Basic Auto Care Many Drivers Miss

September 27, 2016

BETHESDA, Maryland, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Fluids and lubricants rank among the most neglected items when it comes to basic auto care, says the non-profit Car Care Council.

Community car care events held throughout the country found that the top-three fluids most likely to be low or contaminated are windshield washer fluid in 26 percent of inspected vehicles, followed by engine oil at 23 percent and coolant at 19 percent.

Windshield washer fluid keeps dirt and debris from collecting on a vehicle’s windshield, allowing the driver full visibility and making it an essential safety item. Windshield washer fluid should be checked monthly and drivers should use a fluid that is specially formulated for their climate.

Engine oil lubricates the moving parts of a vehicle’s engine, helping keep the engine clean and preventing wear and overheating. Neglecting to change a vehicle’s oil can lead to costly repairs, including replacement. Engine oil levels should be checked frequently and changed per the owner’s manual.

Coolant absorbs heat from the engine and dissipates it through the radiator and heat exchanger. Because coolant breaks down over time, neglecting it can lead to corrosion, rust and engine overheating. Flushing and replacing coolant every six to 12 months, depending upon climate, will help prevent costly repairs.

“Checking fluids and lubricants is easy to put off, but each is critical to your vehicle running properly and safely,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “The good news is that they are easy to check and inexpensive to replace. Whether you do it yourself or visit a trusted technician, be sure to inspect your vehicle for any possible signs of trouble so you can address minor service needs before they turn into major repairs.”

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For the latest car care news, visit the council’s online media room at http://media.carcare.org. To order a free copy of the popular Car Care Guide, visit the council’s consumer education website at www.carcare.org.

(Español) ¡Celebramos 66 Años! Dunkin’ Donuts celebra el Día Nacional del Café ofreciendo un Café Mediano Caliente por 66 centavos

September 27, 2016

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Johnnie Walker Brings You Into The World Of Whisky With The Touch Of Your Tablet, Mobile Device Or Amazon Echo Devices

September 27, 2016

NORWALK, Conn., Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — “You’re so close to that first sip, I can taste it….and I don’t have a mouth.” This doesn’t sound like your average whisky tasting? That’s right, it’s not. Today, Johnnie Walker Blended Scotch Whisky announces the launch of a new digital mentorship program, leading a new era of whisky education that can be enjoyed from the comforts of home for those of legal drinking age.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7935451-johnnie-walker-digital-mentorship-program

As the number one blended Scotch whisky in the world, Johnnie Walker continues to innovate in new and exciting ways. The launch of this cutting-edge digital mentorship program brings to life product credentials and over two centuries of heritage and blending expertise through a variety of unique experiences, developed in collaboration with Vayner Media, across Amazon Alexa, Facebook Messenger and a series of digital videos featuring award-winning mixologist Jeff Bell.

Through a progressive collaboration with Amazon, Johnnie Walker developed an innovative Alexa skill that allows consumers to experience the full Johnnie Walker portfolio and learn about the brand’s rich history. The Johnnie Walker Skill, now available for download via the Amazon Alexa app, is easily launched via Alexa voice activation on Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Amazon Tap, Amazon Fire TV and more by saying, “Alexa, open Johnnie Walker.” Alexa then cleverly guides participants through personalized tastings, recommends blends across the portfolio to appeal to a variety of palates, shares anecdotes from the Johnnie Walker history, provides practical whisky tips and recommends unique cocktail recipes, which can be downloaded electronically in the Amazon app to re-create at home. Thanks to Johnnie Walker, you can now sip and savor your whisky, while being entertained by the wit and playfulness of Alexa along the journey.

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with an iconic brand like Johnnie Walker,” said Rob Pulciani, Director, Amazon Alexa. “The Johnnie Walker skill dives deep into the world of whisky in a fun and engaging way through recommendations of blends, practical whisky tips and more–all just by using your voice. Now our customers can entertain at home in a unique way with the hands-free convenience of Alexa.”

Don’t have any whisky? Not a problem – the Johnnie Walker skill, with the help of e-commerce website Drizly, directs users to a retailer near their specific zip code.

