Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

January 6, 2016

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Netflix launched its service globally, simultaneously bringing its Internet TV network to more than 130 new countries around the world. The company made the announcement — and the service went live — during a keynote by Co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings at CES 2016.

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“Today you are witnessing the birth of a new global Internet TV network,” said Hastings. “With this launch, consumers around the world — from Singapore to St. Petersburg, from San Francisco to Sao Paulo — will be able to enjoy TV shows and movies simultaneously — no more waiting. With the help of the Internet, we are putting power in consumers’ hands to watch whenever, wherever and on whatever device.”

For one monthly price, members around the world will be able to enjoy Netflix original series including Marvel’s Daredevil and Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Narcos, Sense8, Grace and Frankie, and Marco Polo, as well as a catalog of licensed TV shows and movies. In 2016, the company plans to release 31 new and returning original series, two dozen original feature films and documentaries, a wide range of stand-up comedy specials and 30 original kids series — available at the same time to members everywhere.

While largely available in English in most new countries, Netflix today added Arabic, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese to the 17 languages it already supports.

“From today onwards, we will listen and we will learn, gradually adding more languages, more content and more ways for people to engage with Netflix,” said Hastings. “We’re looking forward to bringing great stories from all over the world to people all over the world.”

Netflix will not yet be available in China, though the company continues to explore options for providing the service. It also won’t be available in Crimea, North Korea and Syria due to U.S. government restrictions on American companies.

Since Netflix launched its streaming service in 2007, the service has expanded globally, first to Canada, then to Latin America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan to include 60 countries.

Netflix is available on virtually any device that has an Internet connection, including personal computers, tablets, smartphones, Smart TVs and game consoles, and automatically provides the best possible streaming quality based on available bandwidth. Many titles, including Netflix original series and films, are available in high-definition with Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound and some in Ultra HD 4K. Advanced recommendation technologies with up to five user profiles help members discover entertainment they’ll love.

Try Netflix for free for one month by signing up at www.netflix.com.

For a full list of countries and territories where Netflix is now available, see here. Photos from the Netflix CES keynote can be downloaded here. A video showcasing Netflix original content is available here.

About Netflix
Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 70 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

For more information, please visit media.netflix.com.

California Legislators Introduce Two Bills to Ban Powdered Alcohol

January 6, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Alcohol Justice is pleased to report the introduction of two bills to ban powdered alcohol in California, and the launching of the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA). “Every year California loses nearly 10,000 lives and over $22 billion dollars to alcohol-related harm,” stated Richard Zaldivar, spokesperson for CAPA and Alcohol Justice. “Powdered alcohol products would add significantly to the danger, especially to young people. Our new statewide alliance, CAPA, is committed to passing these two bills to stop powdered alcohol.”

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California bills AB 1554 (Irwin) and SB 819 (Huff) will create a powerful barrier to a chilling litany of health and safety concerns associated with powdered or crystalline alcohol:

low cost
easy youth access
similar size and shape to nonalcoholic children’s drink packets
potential mixing with a small amount of water to make a single very potent drink
mixing powdered alcohol with beer or alcopops
mixing powdered alcohol with energy drinks or other youth-oriented products
concealment by underage drinkers attending events/locations where alcohol is prohibited
ingestion of the product by snorting, vaping, smoking, or eating
easy theft

“Powdered alcohol is designed for and marketed to those who want to drink illegally,” stated Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks), who introduced the powdered alcohol ban in the Assembly (AB 1554). “Powdered alcohol can be easily concealed, which will make it nearly impossible to control who is drinking and where. We must act now to prevent the public health and safety risks that powdered alcohol will create,” said Irwin.

In March of 2014 Alcohol Justice requested emergency legislative action in California and nation wide in response to the U.S. Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) approval of labels for the powdered alcohol product, Palcohol. The TTB action gave a green light to begin marketing powdered alcohol, wherever legal. Since then, 25 states have permanently banned powdered alcohol. Two states have enacted temporary one-year statutory bans, and three states are regulating it under their existing alcohol statutes.

“Alcohol is already abused by underage kids and drinking responsibly is a challenge for many adults,” said Senator Bob Huff. “Adding powdered alcohol to this potent mix is akin to squirting gasoline on a wildfire. This is a problem that California does not need.”

