Kelley Blue Book Names 16 Best Family Cars Of 2016

February 4, 2016

IRVINE, California, Feb. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The vehicles deemed the 16 Best Family Cars of 2016 were announced today by Kelley Blue Book, www.kbb.com, the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. After extensive testing and evaluation, with a keen focus on safety, comfort, convenience, spaciousness for both passengers and cargo, and fit of various rear-facing and forward-facing child safety car seats, the KBB.com expert editors recommend their choices for a diverse group of vehicles that best meet the needs of today’s modern families.

Experience the interactive Multimedia News Release here: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7748351-kelley-blue-book-best-family-cars-2016/

“For two weeks’ time we drove, lived-with, folded-down-seats-of, paired-phones-to and installed-baby-seats-in each and every one of the contenders,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst of Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “We loaded cargo, contorted ourselves into third rows, watched movies on rear-seat screens, toted rowing teams to marinas – in short, we did everything that you and your family might do with a vehicle day-to-day. And we did all this with a certain sense of what a family needs and wants, since many of our testers are simultaneously parents of kids ranging from mid-twenties to newborn. So this wasn’t just a cursory exercise, but instead it drew heavily upon our family-car experiences, needs and wants.”

After extensively testing two dozen Best Family Cars finalists, the KBB.com editors decided upon a list of 16 vehicles that they feel are befitting the title Kelley Blue Book Best Family Cars of 2016. While 16 might seem like a high number, the goal is that these vehicles can be divided into logical subsets that will make each family’s new-car shopping much easier. The list contains three minivans, six sedans, three two-row crossover/SUVs and four three-row SUVs.

Kelley Blue Book’s 16 Best Family Cars of 2016

Vehicle Type	Year	Make	Model	Model’s Best Family Car Highlights
Sedan	2016	Honda	Civic	All-around great car, KBB.com’s Overall Best Buy of 2016, generous standard equipment, loads of safety features, cool new redesign.
Sedan	2016	Honda	Accord	Roomy, high-quality interior, added style and safety from recent refresh, solid drivetrain, good economy.
Sedan	2016	Kia	Optima	KBB.com’s Midsize Car Best Buy of 2016, stylish, feature-packed, family friendly.
Sedan	2016	Chevrolet	Malibu	All-new redesign, additional safety and efficiency, comfortable and accommodating interior makes it easy to stay connected.
Sedan	2016	Chevrolet	Impala	Roomy cabin and trunk, technologically sophisticated, contemporary looks, multiple drivetrain choices.
Sedan	2016	Hyundai	Sonata	Value pricing and class-leading warranty combined with solid resale value and refinement all can take on class leaders.
Two-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Honda	HR-V	All-new nameplate in hot segment, surprisingly roomy second row, great for a small family in the city.
Two-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Honda	CR-V	Versatile, enjoyable and practical, makes excellent use of space, one of the roomiest small SUVs available, enviable resale value.
Two-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Subaru	Outback	Outstanding room for both passengers and cargo, benefits of both wagon and SUV, excellent AWD and capable off-roading abilities provide peace of mind.
Minivan	2016	Kia	Sedona	Style and function, modern interior, impressive available safety features at affordable price, less bulky feel compared to other minivans.
Minivan	2016	Honda	Odyssey	Unparalleled combination of flexibility, seating, on-road dynamics and features, Wide Mode easily fits three car seats across second row.
Minivan	2016	Toyota	Sienna	Versatile, flexible, capable, only minivan to offer optional AWD, high resale value and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for minivans.
Three-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Nissan	Pathfinder	Available around-view monitor, no child seat hassle with EZ Flex & Glide system, pitch-perfect on the road.
Three-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Toyota	Highlander	Solid combination of comfort, quality, space and convenience features, unsurpassed level of powertrain choice.
Three-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Honda	Pilot	Totally redesigned, “the family-friendliest midsize SUV in existence,” sophisticated suite of available driving technologies, all-star accommodations.
Three-Row Crossover/SUV	2016	Chevrolet	Tahoe	Truck-based SUV offers towing and off-roading capabilities, recent redesign, various connectivity features, carries up to nine people and gear.

