No Fireworks Are Safe, Even the Innocent Sparkler Causes Thousands of Eye Injuries

May 30, 2017

SAN FRANCISCO, May 30, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Fireworks injuries cause approximately 10,000 visits to the emergency department each year, most of them involve children who suffer thousands of eye injuries.¹Though the most disabling injuries occur with illegal firecrackers, most injuries are caused by legal fireworks parents buy for their children, such as sparklers, firecrackers, bottle rockets, and Roman candles.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIu1jFLf5Qg

Every year, ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – treat thousands of patients who suffer a range of fireworks-related injuries, from cuts and bruises to damaged corneas and ruptured eyeballs. To help reduce the number of potentially blinding fireworks accidents this holiday, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is working to debunk common myths about fireworks injuries.

Here are five fireworks myths, debunked:

Sparklers are safe for young children. Sparklers burn at 1800 degrees, hot enough to melt some metals. Sparklers were responsible for most of the injuries to children age 5 and younger.¹
It’s safer to view fireworks than it is to light or throw them. Bystanders are injured by fireworks as often as the operators.² Stacy Young was 100 yards away when an illegal firework sent shrapnel into her skull. Ophthalmologists couldn’t save her eye. It had to be removed.
Consumer fireworks are safe. Sparklers and firecrackers each account for 1,400 injuries to the eyes¹
It’s safe to pick up a firework after it has been lit. Even though it looks like a dud, it may not act like one. When Javonte McNair, 14, picked up a previously lit firework, it exploded, severing his hand and blasting hot debris into his eye, causing severe damage to his cornea.
It’s not the Fourth of July without consumer fireworks. The Fourth can be complete without using consumer fireworks. The Academy advises that the safest way to view fireworks is to watch a professional show.

If you experience a fireworks injury, ophthalmologists urge you to minimize the damage to the eye:

Seek medical attention immediately.
Do not rub the eye. Rubbing may make the injury worse.
Do not attempt to rinse the eye.
Do not apply pressure to the eye.
Do not remove objects from the eye,
Do not apply ointments or take pain medications before seeking medical help.

To help ensure people get the facts about fireworks, the Academy also created an animated public service announcement titled “Fireworks: The Blinding Truth”. It encourages the public and media to view and share the PSA. Visit the Academy’s EyeSmart® website for more information about fireworks eye safety.

About the American Academy of Ophthalmology
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world’s largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart® program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit www.aao.org.

¹https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/pdfs/Fireworks_Report_2014.pdf

²http://bjo.bmj.com/content/bjophthalmol/early/2010/06/09/bjo.2009.168419.full.pdf?__EVENTTARGET=&__EVENTARGUMENT=&__VIEWSTATE=/wEPDwUJNDU1NDgwMTIyZGREl3EDvIK%2BoH75q0LCnvxrfaIJZQ%3D%3D&__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR=B320C6F8

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/287412/american_academy_of_ophthalmology_Logo.jpg

SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology

Takuma Sato, Honda Win the Indianapolis 500

May 29, 2017

Takuma Sato won the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday as Honda drivers claimed four of the top five finishing positions at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

SPEEDWAY, Indiana, May 28, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Honda opened second century of competition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway today the same way it closed out the previous 100 years of racing at the famous Brickyard: with a thrilling victory.

Veteran Takuma Sato led the way, besting three-time Indy winner Helio Castroneves in a fierce duel over the final 11 laps to take the checkers as the first Japanese driver to win in the 101^st running of the Indianapolis 500.

As the last of several late-race cautions bunched the field after a multi-car crash on Lap 179, Sato was running second to fellow Honda driver Max Chilton, with Castroneves third and outstanding rookie Ed Jones, fourth. When the green flag waved for the final time to start Lap 189, Sato quickly worked his way to the front in his Andretti Autosport Honda. The battle for the victory became a two-driver duel with six laps to go, with first Castroneves taking the lead, then Sato making an outside pass for the lead going into Turn 1 with just five laps remaining, holding on for the win by just two-tenths of a second at the checkers.

Finishing in third, 2016 Indy Lights champion Jones made the most of his Indianapolis 500 debut. Despite twice sustaining damage to his Dale Coyne Racing Honda due to debris from two of the four crashes in today’s race, Jones worked his way into the lead group in the final 20 laps, and closed on Castroneves on the final lap. His third-place finish was best among the four rookies in this year’s race.

The third Honda contender for the win today – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Max Chilton – led a race-high 50 laps after going a lap down to the leaders with handling issues early in the race. Adjustments made during early pit stops put Chilton back on a pace with the overall leaders, as he demonstrated by leading on four separate occasions in the 200-lap contest.

