One Year Later, Heroic Firefighter Who Underwent Most Extensive Face Transplant Is Thriving

August 24, 2016

Pictures depicting NYU Langone face transplant patient Patrick Hardison's remarkable recovery.

NEW YORK, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The severely burned Mississippi firefighter, who captivated the world when he successfully underwent the most extensive face transplant ever performed, is thriving one year after his historic surgery, according to his medical team at NYU Langone Medical Center. Among his many milestones, he has never had an incident in which his body has attempted to reject his new face – an unprecedented achievement among those who have had the procedure.

Patrick Hardison, 42, who was injured in the line of duty in 2001, has had several follow-up procedures since his transplant, principally to adjust his new eyelids and lips, and to remove the feeding tube from his abdomen and the breathing tube from his trachea. As a result, he has been able to return to activities he loves but had been unable to partake in since his accident, including driving a car and swimming.

“The surgery has truly given me back my life,” says Hardison. “I go about my day just like everyone else. It’s allowed me to do things with my family that I had not been able to do. I can’t tell you what a sense of freedom it is to even drive my kids to school. We recently went on a family vacation to Disney World, and I swam in the pool with them – something I hadn’t done in 15 years.”

Hardison also adds: “There are no more stares, no more frightened children running away from me. I’m pretty much just a normal guy. Now, I want to help others to pursue this type of surgery, especially fellow firefighters and members of the armed services. There definitely is hope.”

Detailing Medical Milestones

Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, the chair of the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery at NYU Langone and the surgeon who led the team of over 100 medical professionals that performed Hardison’s transplant, points to three significant milestones in his recovery: The absence of a rejection episode; the normal function of Hardison’s new eyelids; and the execution and achievement of the most extensive soft tissue clinical face transplant to date.

“We are amazed at Pat’s recovery, which has surpassed all of our expectations,” Rodriguez says. “Most significant is the lack of a rejection episode. We believe this has much to do with the methodical approach we took in the matching process to ensure that Patrick’s donor provided the most favorable match. Doing so also has allowed us to reduce the levels of certain medications that Pat takes to prevent rejection.”

Rodriguez also concludes that including selective facial bone structure in addition to the chin of the donor provided natural bone marrow stem cells to help the transplanted face thrive following the surgery, and provided the necessary positional support for the facial soft tissues.

The successful transplant of the donor’s eyelids and blinking mechanisms also has been particularly important, as Hardison was in danger of losing his sight and had been unable to perform independent daily tasks. Blinking enables the body to appropriately hydrate and clean the eyes to prevent infection and preserve vision.

Now with fully functional eyelids, Rodriguez sees this particular aspect of Hardison’s surgery as a “game changer” for the field of face transplantation. “Being able to give Pat this level of independence is a primary reason why we undertook this surgery,” Rodriguez says.

Earlier this year, Rodriguez and his team published a series of articles in the peer-reviewed journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in which they detailed many aspects of the case, including the importance of eyelid preservation and enhancement in facial transplantation. The series of manuscripts also details a methodical approach for face transplant teams considering patients with severely disfiguring full face and scalp burns.

Hardison’s extraordinary recovery – and lack of a rejection episode – also has allowed his medical team to move forward with the removal of his abdominal feeding tube and the breathing tube in his trachea much sooner in his recovery. In addition to removing the tubes, Rodriguez also has performed revisions to Hardison’s forehead, eyes, lips, chin, and ears, now that the majority of the swelling has subsided

“Pat has been incredibly compliant with his post-surgical regimen, and that has allowed us to expedite his surgical schedule,” Rodriguez notes. “He is extremely committed to daily exercise, taking his medications and meeting with his physicians regularly. All of this has put him way ahead of schedule in terms of getting to the optimal level of recovery and appearance.”

What Lies Ahead

After a year of recovery, Hardison says he is ready to meet the family of his donor, David Rodebaugh, to thank them for their decision to donate his face, as well as other organs to other recipients. A meeting is planned for late fall.

