Arendal Announces Extension of Expiration Date of Exchange Offer

January 13, 2017

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Arendal, S. de R.L. de C.V. (“Arendal” or “the Company”), a Mexican engineering, procurement and construction company, today announced that it has extended the expiration date of its pending exchange offer (the “Exchange Offer”) for any and all of its outstanding 10.50% Medium-Term Notes due 2016 (the “Old Notes”) for its 11.5% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “New Notes”).

The Company is extending the expiration date of the Exchange Offer from 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on January 12, 2017 to 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on January 20, 2017.

Epiq Corporate Restructuring, the information and exchange agent for the Exchange Offer (the “Information and Exchange Agent”) has advised the Company that as of 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on January 12, 2017, 96.69% of Old Notes had been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Once any Old Note has been tendered, it may not be withdrawn, subject to applicable law and the terms and conditions described in the Information Memorandum dated December 14, 2016 (the “Information Memorandum”), copies of which may be obtained by eligible holders of the Old Notes (pursuant to an Eligibility Letter) by contacting the Information and Exchange Agent via email at [email protected] (please reference “Arendal” in the subject line).

This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Exchange Offer is being made and the New Notes are being offered only to “qualified institutional buyers,” holders that are not “U.S. persons” and certain institutional investors that are “accredited investors” as such terms are defined under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The New Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, accordingly, are subject to significant restrictions on transfer and resale as more fully described in the Information Memorandum. The Exchange Offer is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Information Memorandum.

About Arendal

Arendal is a procurement and construction company operating in Mexico. Arendal provides a full range of procurement and construction services, including feasibility studies, acquisition of rights of way, conceptual design, engineering, procurement, project and construction management, construction, maintenance, technical site evaluations and other consulting services.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding the future events or the future financial performance of Arendal. These statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events or financial performance, and are based on management’s current assumptions and information currently available and are not guarantees of the Company’s future performance. The timing of certain events and actual results could differ materially from those projected or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, but not limited to those inherent to operating in a highly regulated industry, strong competition, commercial and financial execution and economic conditions, among others.

For additional information please contact:
Gerardo Marcelo Villareal Lozano
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +52-81-8133-4831 ext. 261

OneUnited Bank Partners With African American Film Critics Association & BMe Community To Launch The #BankBlack Financial Literacy Video Series

January 13, 2017

BOSTON, Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — OneUnited Bank, the largest Black owned bank in America, has partnered with the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) and BMe Community (BMe) to bring a powerful series of financial literacy videos to Black America that will underscore the importance of financial literacy, buying Black, banking Black and the genius of collective economics. Topics will include the importance of saving for the future, how to power up your credit score, millennials and money, banking based on your values and how the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack movement can create jobs and support community development.

The series will launch on Facebook, YouTube and OneUnited Bank’s website on January 13, 2017 at 9:00am EST.

OneUnited Bank’s commitment to the #BankBlack Movement is demonstrated in its partnership with AAFCA, an annual premium awards show produced by the leading Black film critics in the world. Considered “The Black Oscars“, this uber elite event is attended by top ranked studio executives, producers, directors and boasts plenty of star power with the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Shonda Rhimes, Ava DuVernay, Alfre Woodard, Viola Davis, Forest Whitaker, Jamie Foxx and other luminaries. AAFCA and its newly formed sister company AAFCA Productions are widely respected for the style and integrity they bring to its projects, and will be responsible for content and production of the #BankBlack video series.

“We are thrilled to launch AAFCA Production Services with a strong partner with similar values,” says AAFCA co-founder and president Gil Robertson. “Our work with OneUnited Bank will provide a great example of the multi-tiered services we provide for companies looking to craft messages that merge celebrity with subjects and themes that impact the community.”

In August 2016, OneUnited Bank began its partnership with BMe Community, the national, award-winning social network of inspired Black men working to build community health and wealth in cities across America. Both organizations place strong emphasis on the importance of empowering the Black community through initiatives that focus on economics, community development, entrepreneurship and technology. BMe is led by Trabian Shorters, CEO and backed by private donations and leading philanthropies including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Campaign for Black Male Achievement, The Heinz Endowments, and The William R. Keenan Jr. Charitable Trust. BMe Community and OneUnited Bank serve as consultants to AAFCA on the content of the video series.