Mechanical issues eliminated two other Andretti Hondas, with Ryan Hunter-Reay dropping out on Lap 136 after leading 28 laps, second only to Chilton in a race with a record 15 different leaders. Two-time Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso continued his impressive rookie performance at the “Brickyard”, leading for 27 laps – third highest today –before dropping out on Lap 180.

In the first and most spectacular of the day’s crashes, pole-starter Scott Dixon struck the car of Jay Howard after the latter had made impact with the Turn 1 wall. Dixon’s car vaulted high into the air and landed upright on top of the infield retaining wall, but he escaped injury in the Lap 53 collision, as did Howard.

Video recaps from this month’s Honda racing activities at Indianapolis, including today’s Indianapolis 500, are being posted on the “Honda Racing/HPD” YouTube channel. Produced by the Carolinas Production Group, the video packages can be found in the 2015 HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

IndyCar Series teams and drivers now prepare for a hectic schedule of three races over the next two weeks, starting with next weekend’s June 3-4 double header weekend with races both Saturday and Sunday on the Belle Isle street circuit in Detroit, Michigan.

Takuma Sato (#26 Andretti Autosport Honda) 2017 Indianapolis 500 winner: “I won! I won the best race in the world! Unbelievable feeling. I cannot thank this whole team [enough]. Look at these guys. Fantastic. It was obviously a tough, tough race. But Helio [Castroneves] really drives fair. I can trust him. I can really [trust him] coming from the outside. It was fantastic race. What a race. Hopefully, the crowd enjoyed it. It’s beautiful. I dreamed of something like this since I was 12. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support. Until three laps to go, you really didn’t know [who would win]. Me and Helio went side by side with three laps to go. You’ve got to go for it, run it flat. And we did it, and we pulled away. Fantastic.”

Ed Jones (#19 Dale Coyne Racing Honda) top rookie finisher, 3^rd: “It was a great race for us. I’ve had a great car the whole month, really. But the race was so up and down for us. We had a solid start and were running in the top 10 for most of the first half of the race. Then, when Dixon had his crash, I ran over some debris. It damaged the floor and the rear wing. We had to change the rear wing. That sent me to the back of the field, and we had to claw our way back up again. Then we got some luck back. The last yellow, we pitted right before it, so it put us near the front [of the field]. But then I had some bad luck again. I damaged my front wing, had a big hole in it. My legs got pretty cold, to be honest. I had wind blowing into them like crazy, and it created a lot of drag. That [made it] difficult in the straights. I couldn’t pull up to the leaders. We lacked that straight line speed for the last laps. It was really hard for me to defend or even attack, which was really a bit frustrating, because I think we had the car to win today. Great job to [Takuma] Sato and Helio [Castroneves]. But also a bit frustrating. I don’t know how many opportunities you get to be in that battle [for victory at Indianapolis].”

Fernando Alonso (#29 McLaren Honda Andretti Autosport Honda): “Obviously, I’m disappointed not to finish the race, because every race you compete, you want to be at the checkered flag. Today, it was not possible. But it was a great experience, the last two weeks. I came here basically to prove myself, to challenge myself. I know that I can be as quick as anyone in a Formula One car. I didn’t know if I can be as quick as anyone in an Indy car. It was nice to have this competitive feeling, even leading the Indy 500, you know. You lead just one lap here, it was already a nice feeling. I was passing, watching the tower, saw the 29 on top of it. I was thinking at that moment if Zak [Brown, McLaren team principal] or someone from the team was taking a picture, because I want that picture at home. Congratulations to Sato-san, to Andretti [Autosport]. We have been sharing the last two weeks, all the meetings in the morning, the meetings in the afternoon. Takuma was a lot of help, coming from F1. The last two laps I was on my knees really pushing Sato [for the victory]. I’m extremely happy for the final result. Last thing: thanks to IndyCar, amazing experience. Thanks to Indianapolis. Thanks to the fans. I felt at home. I’m not American, but I felt really proud to race here. Thank you, the media. I didn’t win, but I will drink a little bit of [Takuma’s victory] milk! You followed me for two weeks, every single minute, but I really enjoy. Thanks for the welcoming. See you in Austin [for the US Grand Prix].”

Art St. Cyr (president, Honda Performance Development) on Honda’s 12^thIndianapolis 500 victory in the last 14 years: “Indianapolis never fails to deliver an exciting event, and this was yet another year that will go down in Indy 500 lore. For Takuma Sato, this is redemption of a sort following his near-win in 2012, and he’ll prove to be a popular champion for race fans everywhere. Unfortunately, not all of our cars made it to the finish today. We’re grateful that Scott Dixon escaped serious injury in his crash. Mechanical failures took out two other leading contenders; however, that is sometimes the price that must be paid for gains in performance, and we clearly had speed all month, by any objective measurement. We definitely had some very well-performing engines in today’s race, and are very pleased with taking four of the top five finishing positions, and our 12th Indy 500 win in last 14 years. Congratulations again to Takuma, the entire Andretti Autosport organization, and everyone at Honda Performance Development for a fantastic result.”