“With many successful transplants, there is a donor or donor family that makes these altruistic gifts possible, at the most trying time in their lives,” says Helen Irving, president and CEO of LiveOnNY, the organ recovery organization for the greater New York metropolitan area. “We look forward to arranging their meeting.”

Ms. Irving also points out that New York State is considering new legislation to strengthen opportunities for organ donation.

Since last year’s face transplant, other initiatives have progressed. To date, face transplants in the U.S. have been supported, at least in part, by research funding. The U.S. Department of Defense, in concert with transplant centers, is collaborating with insurance carriers to provide coverage for face transplantation. And here in New York, the state government is considering new legislation to strengthen opportunities for organ donation.

The Department of Defense also is working closely with Rodriguez and LiveOnNY to advance awareness around face transplants and the critical importance of organ donation.

“We have entered a new era in transplant surgery,” Rodriguez points out. “The work being done, not only in face transplantation, but also in areas like hand, uterine and penile transplantation, is pushing the boundaries of medicine and surgery and opening up new avenues to restore the lives of people like Patrick. It’s a very exciting time.”

Multimedia Materials Available
Multimedia materials, including pre- and post-photos, quote sheet, B-roll package, and a three-dimensional surgical visualization video, can be found in our online Dropbox.

Media Inquiries:
NYU Langone Media Relations Office
+1-212-404-3500
[email protected]

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160818/399659
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150715/237434LOGO

IDAHOAN® Foods And The Makers Of The HERDEZ® Brand Announce Licensing Agreement

August 24, 2016

IDAHOAN(R) Foods And The Makers Of The HERDEZ(R) Brand Announce Licensing Agreement

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho, Aug. 24, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — IDAHOAN® Foods, a leading manufacturer of value-added products, and the makers of the HERDEZ^® Brand, the number one salsa brand in Mexico, announce today they have entered into a licensing agreement. Together, they are introducing a lineup of high quality, authentic refried beans under the HERDEZ^® Brand. HERDEZ™ Instant Refried Beans have authentic taste and texture but only require 5 minutes of preparation. They are available in traditional flavor as well as with hints of chorizo, jalapeño and queso. The homemade texture and flavor comes from the hundreds of real pinto beans in every bag.

“IDAHOAN® prides itself on offering convenient solutions to quality food products, while the HERDEZ^® Brand is a world-class leader in authentic Mexican food,” said Ryan Ellis, director, retail marketing for IDAHOAN®. “This agreement brings forth strengths of both brands.”

With easy to find packaging, these four new product options, manufactured by IDAHOAN® and distributed under the HERDEZ^® Brand label, HERDEZ™ Traditional Instant Refried Beans, HERDEZ™ Jalapeño Instant Refried Beans, HERDEZ™ Chorizo Instant Refried Beans and HERDEZ™ Queso Instant Refried Beans, come in 5.4-5.8 oz packets and make 4.5 prepared servings. They are ready in minutes and can be found at food retailers in select markets.

For more information on IDAHOAN® Foods visit www.idahoan.com. For more information on the HERDEZ^® Brand visit www.herdeztraditions.com.

About IDAHOAN Foods, LLC
Combining a full-service network of professionals from field to fork, Idahoan Foods, LLC is a leading manufacturer of value-added products. Its potato processing plants, nationally recognized retail, foodservice and warehouse club brands of products, along with its grower partnerships, allow Idahoan Foods to deliver superior quality and value to its customers. For more information visit www.idahoan.com. Follow Idahoan Foods on Facebook and Twitter.

About the HERDEZ^® Brand
HERDEZ^® salsa is made the authentic way, using fresh ingredients like tomatoes, onions, chile peppers and cilantro. Today, HERDEZ^® Salsa is the No.1 selling salsa brand in Mexico and a growing staple in homes in the United States. HERDEZ^® authentic Mexican products are available nationwide at major grocery stores. Visit www.herdeztraditions.com for more information.
HERDEZ^® Brand is a division of MegaMex Foods, LLC. Founded in 2009 in Southern California, MegaMex Foods, LLC is a joint venture of two giants in the food industry-Hormel Foods and HERDEZ del Fuerte, S.A. de C.V. MegaMex Foods, LLC, prides itself on a keen expertise of marketing, sales and chain supply management making them an excellent partner for retail and foodservice companies.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160823/400763

$600 Million in Workers’ Compensation Liens Filed by Convicted or Indicted Physicians, Providers

August 23, 2016

OAKLAND, California, Aug. 19, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) and its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) today announced that $600 million in liens filed against injured employees’ claims for workers’ compensation benefits have been filed by convicted or criminally indicted parties from 2011 through 2015.

