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.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/329122
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/329125

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]

Jeep® Brand Enters One of the World’s Largest Automobile Markets

February 3, 2016

NEW DELHI, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ —

Jeep® Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT make their Indian debut at the 2016 Auto Expo in New Delhi
Jeep brand sales in India to start in mid-2016
Introduction comes at a time of record worldwide sales for Jeep and continued global expansion

The growing international presence of the Jeep® brand marked another milestone today when the brand was introduced to India at the 2016 Auto Expo in New Delhi.

With a line-up of three SUVs: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Grand Cherokee and the high-performance Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT, Jeep brand sales in India will start in mid-2016, a year that also marks the brand’s 75th anniversary.

“Our aggressive expansion in international markets is one of the key drivers behind our current global sales momentum,” said Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand, FCA, and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Asia Pacific (APAC) Regional Operations Group. “Last year, we started local production in Brazil and China, and today, we are launching the Jeep brand in the fifth largest market in the world, India, setting the foundation for our future growth in this country.”

The Jeep brand arrives in India at a time of record sales and continued expansion into markets outside its North American home. Jeep recorded sales of more than 1.2 million units worldwide in 2015, the highest total in its 75-year history, setting a global sales record for the fourth consecutive year.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) announced last year its intent to invest approximately $280 million in its manufacturing joint venture, Fiat India Automobiles Private Limited, with Tata Motors Limited. The investment in the manufacturing facility in Ranjangaon, India, will support the production of a new Jeep vehicle and is expected to begin production in 2017.

“Jeep has been one of the most awaited SUV brands in India and it is entering this important market the same year that it celebrates its 75th anniversary. The SUV segment witnessed a robust growth of 22 percent over the last five years in India and we expect it to grow exponentially in the future, creating the perfect environment for the legendary Jeep brand,” said Kevin Flynn, President and Managing Director, FCA India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd.

Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Grand Cherokee will be sold with diesel and petrol engines through a network of dealers located in key metro cities.

About Jeep Brand
Built on 75 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup consists of the Cherokee, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Renegade, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models sold outside North America are available in both left and right-hand drive configurations and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options.

Follow Jeep and FCA US news and video on:
FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com
Company blog: http://blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
Media website: http://media.fcanorthamerica.com
FCA360: www.fca360.com
Jeep brand: www.jeep.com
Jeep blog: blog.jeep.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeep or www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup
Flickr: www.flickr.com/jeepexperience or www.flickr.com/chryslergroup
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jeep or www.pinterest.com/F CAcorporate
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeepofficial or www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jeep or www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
YouTube: www.youtube.com/thejeepchannel or www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

Sojern’s Q4 Global Travel Insights Report: Thanks to Summer Olympics, Brazil Is a Rising Destination in 2016 with US and European Travelers

February 3, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Sojern, the world’s leading performance marketing platform for travel brands, today released its Q4 2015 Global Travel Insights report based on the rigorous analysis of more than a billion traveler intent data points across the globe, offering a long-haul travel forecast for the year and regional trends around seasonal events such as Easter in Latin America and Lunar New Year in Asia-Pacific.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150729/249299LOGO

Q4 2015 Global Travel Trends: The Bird’s Eye View

The list of the top eight countries that attracted the most interest in Q4 2015 overlapped with the top eight of the most booked: United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, Germany and Portugal. Rounding out the top 10: India and Turkey captured the imagination of travelers searching for travel in Q4, while Switzerland and the Netherlands claimed enough bookings to gain two spots in the top ten of the most booked. Unlike in previous quarters, neither Thailand nor Greece made it into the top 10. October was by far the heaviest month for both search and bookings, capturing 37 percent and 38 percent respectively of the quarter’s searches and bookings.

Travel to Paris in Aftermath of November 13 Attacks

Few things can hurt a tourist destination like a terrorist attack and the impact of the events in Paris reverberated across the globe. Travel intent to Paris from North America dropped by as much as 33 percent week-on-week in the days immediately following the attacks, not nearly as dramatic of a decrease as intent from Western Europe, which dipped as low as 50 percent week-on-week for the same period. First signs of recovery started one week thereafter, especially with French travelers, and more recovery is under way with US travelers displaying a 46 percent week-on-week increase in travel intent on January 1 2016 and UK travelers hitting a strong 57 percent week-on-week increase on the same date.

US Ski Season Predictions

For the 2016 ski season, Sojern examined searches conducted by North American travelers (US and Canada) to ski-specific airports in the US for travel dates between February 1st and April 30th and found that, for early bookers, Vail and Jackson Hole were the top two ski destinations for both sets of snow lovers, while Steamboat Springs came in third for Americans and Aspen third for Canadians.