“Two years ago, when talking about powdered alcohol, New York Senator Chuck Schumer said ‘Palcohol will become the Kool-Aid of teenage binge drinking and it will lead to acute alcohol poisoning and death,’ stated Mihae Jung, Co-Chair of Los Angeles Drug and Alcohol Policy Alliance (LA DAPA). “We agree and the sense of urgency is real. We need California’s elected state leaders to take action this year to keep this public health and safety threat out of California.”

“California already has the largest alcohol industry in the nation. There is no reason to put another form of alcohol on the market, especially a flavored powder that will easily get into the hands of children,” said Kat DeBurgh, MPH, executive director of the Health Officers Association of California. “The time to act is now. Powdered alcohol will harm our communities, and should not be allowed to gain a foothold in California.”

Click here for more information about Powdered Alcohol & CAPA

Click here to TAKE ACTION and send a message of support to California Legislators, Governor Brown, and the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control

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

A New Year And A New Adventure On Discovery en Espanol!

January 6, 2016

MIAMI, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The popular programming block JUEVES DE AVENTURA (#DiscoveryAventura) returns in 2016 with premieres featuring adrenaline-filled situations and challenges in remote and inhospitable habitats, ranging from Alaska’s Chichagof Island and Africa’s Okavango River to the Rupununi Savannah in Guyana. The new programming, which begins on Thursday, January 14, includes the new season of MONSTRUOS DE RÍO as well as new episodes of ALASKA: HOMBRES PRIMITIVOS and SUPERVIVENCIA AL DESNUDO.

Although each series is unique and different, they all share a common thread: ingenious characters with the determination to overcome obstacles and find a means to remain alive, against all odds. Here is a look at the series that make up the exciting premieres of ‘Jueves de Aventura‘:

Monstruos de río – Thursdays at 8PM E/P
For more than 30 years, extreme fisherman and biologist Jeremy Wade has traveled the world in search of strange and terrifying freshwater creatures. In this new season, Jeremy visits Botswana to find the aggressive tigerfish and braves the icy waters of Alaska to test the widely held theory that the local sharks will not attack humans.

Alaska: hombres primitivos – Thursdays at 9PM E/P
The Browns aren’t like other American families. Billy, Ami and their seven children, often likened to a “wolf pack,” prefer to live far from civilization on remote Chichagof Island, where they can go nine months without interacting with other human beings. In these new episodes, the Browns continue their race against the clock to finish building their new house before the harsh winter begins.

Supervivencia al desnudo – Thursdays at 10PM E/P
In each episode of this reality series, a pair of survivalists is left in an extreme natural environment without food, water or clothing. The two must try to survive on their own for 21 days with the aid of just one personal item each. This season, the action takes place in the jungles of Guyana, Belize and Panama.

Fans of the series can find additional material- infographics, fun facts, trivia on the network Facebook page: facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

About Discovery en Español

Discovery en Español connects Spanish-speaking viewers in the U.S. to the world and all its wonder and possibilities. It provides quality programming focusing on bold storytelling across core genres including adventure, ingenuity, natural history, investigation and current affairs. Created by Discovery Communications, Discovery en Español is widely distributed on Hispanic tier packages throughout the country. For more information, please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

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(Español) Goya Foods ofrece Becas de Artes Culinarias por $20,000 a cuatro estudiantes de toda la nación

January 6, 2016

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Carlos Garcia Named to Lead the Heidrick & Struggles Los Angeles Office

January 6, 2016

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Carlos Garcia has been named head of the Los Angeles office of Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of executive search, leadership consulting and culture shaping worldwide. He will continue to be active within the firm’s Supply Chain & Operations Practice and working with clients in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.

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“Carlos is a natural choice to lead the office,” said Ron Lumbra, Americas Regional Managing Partner, Heidrick & Struggles. “His roots in Los Angeles run deep and he is known to clients and colleagues as an astute counselor who understands the firm and issues facing our clients both globally and in California.”

Garcia joined Heidrick & Struggles from a global executive search firm where he served as Senior Client Partner. His specialty is placing functional leaders in Supply Chain and Operations positions.