“At OneUnited Bank, we began with the understanding that traditional ways of teaching financial literacy to under-served communities are not effective and we needed to do something more creative,” says Teri Williams, President & Chief Operating Officer of OneUnited Bank. “Our partnership with AAFCA and BMe Community allows us to think outside of the traditional banking box to educate consumers, especially Black millennials, on the importance of being financially literate and using their collective spending power purposefully.”

MEDIA CONTACT: Suzan McDowell, Circle of One Marketing, [email protected] or 305-576-3790.

ONEUNITED BANK:
OneUnited Bank is the premier bank for urban communities, the largest Black-owned bank, the first Black internet bank and a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). Its mission is to provide affordable financial services to support economic development in urban communities and maintain superior financial performance to maximize shareholder value. OneUnited is an FDIC insured bank and an equal housing lender.

African American Film Critics Association
The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) is a group of Black professional film critics that give various awards for excellence in film at the end of each year. Founded in 2003 the organization actively reviews cinema overall, but highlights films about the African-American experience. AAFCA produces awareness for films with widespread appeal to the Black community while stressing the importance of films produced, written, directed and starring people of African descent. Members also involve themselves in advocacy work for students interested in film journalism and critics.

BMe Community
BMe Community is a movement inspired by Black men to build a more caring and prosperous America together. BMe boldly cures hopelessness, openly defies helplessness, and creatively builds powerful networks of brothers and sisters of all races and genders. Since 2013 BMe’s 40,000 members have helped themselves and over 2-million others to improve their health, wealth, hope and communities. To join the network, log on to www.bmecommunity.org

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GM Hosts Discover Your Drive Diversity Journalism Program at NAIAS

January 12, 2017

DETROIT, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — General Motors launched its second annual Discover Your Drive diversity journalism program Jan. 7-11, hosting 13 college students and nine journalists from across the country at Detroit’s North American International Auto Show. Students from diverse backgrounds participated in the program, which promotes diversity in automotive journalism and news coverage.

Discover Your Drive began Saturday and concluded Wednesday with an awards presentation recognizing students for their work at NAIAS as well as their social media presence during a scavenger hunt through Detroit. Students used the new, award-winning all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV, named 2017’s NAIAS Car of Year, and OnStar technology to find their way around the city. They posted about their adventures on Twitter tagging @GM_Diversity using the hashtag #DiscoverYourDrive.

“We were blown away by the talent and creativity of these fearless students,” says Leslie Gordon, senior manager, GM Diversity Communications. “Many of them had not been exposed to automotive journalism, had never been to Detroit or seen snow. But they brought with them the right amount of curiosity required to cover an event as massive and complex as the North American International Auto Show and they did so with grit and class.”

One student demonstrated that drive by chasing a face-to-face interview with GM President and CEO Mary Barra on the auto show floor. Another coaxed GM North America President Alan Batey into a video that won the program’s top prize: an all-expense paid trip to a national journalism conference.

Students Rushawn Walters and Nia Muhammad, both of Howard University, and Sarah Rahal, of Wayne State University, won the prize with “Jammin’ with GM,” a video story told through carpool karaoke, focusing on the all-new Chevrolet Cruze and technologies such as Apple Car Play, Android Auto, Teen Driver, Rear Seat Reminder and the car’s fuel economy.

“As an aspiring student journalist from Detroit, getting the opportunity to learn more about what’s in my backyard was a priceless gift,” said Rahal. “This program gave me a network of people that are proficient in the industry and the knowledge to use it in the field. Discover Your Drive allowed me to believe that automotive news is a possibility for my future.”

The students took part in a journalism workshop led by Ray Suarez, former host of NPR’s Talk of the Nation. They also heard a panel on the state of diversity in newsrooms. The panel, moderated by award-winning journalist Ed Gordon, featured fashion critic Michael Quintanilla, formerly of the Los Angeles Times and San Antonio Express News; political journalist Patricia Guadalupe, a contributing writer to NBC Latino; Walter Middlebrook, Detroit News assistant managing editor; and Salvador Rodriguez, Inc. magazine’s tech reporter.