“While California has made great strides in increasing benefits to injured workers, improving appropriate care and reducing employers’ costs, we are pursuing legislation to prohibit criminal and indicted providers from lining their pockets through liens and to address the assignment of liens,” said Christine Baker, DIR Director.

California’s workers’ compensation law allows certain claims for payment of services or benefits provided to or on behalf of injured workers to be filed as a lien against an employer in an employee’s claim for workers’ compensation benefits. The filing of a lien generates collateral litigation between the lien filer and defendant (insurer or employer) over the validity of the claim and the necessity, extent and value of any services provided. The parties may then settle on an amount due or adjudicate the dispute in a lien trial before the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board.

SB 863 (De León), which took effect on January 1, 2013, included a number of provisions to reduce costs by reducing the volume of lien claims and lien claim litigation in the workers’ compensation system, including the reestablishment of lien filing fees to preclude frivolous lien filings, creation of an Independent Bill Review system to remove most billing disputes from litigation, and restrictions on the ability of third parties to collect on assigned lien claims.

Despite these efforts, the 68 businesses comprising the top one percent of lien filers filed more than 273,000 liens totaling $2.5 billion in accounts receivable on adjudicated cases between 2013 and 2015. Two of the business owners are indicted and three others have pled guilty. Legislation is underway to stay liens of physicians or providers who are criminally charged with workers’ compensation fraud, medical billing fraud, insurance fraud, and Medicare or Medi-Cal fraud.

Assignments of Accounts Receivables are proving fertile ground for fraud

The assignment of liens by service providers to those who file and collect on liens are, in essence, the buying and selling of injured workers’ treatments and fertile ground for presenting fraudulent claims. DIR’s review of filing dates indicates that lien claimants tend to wait until after the primary case is settled rather than seeking early resolution of medical necessity. Even if lien claimants – especially those who bundle and buy or sell accounts receivables – only make pennies on the dollar, returns can still be high.

DIR is leading an effort to identify and address strategies for improved anti-fraud efforts in the workers’ compensation system. DIR and the Department of Insurance convened working groups in June to gather stakeholder input and evidence of fraudulent activity in the system. At the direction of the Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, DIR will be preparing a report on further recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by no later than Fall of 2016.

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. Its Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) monitors the administration of workers’ compensation claims, and provides administrative and judicial services to assist in resolving disputes that arise in connection with claims for workers’ compensation benefits.

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.

https://www.facebook.com/CaliforniaDIR
https://twitter.com/CA_DIR
http://www.youtube.com/CaliforniaDIR
http://www.dir.ca.gov/email/listsub.asp?choice=1

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.

Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP Announce the Partial Settlement of a Class Action Lawsuit Involving the Antibiotic Drug Cipro

August 23, 2016

SEATTLE, Aug. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

If You Paid for the Antibiotic Cipro in California
You Could Get Money from a Class Action Settlement

A partial Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit involving the antibiotic drug Cipro. The lawsuit claims that Bayer Corporation, Barr Laboratories, Inc., Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and The Rugby Group, Inc. (the “Defendants”) violated antitrust and consumer protection laws by agreeing not to compete with each other and keeping lower cost generic versions of Cipro off the market. The Defendants deny this. No one is claiming that Cipro is unsafe or ineffective.

WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE?

Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and The Rugby Group, Inc. have agreed to pay $100 million into a Settlement Fund (the “Fund”). After deducting attorneys’ fees, costs, and other fees and expenses, the Fund will be distributed to Class members who file valid claims. Payments will be based on the number of valid claims filed and how much you paid for Cipro. It is estimated that consumers will receive at least $25 each. The Settlement Agreement, available at the website www.CiproSettlement.com, contains more details. The Settlement Agreement involves only Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc., Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and The Rugby Group, Inc., Bayer Corporation previously settled. The case will continue against Barr Laboratories, Inc.