In addition, all-new for the 2016 KBB.com Best Family Cars list, this year the editors took specific notes about how three different types of child safety car seats (a rear-facing infant seat, a convertible seat that can be installed either rear-facing or forward-facing, as well as a forward-facing booster seat) fit specifically into each of the vehicles on this year’s list. This section details helpful information for parents who have children of car-seat age (which typically is from birth through the elementary school years), including ease of installation, how leg room and passenger fit is affected in each vehicle when using various types of car seats, and more.

The KBB.com editors extensively tested 24 potential Best Family Cars contenders for 2016 over a two-week period. Runners-up for this year’s KBB.com Best Family Cars list included the 2016 Ford F-150, 2016 Ford Explorer, 2016 Hyundai Tucson, 2016 Kia Soul, 2016 Ram 1500, 2016 Subaru Crosstrek, 2016 Toyota Avalon and 2016 Toyota Camry.

For more information about Kelley Blue Book’s 16 Best Family Cars of 2016 winners and for additional details about this year’s runners-up, please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/best-family-cars-2016/.

To discuss this topic or any other automotive-related information with a Kelley Blue Book analyst on-camera via the company’s on-site studio, please contact a member of the Public Relations team to book an interview.

For more information and news from Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, visit www.kbb.com/media/, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kelleybluebook (or @kelleybluebook), like our page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kbb, and get updates on Google+ at https://plus.google.com/+kbb.

About Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com)
Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource^®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the automotive industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website KBB.com, including its famous Blue Book^® Trade-In Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new and used cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies, and governmental agencies. Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com ranked highest in its category for brand equity by the 2015 Harris Poll EquiTrend^® study and has been named Online Auto Shopping Brand of the Year for four consecutive years. Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. is a Cox Automotive company.

Media Contacts:

Chintan Talati
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Joanna Pinkham
404-568-7135
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Brenna Robinson
949-267-4781
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Michelle Behar
949-268-4259
[email protected]

FIBRA Prologis Declares Quarterly Distribution

February 3, 2016

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — FIBRA Prologis (BMV: FIBRAPL 14), Mexico’s leading owner and operator of Class-A industrial real estate, today declared a cash distribution of Ps. 308.3 million (US$ 16.8 million), or Ps. 0.4859 per Certificado Bursátil Fiduciario Inmobiliario (“CBFI”) (US$ 0.0265 per CBFI) related to the results of the quarter ending December 31, 2015.

The distribution is payable February 12, 2016 to CBFI holders with an ex-dividend date of February 9, 2016 and a record date of February 11, 2016.

FIBRA Prologis has declared quarterly distributions, as return of capital, for an aggregate of Ps. 1.1 billion (US$ 63.4 million), Ps. 1.6692 per CBFI (US$ 0.1000 per CBFI), related to the results of the full year ending December 31, 2015 and represents a 12 percent increase in dollar terms over the annualized 2014 distributions.

ABOUT FIBRA PROLOGIS
FIBRA Prologis is the leading owner and operator of Class-A industrial real estate in Mexico. As of December 31, 2015, FIBRA Prologis was comprised of 188 logistics and manufacturing facilities in six industrial markets in Mexico totaling 32.6 million square feet (3.0 million square meters) of gross leasable area.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the industry and markets in which FIBRA Prologis operates, management’s beliefs and assumptions made by management. Such statements involve uncertainties that could significantly impact FIBRA Prologis financial results. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future — including statements relating to rent and occupancy growth, acquisition activity, development activity, disposition activity, general conditions in the geographic areas where we operate, our debt and financial position, are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Although we believe the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be attained and therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Some of the factors that may affect outcomes and results include, but are not limited to: (i) national, international, regional and local economic climates, (ii) changes in financial markets, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, (iii) increased or unanticipated competition for our properties, (iv) risks associated with acquisitions, dispositions and development of properties, (v) maintenance of real estate investment trust (“FIBRA”) status and tax structuring, (vi) availability of financing and capital, the levels of debt that we maintain and our credit ratings, (vii) risks related to our investments (viii) environmental uncertainties, including risks of natural disasters, and (ix) those additional factors discussed in reports filed with the “Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores” and the Mexican Stock Exchange by FIBRA Prologis under the heading “Risk Factors.” FIBRA Prologis undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements appearing in this release.

