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

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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.

Alcohol Justice logo. (PRNewsFoto/Alcohol Justice)

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

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Alcohol Justice logo

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.

Alcohol Justice logo

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:

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

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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

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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.”

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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 11th 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 1st, 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.”

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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.

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 11th 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 1st, 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

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Scholastic Logo.

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.

Scholastic Logo.

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

Los Angeles Community Town Hall On The 4 A.M. Bar Bill

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California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA) AlcoholPolicyAlliance.org

LOS ANGELES, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA), Alcohol Justice, Institute for Public Strategies, and Behavioral Health Services in Hollywood are sponsoring a Community Town Hall meeting and panel discussion for residents of Los Angeles and West Hollywood on allowing alcohol-serving establishments in California to stay open until 4 a.m.

California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA) AlcoholPolicyAlliance.org

INVITED:          

  • Paul Koretz, Los Angeles City Councilmember
  • Dr. Deborah Allen, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
  • Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
  • Oren Katz, Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Council
  • Carson Benowitz-Fredericks, Research Manager, Alcohol Justice
  • Local Law Enforcement
  • West Hollywood City Council Members
  • Concerned Residents

WHAT: Town Hall Meeting & Panel Discussion on SB 905 (Wiener) – the 4 a.m. Bar Bill

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. (Check-in & Snacks) to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Mears Center Auditorium, Hollywood Presbyterian Church, 1760 Gower St., Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Parking off Carlos Ave.)

WHY:   

  • On the heels of failing to pass his 4 a.m. bar bill (SB 384) last year, State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has 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 stalled out 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 every surrounding community.
  • California already suffers over 10,500 alcohol-related deaths and $34 billion in costs annually.

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]

 

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651555/CAPA_logo_Logo.jpg

 

SOURCE Alcohol Justice

The Home Depot Foundation Commits $50 Million to Skilled Trades Training

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ATLANTA, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Today, The Home Depot® Foundation announced a $50 million commitment to train 20,000 tradespeople over the next 10 years in order to fill the growing skilled labor gap.  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently 158,000 unfilled construction sector jobs in the U.S. – a number that is expected to increase significantly as tradespeople retire over the next decade. The ratio of construction job openings to hirings, as measured by the Department of Labor, is at its highest level since 2007.

In 2017, The Home Depot Foundation launched a pilot trades training program for separating military members in partnership with nonprofit Home Builders Institute (HBI) on Ft. Stewart and Ft. Bragg. The first set of students will graduate this March. The 12-week pre-apprenticeship certification program, which is provided at no cost to students, uses an industry-based curriculum recognized by the Department of Labor that integrates work-based learning with technical and academic skills. The program, which has a job placement rate of more than 90 percent, will now roll out on additional bases across the United States.

“We want to bring shop class back, from coast-to-coast,” said Shannon Gerber, executive director of The Home Depot Foundation. “We’re thrilled to train 20,000 next-generation plumbers, electricians, carpenters and beyond. It’s a true honor to welcome our first classes of separating soldiers as they transition to civilian life and into successful careers in the trades.”

“HBI has a 50-year history of training individuals with the skills they need to succeed in the building industry. Our program prepares men and women for high-growth careers in the industry after leaving military service,” said HBI CEO John Courson. “With 200,000 service members separating from the military every year, our partnership with The Home Depot Foundation enables us to serve more veterans across the country.”

In addition to serving separating military members, The Home Depot Foundation is establishing an advanced level trades training program in partnership with the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia (CEFGA) for residents of Atlanta’s Westside community. Over the next 10 years, the Foundation will expand training support to include the broader veteran community as well as underserved high schools across the United States.

Today’s announcement expands The Home Depot Foundation’s mission beyond its existing quarter-of-a-billion dollar commitment to veteran housing, as well as its commitment to serve communities impacted by natural disasters. 

About The Home Depot Foundation 
The Home Depot Foundation works to improve the homes and lives of U.S. veterans, train skilled tradespeople to fill the labor gap and support communities impacted by natural disasters. 

Since 2011, the Foundation has invested nearly a quarter-of-a-billion dollars in veteran-related causes and improved more than 37,000 veteran homes and facilities. In 2018, the Foundation committed an additional $50 million dollars to train 20,000 skilled tradespeople over the next 10 years starting with separating military members and veterans, at-risk youth and members of the Atlanta Westside community. 

To learn more about The Home Depot Foundation and see Team Depot in action, visit thd.co/community and follow us on Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram @teamdepot and on Facebook at facebook.com/teamdepot.

About HBI
HBI is a national nonprofit that provides training, curriculum development and job placement services for the building industry. With overall program job placement rates at over 85 percent for graduates, HBI training programs are taught in local communities across the country to at-risk youth, veterans, transitioning military members, justice-involved youth and adults, and displaced workers. Visit www.hbi.org for more information.

 

 

 

 

The Home Depot Foundation logo.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651540/The_Home_Depot_Foundation_Labor_Gap_Infographic.jpg 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651538/The_Home_Depot_Foundation___Workers.jpg 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651539/Labor___The_Home_Depot_Foundation.jpg 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651541/The_Home_Depot.jpg 
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/651542/The_Home_Depot___Foundation.jpg 
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/428422/The_Home_Depot_Foundation_Logo.jpg

SOURCE The Home Depot Foundation

Miami Cuban Sandwich Smackdown @ Calle Ocho: Who makes the BEST Cuban Sandwich in South Florida!?

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MIAMI, March 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Join us for the BIG SMACKDOWN where Restaurants from all over South Florida join us to compete for the opportunity to represent Miami & South Florida and the chance to win the 2018 title of “THE BEST CUBAN SANDWICH IN THE WORLD!”

Competing Contestants Include:

  • Hickory Stick BBQ – Returning Winner
  • Sanguich de Miami – Returning Winner
  • Sanguichito on Wheels – New Contestant
  • The Brother Kitchen Grill – New Contestant
  • Benitez Bistro – Returning Winner
  • TLC BBQ Food Truck and more!

Sunday, March 11th, 2018 @
1641 SW 8th Street, Miami, Florida
See Event Flyer

VIP Judges include: William Talbert, CEO; Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, Actor Jay Amor, Sasha Marina and MORE!

Other Cuban Sandwich Festival dates and locations include:

Tampa, Florida: Saturday, March 31st, 2018 is day 1 of the Festival:  Enjoy LIVE music and performances!  Cultural and food vendors PLUS the 2nd Annual Kids Cuban Sandwich Showdown and the Worlds Biggest Cuban Sandwich – the 2018 Goal is 155 Ft.  

Tampa, Florida: Sunday, April 1st, 2018 is the BIG DAY; Smackdown Sunday:  Featuring official representatives from Central Florida, South Florida and Tampa Bay going head to head with contestants coming from all over the world including South Korea, London, England and throughout various states throughout the United States including California, Washington State and from various states throughout the United States.  

Do you know someone that makes the BEST Cuban Sandwich in Central Florida? 

Want to Participate as a vendor, contestant or sponsor?

[email protected] or (813) 407-6866 or (813) 407-7191 or visit us online at: www.TheCubanSandwichFestival.com 

The Cuban Sandwich Festivals are produced by Latin Times Media., Inc., creators of Latin Times Magazine. Info: www.LatinTimesMedia.com

 

 

SOURCE LATIN TIMES MEDIA