WHO IS INCLUDED?

Generally you are included if you paid a pharmacy, doctor’s office, or hospital for some or all of a Cipro prescription in California between January 8, 1997 and December 31, 2005.

Excluded from the Class are all persons who obtained Cipro through MediCal Prescription Drug Program, anyone who purchased Cipro in order to resell it, governmental entities, the Defendants and their related entities, all purchasers of Cipro who paid a flat co-payment and who would have paid the same co-payment for a generic substitute under the terms of their health insurance policy, and all persons or parties that have excluded themselves from the Class.

HOW TO GET A PAYMENT

Class Members must submit a Claim Form to get a payment. If you submitted a Claim Form and received payment in the Bayer settlement, visit the website www.CiproSettlement.com for more information. The information from your previous Claim Form will be used to calculate your share of this settlement. The Claim Form, and instructions on how to submit it, are available at www.CiproSettlement.com or by calling 1-866-404-0135. The deadline to submit a Claim Form is December 15, 2016.

YOUR OTHER RIGHTS AND OPTIONS

If you are a Class Member, your right to exclude yourself from the Class (to opt out) expired in 2004, when the Class was certified and the original notice was disseminated. You may comment on or object to the proposed Settlement. To do so, you must act by September 23, 2016. Details on how to comment or object are at www.CiproSettlement.com.

The Court will hold a hearing on October 7, 2016 to consider whether to finally approve the Settlement and whether to approve Class Counsel’s application for attorneys’ fees of up to one third of the Settlement Fund, plus expenses, and service awards for the Class Representatives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CLAIM FORM

Visit: www.CiproSettlement.com Call 1-866-404-0135

Saving patients from sepsis is a race against time

August 23, 2016

Centers For Disease Control And Prevention

ATLANTA, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Sepsis is caused by the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to an infection and requires rapid intervention. It begins outside of the hospital for nearly 80 percent of patients. According to a new Vital Signs report released by CDC, about 7 in 10 patients with sepsis had used health care services recently or had chronic diseases that required frequent medical care. These represent opportunities for healthcare providers to prevent, recognize, and treat sepsis long before it can cause life-threatening illness or death.

“When sepsis occurs, it should be treated as a medical emergency,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Doctors and nurses can prevent sepsis and also the devastating effects of sepsis, and patients and families can watch for sepsis and ask, ‘could this be sepsis?'”

Certain people with an infection are more likely to get sepsis, including people age 65 years or older, infants less than 1 year old, people who have weakened immune systems, and people who have chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes). While much less common, even healthy children and adults can develop sepsis from an infection, especially when not recognized early. The signs and symptoms of sepsis include: shivering, fever, or feeling very cold; extreme pain or discomfort; clammy or sweaty skin; confusion or disorientation; shortness of breath and a high heart rate.

According to the Vital Signs report, infections of the lung, urinary tract, skin, and gut most often led to sepsis. In most cases, the germ that caused the infection leading to sepsis was not identified. When identified, the most common germs leading to sepsis were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and some types of Streptococcus.

Health care providers, patients and their family members can work as a team to prevent sepsis.

Health care providers play a critical role in protecting patients from infections that can lead to sepsis and recognizing sepsis early. Health care providers can:

Prevent infections. Follow infection control requirements (such as handwashing) and ensure patients to get recommended vaccines (e.g., flu and pneumococcal).
Educate patients and their families. Stress the need to prevent infections, manage chronic conditions, and, if an infection is not improving, promptly seek care. Don’t delay.
Think sepsis. Know the signs and symptoms to identify and treat patients earlier.
Act fast. If sepsis is suspected, order tests to help determine if an infection is present, where it is, and what caused it. Start antibiotics and other recommended medical care immediately.
Reassess patient management. Check patient progress frequently. Reassess antibiotic therapy 24-48 hours or sooner to change therapy as needed. Determine whether the type of antibiotics, dose, and duration are correct.