Students attended news conferences and vehicle reveals, explored the auto show floor and interviewed auto experts. The professional journalists mentored the students and helped them produce news stories and presentations. The program ended with an awards ceremony at the GM Heritage Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

“As a diversity and business reporter, it’s really great to see GM put its money and weight behind discovering and helping young journalists of diverse backgrounds get started with their careers,” said Inc.’s Rodriguez, also a mentor.

Quintanilla, a returning mentor whose team won last year, says news organizations need to take note.

“This is the most original experience for college students that encourages them to consider automotive journalism while also promoting diversity in newsrooms,” he said. “By diverse, I mean not only diversity in one’s ethnicity but also in ideas and a promise from everyone involved to protect and uphold journalism’s existence and the profession’s commitment to tell accurate and honest stories.”

Download photos and video

About the students:

Nia Muhammad of Chicago is a sophomore in TV/film and electronic studio at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Sarah Rahal of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, is a journalism senior at Wayne State University in Detroit, a member of the honors Journalism Institute for Media Diversity program and managing editor of The South End, WSU’s student paper.
Rushawn Walters of Springfield, Massachusetts, is a journalism and theater arts senior at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and managing editor for its student newspaper, The Hilltop.
Dominique Sims is from San Francisco and is a mass media arts senior at Clark Atlanta University. She is the author of the award-winning blog Black Students Who Travel.
Ala’a Ibrahim of Houston is a multimedia journalism and business senior at University of Texas at Austin. She has interned at NBCUniversal and KXAN-TV and will soon be joining KUT & KUTX as a multimedia intern.
Oriol Brull comes from Barcelona, Spain, and is an advertising and public relations junior at the City College of New York in New York City. He has been a freelance automotive writer for a national Spanish magazine.
Gabi Wy of Newburgh, Indiana, is a sophomore at the University of Southern Indiana in Evansville. She will be an intern at the Evansville Courier & Press in January and features editor for The Shield, her university’s student publication.
William Cornelius of Oklahoma City is a broadcast journalism junior at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. He shoots and edits long-form documentary and broadcast packages, does VOSOT (Voice Over/Sound on Tape) and writes for print and online publications.
Aaron Robert of Warren, Michigan, is an advertising and public relations sophomore at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. He leads content creation for GVSU’s Public Relations Student Society of America chapter, writing and editing blogs and designing graphics.
Nguyen Le is a native of Vietnam and a recent graduate in print journalism at the University of Houston. He wrote for the student newspaper The Cougar and was a movie critic for Cooglife Magazine.
Jose Arredondo comes from San Antonio, Texas, where he is a junior at Texas A&M-San Antonio. He has written and photographed for the Big Stick, The Bugle Call, The Ranger and La Prensa newspapers and is currently an intern at Spectrum Sports News.
Dennis Lin is a native of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. He is a senior double majoring in communications/advertising with a sports management minor and sales concentration at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Michael Incavo is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He is a journalism and public relations senior at Baylor University’s Journalism Public Relations and New Media department in Waco, Texas. He has worked for local NPR stations and produced syndicated reporting features airing across Texas radio stations.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Western Dental Expands Office in San Jose Community

January 12, 2017

SAN JOSE, California, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Western Dental & Orthodontics, one of the nation’s leaders in accessible, affordable oral healthcare, today announced it has expanded its dental office in San Jose, located at 1110 South King Road.

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Western Dental’s San Jose office has nearly doubled in size to accommodate a growing need for orthodontics, general dentistry and specialty dentistry by local residents. The office now houses 14 patient treatment rooms, new state-of-the-art digital equipment, and expanded the support by the experienced bilingual staff team.

“Over the years, we’ve seen the population of San Jose and the surrounding communities of Silicon Valley grow substantially,” said Dr. Vananh Ho, Managing Dentist since 1999. “Our team is thrilled to be able to provide more patients with comprehensive dental care in a beautifully remodeled space.”