Indianapolis 500

Circuit:	Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2.5-mile oval), Indianapolis, IN
2016 Winner:	Alexander Rossi (Andretti Autosport Honda) 166.634 mph average
Weather:	Mostly sunny at start, increasing clouds and wind gusts, 75 degrees F

Results:

Fn.	St.	Driver	Team	Manufacturer	Laps	Notes
1.	4.	Takuma Sato	Andretti Autosport	Honda	200	155.395 mph average, led 17 laps
2.	19.	Helio Castroneves	Team Penske	Chevrolet	200	+0.2011 seconds, led 9 laps
3.	11.	Ed Jones-R	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	200	Top rookie finisher
4.	15.	Max Chilton	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	200	Led race-high 50 laps
5.	7.	Tony Kanaan	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	200	Led 22 laps
6.	18.	Juan Pablo Montoya	Team Penske	Chevrolet	200
7.	3.	Alexander Rossi	Andretti Autosport	Honda	200	Led 23 laps
8.	8.	Marco Andretti	Andretti Autosport	Honda	200
9.	25.	Gabby Chaves	Harding Racing	Chevrolet	200
10.	24.	Carlos Munoz	A.J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	200
11.	2.	Ed Carpenter	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	200
12.	14.	Graham Rahal	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	200	Led 2 laps
13.	13.	Mikhail Aleshin	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	200
14.	23.	Simon Pagenaud	Team Penske	Chevrolet	200
15.	31.	Sebastian Saavedra	Juncos-AFS Racing	Chevrolet	200
16.	6.	JR Hildebrand	Ed Carpenter Racing	Chevrolet	200
17.	28.	Pippa Mann	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	199	Running
18.	29.	Spencer Pigot	Juncos Racing	Chevrolet	194	Running
19.	22.	Josef Newgarden	Team Penske	Chevrolet	186	Running
20.	33.	James Davison	Dale Coyne Racing	Honda	183	Did not finish – crash
21.	12.	Oriol Servia	Rahal Letterman Lanigan	Honda	183	Did not finish – crash
22.	17.	James Hinchcliffe	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	183	Did not finish – crash
23.	9.	Will Power	Team Penske	Chevrolet	183	Did not finish – crash
24.	5.	Fernando Alonso	McLaren Honda Andretti	Honda	179	Did not finish – mechanical
25.	16.	Charlie Kimball	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	166	Did not finish – mechanical
26.	32.	Zach Veach-R	A.J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	155	Did not finish – mechanical
27.	10.	Ryan Hunter-Reay	Andretti Autosport	Honda	136	Did not finish – mechanical
28.	21.	Sage Karam	Dreyr & Reinbold Racing	Chevrolet	125	Did not finish – mechanical
29.	30.	Buddy Lazier	Lazier Racing Partners	Chevrolet	118	Did not finish – crash
30.	26.	Conor Daly	A.J. Foyt Racing	Chevrolet	65	Did not finish – crash
31.	27.	Jack Harvey-R	Michael Shank Racing	Honda	65	Did not finish – crash
32.	1.	Scott Dixon	Chip Ganassi Racing	Honda	52	Did not finish – crash
33.	20.	Jay Howard	Schmidt Peterson Mtspts	Honda	45	Did not finish – crash

R – Indy 500 Rookie

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SOURCE Honda Racing/HPD

ATRESERIES launches its first international campaign, ‘VIVE OTRAS VIDAS’

May 29, 2017

MADRID, May 29, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — ATRESERIES is looking forward to its third anniversary on the air with the VIVE OTRAS VIDAS campaign, in which it focuses – with a touch of humor – on one of the most salient values of the ATRESMEDIA channel: the best productions 100% in Spanish.

“The success of series in the Hispanic market is due to the fact that besides telling universal and meaningful stories, we reach the audience without the need for dubbing or subtitling.” [Mar Martínez Raposo, Director of Atresmedia Internacional].

For the launch of this campaign, aided by the agency Mama Team, and which starts up today, May 29, three extreme situations have been chosen; classic scenes from television series in which the spectator and the language barrier are protagonists.

Thus the unyielding discipline of a jail, the emergency room of a hospital, and the tension during a police raid support the campaign’s slogan: “The best series allow you to live other lives; with Atreseries, you can live them in your language.”

The first international campaign of ATRESERIES is comprised of three spots, which will be broadcast on screen and shared on the channel’s social networks.