Non-Solicitation – Any securities discussed herein or in the accompanying presentations, if any, have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws. Any such announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities discussed herein or in the presentations, if and as applicable.

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(Español) National Hispanic Media Coalition, Univision y Televisa inician oficialmente una nueva alianza para programas de diversidad para latinos en el sector de medios y tecnología

February 3, 2016

De izquierda a derecha: Axel Caballero, Leon Krauze Dra. Linda Lopez, Roberto Llamas, Alicia Lebrija, Gil Cedillo, y Alex Nogales.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

(Español) La CPSC y Walmart anuncian asociación bajo campaña Piscina segura, diversión asegurada para ayudar a familias a tener más seguridad en y cerca de piscinas y spas

February 3, 2016

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

(Español) Cinco consejos para viajar a los Estados Unidos con medicamentos

February 3, 2016

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Cal/OSHA Reminder to Employers: Post Annual Work-Related Injury and Illness Summaries

February 3, 2016

OAKLAND, California, Jan. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/– Cal/OSHA is reminding all employers in California of the yearly requirement to post their summaries of work-related injuries and illnesses from February 1 through April 30.

“These summaries help increase awareness and understanding of health and safety issues in the workplace,” said Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum. “By addressing potential safety hazards now, employers can help make next year’s list shorter.”

The definitions of and requirements for recordable work-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses are detailed in California Code of Regulations Title 8 Sections 14300 through 14300.48.

Instructions and form templates can be downloaded for free on Cal/OSHA’s Record Keeping Overview. The overview includes the summary template, Form 300A, a required workplace posting which must be placed in a visible and easily accessible area at each worksite. Current and former employees, as well as employee representatives, must be allowed to review injury and illness records for those employees’ worksites.

Employers are required to complete and post Form 300A even if no workplace injuries occurred. More information on employers’ posting requirements or how to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses is available on the DIR’s Employer Information webpage.

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

Employees with work-related questions or complaints may call the California Workers’ Information Hotline at (866) 924-9757 for recorded information in English and Spanish on a variety of work-related topics. Complaints can also be filed confidentially with Cal/OSHA District Offices.

For media inquiries contact Julia Bernstein at (510) 286-6458 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.

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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. Non-media inquiries can contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

MassMutual FutureSmart(SM) Challenge to Visit Five Cities

February 3, 2016

SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — More middle school students around the U.S. will have a chance to get smart about money as Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company’s (MassMutual) FutureSmart Challenge continues with its latest cross-country tour. Now in its third year, the FutureSmart Challenge will visit five cities and reach an additional 10,000 students across the country this year. The tour started in Miami, FL with nearly 3,000 middle school students and continued in Oakland, CA with more than 1,500 Bay Area students last week.

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MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge is a national program that provides financial education to middle school students with the goal of empowering and challenging young leaders to take positive steps toward a successful career and financial security for themselves, their families and their communities. The exciting interactive event is held in collaboration with select NBA teams, followed by Junior Achievement curriculum in participants’ classrooms during the school year.

“With 25,000 students already FutureSmart, we are thrilled to continue with our third year of the Challenge and further our mission of inspiring young leaders to take charge of their education, plan for their future and learn to manage their finances,” said Nick Fyntrilakis, Vice President, Community Responsibility, MassMutual.

MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge is hosted by award-winning actor and New York Times best-selling author Hill Harper.

Harper strives to engage participating middle school students and teach them tangible, memorable financial knowledge. At each event, students will learn:

What it costs to survive, live and thrive
The impact of education and career on income
What you spend your money on matters, highlighting the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’
How you pay for things matters, highlighting the costs of consumer debt
The importance of saving and the power of time, highlighting the concept of compound interest

“I believe my partnership with MassMutual is transformational. Financial education is so important for everyone, especially young students who have the added benefit of time to help them cultivate solid financial footing,” said Harper. “I’m excited to be a part of MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge because we’re inspiring young people to live up to their potential by valuing higher education and making smart financial decisions from the start. I truly believe the MassMutual FutureSmart Challenge can change not only individual lives, but families, schools and communities.”