In addition to accepting uninsured and privately insured patients, Western Dental welcomes patients covered by the Medi-Cal Dental program (known as Denti-Cal) at this location and all of its 160 California offices. Western Dental is the leading provider of services to the Denti-Cal program, which provides health care benefits for more than 13 million low-income individuals and families in California.

The office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. An open house and ribbon-cutting event for the public to celebrate the expansion will be held on February 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the 1110 South King Road, Suite 60 location.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit www.westerndental.com or call 1-800-6-DENTAL.

ABOUT WESTERN DENTAL
Western Dental (with its affiliate, Brident Dental & Orthodontics) is one of the nation’s largest dental providers and is the leader in accessible, affordable oral health care, serving over two million patient visits annually in more than 200 affiliated clinics throughout California, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. Western Dental is the #1 provider of orthodontic services in California and last year expanded its network of orthodontists, oral surgeons, pedodontists, periodontists and endodontists, to better service patient needs all within the office. All of Western Dental’s services are backed by a unique quality assurance system that electronically monitors all patient visits, treatments, dental staff and clinical performance to enable high-quality care. For more information, please visit www.westerndental.com.

(Español) Pablo Soria de Lachica – La Economía de EE.UU. No Necesita el Plan Fiscal de Trump

January 12, 2017

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

AJC Launches Latino Jewish Leadership Council

January 12, 2017

NEW YORK, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A prominent group of national U.S. Jews and Latinos has established the Latino Jewish Leadership Council (LJLC). Convened by AJC, the new national Council will work to further strengthen Latino-Jewish cooperation in advocating for issues of shared concern and values cherished by both communities.

“The future of this country is based, as it has always been, on communities coming together with a vision for a better future and, through hard work and perseverance, making that vision our shared reality,” said Luis Ubiñas, President of the Ford Foundation (2008 to 2013), current President of the Board of Directors of the Pan American Development Foundation, and a founding member of the LJLC. “In this coming generation, the Latino and Jewish communities working together can achieve any aspiration.”

AJC has long been committed to deepening Latino-Jewish understanding and cooperation. The LJLC expands upon groundbreaking initiatives that have included helping launch the bipartisan Latino-Jewish Congressional Caucus in 2011, and hosting in 2013 a National Conversation on the State of Latino-Jewish Relations in Washington, D.C., attended by 100 high-level leaders from both communities. Many LJLC members have participated in these and other initiatives of AJC’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA).

“When the very ethos of American pluralism has been challenged by some, when hate crimes have increased, and when entire communities have been stigmatized, creation of this Council reinforces the importance of our shared destiny, and the strength and resilience our nation derives from its diversity,” said Dina Siegel Vann, director of AJC BILLA, who is staffing the LJLC.

The Council’s first meeting will take place in Washington on March 1. Visit ajc.org to receive more information and LJLC updates.

The full list of the initial LJLC members is below:

Dr. Juan Andrade, Jr.
President, U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute
Chicago

Pilar Avila
Board Member, New America Alliance
Los Angeles

Hector V. Barreto
Chairman, The Latino Coalition
Los Angeles

Howard Berman
Former U.S. Representative
Los Angeles

Al Cárdenas
Senior Partner, Squire Patton Boggs
Miami / Washington, D.C.

Alberto P. Cárdenas, Jr.
Counsel, Vinson & Elkins, LLP
Houston

Maria T. Cardona
Principal, The Dewey Square Group
Washington, DC

Alejandra Castillo
Entrepreneur
Washington, DC

Marty Castro
President and CEO, Castro Synergies, LLC; Former Chair, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
Chicago

Henry Cisneros
Founder and Chairman, Citiview; Former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
San Antonio

Claudio Grossman
President, Inter-American Institute of Human Rights; Dean Emeritus, American University Washington College of Law
Washington, DC

Giselle Fernandez
President, Fernandez Consulting
Los Angeles

David Harris
AJC CEO
New York

Thomas Kahn
Honorary Chair, AJC Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs
Washington, DC