CDC is working on five key areas related to sepsis:

Increasing sepsis awareness by engaging clinical professional organizations and patient advocates.
Aligning infection prevention, chronic disease management, and appropriate antibiotic use to promote early recognition of sepsis.
Studying risk factors for sepsis that can guide focused prevention and early recognition.
Developing tracking for sepsis to measure impact of successful interventions.
Preventing infections that may lead to sepsis by promoting vaccination programs, chronic disease management, infection prevention, and appropriate antibiotic use.

To read the entire Vital Signs report visit: www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/sepsis.

For more information on sepsis and CDC’s work visit: www.cdc.gov/sepsis.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, stem from human error or deliberate attack, CDC is committed to respond to America’s most pressing health challenges.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151116/287595LOGO

HBO Latino To Premiere Star-Studded ‘Habla y Vota’ Special On September 16th

August 23, 2016

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HBO Latino will be premiering its much-anticipated ‘Habla y Vota’ one-hour special on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 7pm ET/6pm CT. It will air in English with Spanish subtitles across all of the channel’s platforms including HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO On Demand, as well as affiliate portals. In this latest iteration of the famed Habla series, Habla y Vota will share compelling and inspiring stories from Latino celebrities and personalities, about the impact of voting on their lives and in our community.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7800852-hbo-latino-habla-y-vota/

“Habla y Vota has captured the art of storytelling in a very personal and potent way. Our amazing celebrities and inspiring personalities have shared intimate tales about their childhood that clearly demonstrate the impact and power of voting. Our hope is that viewers are inspired by their fascinating stories and make their voices heard in the upcoming presidential election,” said Lucinda Martinez, SVP, Multicultural Marketing at HBO.

Stories on ‘Habla y Vota’ include:

Raised in a small town in Texas, where the majority of the Latino voice is conservative, writer, comedian and actor Cristela Alonzo shares her experiences growing up as an immigrant and hopes to disprove allegations that Latinos come to the U.S. to take advantage of the system.

Julissa Arce came to the U.S. on a tourist visa. Though she overstayed her visa, she went on to have a successful career on Wall Street. Julissa, author of “My (Underground) American Dream” is currently a speaker and social justice advocate. She discusses the impact a vote can make on the lives of millions of immigrants.

Broadcast journalist and Telemundo TV personality, Maria Celeste Arraras, discusses the reasons for inactivity by Latino voters and highlights the potential impact the Hispanic community could have in America by participating and voting.

New York-native and host of The Real, Adrienne Bailon, embraces her Latino heritage and reminds us that by voting, we honor those immigrants who have made sacrifices in order to live in this country.

Voto Latino President & CEO Maria Teresa Kumar is a political activist and an influential figure in the Latino community. She understands the need for education and civic engagement among young voters and discusses the untapped power of the Latino vote.

Comedian and actor George Lopez, draws attention to the constant devaluing and underestimating of Latino contributions to the nation and Latinos’ influence in the upcoming elections.

Professor and author, Frances Negron-Muntaner, studies a variety of issues affecting the Latino community, particularly how Latinos are represented in the media. In Habla y Vota, Frances discusses contributions by Hispanics and their impact on today’s society.

Author, journalist and Univision news anchor Jorge Ramos, is a Mexican immigrant. He discusses the importance of the Latino vote in representing and supporting America’s multiculturalism and addresses the persistent issues of discrimination and racism.

Bronx-native, singer and songwriter Prince Royce talks about the importance of inclusiveness and encourages young Latinos to find their voice and to use it in the upcoming elections.

Other featured talent includes Lalo Alcaraz, Jose Arellano, J.W. Cortes, Gabe Gonzalez, Ivana Mena, Jeimy Osorio, and Armando Riesco.

Click HERE To See the Habla y Vota Trailer
Follow us on social media for all updates using #HablayVota

ABOUT HABLA
Launched in 2003, Habla captures the U.S. Latino experience of biculturalism, bilingualism, immigration and more, through funny, poignant and honest stories from notable celebrities, recognized professionals and every day Latinos. Habla is Created and directed by Alberto Ferreras and produced by Trina Bardusco, from Latino Media Works.