At each event, students hear from NBA legends and players who share their opinions on education, careers and finances. The NBA teams’ dunk squads, cheerleaders, dance teams, and mascots also provide engaging entertainment.

Following the events, students who participated will be taught Junior Achievement classroom curriculum led by local MassMutual representatives and Junior Achievement affiliate volunteers. Their families also have the opportunity to apply for coverage through MassMutual’s LifeBridge^SM Free Life Insurance Program, which provides free $50,000 term life insurance to income-eligible parents and guardians.

MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge schedule:

January 20, 2016, Miami, FL – AmericanAirlines Arena
January 27, 2016, Oakland, CA – Oracle Center
February 9, 2016, Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Arena (third visit)
February 16, 2016, Charlotte, NC – Time Warner Cable Arena
April 11, 2016, Boston, MA – TD Garden (second visit)

Since its inception in 2014, MassMutual’s FutureSmart Challenge has reached 25,000 students and visited 12 cities including Dallas, Los Angeles and Chicago.

For more information, please visit http://www.massmutual.com/futuresmartchallenge.

About MassMutual

Founded in 1851, MassMutual is a leading mutual life insurance company that is run for the benefit of its members and participating policyowners. The company has a long history of financial strength and strong performance, and although dividends are not guaranteed, MassMutual has paid dividends to eligible participating policyowners consistently since the 1860s. With whole life insurance as its foundation, MassMutual provides products to help meet the financial needs of clients, such as life insurance, disability income insurance, long term care insurance, retirement/401(k) plan services, and annuities. In addition, the company’s strong and growing network of financial professionals helps clients make good financial decisions for the long-term.

MassMutual Financial Group is a marketing name for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and its affiliated companies and sales representatives. MassMutual is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts and its major affiliates include: Babson Capital Management LLC; Baring Asset Management Limited; Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers LLC; The First Mercantile Trust Company; MassMutual International LLC; MML Investors Services, LLC, Member FINRA and SIPC; OppenheimerFunds, Inc.; and The MassMutual Trust Company, FSB.

For more information, visit www.massmutual.com or find MassMutual on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Google+.

CONTACT:
Laura DeMars
413-744-7181
[email protected]

Texas home sales and prices reach all-time high in 2015, hold steady in fourth quarter

February 3, 2016

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 1, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Texas home sales and home prices reached all-time highs in 2015, capping off another strong year for Texas real estate, according to the 2015-Q4 Texas Quarterly Housing Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors.

“Texas has enjoyed four straight years of booming real estate growth and record-high housing demand,” said Leslie Rouda Smith, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “While 2016 might not turn out to be another record year for Texas real estate, housing demand will likely remain strong and home prices will likely continue to rise over the next year. Four years of housing inventory shortages have created a backlog of housing demand across the state – particularly in Texas’s metro areas.”

According to the report, 70,150 homes were sold in Texas in the fourth quarter of 2015, a 0.3 percent increase from the same quarter of 2014. Throughout 2015, Texas home sales rose 4.1 percent from 2014 to 309,090 home sales. This is the first time that annual Texas home sales have topped 300,000.

Texas home prices continued to climb steadily in the fourth quarter and throughout 2015. In 2015-Q4, the median price for Texas homes was $195,000, a 5.5 percent increase from the same quarter of the previous year. While the median price for Texas homes reached $200,000 in summer 2015, this is the highest annual median price figure in the history of Texas real estate.

Housing inventory rose slightly throughout 2015, ending the fourth quarter of 2015 at 3.4 months compared to 3.1 months in the same quarter the previous year. The Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University estimates that a monthly housing inventory between 6.0 and 6.5 months is a level at which the supply and demand for homes is balanced.