Shrub Kempner
Board of Governors, AJC
Galveston

Abelardo Lechter
Chairman, Pan American Association of Philadelphia; Board Member, Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Philadelphia

David Leopold
Board Member, AJC Cleveland; Former President, American Immigration Lawyers Association
Cleveland

Javier Palomarez
President and CEO, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Washington, DC

Robert Raben
Founder and President, The Raben Group
Washington, DC

Allan Reich
Chairman, AJC National Policy Commission
Chicago

Raul B. Rodriguez
Chairman, U.S. Mexico Foundation
San Antonio

Felix Sanchez
Chairman and Co-Founder, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts
Washington, DC

Dina Siegel Vann
Director, AJC Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs
Washington, DC

José Antonio Tijerino
President and CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation
Washington, DC

Luis Ubiñas
Former President, Ford Foundation; President of the Board of Directors, Pan American Development Foundation
New York

Cid Wilson
President and CEO, Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility
Washington, DC

Peter Villegas
Board Member, NALEO; ‎Vice President of Latin Affairs, The Coca-Cola Company
Los Angeles

Escape the Cold! Puerto Rico Offers a Worry-Free Beach Vacation

January 12, 2017

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — If your New Year’s resolution is to travel more, now is the perfect time for a quick and inexpensive beach vacation. Year after year, Puerto Rico continues to earn its reputation as the “Jewel of the Caribbean” and with no need for a passport, U.S. citizens can visit its beaches and extensive coastline to escape the winter months for a worry-free beach vacation.

The Puerto Rico Tourism Company Invites Travelers to Keep their Travel Resolutions and Experience the Island (Photo Credit: Intercontinental San Juan)

With more than 270 miles of coastline to explore, Puerto Rico and its beaches have something to offer every type of traveler. Beachgoers can relax the day away with a swim in the ocean, a catamaran ride and surfing. For the more adventurous traveler, the island’s beaches offer an ideal setting for snorkeling and deep-sea diving. Maintain your wellness resolution and say ‘Namaste’ on the island, as Puerto Rico’s beaches are the perfect setting for a breathtaking sun salutation. Travelers can rise with the sun or take a sunset breath to truly get in touch with their inner-selves and the world around them… all while burning a few calories.

In addition, Puerto Rico is home to numerous blue flag beaches. These beaches are recognized for their water quality standards, safety, environmental education and sustainable boating tourism by the Foundation for Environmental Education. Puerto Rico’s blue flag beaches include: Escambrón in San Juan, Carolina Beach in San Juan, Seven Seas in Fajardo and La Monserrate in Luquillo.

Ready to save? The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) has partnered with popular booking sites, giving travelers the chance to save on their Puerto Rico escape. Travelers can book on www.escapethecoldinpuertorico.com and save up to 60% on their hotel stay.

For those ready to book a Puerto Rico beach vacation, the following is current information to ensure a worry-free experience:

Puerto Rico continues to win the fight against Zika as cases have markedly declined since October 2016, however, the PRTC continues to encourage travelers to take following precautionary steps while visiting Puerto Rico’s beaches:

Purchase and use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE)/para-menthane-diol (PMD), or IR3535.
Follow instructions on repellent label and be sure to apply at proper intervals, as directed.
When wearing sunscreen, be sure to apply sunscreen first, then repellent once sunscreen has dried.
Cover exposed skin with long sleeves and long pants, when possible, especially when traveling through rainforests and around standing water.
Keep all balcony doors and windows closed at night.

For travel tips and more information about the Zika virus in Puerto Rico, travelers are urged to visit: PuertoRicoNow.SeePuertoRico.com.

About Puerto Rico Tourism Company
The Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC), founded in 1970, is a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting and regulating the development of the tourism industry. It markets Puerto Rico as a tourism destination through advertising, public relations and promotional activities; promotes tourism among visitors and local residents; provides visitor orientation and technical assistance to investors; evaluates tourism facilities and establishes standards of quality; and regulates and oversees gaming operations. PRTC has offices and representatives in the U.S. mainland, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

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Discovery Education And 3M Search For America’s 2017 Top Young Scientist; Chance For $25,000 And One-Of-A-Kind Summer Mentorship With 3M Scientists

January 12, 2017

SILVER SPRING, Md. and ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Discovery Education and 3M are proud to announce the opening of the 10^th annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation’s premier science competition for students in grades 5-8. This program, offers young inventors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by a 3M Scientist Mentor, compete for $25,000, and earn the title of “America’s Top Young Scientist.”