To build upon the digital mentorship program, Johnnie Walker has also launched a one-of-a-kind bot for Messenger bringing whisky tasting and education right to your fingertips.

Using a mobile device, consumers can now visit JohnnieWalkerUS to chat live with the Johnnie Walker bot for Messenger, accessing unparalleled whisky knowledge. Whether you’re at the bar, at home, or on-the-go, you can consult the Johnnie Walker bot for Messenger to receive a guided tasting experience, whisky and brand knowledge, cocktail recipes, blend recommendations and where to buy.

With just a few clicks on your cell phone, Johnnie Walker is here for all of your whisky needs, including purchasing Johnnie Walker for gifts, hosting your own at home tasting or enjoying some world class cocktails. The Johnnie Walker bot for Messenger technology allows consumers to order product through ReserveBar to receive an engraved bottle for that special someone, collect all the ingredients in one package needed to mix up Johnnie Walker cocktail recipes delivered right to your door through Cocktail Courier, pick up a bottle or two for a tasting utilizing e-commerce website Drizly, or to find five local retailers nearest their zip code.

To round out the mentorship program, critically-acclaimed mixologist Jeff Bell, along with Johnnie Walker, orchestrated a unique series of videos highlighting fun tidbits, tricks, and whisky facts to get your feet wet in the world of Johnnie Walker. These videos help bring the Johnnie Walker mentorship program to life in a fun, witty manner and showcase the brand’s history, innovation and blending expertise.

In this video, Bell shares some quick tips on how to taste some of the nuances of whisky using Johnnie Walker Double Black as an example. By pouring a little into your hands, you can truly experience this nice, full-bodied smoky offering by simply rubbing it in and letting the alcohol evaporate – you’ll be left with a strong smoky BBQ sensation.

The long-form video of Bell hosting an in-depth Johnnie Walker tasting of the full portfolio can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/JohnnieWalkerUS, and a variety of short-form videos will be released across Johnnie Walker’s various social properties throughout the year.

“Here at Johnnie Walker we are ecstatic to bring more people into the world of whisky through our new digital mentorship program,” Stephanie Jacoby, VP Marketing for Johnnie Walker stated. “It is important for our storied brand to stay competitive in an age where everything is digital. The digital mentorship program is a way for Johnnie Walker to showcase what goes into our craft, our blending expertise, and most importantly, our brand history of inspiring people to enjoy every forward step towards their pursuit of personal progress. These new programs with Amazon, Facebook and the digital video series help showcase the brand story, but now in a much more fun, playful way. This program redefines home entertaining and whisky education and allows our consumers to experience Johnnie Walker in a way they never have before.”

Want to become a whisky pro? Just grab your phone, Amazon Echo or tablet and Johnnie Walker has you covered. It’s time to enter the world of whisky with Johnnie Walker and to please do so responsibly.

For additional information on Johnnie Walker, please visit www.johnniewalker.com. Stay up to date on the latest digital mentorship initiatives by following the conversation at @JohnnieWalkerUS on Facebook and Twitter and @JohnineWalker on Instagram.

About Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is the world’s number-one selling Scotch whisky brand, representing the idea of personal progress for the many people who enjoy it in more than 180 countries worldwide. John Walker pioneered blending when he founded the business in 1820 and never looked back, growing it from a grocer’s own Scotch whisky into a stylish, global icon. It’s that same forward-looking perspective that drives the brand, and its consumers, today. The U.S. range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Johnnie Walker Double Black, Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label and Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

For more information visit www.johnniewalker.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @JohnnieWalkerUS. #KeepWalking

About Diageo
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

Letter from Ismael Cala to Colombians: “A yes for the future”

September 27, 2016

MIAMI, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Colombia, a nation that I love, now has before itself the possibility of a new stage in its history, after so much loss as a result of senseless violence.

To resolve great tragedies, we are often obliged to make big concessions. Either we look to the future, despite the intense pain, or the future will be as distressing as the past.

I am not Colombian, nor have I suffered directly the cruelty of the conflict; but as a Latin American, I have also felt Colombia’s long suffering. And as a Cuban, I have also urged my people, on and off the island, to look to the future. This is what I do today, setting aside my personal and family prejudice. I understand there is now nothing I can do about those 15 years when I could not go to Cuba, even to bid farewell to very close relatives.