This first initiative is the result of a broad technical rollout in which nearly 40 people have participated, including technicians and actors, with more than 60 hours in real locations being recorded.

The first episode of the campaign is the emergency room at a hospital, where a team of doctors strives to save the life of a person who has been shot. In the middle of the instructions – in English – from the head doctor to her colleagues, a television viewer appears, remote control in hand, who does not understand what is going on.

Similar moments also occur in a jail, as well as in the middle of a police raid in which the misunderstandings due to the different languages make it difficult for the viewer to understand the story.

Download links:

http://oficinaprensa.atresmedia.com/Policias_30_SHD.m4v

http://oficinaprensa.atresmedia.com/Hospital_30_S_HD.m4v

http://oficinaprensa.atresmedia.com/Carcel_30_S_HD.m4v

Logo – http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/285679/atres_series_logo.jpg

SOURCE Atresmedia

Goya Foods Announces Recipients Of The Annual Nationwide Goya Culinary Arts And Food Sciences Scholarship And The Goya Employee Scholarship

May 26, 2017

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey, May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, announces the nine recipients of Goya’s nationwide Culinary Arts and Food Sciences Scholarship awarded to students entering their freshman year of college to obtain their first undergraduate degree in culinary arts and/or food sciences in addition to Goya’s annual Employee Scholarship, awarded to the sons and daughters of company employees.

The recipients of the Goya Culinary Arts and Food Sciences Scholarship for the 2017-2018 academic year are Marianna F. Apergis (Connecticut) of Purdue University; Eileen Foerster (New Jersey) of Cornell University; Abigail R. Garcia (Texas) of University of Texas; Kendall W. Green (Miami) of Purdue University; and Delila Torres (New Jersey) of Johnson & Wales. The recipients of the Goya Employee Scholarship are Tiffany A. Cascante (New Jersey) of Montclair State University; Anabelle D. Lopez (Delaware) of American University; Elizabeth C. Rubio Atencio (Texas) of University of Houston; and Rodolfo Ruiz (Texas) of Texas A&M University.

The Goya Culinary Arts and Food Sciences Scholarship and Goya Employee Scholarship were established to honor Goya’s commitment to higher education. “Goya has a long-standing history of supporting the community and implementing educational programs to help strengthen the development and growth of our youth and educational systems,” says Bob Unanue, President of Goya Foods. “The Goya Scholarship Funds act not only as a symbol of our appreciation to our employees and to our community but helps promote the importance of higher education.”

Administered by Scholarship America^®, Goya’s Scholarship Funds are available annually on a competitive basis to students entering a two-year or four-year institution. Those applying for the Culinary Arts and Food Sciences Scholarship must be enrolled as a freshman as a Culinary Arts and/or Food Sciences major. Scholarships are in the amount of $5,000, awarded per academic year and are renewable for up to three additional years, totally $20,000, provided the student remains eligible to receive funding.

For more information about the upcoming 2017-2018 scholarships, please log onto www.goya.com Acceptance of applications will begin on November 16, 2017.

About GOYA: Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, and has established itself as the leader in Latin American food and condiments. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Central and South America. Goya products have their roots in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world; the combination of authentic ingredients, robust seasonings and convenient preparation makes Goya products ideal for every taste and every table. For more information on Goya Foods, please visit www.goya.com

About Scholarship America: Scholarship America mobilizes support for students getting into and graduating from college. Since 1958, Scholarship America has distributed $3.1 billion in scholarship assistance to 2 million students, funding both entry-level and multi-year scholarships and emergency financial grants. More information is available at scholarshipamerica.org.

For more information, contact:
Natalie Maniscalco
845.659.6506 / [email protected]

SOURCE Goya Foods

¡Vive Tu Vida! Get Up! Get Moving!® Brings Needed Services and Day of Family Fun to Chicago

May 26, 2017

CHICAGO, May 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — On Saturday, June 3, 2017, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and the Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition presents the 11th Annual ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!^® event at McKinley Park in Chicago. The event promotes Hispanic family physical activity and good nutrition for better health and wellness for people of all ages and sizes.

“For eleven years ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!, has provided nutrition education, free health screenings and wellness activities to communities across the nation,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group. “We are grateful and proud of the work and energy of all our partners and hundreds of volunteers that make these events such a success and celebration of family, culture, and health.”

“These are times filled with stress for many, and staying healthy is important – your body is your most important resource. We are grateful to all our sponsors and the organizations that participate in this event for helping the community receive the services they need,” said Esther Sciammarella, Executive Director of Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition.