Garcia began his career with Pfizer in an accelerated leadership development program and then worked as Packaging Manager. Garcia then worked at Booz & Co. in Operations and Manufacturing Strategy leading business transformation programs across the Americas and Europe. He ascended through the organization to become Vice President. Since 2004 Garcia has worked in the retained executive search sector and led searches for leaders in sourcing, procurement, manufacturing and related professions.

Garcia earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Haverford College in Pennsylvania. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University in operations management, marketing and management of organizations. Garcia currently Chairs the Board of Directors of Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and is a member of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) as well as the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP).

About Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) serves the executive talent and leadership needs of the world’s top organizations as a premier provider of leadership consulting, culture shaping and senior-level executive search services. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, the firm serves as a trusted advisor, providing integrated leadership solutions and helping its clients change the world, one leadership team at a time. www.heidrick.com

H&S Media Contact:
Lia Randazzo – +1 312.731.4003,
[email protected]

American Honda Sets New All-Time Annual Sales Record

January 5, 2016

TORRANCE, California, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported all-time record annual sales of 1,586,551 Honda and Acura vehicles for 2015, an increase of 3.0 percent to beat the previous record set in 2007. Honda and Acura truck sales also set a new annual record, gaining 9.7 percent on sales of 770,424. Honda Division sales topped last year`s record to set a new annual mark, rising 2.6 percent on sales of 1,409,386 units. Acura sales totaled 177,165, a 5.6 percent increase for the year and the division’s best result since 2007.

“What better way to celebrate the “Year of Honda” than with an all-time automobile sales record,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of the Automobile Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “We are grateful to our customers who embraced our entire product lineup and are the true power behind the Honda brand.”

Honda

The Honda Division maintained its strong momentum through the end of 2015, grabbing both annual and December all-time records for the second straight year. Core models CR-V, Civic and Accord all finished strong, with CR-V setting a new annual mark, while the Pilot and Odyssey continued to flex sales muscle. The addition of the HR-V to the lineup also helped push the division to new annual heights.

CR-V set a new all-time annual record, gaining 3.2 percent on sales of 345,647 as it maintains its position as best-selling SUV in America.
Core models CR-V, Accord and Civic combined for over 1-million in sales for the third straight year.
In addition to the new annual record, Honda Division sales set a new combined car & truck December mark of 134,070 units, rising 12.2 percent for the month.
Both cars and trucks set individual December records as well. Car sales were up 13.3 percent on sales of 72,839 units, while trucks gained 11.0 percent with sales of 61,681 vehicles.

“While we are excited about the all-time sales record, we continue to have incredible momentum driven by the relentless cadence of new and successful products we introduced in 2015 that will give the Honda brand tremendous energy going into the new year,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “With a similar pace of new products coming this year, we’re anticipating a very robust 2016.”

Acura

The Acura Division enjoyed its best sales year since 2007, with strong performances from both sedans and trucks. The updated RDX set a new record and MDX recorded another year of sales over 50,000, despite limited inventory in last quarter of the year. Sedans also played a key role, with the TLX leading the way to take a larger share of the mid-luxury sedan segment.

One of the hottest players in a hot luxury SUV segment, the Acura RDX set an all-time annual sales record, climbing 13.7 percent on sales of 51,026 vehicles.
MDX exceeded 50,000 sales for the fourth straight year and continues to be the best-selling luxury three-row SUV in America.
TLX sales of 47,080 and a stronger performance from ILX as the gateway to the sedan lineup helped boost Acura sedan sales more than 18 percent in 2015.
Acura enjoyed a fourth consecutive year of sales growth in 2015 with 177,165 vehicles sold, gaining 5.6 percent for the year.
Acura truck sales exceeded 100,000 for the second straight year.

“The Acura brand continues on its steady march, now four years strong— with both our sales and brand power gaining increasing momentum with both trucks and sedans,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura division. “Importantly for our future, Acura sedans continue to gain strength – which will be our critical focus in the next phase of our strategic plan.”