ABOUT HBO LATINO
HBO Latino is a dedicated Spanish-language premium channel that delivers compelling and relevant programming to the U.S. Latino market. Exclusive to the channel are the regular U.S. premieres of Spanish-language series, films and documentaries acquired from North America, Latin America, Spain and Caribbean, as well as original short-form programming. Additionally, HBO Latino offers the best Hollywood movies and HBO original programming from the network’s main channel in Spanish. HBO Latino is included free with an HBO subscription. HBO Latino content can also be accessed on HBO On Demand^®, HBO GO^® and HBO NOW^®.

Stay in tune with HBO Latino’s latest news and updates, view compelling video content and get sneak peeks with behind-the-scenes footage from HBO Latino on:

(Español) McDonald’s retira del mercado pulseras de actividad “Step-iT” debido a riesgo de irritación a la piel o quemaduras

August 23, 2016

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1973 and charged with protecting the American public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772, or visit http//:www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Further recall information is available at http://www.cpsc.gov.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

PTM Images Develops Closed-Loop Recycling Production

August 23, 2016

WEST HOLLYWOOD, California, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — PTM Images®, a leading manufacturer of home décor and furnishings, announces the completion of its new polystyrene recycling facility in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. The Styrofoam and plastic material is collected from our U.S. retail customers, diverting the polystyrene out of U.S. Landfills and giving the material a new life. PTM diverts over 50 truckloads of Packaging Material, Coolers, and EPS Food Service containers from being dumped into U.S. landfills.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160822/400259

PTM Images converts the recycled material into Mouldings used in the production of Mirrors, Picture Frames and Wall Décor. PTM on-shored the production of Moulding and integrated this technology into its 300,000 square foot production facility. PTM shifted its supply chain from China to the United States, where the company can utilize over 80% of U.S.-based raw materials.

“Our customer votes everyday with their wallets. Sustainability is extremely important to them. There are clearly solutions for difficult-to-recycle waste streams,” said Jonathan Bass, CEO, PTM Images. “Retailers must provide a solution to reduce their environmental footprint, and PTM partners with our customers to find solutions. The Consumer is rewarding companies and retailers that honestly put our planet first.”

PTM is proud of the meaningful progress it has made in the pursuit of true sustainability by implementing a system in which waste materials are utilized in a closed-loop program to create new products. PTM has made strides in reducing the waste it emits through reducing its consumption of energy, water, minimizing waste, and creating a healthier and more efficient factory environment. PTM believes this will ultimately lead to improved efficiency and a competitive advantage for our customers.

About PTM Images:

Established in 1995, PTM Images focuses on hospitality and home décor, and owns the largest home décor production facility in North America. PTM operates a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility in Mexico, a distribution center in Arizona, and has corporate offices and a showroom in the Pacific Design Center, West Hollywood – the hub of trending art and design. Its manufacturing facility gives PTM an advantage to produce high quality products utilizing efficient turnaround timing and high quality materials. PTM’s cutting-edge U.S., French and Italian robotic machinery and dedicated team enable the company to manufacture high quality products for numerous hospitality clients, interior designers and high-end retailers around the world.

No Southwest Effect for Travel to the United States

August 23, 2016

DALLAS, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FareCompare.com has released a second set of findings based on a comprehensive analysis of the Southwest Effect in new international routes. The study reveals that while consumers traveling to the U.S. did experience the Southwest Effect initially, those average lowest fares have since increased, returning to the levels they were prior to Southwest’s foray into those markets.

“Our latest study shows that Southwest Effect did not stick for travelers flying from the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America to the United States,” said Rick Seaney, CEO and co-founder of FareCompare. “Travelers there saw some initial benefit from increased competition, but fares to the U.S. from these markets have steadily increased in the first half of 2016 and will likely continue to do so in the near future.”

This conclusion contrasts with the first wave of analysis on the Southwest Effect conducted by the FareCompare team, released in April 2016. That study reported fares from the U.S. to international destinations now served by Southwest dropping 25%. In ensuing months, FareCompare data shows that percentage remained consistent.