What: ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving!^® event featuring —

Health Screenings and Information: including blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, vision; prostate; and dental exams, as well as Medicare and Medicaid enrollment information
Fitness & Family fun: Exercise demonstrations, family fitness walk, and youth soccer tournament
Nutrition: Fresh fruits and healthy snacks, along with educational resources

Where: McKinley Park Field House – 2210 West Pershing Road – Chicago, IL 60609
When: Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Cost: FREE!

“The National Alliance for Hispanic Health has a longstanding commitment to help create healthier communities. We are proud to contribute to their efforts through our continuing support of ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! events,” said Robert Forrester, President and CEO of Newman’s Own Foundation. The Foundation is marking its 8^th year as a national sponsor of the ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! event series.

The events are also supported nationally by the Healthy Americas Foundation. This is the 11^th anniversary of the ¡Vive tu vida! Get Up! Get Moving! event series that in its first decade has been attended by over 175,000 people and provided over 85,000 free health screenings.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

FPL conducts “staging site” training to prepare employees for storm season

May 26, 2017

www.FPL.com. (PRNewsFoto/Florida Power & Light Company)

JUNO BEACH, Florida, May 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As part of its storm season preparations, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) hosted a week-long “staging site” training at the Pompano Park Racetrack in Pompano Beach, Fla. More than 1,200 employees trained for what would be a massive logistical response to a major hurricane, including the deployment of thousands of workers, equipment and the use of advanced technology and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to rapidly survey damage.

“This week’s staging site training is yet another visible demonstration of how FPL prepares year-round to safely and quickly restore power when a major event, such as a hurricane, impacts our customers’ lives,” said Manny Miranda, senior vice president of power delivery for FPL. “This is one of the many ways our employees train for storm season, using a hands-on experience to test our power restoration plans.”

Pompano Park is one of approximately 100 designated staging sites strategically located across the state to serve as critical resource centers to move crews and equipment closer to areas hit hardest after a major storm. Staging sites operate like mini-cities; they offer hundreds of crew members a place to rest, eat, refuel and stock up on supplies as they work safely and quickly to restore customers’ service and help get communities back to normal.

During last year’s Hurricane Matthew, for example, FPL opened 26 staging sites and supporting centers to direct its nearly 15,000-member restoration crew – the largest pre-staging effort of its kind in the company’s history – to speed the restoration process. FPL restored nearly 99 percent of customers affected by Hurricane Matthew by the end of two full days of restoration following the hurricane’s exit from its service area.

During this week’s training, FPL employees participated in damage briefings and performed assessments of equipment. FPL also demonstrated how technology plays an important part in surveying equipment and speeding restoration efforts. Critical to the restoration process following Hurricane Matthew, FPL deployed UAS, or drones, more than 130 times to quickly survey storm damage in areas that were otherwise inaccessible or unsafe in the storm’s immediate aftermath.

FPL learns from past storms, makes investments to strengthen energy grid
This year’s hurricane season, beginning June 1, also marks the 25^th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which impacted 1.4 million customers in five counties. Following Andrew, FPL established the concept of staging sites to accelerate post-storm recovery efforts as a lesson learned.

Since the historic 2004/2005 storm season, FPL has invested nearly $3 billion to strengthen the energy grid against severe weather, including:

Hardening more than 700 main power lines serving critical community facilities and services, such as police and fire stations, hospitals, 911 centers, grocery stores and gas stations;
Clearing vegetation – a major cause of power outages – from more than 150,000 miles of power lines;
Inspecting the company’s 1.2 million power poles every eight years, and upgrading or replacing those that no longer meet FPL’s standards for strength (approximately 150,000 poles inspected annually); and
Installing more than 4.9 million smart meters and 66,000 intelligent devices to help predict, reduce and prevent power outages, and restore power faster if outages occur.

“We all must safeguard against complacency, particularly where it concerns hurricanes,” said Miranda. “At FPL, we’ve worked hard to put ourselves in the best possible position to respond to severe weather and we never stop working to improve. While we have made significant investments in our electric system, we know there still will be power outages following a major storm. Just as we continue to prepare and plan, we encourage our customers to do the same – make a storm plan now for their families and businesses.”

Business and residential customers can visit FPL.com/storm for more information about FPL’s storm preparedness plans and tips to prepare before storm season begins.

How to connect with FPL during a storm
Throughout the year, the company provides information to customers to help them prepare for storm season and communicates with them after a severe weather event. FPL.com/storm features storm checklists and other information to help customers prepare and develop their own storm plans. When a real storm strikes, FPL will provide updated restoration time estimates and other progress reports in the locations listed below:

FPL Storm Center (FPL.com/storm)
Twitter (Twitter.com/insideFPL and Twitter.com/FPL_Newsroom)
Facebook (Facebook.com/FPLconnect)
YouTube (YouTube.com/FPL)
FPL’s Power Tracker (FPL.com/PowerTracker)

NOTE TO EDITORS: For additional information on FPL’s storm readiness and high-definition photos and b-roll, please call the FPL Media Line at 561-694-4442, or visit the digital library of FPL’s Newsroom (FPL.com/Newsroom).