Jim Gaines, Ph.D., chief economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, explained, “Falling oil prices and drilling activity are just beginning to significantly impact the Texas real estate market. The full effects have yet to be seen. However, the decline of the energy sector could add much-needed housing stock to the market, filling labor shortages in the homebuilding industry and helping the Texas housing market move towards a more balanced market for buyers and sellers.”

Active listings statewide rose 12.8 percent year-over-year to 86,976 active listings in 2015-Q4. Texas homes also continued to spend less time on the market. In 2015-Q4, Texas homes spent an average of 60 days on the market, a decrease of four days compared to the same quarter of the prior year.

Chairman Smith concluded, “Texas’s future as a great place to live, work and do business is dependent upon having local and state leaders who are committed to finding lasting solutions to address our growing state’s needs. As the 2016 Texas primary elections approach, the Texas Association of Realtors will be actively supporting candidates who are committed to protecting the rights of private-property owners, supporting small businesses and maintaining a strong economy.”

About the Texas Quarterly Housing Report
Data for the Texas Quarterly Housing Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among local REALTOR® associations and their MLSs, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, and the Texas Association of REALTORS®. The report provides quarterly real estate sales data from a statewide perspective and for 25 metropolitan statistical areas in Texas. It is scheduled for release by the Texas Association of REALTORS® on the following dates each year (or the next business day): Feb. 1, May 1, Aug. 1 and Nov. 1. To view the 2015-Q4 report in its entirety, visit TexasRealEstate.com.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 100,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

CONTACT: Danielle Urban
Pierpont Communications
512-448-4950
[email protected]

The Makers Of CÎROC™ Ultra Premium Vodka Toasts To The 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards® For Second Year As Official Sponsor

February 3, 2016

NEW YORK, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CÎROC™ Ultra Premium announced today that it has been named the “Official vodka of the 58^th Annual GRAMMY Awards®,” building off of the brand’s involvement in last year’s most coveted weekend in music. CÎROC™ Ultra Premium commemorates its continued GRAMMYs® partnership with a tribute to the “ultimate collaborations”. Throughout the week leading up to the awards presentation, the brand will engage with fans, offering them the chance to experience the union of the music and the liquid, via exclusive event activations and social media engagement.

CÎROC(TM) ULTRA PREMIUM VODKA TOASTS TO THE 58th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS(R) FOR SECOND YEAR AS OFFICIAL SPONSOR

“Music is a powerful force that connects us all – and the best music is fueled by passion, creativity and collaboration. The GRAMMY Awards® recognizes the best of the best in music,” said Sean “Diddy” Combs, Chairman of Combs Enterprises. “And CÎROC is honored to partner with the GRAMMY Awards to make the most of this year’s phenomenal partnership.”

To kick off the celebration, CÎROC™ Ultra Premium, in partnership with the GRAMMYs® will introduce the world to the “What We’re Made Of” video series. The episodes will feature GRAMMY-nominated talent sharing their personal stories about their road to the GRAMMYs, which partnerships and collaborations helped them reach their goals and what lies ahead for them beyond awards seasons. The episodes will run on grammy.com.

The program continues as CÎROC toasts to excellence in audio at The Recording Academy’s 9^th Annual Producers & Engineers Wing GRAMMY Week Celebration honoring Rick Rubin, iconic producer and master of creating the ultimate in collaborations, on Thursday, February 11. In addition to innovative food and beverage pairings, guests will be invited to enjoy the marriage of music and CÎROC™ Ultra Premium in a deluxe, interactive photo experience to help capture the magic of the evening.

As part of the maker of CÎROC™ Ultra Premium’s commitment to responsible celebrations, they have partnered with Uber to help provide safe rides to P&E Wing event attendees. Guests can enjoy a $10 discount per Uber ride redeemed through the P&E Wing event code.

CÎROC™ Ultra Premium will also have a presence at Delta Airlines’ VIP Gifting Suite immediately prior to their Sites & Sounds Event, the Los Angeles Confidential GRAMMY Celebration with Mark Ronson, Clive Davis’ and The Recording Academy’s Pre-GRAMMY Gala/Salute to Industry Icons and behind-the-scenes during the GRAMMYs Live Telecast.