American Honda Vehicle Sales for December 2015
		Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
		December 2015	December 2014	DSR % Change**	MoM % Change	December 2015	December 2014	DSR % Change**	YoY % Change
American Honda Total		150,893	137,281	2.1%	9.9%	1,586,551	1,540,872	2.6%	3.0%
Total Car Sales		78,016	69,802	3.8%	11.8%	816,127	838,521	-3.0%	-2.7%
Total Truck Sales		72,877	67,479	0.3%	8.0%	770,424	702,351	9.3%	9.7%
Honda	Total Car Sales	72,389	63,912	5.2%	13.3%	748,198	781,224	-4.5%	-4.2%
Honda	Total Truck Sales	61,681	55,560	3.1%	11.0%	661,188	591,805	11.4%	11.7%
Acura	Total Car Sales	5,627	5,890	-11.3%	-4.5%	67,929	57,297	18.2%	18.6%
Acura	Total Truck Sales	11,196	11,919	-12.8%	-6.1%	109,236	110,546	-1.5%	-1.2%
Total Domestic Car Sales		74,032	68,911	-0.2%	7.4%	803,167	800,744	-0.0%	0.3%
Honda Division		68,564	63,271	0.6%	8.4%	737,468	753,147	-2.4%	-2.1%
Acura Division		5,468	5,640	-10.0%	-3.0%	65,699	47,597	37.6%	38.0%
Total Domestic Truck Sales		72,877	67,479	0.3%	8.0%	770,419	702,351	9.3%	9.7%
Honda Division		61,681	55,560	3.1%	11.0%	661,183	591,805	11.4%	11.7%
Acura Division		11,196	11,919	-12.8%	-6.1%	109,236	110,546	-1.5%	-1.2%
Total Import Car Sales		3,984	891	315.2%	347.1%	12,960	37,777	-65.8%	-65.7%
Honda Division		3,825	641	454.1%	496.7%	10,730	28,077	-61.9%	-61.8%
Acura Division		159	250	-40.9%	-36.4%	2,230	9,700	-77.1%	-77.0%
Total Import Truck Sales		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	5	0	0.0%	0.0%
Honda Division		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	5	0	0.0%	0.0%
Acura Division		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION
Honda Division Total		134,070	119,472	4.2%	12.2%	1,409,386	1,373,029	2.3%	2.6%
* ACCORD		35,056	31,589	3.0%	11.0%	355,557	388,374	-8.7%	-8.4%
* CIVIC		32,796	25,337	20.2%	29.4%	335,384	325,981	2.6%	2.9%
CR-Z		316	224	31.0%	41.1%	3,073	3,562	-14.0%	-13.7%
FCX CLARITY		2	1	85.7%	100.0%	2	2	-0.3%	0.0%
* FIT		4,197	6,450	-39.6%	-34.9%	52,724	59,340	-11.4%	-11.1%
INSIGHT		22	311	-93.4%	-92.9%	1,458	3,965	-63.3%	-63.2%

CROSSTOUR		613	863	-34.0%	-29.0%	9,104	11,802	-23.1%	-22.9%
* CR-V		31,185	32,369	-10.5%	-3.7%	345,647	335,019	2.8%	3.2%
HR-V		4,737	0	0.0%	0.0%	41,969	0	0.0%	0.0%
ODYSSEY		11,800	10,368	5.7%	13.8%	127,736	122,738	3.7%	4.1%
PILOT		13,344	11,479	7.9%	16.2%	136,212	108,857	24.7%	25.1%
RIDGELINE		2	481	-99.6%	-99.6%	520	13,389	-96.1%	-96.1%

*** Memo: Accord FHEV		222	1,233	-83.3%	-82.0%	11,063	13,977	-21.1%	-20.8%
Memo: Accord PHEV		1	63	-98.5%	-98.4%	64	449	-85.8%	-85.7%
Memo: Civic Hybrid		263	476	-48.7%	-44.7%	4,887	5,070	-3.9%	-3.6%
Memo: Fit EV		0	32	-100.0%	-100.0%	1	407	-99.8%	-99.8%
Acura Division Total		16,823	17,809	-12.3%	-5.5%	177,165	167,843	5.2%	5.6%
ILX		1,960	1,730	5.2%	13.3%	18,531	17,854	3.5%	3.8%
RLX / RL		159	233	-36.6%	-31.8%	2,195	3,413	-35.9%	-35.7%
TL		0	76	-100.0%	-100.0%	88	10,616	-99.2%	-99.2%
TLX		3,508	3,834	-15.0%	-8.5%	47,080	19,127	145.3%	146.1%
TSX		0	17	-100.0%	-100.0%	35	6,287	-99.4%	-99.4%