Seeking peace does not require perfection, but rather, harmony. One does not turn to the past to fight but to learn how to not repeat mistakes. The future of peace is built from a present lived in forgiveness. And forgiveness is not a gift the victims give to the victimizer, but rather the gift that victims and their relatives give to themselves.

Forgiveness is an act of love and self-healing. It is not forgetting, but engaging in altruistic – as opposed to selfish – thinking. Life is a spiral. It is up to us to arrive at a change of consciousness: I am not going to think of myself, but about us. And this ‘us’ is all of Colombia.

In speaking of Spain’s transition, the scholar Emilio Lamo de Espinosa asserted that it was a matter of deciding which was more important: to judge the crimes committed against your grandparents and parents, or to ensure a more or less stable future for your children and grandchildren. In Central America as well, concessions were made to put an end to the violence.

Former President John F. Kennedy once said: “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind.”

Colombia has everything it needs to move forward, starting with its talented people. Peace, progress, respect for the victims and historical memory are possible. Let us work for a culture of peace, in schools, the media, government, organizations of civil society and the family, so that there will be no going backward, so that such a dreadful era will never again be repeated in our history.

ISMAEL CALA

www.IsmaelCala.com

Honda, Acura Racers Claim Six SCCA National Championships

September 27, 2016

After finishing second in 2015, David Daughtery drove his Honda Fit to the SCCA B-Spec National Championship last weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

LEXINGTON, Ohio, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Honda and Acura racers won six Sports Car Club of America national championship titles, including podium sweeps in both the competitive Super Touring Light category and Formula F, at the 2016 SCCA National Championship Runoffs, contested this past weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

A total of 70 Honda and Acura racers, the largest Runoffs field for the manufacturer since the start of the Honda Racing Line grassroots motorsports program in 2009, traveled to the centrally-located Mid-Ohio circuit for this year’s 53^rd annual national championships. Honda and Acura racers took part in 14 of the weekend’s 28 classes of racing.

In addition to the record turnout, it was also a weekend of excellent results for Honda and Acura drivers, as the six national championships were backed by another nine podium finishes in nine of the 14 races contested at this year’s Runoffs.

“This has been just a fantastic Runoffs for our Honda Racing Line members,” said Jeff Barrow, HPD manager, commercial motorsports. “Our drivers and teams contended for victory in more than a dozen races, and the results speak volumes for both our grassroots motorsports efforts in recent years and the skills of our racers.”

Formula F

In winning Formula F with his Honda-engined Mygale, Neil Verhagen became the youngest National Champion in SCCA history on Sunday. At 15 years, 242 days, Verhagen is more than a full year younger than current Honda IndyCar star Graham Rahal was when he won Formula Atlantic at the same track in 2005. Hans Saurino and David Livingston, Jr., made it a 1-2-3 result for Honda in Formula F.

Verhagen set sail from the green flag, building a lead of more than 15 seconds before a full-course caution wiped it all away. He pulled away again at the restart for the three-lap dash to the checkers and a 5.451-second victory.

“I’m ecstatic right now,” Verhagen said. “It’s quite an accomplishment to be the youngest driver to ever win the Runoffs and set pole. I’m head over heels. I did not want to see the [late-race] restart come out at all. It was hard. I got a great start again, and by the time I looked out at Turn Three, I had enough of a gap and we kept building from there.”

Behind Verhagen, however, there was an eight-car battle for the final two podium positions. Saurino’s Van Diemen Honda was the first to make a big move, running from fourth to second under braking on Lap Five. That didn’t last long, however, as he fell back to third on the next lap, and ultimately made the pass into second on four different occasions throughout the race. In the closing laps, Saurino had a lapped car between him and Verhagen, but had Livingston’s No. 85 ThermaMasters Spectrum Honda in his mirrors to the checkers.

“I was very fortunate to get out ahead early on,” Saurino said. “Every lap was a battle. I went from fifth to second more times than I could tell. On the restart, it was a scary circumstance where I thought I’d have to battle again. Another lap or two and it would have been a fight, for sure.”