Guests attending events at the 58^th Annual GRAMMY Awards (along with viewers at home) will be invited to try one of the featured cocktails including the GRAMMY 58, Rising Star and the Rose Gold (recipes below).

CÎROC™ Ultra Premium 58^th Annual GRAMMY Awards Cocktails

GRAMMY 58
CÎROC’s spin on the French 75
2 oz Cîroc Vodka
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.75 oz Simple Syrup
Prosecco
Garnish: lemon twist and curl
Preparation: Add the CÎROC Vodka, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup into a shaker tin. Ice, shake and strain into a champagne flute, top with prosecco. Garnish with a lemon Twist (curled)
Tools: Shaker tins, strainer
Glassware: Champagne flute

Rising Star
1.5 oz Cîroc Vodka
1.5 oz Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
.75 oz Fresh Lime Juice
.5 oz Ginger Syrup
Garnish: Crystalized Ginger on a pick
Preparation: Add the CÎROC Vodka, unsweetened cranberry juice, fresh lime juice and ginger syrup into a shaker tin. Ice, shake and strain into a rocks glass with ice. Garnish with a piece of crystalized ginger
Glassware: Rocks glass
Tools: Shaker tins, strainer

Rose Gold
1.5 oz Cîroc Peach
.75 oz Amontadillo Sherry
.25 oz Acacia Honey Syrup (2 cups of Acacia Honey, 1 cup of warm water, shake vigorously)
Garnish: lemon twist (discarded)
Preparation: Add all ingredients into a mixing glass. Ice and stir to dilution. Julep strain into a cocktail coupe, squeeze the lemon twist and discard the peel, no garnish
Glassware: Champagne coupe
Tools: Stirring spoon, mixing glass, julep strainer

Just in time for the music awards season, CÎROC has also just launched a new commercial this week promoting its latest flavor variant, Apple, featuring “Love and Happiness” performed by 8-time GRAMMY winner, Al Green. The spot will air throughout the month of February on a variety of network and cable stations. The newly released CÎROC Apple commercial brings to life the alluring and seductive nature of the freshest variant.

The makers of CÎROC™ Ultra Premium would like to remind music enthusiasts to celebrate responsibly.

ABOUT CÎROC™ ULTRA PREMIUM

CÎROC™ Ultra Premium is made from Fine French grapes, which are distilled five times, providing a crisp, clean taste and citrus nose. CÎROC™ Ultra Premium launched nationwide in January 2003. In October 2007, DIAGEO – the world’s largest spirits and beer company – made spirits history by entering into a strategic alliance with entertainment entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs, in which Mr. Combs and Combs Enterprises assumed the lead on all brand management activities for CÎROC™. The infused Vodka flavors in the portfolio to date include CÎROC™ RED BERRY, CÎROC™ COCONUT, CÎROC™ PEACH, CÎROC™ AMARETTO, CÎROC™ PINEAPPLE and CÎROC™ APPLE in addition to CÎROC TEN™ Vodka. The brand received a 2013 Beverage Industry News Award of Excellence, was named 2011 Spirits Brand of the Year by Market Watch, and earned a double gold medal from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2010.

ABOUT COMBS ENTERPRISES

COMBS ENTERPRISES is a diversified holding company containing the businesses and investments of mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.” Established in 2013, with headquarters in New York and Los Angeles, the company operates a vast corporate enterprise across music, fashion, fragrance, beverage, marketing, film, television, and media properties which include the following brands and companies: Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group, Sean John, Combs Wine & Spirits, Aquahydrate, The Blue Flame Agency, REVOLT Films and REVOLT MEDIA & TV.

Media Contact:

Miranda Gooding
Ogilvy Public Relations
310-795-3605
[email protected]

Alisa Jacobs
Diageo
646-223-2229
[email protected]

Ryan Stender
Blue Flame Agency
917-449-2447
[email protected]

Celebrate Life Responsibly.