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving approximately 4.9 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 25 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2016, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the seventh year in a row. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study(SM), and was recognized in 2016 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2017 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

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SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Launches Guests into an Action-Packed New Adventure: Helping Rocket Save the Guardians at the Disneyland Resort

May 26, 2017

ANAHEIM, California, May 26, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Welcoming its first attraction to feature Rocket, Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax and Groot, the Disneyland Resort celebrated the grand arrival of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! Thursday night with a gala and fireworks at Disney California Adventure Park. The action-packed, new attraction, filled with the irreverent humor of the smash-hit “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, opens May 27 to launch Summer of Heroes.

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“Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! brings an all-new epic adventure to the Disneyland Resort, and it’s the only Disney park in the universe where guests can step into a Guardians of the Galaxy story. With Rocket in control, you’re in for one heck of a ride,” said Bob Chapek, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “It’s a fantastic way for guests to experience the Super Hero universe like never before.”

Unveiling The Collector’s grandiose Fortress, home of Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Chapek acknowledged Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, Marvel Entertainment’s Joe Quesada, Walt Disney Imagineering’s Bob Weis and Joe Rohde, and their teams, as he recognized the partnership that brought the Guardians to life in a Disney park.

“With the brilliant creative minds in Disney working together, this is just the beginning of what will become an even bigger Super Hero presence at Disney California Adventure,” Chapek said.

James Gunn, director of the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, along with actors Zoe Saldana, Michael Rooker and Pom Klementieff, also helped unveil the attraction and the extraordinary, 183-foot-tall Fortress.

Benicio del Toro, who plays The Collector in the films, made the official announcement and sparked a finale of gold and silver fireworks: “Ladies and Gentlemen of Terra, the Tivan Collection is officially open.”

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! entices guests with an original storyline based on the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, comics and animated television series, with a rapid rise into chaotic adventure and surprising visuals. The fast-paced action rocks to the beat of music inspired by the films’ soundtracks, including classic rock and pop music from the ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s. And with multiple ride profiles, guests never know which adventure they’ll get.

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! opens just weeks after the cinematic premiere of “Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.” The stars of the films are featured in the attraction.

Walt Disney Imagineering collaborated with Gunn, Marvel Studios’ Feige and most of the main talent from the films, along with Quesada of Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Themed Entertainment on the story of the attraction, developing an experience where guests step into a story with these characters for the first time.

“I can’t be more pleased to have partnered with Walt Disney Imagineering in bringing the Guardians of the Galaxy characters to this new, immersive form of storytelling,” Gunn said. “It’s been exciting and a lot of fun to help direct and shape the experience so that it has all the heart and fun and humor of the Guardians movies.”

In addition to the new attraction, Summer of Heroes begins May 27 with Guardians of the Galaxy characters and Super Heroes appearing in Disney California Adventure for new exploits and Heroic Encounters. While some of these will be year-round, others will be available only from May 27-Sept. 10. Summer of Heroes inaugurates an ever-expanding universe of Super Hero stories at Disney California Adventure that will become even bigger over time.

The Collector’s Fortress

The Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! adventure begins as guests enter the grandiose Fortress. They discover that the Guardians have been imprisoned by the arrogant, acquisitive Taneleer Tivan, known as The Collector. Guests join a daring escape plan devised by Rocket, who once again proves his uncanny ability to break free from any prison or captivity.

The dominating fortress, adorned with antennae, satellite dishes and mysterious apparatus, is accented in shimmering hues of blue and gold. At night, with special lighting, it pulsates with imposing power. A gilded, eight-foot-tall statue of The Collector stands at the entry, towering over his VIP guests. As they enter to view the unique “Tivan Collection” of relics and species from all over the universe, they find his latest acquisition: The Guardians of the Galaxy.

The Fortress Lobby

The Lobby of the fortress is both fascinating and creepy – filled with display cases that hold artifacts and living creatures, which The Collector has obtained and made available for public viewing. In a welcome video, The Collector explains how he has trapped the Guardians of the Galaxy high atop his fortress in secured glass cages that are wired with power from a massive generator and suspended over a deep abyss.

The Collector’s Office

Before leaving the Lobby and entering The Collector’s Office, guests hold up their hands to be “bio-scanned” for security clearance. In the Office, even more of The Collector’s relics are on display and, as in the Lobby, the collection contains some hidden references that will delight dedicated Super Hero fans and Disney fans.