Livingston had to recover from a spin, aided by a bump, on the turn-in to the Mid-Ohio Esses during the 12th circuit. It seemingly put Livingston out of contention at the time, but the full-course caution aided his march to his first podium finish and a Honda podium sweep.

Super Tourlng Light

Kevin Boehm led the first Honda 1-2-3 result of the Runoffs, taking his Honda Civic Si to his second consecutive Super Touring Light championship on Saturday, with Eric Kutil second in a similar Civic Si and Cliff Ira rounding out the podium finishers driving an Acura Integra GS-R.

That second championship didn’t come easy, though, as Boehm edged Kutil by only 0.719-second at the checkers. Boehm used his racing experience to deal with fading brakes late in the race, slowing into the Keyhole turn to get a good run out and down the back straight, then going just as fast as necessary to cool the brakes in the back part of the track.

Kutil tried several times to get by on the inside of the carousel, with the pair running side by side on three different occasions, including coming to the white flag, but Boehm made sure to hold the inside line coming onto the short front straight, across the stripe, and remained in the lead.

“It’s really great to be up here on the top step again,” Boehm said. “It’s so rewarding to be able to pull it off. It’s such a long week; there’s so much that can go wrong. Even just putting it all together over the whole season to qualify just to be here is awesome. Congratulations to Eric and Cliff, they pushed me and the car to the limit. Being forced to really look at every detail of the car and hit every mark, it’s really rewarding.”

Just a year ago, Kutil attended his first track day. Having enjoyed that, he decided to get a racing license. With just a single year’s worth of experience in track activities, Kutil now has a silver medal.

“My brakes started getting pretty soft because I had some tiny rotors on there,” Kutil said. “I couldn’t brake where I wanted to, and the only corner where I could maybe stick my nose in was the Carousel. I may have given Kevin a couple of love bumps there, trying to get him out of the way. But it was a fun race. I didn’t want to dive bomb him and try to lock up or ruin both of our days, so I tried to play it safe and pass where it’s most possible.”

With a third-place finish on Saturday, Ira now has a complete set of podium finishes, following a win and a second in the last two years. Pushing hard, he had nothing for the top two places but was locked securely in third.

B-Spec

After finishing second in 2015, David Daughtery jumped to the lead at the green flag in his Honda Fit, with a second Fit piloted by Chi Ho tucked right behind. The two put some space immediately on the rest of the field, as a few other competitors tangled at the second turn from the start.

Before the halfway point in the race, Daughtery had pulled away to what would become a 10-second lead and never gave up the top spot, claiming his ninth Runoffs win and first in B-Spec.

“The car was awesome today,” Daughtery said. “Our goal was to go out like gangbusters right off the bat. With Mid-Ohio being Honda’s track, I wanted to come here to get my first win in a Honda. And I’m looking forward to next year, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, to doing the same thing.”

After Daughtery pulled away, Ho found himself falling back into the clutches of the chase pack consisting of John Phillips in another Honda Fit; the Chevrolet of John Heinricy and Ryan Hall’s Mini Cooper. For several laps, those four had an exciting battle for the second podium position. Heinricy crossed the finish line in second place, but was relegated to third by the stewards for avoidable contact during the race. Ho crossed the line in third place, but was moved to second when Heinricy was demoted. It is his first podium finish in only a second appearance at the national championships.

“It’s an honor to run against these multiple Runoffs champions,” Ho said. “I just tried to be as consistent as possible, hit my marks every time, and hopefully give them a good fight at the end. Third place is good. It’s not the top of the podium, but I’m happy with it.”

In addition to the races highlighted above, Honda Racing/HPD drivers also emerged victorious in the races for Prototype 1, GTL and STU. A full list of Honda Racing/HPD champions and podium results appears below.

Video News Releases from this weekend’s SCCA National Championship Runoffs can be found on the “Honda Racing/HPD Trackside” YouTube channel produced by the Carolinas Production Group. CPG provided video highlights packages following Honda Racing/HPD events throughout the 2016 season, and the video packages can be found in the 2016 HPD Trackside Video Playlist at: https://www.youtube.com/HondaRacingHPDTV.