Discovery Education and 3M are proud to announce the opening of the 10th annual Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, the nation's premier science competition for students in grades 5-8.

The Challenge rewards curious students who use their science acumen and creativity to solve a problem in their local, national or global community. Fourteen-year-old Maanasa Mendu won last year for her creation of HARVEST, a bio-inspired energy device that captures energy in the form of wind, rain and sun – and converts it to power. Mendu was inspired to enter the contest through her “pretty awesome” eighth grade science teacher.

“The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge was really meaningful,” said Mendu. “I encourage any curious middle schooler to enter, because you will not only get a chance to win amazing prizes like $25,000, but you will have a number of opportunities to enhance your scientific knowledge, creativity, and collaboration skills! The great thing about the Young Scientist Challenge is that you have an amazing 3M mentor at your side. Overall, the Challenge allows you to broaden your horizons.”

Students in grades 5-8 can enter the challenge by creating a one to two-minute video communicating the science behind their big idea that could solve or impact an everyday problem. Video entries will be evaluated based on their creativity, scientific knowledge, persuasiveness and delivery. Ten finalists will then be chosen to participate in an exclusive summer mentorship program, where they will work closely with and learn from a 3M scientist.

The program challenges, finalists’ thinking to develop an innovation that positively impacts them, their family, their community or the global population. The students will meet virtually with their mentors and will receive additional resources and support from 3M and Discovery Education. Each finalist will also receive a trip to the 3M Innovation Center at the company’s headquarters in St. Paul, Minn., to compete at the final event in October 2017.

All video entries must be submitted online at https://www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge no later than April 19, 2017. Videos will not be judged on production skills and may be recorded on cell phones or basic digital cameras.

Timed to the Challenge opening is the launch of Young Scientist Lab, an interactive portal for scientific exploration, and new home to the award-winning Young Scientist Challenge. The Lab is a one-stop STEM destination for teachers, students and parents. It offers engaging K-8 activities and standards-aligned lesson plans and interactive teaching tools to foster the next generation of scientists. There is also inspiration on how innovation can solve problems across industries: manufacturing, energy, safety, healthcare, transportation, electronics, automotive, construction and design, personal safety and more. Additionally, users of the Lab will get up-to-the-minute science news, learn about live events, participate in upcoming field trips, and read new blogs about the Young Scientist Challenge.

Over the years, the Young Scientist Challenge has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in student prizes, paired students with world-renowned scientists and delivered much-needed science resources to millions of students, teachers and families across the country. In 2016, entries were submitted by nearly all 50 states, from urban, suburban and rural districts. Six girls and four boys were named as the top 10 finalists.

“As an educator, whether or not you have a student selected as a finalist, the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge is about cultivating important skills to help students succeed in college, career and life,” said Francie Snyder, teacher at Manatee County Public Schools’ Oneco and Prine Elementary Schools in Manatee County, Fla. “Encouraging participation in the challenge is about inspiring young minds of all kinds, from all places, about the wonders of science and working to create a solution that could improve lives.”

For more information on the Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge, including submission guidelines, tips from previous winners and complete rules, please visit: https://www.youngscientistlab.com/challenge.

About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $32 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.

About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are in half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools the UK, and more than 50 countries. Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

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Melehy & Associates Recoups Lost Wages for Construction Workers

January 12, 2017

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Jan. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Melehy & Associates LLC is pleased to announce it has won a $207,599.34 judgment for 13 construction workers who were denied pay for work on the Superior Court for the District of Columbia. Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that two subcontractors failed to pay laborers according to requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act and other wage laws.

The workers will also receive $100,014.54 from a settlement between the subcontractors and the Department of Labor, making their total recovery $307,613.88.