MDX		6,254	6,761	-14.1%	-7.5%	58,208	65,603	-11.6%	-11.3%
RDX		4,942	5,156	-11.0%	-4.2%	51,026	44,865	13.4%	13.7%
ZDX		0	2	-100.0%	-100.0%	2	78	-97.4%	-97.4%

*** Memo: ILX Hybrid		1	9	-89.7%	-88.9%	23	379	-94.0%	-93.9%
Memo: RLX Hybrid		16	29	-48.8%	-44.8%	250	133	87.4%	88.0%
Memo: TSX Wagon		0	3	-100.0%	-100.0%	2	640	-99.7%	-99.7%
Selling Days		28	26			308	307
**** Hybrid		841	2,345	-66.7%	-64.1%	20,818	27,535	-24.6%	-24.4%

* Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts

** Daily Selling Rate

*** Memo line items are included in the respective model total

**** Hybrid includes FHEV, PHEV, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Insight, ILX Hybrid, RLX Hybrid and RLX Sport Hybrid

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Paulina and Josh Levine, Parents of Premature Babies, Named National Family Team Chairs for 2016 March for Babies

January 5, 2016

WHITE PLAINS, New York, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Paulina and Josh Levine have been named National Family Team Chairs for the 2016 March for Babies by the March of Dimes, it was announced today. The couple’s tiny twin daughters Chloe and Isabelle were born prematurely at 26 weeks and died in their parents’ arms shortly after their birth.

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Since the loss of their babies in 2006, the Levines have been volunteers for the March of Dimes in New York City and raised nearly $350,000 to support prematurity research and other programs; they have ranked among the top 10 March for Babies family teams nationally, since 2010. “While we can never bring our baby girls back, Josh and I think the best way to honor their memory and give meaning to their lives is to dedicate ourselves to raising money for the March of Dimes, which fights for babies and preventing premature births,” Paulina says. They served as a March of Dimes Mission Ambassador Family, and Paulina was named New York State’s Volunteer of the Year in 2010.

In her role as National Family Team Chair, Paulina will continue to speak to other women who have lost babies. The couple will also recruit other March for Babies teams and participants, and help lead the event in New York City on Sunday, April 24, 2016. Their own team consists of nearly 100 participants, including their daughter Olivia, born in 2007, and son Julian, born in 2009.

Preterm birth is the number one killer of babies, and those who survive an early birth often face serious and sometimes lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, jaundice, developmental delays, vision loss, and cerebral palsy. Even babies born just a few weeks too soon have higher rates of death and disability than full-term babies.

Paulina is an active volunteer at her children’s school and worked for nearly 20 years with Ann Inc. Josh Levine is the founder and chief experience officer of Alexander Interactive (Ai), a digital agency. Learn more about their family story on their website, www.goteamlevine.com.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

E-cigarette ads reach nearly 7 in 10 middle and high-school students

January 5, 2016

ATLANTA, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — About 7 in 10 middle and high school students – more than 18 million young people – see e-cigarette advertising in stores, online, in newspapers and magazines, or on television and in movies, according to a new CDC Vital Signs report.

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E-cigarette ads use many of the same themes – independence, rebellion, and sex – used to sell cigarettes and other conventional tobacco products. Advertising of tobacco products has been shown to cause youth to start using those products. The unrestricted marketing of e-cigarettes and dramatic increases in their use by youth could reverse decades of progress in preventing tobacco use among youth.

“The same advertising tactics the tobacco industry used years ago to get kids addicted to nicotine are now being used to entice a new generation of young people to use e-cigarettes,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “I hope all can agree that kids should not use e-cigarettes.”

Data from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) show 68.9 percent of middle and high school students see e-cigarettes ads from one or more media sources. More youth see e-cigarette ads in retail stores (54.8 percent) than online (39.8 percent), in TV/movies (36.5 percent), or in newspapers and magazines (30.4 percent).