Honda Performance Development [HPD], through the Honda Racing Line, offered contingency awards totaling $35,000 at the 2016 Runoffs, plus trackside support throughout the week. HPD also hosted trackside hospitality exclusively for Honda/Acura competitors and their team members, providing an infield paddock tent where competitors could prepare and maintain their cars, and lunches for drivers and crew members.

Founded in 1993, Honda Performance Development (HPD) is the technical operations center for high-performance Honda racing cars and engines, and operates at race circuits around the world from its headquarters in Santa Clarita, California. HPD offers a line of race engines for track applications from prototype sports cars to karting; and showcases “fun” products for professional, amateur and entry-level efforts.

Launched in 2009, the Honda Racing Line is a program targeted at licensed participants in sanctioned amateur and entry-level professional racing. The Honda Racing Line was formed to provide its members with a direct connection to Honda Performance Development and its unparalleled record of success at the highest levels of motorsport. For more information about HPD and to register for the Honda Racing Line, please visit http://hpd.honda.com.

2016 Honda/Acura SCCA National Championship Runoffs Victories and Podiums:

Formula F:	1. Neil Verhagen, Mygale SJ11 Honda
	2. Hans Saurino, Van Diemen RF98 Honda
	3. David Livingston, Spectrum 14H Honda

Super Touring Lite:	1. Kevin Boehm, Honda Civic Si
	2. Eric Kutil, Honda Civic Si
	3. Cliff Ira, Acura Integra GS-R

B-Spec:	1. David Daugherty, Honda Fit
	2. Chi Ho, Honda Fit

GT Lite:	1. Peter Shadowen, Honda CRX
	3. Chris Bovis, Honda CRX

Prototype 1:	1. Jim Devenport, Norma M20FC Honda

Super Touring Under:	1. Joe Moser, Honda Prelude

E Production:	2. Joe Moser, Honda Prelude

Touring 3:	2. Chad Gilsinger, Acura TLX

GT 3:	3. Joe Kristensen. Acura RSX

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/412082
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140312/LA82397LOGO-a

Social Selling Surges As Consumers Crave Interaction, Knowledge and Trust

September 27, 2016

ADA, Michigan, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In the age of constant connectivity, social selling – peer-to-peer selling taking place in-person or on social media – is booming at an unprecedented rate. 60 percent of Americans have been contacted by a social seller, while one-third of those consumers have purchased products from one. Most significantly, 85 percent of Americans who have purchased from social sellers are repeat customers, highlighting the strength of cultivating relationships and better understanding customers’ preferences and needs.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/7784251-amway-social-selling

Amway’s State of Social Selling Survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, explores the preferences and pitfalls of social selling, and what customers do – and don’t – want from social sellers.

Build trust.
Trust is the foundation of long-term customer relationships and a successful social selling career. Consumers don’t just want a sales pitch – they value a salesperson who knows the product and their customers’ needs intimately. 87 percent of Americans believe that it is important for a social seller to use the product themselves, and they should demonstrate that knowledge through photos and videos on social media, as well as letting their personality shine through in person and online. Incidentally, 60 percent of consumers do not trust a social seller who does not know his or her product well.

“You can only sell a product that you are passionate about,” says Jim Ayres, Managing Director for Amway North America. “Amway Independent Business Owners are often frequent users and walking testimonials of the products they sell. When a seller can effectively communicate the premium quality of the products, particularly through using the products themselves, they will always be seen as more trustworthy.”

Be tactical.
As with any other type of business, there is a right and wrong way to approach social selling. For example, persistence – but not too much – is key to relationship building. On average, Americans who have bought from a social seller first responded after they reached out at least three times. On the other hand, there is a fine line between being persistent and bombarding someone with offers and follow-up: 64 percent of Americans have felt “peer pressured” into buying something from a social seller, and 53% feel that social sellers are more aggressive than face-to-face salespeople.

While appreciating follow up, if no second purchase is made, customers wish that sellers stop contacting them after six weeks. “Having a strategy and conducting yourself authentically is crucial for successful social selling. Key is knowing when to reach out and when to follow up,” says Rajneesh Chopra, Vice President of Sales for Amway North America.