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American Lung Association “State of Tobacco Control 2016” Report Finds California Failing in Efforts to Reduce Tobacco-Caused Death and Disease

February 3, 2016

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Once a national leader in tobacco control efforts, California continues to fall behind other states in protecting its residents from the burden of tobacco according to the 14^th annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control 2016 report released today. Despite an historic opportunity in the California Legislature last year, state lawmakers failed yet again to enact tobacco control policies that would save lives and reduce the $18 billion in annual health care costs due to smoking.

The State of Tobacco Control 2016 report tracks yearly progress on key tobacco control policies at the federal and state levels, assigning grades based on whether laws are adequately protecting citizens from the enormous toll tobacco use takes on lives and the economy. While California earned a B for its smokefree air policies, the state received an F for its low tobacco taxes, an F for failing to sufficiently fund tobacco prevention and control programs, and an F for poor coverage of smoking cessation and treatment services.

“California must take stronger action to save lives and end the scourge of tobacco related death and disease,” said Olivia J. (Gertz) Diaz-Lapham, President and CEO, American Lung Association in California. “The single best way to do this is by increasing our low tobacco tax, which ranks 35th in the country. This will save lives and prevent our children from becoming the next generation hooked on tobacco.”

The Lung Association and its partners continue to call for immediate action by all levels of government to achieve three bold goals: reduce smoking rates currently at about 18 percent to less than 10 percent by 2024; protect all Americans from secondhand smoke by 2019 and; ultimately eliminate the death and disease caused by tobacco use.

In conjunction with the national report, the American Lung Association in California released its State of Tobacco Control 2016 – California Local Grades report, which issues grades for all 482 cities and 58 counties in California on local tobacco control policies. Grades are awarded in three categories: Smokefree Outdoor Air, Smokefree Housing, and Reducing Sales of Tobacco Products. Bonus points are provided in the Emerging Issues category. To view the complete California report, visit www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/california2016.

Despite the lack of action at the state level, this year’s California Local Grades report finds that more than 80 California municipalities took steps to improve their grades – double the number from last year and the largest increase in adopted policies since the first publication of this report.

In addition, more than 200 communities have stepped up to regulate the sale and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as tobacco products. The report also shows that six California municipalities are leading the charge to adopt policies restricting sales of flavored tobacco products in response to mounting evidence regarding the likelihood of youth using candy or fruit-flavored tobacco products.

While many communities took significant action to improve their tobacco control policies, a total of 307 cities and counties throughout the state (40 percent of all municipalities) did little to nothing and have received an F for their overall tobacco grade.

Tobacco-related deaths are the single, most preventable cause of death in California. More than 16,000 kids start smoking each year in the state, and tobacco costs California $18 billion – a tremendous burden that the state cannot afford.

“Nearly a quarter of high school students are using tobacco products, and use of e-cigarettes and little cigars is at an all-time high,” said David Tom Cooke, MD, FCCP, FACS, lung surgeon and member of the American Lung Association in California Governing Board. “It’s not a secret how we can reduce tobacco use. If California is going to make progress in reducing the number one cause of preventable death in the state, it’s clear that raising the tobacco tax and enacting strong tobacco control policies are necessary.”

The American Lung Association in California is part of Save Lives California, a coalition of major health groups working to place a life-saving $2 tobacco tax on the November 2016 ballot. The tax will generate revenue to expand treatment services for Medi-Cal patients with tobacco-related and other illnesses, support existing statewide programs to prevent youth from using tobacco, increase funding for medical research into new treatments and cures for deadly diseases such as cancer and lung disease, and restore California’s leadership in tobacco control efforts.

California has not raised its tobacco tax since 1999 and now ranks 35th in the country at 87 cents per cigarette pack, far behind states like New York, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Oregon and Washington.

“California has a rare opportunity to directly save lives by supporting a tobacco tax to prevent and reduce tobacco use,” said Kristi VandenBosch, Governing Board Member, American Lung Association in California. “As our state remains well behind most others in the country in tobacco taxes, the Lung Association is proud to be a part of the Save Lives California effort. It’s time to take action to protect our kids from the deadly effects of tobacco products.”

About the American Lung Association in California
Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is “Fighting For Air” through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.lung.org/california

Media Contact: Maria Bernabe, (o) 310.735.9184, (c) 818.625.1810, [email protected]

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