“It shocks the conscience that these workers were paid at 20 percent below the required rates and most of them were not paid at all for more than half the time they worked,” said Omar Vincent Melehy, lead counsel at Melehy & Associates, an employment law firm that focuses on helping workers recover unpaid wages.

The case stems from a 2011 federal contract for renovations to the H. Carl Moultrie Courthouse in Washington, D.C. The project’s main contractor hired a subcontractor, C.R. Calderon Construction, Inc., for drywall, ceiling and other work.

Calderon Construction then hired another subcontractor, Jacinto Construction, Inc., to perform work. The renovation contract required that workers be paid prevailing wages – $33.38 per hour for carpenters, $32.50 for finishers.

Over the four-day trial, Melehy called 15 witnesses whose testimony established that Jacinto Construction crews were performing work without being paid because C.R. Calderone Construction did not pay Jacinto Construction enough to compensate the workers.

Workers repeatedly complained “about not being paid, but nothing came of their complaints,” Judge Howell wrote in a Dec. 22, 2016 opinion.

According to the opinion, Jacinto Construction laborers were directed to begin work in early April 2011 before the company signed a subcontract with Calderon Construction and without discussing contract prices.

Jacinto Construction’s owner, Jacinto Cespedes, testified that he later signed a subcontract without fully understanding the project’s scope because he could not read English.

Calderon Construction, Jacinto Construction, the companies’ owners and Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America were held liable by Judge Howell.

Judge Howell’s order called for the workers to receive unpaid wages and overtime ranging from $4,157 to $33,416.

For more information about this case and Melehy & Associates, call (301) 587-6364 or go to www.melehylaw.com

Media Contact: Omar Vincent Melehy, (301) 587-6364

Cal/OSHA Investigates Four Recent Tree Trimming Deaths, Announces Safety Campaign

January 11, 2017

OAKLAND, California, Jan. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Following four recent tree-trimming workplace fatalities, Cal/OSHA is reminding workers and employers in this high-risk industry to take precautions to avoid accidents.

Cal/OSHA is investigating the four deaths, which occurred over the last six weeks, and has launched a statewide safety awareness campaign for tree service companies, landscapers and other businesses.

The four tree-trimming deaths under investigation include:

a worker in Mariposa County who was struck by a branch on December 1
a worker in San Bernardino County who suffocated when dry palm fronds collapsed and trapped him on December 4
a worker in Los Angeles County who fell approximately 60 feet when the branch he was tethered to broke on January 6
a worker in Siskiyou County who was struck by the tree he was cutting to clear power lines on January 9

“Cal/OSHA’s safety awareness campaign aims to protect the lives of tree service workers,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “Employers in this high-risk industry need to be aware of, and take steps to minimize, the hazards to their workers. We will cite employers that are not in compliance with safety requirements.”

Cal/OSHA investigated nearly 70 accidents involving tree work, including trimming or removal services, in the two-year period between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2016. Nearly three out of four of these accidents (74%) resulted in a worker hospitalization, and 12 of the accidents involved the death of a worker.

As part of the Tree Work Safety Emphasis Program, Cal/OSHA inspectors throughout the state who observe unsafe tree trimming or tree removal operations will investigate possible violations. Inspectors will also respond to reports of unsafe operations.

The major causes of tree trimming injuries and fatalities include falls, electrical shock, being struck by a tree branch, chainsaw lacerations, palm tree skirt collapses and ladder accidents. For example, on December 30, 2015, a Wright Tree Service worker in Humboldt County accidently cut the lanyard used to secure himself to a tree and fell 54 feet to his death. The investigation revealed the employer failed to ensure the worker was using a required second point of attachment in his security system while he was operating a chain saw in a tree.

Cal/OSHA has resources available to help employees and employers prevent accidents like these, including a Tree Work Safety Guide, fact sheet and checklist.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Services Branch provides free and voluntary assistance to employers to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from Cal/OSHA Consultation Services.

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734). The California Workers’ Information line at 866-924-9757 provides recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA district offices.

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

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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 Communications Call Center at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

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