Cultivate relationships.
Consumers seek a trusting and friendly relationship with their seller – in fact, 83 percent of consumers who purchased from social sellers named the importance of establishing a relationship before making a product sale. In the social media age where relationships are formed and fostered faster than ever, social selling is thriving, particularly with millennials.

“While the importance of developing relationships is universal across age groups, young people in particular are proving to be a huge driver of the social selling industry,” says Jackie Nickel, Chief Marketing Officer of Amway North America. “The relationship-driven industry appeals to their generation, particularly when they are contacted on social media by a friend.”

The 2016 Amway State of Social Selling Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) on behalf of Amway.

About Amway
Amway is a $9.5 billion direct selling business based in Ada, Michigan, USA. Top-selling brands for Amway are Nutrilite™ vitamin, mineral and dietary supplements, Artistry™ skincare and color cosmetics and eSpring™ water treatment systems – all sold exclusively by Independent Business Owners. Global sales in 2014 made Amway the No. 1 direct selling business in the world, according to the Direct Selling News 2015 Global 100. The company’s annual sales figure includes revenue from direct selling operations and other business holdings. For company news, visit globalnews.amway.com.

“Say Hello” To Your Neighbors On Good Neighbor Day

September 27, 2016

BLOOMINGTON, Illinois, Sept. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Most neighbors want to have a better relationship with one another but 36 percent of Americans are embarrassed they know so few of their neighbors’ names. On Good Neighbor Day, Wednesday, September 28^th, State Farm is encouraging neighbors to “Say Hello” to each other.

State Farm has teamed up with etiquette expert and advice columnist Harriette Cole to help neighbors connect in simple ways. “Being a good neighbor is easy and can start with a simple gesture,” says Cole. “We may think we don’t have anything in common with our neighbors, but we do—our neighborhoods.”

Helpful do’s and don’ts when engaging with neighbors include:

Introducing yourself. Many people are embarrassed that they don’t know their neighbors’ names. It’s never too late to introduce or reintroduce yourself.
Smiling. Say hello with a smile: a smile can ease a nervous neighbor and help make a connection.
Positive gestures: Never underestimate the power of small positive gestures like smiling, waving or simply saying hello.
Let them know you’re a good neighbor and here to help – from lending a hammer to watching their home when they’re out of town. Drop off a card with your name and contact information.
Respect boundaries and privacy. Be considerate and ask your neighbors if they have time to chat before launching into a story. And always make sure you’ve been invited to that BBQ before stopping by.
Don’t Stay Inside. Get acquainted with your neighbors. Try spending time in the front yard or on the front stoop. You may be surprised who strikes up conversation.

Established by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, Good Neighbor Day is a time to get out and talk to your neighbors. Whether it’s someone who just moved in or the family down the street who’s lived there for 20 years, neighbors who know each other have happier and safer communities. For more tips on connecting with your neighbor and information about the recently released State of Neighbors Survey go to http://st8.fm/GNDay16.

About State Farm®
The mission of State Farm is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto, home and individual life insurance in the United States. Its 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve more than 82 million policies and accounts – nearly 80 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 35 on the 2015 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

Contact	Contact
Amelia Folkes	Amanda Draxton
State Farm	Weber Shandwick
512-918-5389	952-346-6053
[email protected]	[email protected]

Tennis Star And Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig Urges Travelers To Visit Puerto Rico As She Joins Mission To Fight Zika Fear With Facts

September 26, 2016

Official Logo of Puerto Rico Tourism Company

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, Sept. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Proud Puerto Rican Mónica Puig, who won Puerto Rico’s first gold medal at the Rio Olympics, recently returned home to enjoy a worry free time with her family and friends as she celebrated her win. Puig also spent time working with local officials to raise awareness of protection and prevention programs to stop the spread of Zika.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160926/411774

Puig says that Puerto Rico is a great getaway for everyone and travelers should know the facts when planning a trip to the island, “Zika can have serious consequences for pregnant women and those looking to get pregnant. But if you’re not pregnant or planning to have a family in the near future, come visit Puerto Rico, my home sweet home.”

