUVs, with an emphasis on the driving experience and a focus on design, engineering and efficient manufacturing, the company sells more than 1.55 million vehicles annually.

Mazda Motor Corporation is responsible for Mazda’s operations on a global basis, including all aspects of manufacturing, research and development, sales, marketing and all international operations. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

Mazda and Toyota Establish Joint-Venture Company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.”

March 8, 2018

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Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have established their new joint-venture company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.” (MTMUS) that will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. and HIROSHIMA, Japan and TOYOTA-CITY, Japan, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation have established their new joint-venture company “Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.” (MTMUS) that will produce vehicles in Huntsville, Alabama starting in 2021.

The new plant will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of Mazda’s crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla. The facility is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs. Toyota and Mazda are investing $1.6 billion towards this project with equal funding contributions.

“We hope to make MTMUS a plant that will hold a special place in the heart of the local community for many, many years,” said Mazda’s Executive Officer Masashi Aihara, who will serve as President of MTMUS. “By combining the best of our technologies and corporate cultures, Mazda and Toyota will not only produce high-quality cars but also create a plant employees will be proud to work at and contribute to the further development of the local economy and the automotive industry. We hope that cars made at the new plant will enrich the lives of their owners and become much more than just a means of transportation.”

“The new plant, which will be Toyota’s 11^th manufacturing facility in the U.S., not only represents our continuous commitment in this country, but also is a key factor in improving our competitiveness of manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Hironori Kagohashi, executive general manager of Toyota and MTMUS’s Executive Vice President. “We are committed to realizing a highly competitive plant and producing vehicles with the best quality for customers by combining Toyota and Mazda’s manufacturing expertise and leveraging the joint venture’s synergies. Based on this competitiveness, we will make every effort to becoming a best-in-town plant that will be loved by our hometown,” he added.

In collaboration with the state of Alabama and the city of Huntsville, MTMUS will soon begin land preparation for the new plant, and the full-scale construction of the plant is expected to start in 2019.

Overview of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc.

Company name	Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTMUS)
Location	Huntsville, Alabama
Ratio of capital contribution	Mazda Motor Corporation: 50%, Toyota Motor Corporation: 50%
Date of establishment	March 1^st, 2018
President and executive vice president	President: Masashi Aihara (Executive Officer of Mazda Motor Corporation) Executive Vice President: Hironori Kagohashi (executive general manager of Toyota Motor Corporation)
Production capacity	300,000 units per year (150,000 units each for Mazda and Toyota)
Production model	Mazda: crossover model that will be newly introduced to the North American market Toyota: Corolla
Start of production	2021
Employment	Up to 4,000 team members

About Mazda

Mazda Motor Corporation, based in Hiroshima, Japan, was established in 1920, and became a vehicle manufacturer in 1931, when it began producing three-wheeled trucks. Mazda began selling vehicles in North America 50 years ago, this year, with the establishment of affiliate companies in Canada (Mazda Canada, Inc.) in 1968, in the United States (Mazda Motor of America, d/b/a Mazda North American Operations) in 1970, and in Mexico (Mazda Motor de Mexico) in 2006. Currently, Mazda does business in more than 130 countries around the world, and produces vehicles in Japan, Mexico, China and Thailand. Building passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and crossover SUVs, with an emphasis on the driving experience and a focus on design, engineering and efficient manufacturing, the company sells more than 1.55 million vehicles annually.

Mazda Motor Corporation is responsible for Mazda’s operations on a global basis, including all aspects of manufacturing, research and development, sales, marketing and all international operations. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. and North America for 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more than 46,000 people (more than 36,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800 North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold more than 2.7 million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2017 – and about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 15 years are still on the road today.

Toyota partners with community, civic, academic, and governmental organizations to address our society’s most pressing mobility challenges. We share company resources and extensive know-how to support non-profits to help expand their ability to assist more people move more places. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com.

CONTACT:
Kelly Stefanich
812-779-8268

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651233/Mazda_Toyota_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Toyota Motor North America

Scholastic Literacy Pro™ Named Primary Resource/ Equipment Supplier of the Year at The 2018 GESS Education Awards

March 8, 2018

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NEW YORK, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Literacy Pro™, an innovative digital reading and assessment program from the international division of Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, was named the Primary Resource/Equipment Supplier of the Year by the 2018 GESS Education Awards. The GESS Education Awards recognize high-quality and diverse educational products, resources, service and people as well as the best educational establishments and the most dedicated members of the teaching profession.

For more information about Literacy Pro, visit scholastic.com/literacypro.

As the Primary Resource/Equipment Supplier of the Year, Literacy Pro was recognized for its strength in guiding educators to support students in grades 2–12 in reaching reading proficiency goals, connecting them to authentic books that will maximize their achievement, and building a culture of reading within a school.

Currently used in 47 countries, Literacy Pro provides an online adaptive assessment that measures students’ reading comprehension and generates a personalized book list that matches each student’s reading level and individual interests. Each title includes a comprehension quiz that provides an opportunity for students to earn points towards certificate levels in the program. Educators also have access to dashboards where they can view detailed reports that inform instructional decisions and ensure students are reaching required levels of proficiency, all of which can be customized within the program to support different curriculum benchmarks.

Literacy Pro Library, an enhancement of the program, offers an interactive ebook library consisting of more than 900 titles including popular series Goosebumps™, Discover More, A True Book™, and more. The Library includes resources such as audio books, interactive vocabulary, and a student recording feature to provide a personalized experience for all readers. Additionally, educators can assign books to students using reading levels and content areas and monitor their reading progress.

QUOTES:

Anne Boynton-Trigg, VP, Export Sales and Marketing at Scholastic
“We are honored that Scholastic Literacy Pro has been named ‘Primary Resource/Equipment Supplier of the Year’ and is receiving recognition as a program students and educators can depend on to inform classroom instruction and independent reading. The program’s ability to effortlessly match students with engaging, authentic texts they want to read creates a culture of reading that engages every child while building the foundation they need to become lifelong learners.

Leticia Becerril, Educator and Literacy Pro user, Colegio Cuernavaca, Mexico
“Literacy Pro and Literacy Pro Library provide teachers with evidence-based data so we can make the best teaching and learning decisions to develop our students into successful, proficient readers.”

Since 2017, Scholastic Literacy Pro has received the BESSIE award for Best Primary Literacy Resource Website and was a finalist for the 2018 BETT award for Best Primary Content Resource.

For more information about Scholastic, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/344322/scholastic_logo.jpg

SOURCE Scholastic