Suddenly, Rocket appears, telling guests he needs their help. Using their security clearances, he can hijack the gantry lift to the top of the fortress, disable the generator, and free his friends.

The Gantry Lift

Of course, Rocket’s plan faces challenges. After guests enter the gantry lift, Rocket overrides The Collector’s recorded tour spiel with music from the tape player of Star-Lord (aka Peter Quill). Soon, the gantry is shooting up into the fortress, then plummeting downward as Rocket attempts to take control of the generator.

It’s here that guests experience one of the attraction’s six different ride profiles, each synchronized to one of the songs on the “awesome mix tape”:

“Hit Me With Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar
“Give Up The Funk” by Parliament
“Born To Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
“I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5
“Free Ride” by The Edgar Winter Group
“Burning Love” by Elvis Presley

Guests soon learn that, even if the rescue is successful, the resulting chaos may create problems of its own!

The Technology

To help create the attraction, Disney Imagineers used Virtual Reality technology to pre-visualize the Tivan Collection, The Collector’s Office and other parts of the Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! experience.

The ride system has more high-speed ride time than ever before, and the thrill factor gets going as soon as the gantry lift doors close and the music starts blaring. Each song is accompanied by a different up-and-down ride profile and story scenes, making every visit to the attraction unpredictable.

Rocket makes multiple appearances in the attraction, including as an Audio-Animatronics character who invades The Collector’s Office to ask guests for a hand with his escape plan.

From the anticipation guests will feel as they enter The Collector’s Fortress to the sense of discovery as they tour the Tivan Collection to the elation of participating in a successful breakout, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is an unforgettable adventure into the Super Hero universe at Disney California Adventure.

About the Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure Park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprising unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort’s hotels are the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, which also features 50 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club units; the magical, 973-room Disneyland Hotel – both AAA Four Diamond properties – and the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” theme. For information on attractions and vacations at the Disneyland Resort, visit Disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents. Located in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort opened July 17, 1955. Open daily, year- round.

DisneyParksBlog.com
Twitter.com/Disneyland

SOURCE Disneyland Resort

America Needs Bipartisan Agreement on Health Insurance

May 25, 2017

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) report that 23 million would lose insurance under the House healthcare reform bill is news that no one finds acceptable. We must work so everyone can have health insurance; any discussion must start there,” said Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

“The pledge of ‘insurance for everybody’ should be the rallying cry on both sides of the aisle. The one thing that everybody in Congress has agreed on is that our system is not perfect, so it is time to start working in a bipartisan fashion and serve the interests of the nation.” emphasized Dr. Delgado.

Among actions that the Alliance emphasized would benefit the nation, are:

Rescuing the working uninsured currently trapped in the coverage gap (having too high an income to qualify for Medicaid, but too low an income to afford insurance premiums);
Expanding Medicaid, instead of capping and cutting it;
Market reforms to bring insurance companies back into abandoned markets; and,
Strengthening and expanding the network of community health centers that have a proven capacity to deliver culturally proficient, quality services.

“The outcome of 23 million people losing insurance is unacceptable. Now is the time to fix our nation’s health care system to ensure access for all. Bipartisan action on this national priority is what is needed,” concluded Dr. Delgado.

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance)
The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the best health outcomes for all. For more information, visit http://www.healthyamericas.org or call the Alliance’s Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

Deceptive Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act of 2017 is a $321 Million Federal Gift to Big Alcohol

May 25, 2017

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alcohol Justice released a new report today that shows that the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform act of 2017 (CBMTRA) – S.236 / H.R. 747 – is deceptive and will benefit Big Alcohol at taxpayer expense.

“This dishonest federal measure is being portrayed as an incentive for small craft brewers,” stated Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director / CEO of Alcohol Justice. “But the real winners are the largest beer and spirits producers in a race to cut their already ridiculously low tax rates.”

According to the Alcohol Justice report, if signed into law, the measure would result in:

At least $321 million dollars in lost excise tax revenue
$177 million dollars to the distilled spirits industry
$50 million to Big Alcohol “craft” brewers producing over 2 million barrels annually. Tax giveaways strongly favor huge brewers ($50 million to 37 breweries producing 2‑6 million barrels, versus $76 million to 4,910 brewers producing < 2 million barrels)
$18 million lost in an evisceration of tax incentives meant to promote lower-ABV wine

The report notes that federal alcohol excise taxes have not been raised since 1991, and that this failure to maintain a responsible level of taxation with an inflation index not only costs the government up to $7 billion per year, it also strips away an effective means to control alcohol use through price increases. Researchers estimate that doubling the federal excise tax would result in a 35% decrease in alcohol-related mortality, an 11% reduction in deaths from automobile crashes, and measurable drops in sexually transmitted infections, violence, and crime. CBMTRA Big Alcohol tax cuts will instead increase all alcohol-related harms.