“The news remains good for U.S. travelers looking for deals on getaways to places like Jamaica, Belize, Costa Rica and Mexico,” Seaney said.

The new report on the Southwest Effect is available at www.farecompare.com/southwesteffect.

The Methodology:

FareCompare analyzes more than 24 billion itineraries daily to find the lowest available prices on existing flights. For this project, the team analyzed data from the first quarter of 2015 through the second quarter of 2016 from the following origin cities: Belize City, Cancun, Liberia (Costa Rica), Mexico City, Montego Bay (Jamaica), Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo (Mexico) and San Jose (Costa Rica).

When that analysis was completed, flights were then priced from those origins to these destination cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver, Houston, New York and Washington, D.C.

Fares were compared for these airlines: Aeromar, Aeromexico, Alaska, Frontier, Interjet, JetBlue, Spirit, Sun Country, Tropic Air and Virgin America. Delta was not included, nor was Southwest which only releases prices on its Web site.

The first analysis compared 72,847 airfare searches the first quarter 2015 with 249,911 airfare searches in the first quarter of 2016 to determine if baseline price changes had occurred. The second analysis compared a total of 1,411,990 airfare searches from January 2015 through June 2016, using the same filters applied to the first analysis.

Other factors included in the collected data:

Non-stops and one-stop flights
Round-trip fares only
Length of stay: Between 4 and 14 days
Point of Sale: Outside the U.S.
Advance purchase: Between 14 and 34 days

The Findings:

During the first three months of 2015 the average lowest price across markets in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America on the aforementioned carriers was $605. In the second quarter of 2015 average lowest prices across these markets decreased $50 to $555 as the impact of Spirit Airlines service across these markets was felt. JetBlue also expanded service from Liberia, Montego Bay and San Jose while Aeromexico added service from Mexico City to multiple U.S. markets.

In the third quarter of 2015, average lowest prices continued to decline to $533. Major U.S. carriers American, US Airways (before its merger with American) and United along with smaller airlines and low cost carriers all lowered prices. Spirit and Frontier were the trendsetters with average lowest prices for this quarter of $449 and $454, respectively – undercutting the across-the-board average of $533 by approximately 16%.

In the last three months of 2015, average lowest prices rose to $572, likely reflecting holiday demand. While average lowest prices for JetBlue stalled at $459, Spirit and Frontier decreased to $427 and $341, respectively.

While the average lowest price dropped slightly from the last quarter of 2015 to the first quarter of 2016 to $564, it jumped back up to $603 in the second quarter of 2016, approaching the $605 price point of the first quarter of 2015. During this quarter, Frontier retrenched to Cancun origins only, while American prices rose to $552, the highest seen for this period of analysis. Alaska has the highest average lowest fare at a whopping $1,176, while Spirit and JetBlue hold the low positions at $444 and $479, respectively.

“The analysis over this 18-month period could actually make the case for The Spirit, Frontier or JetBlue Effect,” Seaney added. “Regardless, this research cements the importance of competition for consumers regardless of the origin destination.”

The research project was led by Dr. James C. Stone, Ph.D., Lead Data Scientist at FareCompare, supported by Anne McDermott, Editor and the entire analytics and communications team at FareCompare. The team continues to analyze this data to determine how shoppers can get the best deals and will provide updates on the findings in the near future.

About FareCompare

Headquartered in Dallas, FareCompare makes shopping for airfare easy and simple by comparing currently available fares from a wide variety of sources through one simple search. The company’s multiple products allow customers across the world to keep track of their favorite destinations and specific travel dates, plus find great low price deals that are not publicized through its best-in-class deal detection algorithms. FareCompare.com is the trusted source of 6 million global users every month.

Media Contact: Joel Frey, [email protected] (972) 588-1432 or (214) 695-1987

New Research Shows Nearly Half of American Parents Underestimate the Harm of School Absences

August 23, 2016

NEW YORK, Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A student who misses just two days of school each month — 18 days total in the year — is considered to be chronically absent. However, many parents don’t realize that, even when excused or understandable, absences add up and can greatly impact a child’s education. In the United States, more than 6 million children are chronically absent from school each year.