Puig adds that precautionary measures are simple for visitors, “Apply insect repellent carefully and liberally and enjoy a worry free experience.”

Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) Executive Director, Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, praised Puig’s achievements as well as her involvement and echoed her sentiments about informed, worry-free travel to the island: “We couldn’t be more proud of Monica’s achievement at the Olympics, bringing home the gold for the first time ever. And we are as equally proud of her commitment in helping us educate all about the facts not fear of Zika, urging travelers, who are not pregnant or expecting to start a family, to come experience Puerto Rico and see firsthand the island she loves.”

PRTC has been working with the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association, Meet Puerto Rico, the Convention Bureau, and other industry partners for the implementation of an aggressive educational and preventive campaign to ensure that hotels and tourist attractions are actively spraying to control mosquito populations, maintaining strict, preventive grounds-keeping practices, and training employees to recognize and deal with potential mosquito breeding grounds on their respective properties.

To find out more about what the PRTC and its partners are doing to fight Zika in Puerto Rico, visit: http://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.

About Mónica Puig
Mónica Puig is a Puerto Rican professional tennis player and Olympic gold medal winner. She won Puerto Rico’s first ever Olympic gold medal, is a Central American Games and Pan American Games silver medalist. Introduced to tennis by mother; her first tennis memory is playing in a clinic at a country club. She also enjoys going to the beach, relaxing at home, spending time with family and her dogs, reading and creative writing. Ranked at a career high #30 on the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) world rankings, she is coached by Juan Todero. Puig is the daughter of José Puig and Astrid Puig Marchán.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160426/360380LOGO

California Labor Commissioner Fines 18 Los Angeles Garment Manufacturers $682,344 for Labor Law Violations

September 26, 2016

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Investigators from the California Labor Commissioner’s Office issued $682,344 in fines to 18 garment manufacturers and contractors in a two day enforcement operation in the Los Angeles area. The penalties included a total of $603,043 in fines and stop orders for six employers with no workers’ compensation insurance, and $42,300 in penalties issued to 14 businesses for garment registration violations. Investigators confiscated 85 bags of illegally manufactured garments with an estimated street value of $155,457 at nine of the businesses.

“Sweatshop operators threaten garment workers’ rights and undermine honest employers in the industry, making it difficult for legitimate garment businesses to stay in operation,” said Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su. “These illegal entities should take note: we will shine a light on the underground economy and those who contract with unregistered contractors will also be held accountable.”

The two day enforcement sweep began on September 7 and included 22 worksite inspections. The 18 garment businesses cited employ 296 workers. The Labor Commissioner’s office is pursuing wage theft investigations on those employers who also failed to pay proper wages under the California Labor Code.

The Garment Manufacturing Act of 1980 requires that all industry employers register with the Labor Commissioner and demonstrate adequate character, competency, and responsibility, including workers’ compensation insurance coverage. Garment manufacturers who contract with unregistered entities are automatically deemed joint employers of the workers in the contract facility. Clothing confiscated from illegal operations cannot be sold, and will be donated to a non-profit agency which will provide the items to homeless and domestic violence shelters in the Los Angeles area.

The Labor Commissioner also administers a special wage claim adjudication process for garment workers pursuant to California’s AB 633, passed in 1999. This law provides not only an expedited process for garment workers to file wage claims but also provides a wage guarantee where garment manufacturers are responsible for wage theft at their contractors’ facilities.

The Wage Theft is a Crime website was launched as part of a multilingual public awareness campaign in 2014 by the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Labor Commissioner’s Office. The Wage Theft is a Crime campaign informs workers of their rights and employers of their responsibilities. Workers and employers with work-related questions may also contact DIR’s Call Center in English or Spanish at 844-LABOR-DIR (844-522-6734).

DIR 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’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office, inspects workplaces for wage and hour violations, adjudicates wage claims, investigates retaliation complaints, issues licenses and registrations for businesses, enforces prevailing wage rates and apprenticeship standards in public works projects, and educates the public on labor laws.

Members of the press may contact Peter Melton or Paola Laverde 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 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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(Español) Estudio de los NIH asocia la náusea del embarazo con un menor riesgo de pérdida del embarazo

September 26, 2016

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