Conversely, increasing alcohol excise taxes can be used to directly ease and offset the estimated $249 billion in U.S. annual costs from excess drinking including 88,000 deaths, alcohol-related car crashes, violence, chronic illness, and lost productivity. Lost revenue from CBMTRA tax cuts represent lost opportunities to promote health and safety of alcohol drinkers and could pay 70% of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) annual budget, or 57% of the Veterans Administration expenditures on substance abuse treatment.

“In light of the persistent failure of the federal government to proactively address alcohol harms, the CBMTRA would be a poor choice in any year,” added Livingston. “We encourage the public to TAKE ACTION and tell their leaders in Washington, D.C. to stop subsidizing Big Alcohol and VOTE NO on the deceptive measure.”

Visit the Alcohol Justice Alcohol Tax Calculator at AlcoholJustice.org for more information on increasing federal and state revenue from raising alcohol taxes.

CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492
Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336

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SOURCE Alcohol Justice

Members of Congress Unite to Support March of Dimes Gourmet Gala

May 25, 2017

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — United States Senators and Representatives united for an evening of friendly competition for a great cause at the 35^th Annual March of Dimes Gourmet Gala. Forty-eight Members of Congress participated in a competitive cook-off on Tuesday night at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. The Celebrity Chefs served their favorite recipes to the over 600 attendees while helping to raise $1,123,000 for March of Dimes programs and research.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/516362/Cottons_and_Ambassadors_March_of_Dimes_Gala.jpg

Special guests at the event were Senator Tom Cotton and Anna Cotton who shared the story of their son’s Daniel’s birth and two week stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Legacy Chefs were also honored during the evening for participating as Celebrity Chefs for ten or more years. Legacy Chefs included: Representative Robert Aderholt and Mrs. Caroline Aderholt (AL), Representative Sanford Bishop and Mrs. Vivian Bishop (GA), Senator Roy Blunt and Mrs. Abigail Blunt (MO), Representative Debbie Dingell (MI), Senator Pat Roberts and Mrs. Franki Roberts (KS), Representative Mike Thompson and Mrs. Janet Thompson (CA), and Senator Tom Udall and Mrs. Jill Cooper Udall (NM).

At the end of the evening, the following six awards were presented:

Judge’s Choice – Senator John Barrasso and Mrs. Bobbi Barrasso (WY), Roosevelt Beans
People’s Choice – Senator Roy Blunt and Mrs. Abigail Blunt (MO), Pan Seared Scallops with Wilted Spinach, Bacon Jam, and Spiced Pecans
Healthiest Recipe – Senator Mazie Hirono and Mrs. Leighton Kim Oshima (HI), Mazie Hirono’s Hawaii Kimchi Recipe
Hometown Hero – Representative Steve Scalise (LA), Shrimp Etouffee
Best Presentation – Representative Adrian Smith and Mrs. Andrea Smith (NE), White Chili
Easiest Preparation – Representative Mike Thompson and Mrs. Janet Thompson (CA), Roasted Maple Herb Nuts

Gourmet Gala Co-Chairs were Caroline Aderholt (AL), Vivian Bishop (GA), Colleen Ochoa Peters (MI) and Gayle Wicker (MS), and Finance Co-Chairs were Debbie Marshall, Chevron, and Erskine Wills, BGR Group.

Serving as Celebrity Judges were Washington, D.C. area acclaimed chefs: Chef Ris Lacoste of RIS, Chef Ethan McKee of Urbana, Chef Hamilton Johnson of Honeysuckle, Chef Danny Lee of Mandu and Chiko, Chef Scott Drewno of Chiko, and John Rorapaugh of Ivy City Smokehouse and Tavern.

To learn more about March of Dimes Gourmet Gala, including a list of Congressional chefs and event photos, please visit marchofdimes.org/gourmetgala.

Sponsors of the 35^th Annual Gourmet Gala include: Samsung, Presenting Sponsor; Bentley Motors USA/Volkswagen Group of America and National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation, Title Sponsors; Chevron, Signature Sponsor; Aflac, BGR Group, Inc., BlueCross BlueShield Association, BNSF Railway, CVS Health, Intrexon Corporation, Lockheed Martin Corporation, S&P Global, and United Technologies Corporation, Regional Sponsors; and The Hill, National Journal, The Umbrella Syndicate, and The Washington Diplomat, Media Sponsors.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and health information, visit our websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. For detailed national, state and local perinatal statistics, visit peristats.org. You can also find us on Facebook or follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

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SOURCE March of Dimes

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