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New research released today by the Ad Council found that an overwhelming majority (86%) of parents understand their child’s school attendance plays a big role in helping them graduate from high school. However, nearly half (49%) of parents believe that it is okay for their children to miss three or more days of school per month – and that they won’t fall behind academically if they do. In reality, missing just two days of school per month makes children more likely to fall behind and less likely to graduate.

To combat chronic absenteeism, the U.S. Department of Education, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, and the Ad Council have partnered to create a public service campaign, Absences Add Up. The campaign features a series of digital and out of home PSAs that drive parents to AbsencesAddUp.org. On the website, parents are empowered with information and resources to help ensure their children attend school each day.

“A good education provides the best pathway to opportunity,” said Mott Foundation President Ridgway White. “But to succeed in school, students have to be in school. That’s why we’re pleased to support a campaign that will help families and communities keep kids in the classroom.”

Absences Add Up is part of the My Brother’s Keeper Every Student, Every Day initiative, a broad effort to combat chronic absenteeism led by the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice. The initiative calls on states and local communities across the country to join in taking immediate action to address and eliminate chronic absenteeism by at least 10% each year, beginning with the current school year.

“Ensuring kids actually make it to school is a vital part of leveling the playing field. Just missing a couple of days of school a month can mean the difference between dropping out and graduating on time. Absences add up. That’s why eliminating chronic absenteeism is a critical part of our work at the federal, state, and local level to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed,” U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.

One third of parents surveyed in the new Ad Council survey say they could do more to ensure that their child attends school every day. There are many reasons why students miss school when there are resources available to help. Some are struggling in the classroom, while others may be having trouble with bullies or dealing with challenges at home.

“Many parents don’t realize that absences can add up quickly and make children more likely to fall behind quickly in the classroom,” said Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council. “The Absences Add Up campaign gives parents the proper information they need to understand the true impact of school absences and the tools they need to set their children up for long-term success.”

Children who are chronically absent in preschool, kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read on grade level by the third grade. Students who cannot read at grade level by the third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.

The Absences Add Up campaign directs parents and community members to AbsencesAddUp.org, where they can find information about the importance of school attendance and resources to learn how to help children who are struggling in school, being bullied, managing chronic illness or dealing with mental health challenges. The site also provides parents with resources to assist with caregiving, housing and food challenges. For teachers, community leaders, after school programs, and mentoring partners, there is information about how to encourage school attendance and resources to help address issues like poor grades, bullying, and family challenges that cause children to miss school when they don’t have to.

The Ad Council survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs in June 2016. Ipsos surveyed more than 1,000 parents of children ages 6-13 to capture key attitudes regarding their children’s school attendance.

Ad Council
The Ad Council is a private, non-profit organization with a rich history of marshaling volunteer talent from the advertising and media industries to deliver critical messages to the American public. Having produced literally thousands of PSA campaigns addressing the most pressing social issues of the day, the Ad Council has affected, and continues to affect, tremendous positive change by raising awareness, inspiring action, and saving lives. To learn more about the Ad Council and its campaigns, visit www.adcouncil.org, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or view our PSAs on YouTube.

My Brother’s Keeper
President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper in February of 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. In response to the President’s call to action, nearly 250 local municipalities in all 50 states have accepted the MBK Community Challenge.

U.S. Department of Education
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr’s top priorities for this year have been promoting equity and excellence at every level of education to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed; supporting and lifting up the teaching profession; and continuing the Department’s focus on returning America to the top of the rankings in college completion by ensuring more students earn an affordable degree with real value.

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, established in 1926 in Flint, Michigan, by an automotive pioneer, is a private philanthropy committed to supporting projects that promote a just, equitable and sustainable society. With year-end assets of approximately $2.7 billion in 2015, the Foundation made 400 grants totaling more than $119 million. As a longtime funder of community education and afterschool programs, the Foundation considers education an important pathway to opportunity. Through its work with the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative and the Absences Add Up campaign, Mott believes afterschool leaders can help schools connect and partner with parents to build good attendance habits that will benefit children throughout their lives.

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