E-cigarettes typically deliver nicotine, which at a young age may cause lasting harm to brain development, promote addiction, and lead to sustained tobacco use. In 2014, e-cigarettes became the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, surpassing conventional cigarettes. During 2011 to 2014, current e-cigarette use among high school students soared from 1.5 percent to 13.4 percent, and among middle school students from 0.6 percent to 3.9 percent. Spending on e-cigarette advertising rose from $6.4 million in 2011 to an estimated $115 million in 2014.

Strategies to reduce youth access to e-cigarettes could include:

Limiting tobacco product sales to facilities that never admit youth,
Restricting the number of stores that sell tobacco and how close they can be to schools,
Requiring that e-cigarettes be sold only through face-to-face transactions, not on the Internet, and
Requiring age verification to enter e-cigarette vendor’s websites, make purchases, and accept deliveries of e-cigarettes.

“States and communities can also help reduce youth tobacco use by funding tobacco prevention and control programs that address the diversity of tobacco products available on the market, including e-cigarettes,” said Corinne Graffunder, Dr.P.H., director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “We know what works to effectively reduce youth tobacco use. If we were to fully invest in these proven strategies, we could significantly reduce the staggering toll that tobacco takes on our families and communities.”

Other key findings in the Vital Signs report show that:

More than half of high school students (8.3 million) saw e-cigarette ads in retail stores, and more than 6 million saw them on the Internet.
More than half of middle school students (6 million) saw e-cigarettes ads in retail stores, and more than 4 million saw them on the Internet.
About 15 percent of all students (4.1 million) saw e-cigarette ads from all four sources: retail stores, the Internet, TV/movies, and magazines/newspapers.

The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and sale of certain tobacco products. FDA has announced its intention to regulate e-cigarettes and other currently unregulated tobacco products as part of this Act. The rulemaking is currently under review at the Office of Management and Budget.

Vital Signs is a report that appears on the first Tuesday of the month as part of the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The report provides the latest data and information on key health indicators. These include cancer prevention, obesity, tobacco use, motor vehicle passenger safety, prescription drug overdose, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, health care-associated infections, cardiovascular health, teen pregnancy, food safety, and viral hepatitis.

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.

Preventive health care can help Americans stay healthier throughout their lives. Those enrolled in health insurance coverage can use the “Roadmap to Better Care and a Healthier You” (English and Spanish) to learn about their benefits, including how to connect to primary care and the preventive services that are right for them, so that they can live a long and healthy life.

Sensis Kicks Off the New Year with Launch of New Health Care Practice, SensisHealth

January 5, 2016

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Sensis, the leader in digital cross-cultural marketing has launched SensisHealth, a specialized health care marketing practice to help providers, payers and pharmaceutical companies improve outcomes for a diverse population of patients and caregivers.

“The health care industry is quickly adapting to disruption created by technology, policy, and changing consumer behavior. Yet most are failing to adapt to rapidly changing demographics and the important role of culture in communicating and delivering health care services,” said Sensis founder and President José Villa. “We are launching SensisHealth to help providers, payers and pharmaceutical companies create cross-cultural advertising, communications and digital experiences that eliminate health disparities and get patients to act.”

Much of today’s marketing strategies, communications, websites, and apps for diverse patients are translations, ignoring cultural relevance and experience with the health care system, literacy levels and other non-clinical factors. These communication gaps with racial and ethnically diverse consumers and patients can cause or compound disparities in care, treatment adherence and compliance, hospital readmissions, infectious disease rates, disease management, insurance enrollment and overall patient experience strategies.

“Our cross-cultural approach and strategy lets the needs of each target population inform the messaging to all,” said Vice President Beatriz Mallory, who leads the new SensisHealth practice. “We start by taking ethnic insights to develop marketing that effectively ‘crosses over’ among ethnic audiences; thereby avoiding ‘after the fact’ adjustments to ‘general market’ work to address cultural nuances. Ultimately, we are part of the process for supporting patient safety, quality care along the care continuum, and impacting population health.”

Mallory’s recent experience includes Interim Vice President Of Marketing for Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles, Director of Multicultural Strategy for Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, and ownership of ad agencies HispanAmérica and HispanAmérica Health.

Mallory is Hispanic and African-American in heritage, multilingual and global in her cultural experience. She is an activist in bringing health and wellness to diverse communities. She is dedicated to “getting to zero” health disparities throughout the health care system and supporting the best possible outcomes for all patients.

About SensisHealth
SensisHealth creates culturally competent, relevant and successful advertising and digital strategies to activate multicultural consumers and patients, helping eliminate health disparities and improving outcomes. SensisHealth supports providers, payers and pharmaceutical companies by creating advertising, communications, and digital experiences that are culturally relevant and comprehensible to all patients; increasing our clients’ business opportunity; and measurable delivering on our vision of a health care system devoid of disparities. For more information, visit SensisHealth.com.

Contact:
Felischa Marye
Sensis
(213) 341-0171 x750 (office)
[email protected]

Smithsonian Announces “Latinos and Baseball” Collecting Initiative

January 5, 2016

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is launching a multiyear collecting initiative, “Latinos and Baseball: In the Barrios and the Big Leagues,” to identify artifacts that reflect the social and cultural influence of the game on Latino communities. Three 2016 events in California and New York will reach out to local communities about preserving baseball history.

California State University, San Bernardino’s John M. Pfau Library, home of the Latino Baseball History Project, will host the first community collecting event for “Latinos and Baseball” Feb. 19–20, 2016. LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in downtown Los Angeles will host the second event on July 17, and the third will be held in September at La Casita Cultural Center at Syracuse University in New York. California State University, Los Angeles and other partners will follow with events later in the year and in 2017. The events are designed to generate interest in the initiative, build on community relationships, record oral histories and identify objects for possible acquisition by local historical associations as well as for the Smithsonian collections.

The museum is seeking to document stories from across the U.S. and Puerto Rico and plans to collect a number of objects that could include baseball equipment, stadium signs and game memorabilia, such as handmade or mass-produced jerseys and tickets as well as food vendor signs, home movies and period photographs. Curators will select objects based on the stories they represent as well as insight into personal, community and national narratives involving the national pastime.

“Baseball has played a major role in everyday American life since the 1800s, providing a means of celebrating both national and ethnic identities and building communities,” said John Gray, director of the museum. “Through the lens of baseball, the Smithsonian seeks to illuminate the rich history and culture of Latinos and their impact on American culture and society.”

The San Bernardino event will be held at the Cal State San Bernardino campus, home of the Latino Baseball History Project. More information about the February events is available at: http://bit.ly/LatinoBaseballSanBernardino.

July’s collecting event in Los Angeles will be part of a baseball-themed family day sponsored by LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes highlighting its exhibition, “Peloteros in Paradise: A Los Angeles Béisbol Story.” Updates are available at: http://lapca.org.

In Syracuse, La Casita’s September event will be hosted in conjunction with its annual exhibition program, “Balcón Criollo,” This community-centered exhibit opens to the public in September each year to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month and explore the Latino American experience in Central New York. Updates on the event are available at: http://lacasita.syr.edu/

The museum is currently working with 10 partner organizations as well as the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture to carry out the “Latinos and Baseball” initiative: California State University, San Bernardino; California State University, Channel Island; California State University, Los Angeles; The Institute of Texan Cultures at the University of Texas, San Antonio; the Kansas City Museum; LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes in Los Angeles; Los Magnificos Film in New York; La Casita Cultural Center at Syracuse University; the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; and the “Sugar Beet Fields to Field of Dreams, 1920s–1960s, Mexican/Spanish Contributions to America’s Favorite Pastime” traveling exhibition based in Colorado and Wyoming.

Also participating in the initiative is the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), which will incorporate future collections into a traveling exhibition centered on Latinos and baseball in development for 2020.

The initiative is designed to build on a growing body of original research, oral histories and collections by and with Smithsonian partners to document the impact Latino communities have had on American history and culture through the sport. The museum also is gathering stories from the public about the role baseball has played in their lives and communities. Through the website, http://americanhistory.si.edu/latinos-and-baseball, individuals can record and share memories of playing or watching baseball and discuss how the sport brought together diverse members of their towns, neighborhoods, schools and places of worship.

Through incomparable collections, rigorous research and dynamic public outreach, the National Museum of American History explores the infinite richness and complexity of American history. The museum helps people understand the past in order to make sense of the present and shape a more humane future. For more information, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue, between 12th and 14th streets N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission is free. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.

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