Four-day ski trips are the most popular with Americans, at 26 percent, followed by five-day trips (17%). US-bound Canadians take longer ski vacations: 41 percent take seven or more days to hit the slopes. The most searched dates for ski-specific travel in the upcoming months are February 11 and 12 and they revolve around Valentine’s day and Presidents’ Day weekend.

US Long-Haul Travel in 2016: Top Rising Destinations

Sojern data on outbound long-haul travel this year shows that Brazil is the destination with the biggest jump in 2016 so far, compared to 2015, for both Americans and Europeans, thanks to a boost from the Summer Olympics in Rio later in the year.

In the country rankings, Brazil climbs nine places to position 14 in the US and 12 positions to fifth place in Europe, over the entire year. Other notable destination countries include Cuba and Haiti which both climbed in ranking year-on-year, continuing a trend that started earlier in 2015. The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Jamaica all dropped down the list of top ten destinations for US travelers in 2016, the latter by as much as four spots to position 10.

As far as city rankings go, for US travelers, Rio de Janeiro climbs 30 spots to position 28 for the entire year, but during the summer months, it moves up 58 places to position six. Other rising cities include Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sydney, Australia; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Download the full Q4 2015 Global Travel Insights report and infographic.

For more information, please visit www.sojern.com.

About Sojern

Sojern is travel’s leading data-driven performance marketing engine. Through its Sojern Traveler Platform and billions of traveler intent signals across online and mobile channels, Sojern puts more heads in beds and travelers in town for its clients worldwide. Currently one of the fastest growing travel tech companies, Sojern works with top travel brands and independent hotels in North America, Latin America, Europe, MEA and APAC. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, with key offices in Dubai, London, New York, Omaha and Singapore. For more information, please visit www.sojern.com.

UGG Spring Campaign Reminds Us That It’s Always UGG Season

February 2, 2016

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The UGG® brand (a division of Deckers Brands NYSE: DECK), known for its products that offer unparalleled warmth and comfort throughout the winter months, is proud to offer product that is equally comfortable and cool this spring. The concept of the latest campaign was to bring Spring in Your Step with imagery that captures the feeling and energy that surrounds the first warm days of the year while showcasing the breadth of product the brand has to offer outside of the fall and winter seasons.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/328737

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/328738

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/328739

Campaign assets are available for download here

Shot by world renowned photographer and LA-native Cass Bird recognized for her fresh and youthful artistic style, the campaign, shot on location at Rolling Stone Ranch in upstate New York, encapsulates the emotional and physical connection we all have with the first days of spring – to be outside and free in the moment.

“The new spring collection infuses timeless silhouettes with signature UGG comfort,” says Jennifer Somer, Vice-President of UGG®, Women’s. “We are bringing the incredible comfort the brand is so synonymous with for fall and winter and infusing it into our spring line so that now all of our sneakers, sandals and slippers encapsulate the famous UGG DNA. In short, UGG is a brand that is worn and loved all year round”.

Alex White; a fashion industry veteran, well-known stylist and Fashion Director at Large for Porter Magazine, styled the campaign created in partnership with The Wednesday Agency NYC under the creative direction of Semjon von Doenhoff. The cast included three of the most notable models in today’s industry: Andreea Diaconu, Jasmine Tookes and Rj Rogenski—whose chemistry brought to life the inspiration and emotion of being outdoors.

UGG® Women Spring Collection
From classic silhouettes to strappy sandals and sneakers, the spring collection evokes a feeling of casual confidence, timeless style and versatility. Setting the stage with iconic silhouettes in bold colors; the Classic Short and Classic Mini are available in bright Skyline and Primer colorways while the new Auburn Serape takes cues from traditional Latin American textiles. Bridging the heritage and casual styling with the lightweight comfort of Treadlite By UGG™ soles; the Rella is a spring iteration of the Classic Boot with a subtle heel while the sneaker-inspired Laurelle, and luxe sport-sandal Kari round out the collection. Adding a playful touch, 70’s styling makes the platform Janie sandal an easy retro pick with nailhead details and vintage inspired leather.

UGG® For Men Spring Collection
Classic chukkas, driving mocs, and sneakers encompass a range of options that deliver UGG® quality, craftsmanship and comfort. The UGG® For Men collection features the popular Classic Boot-inspired Neumel chukka, the Hulman Perf and Freamon Capra chukka – both grounded in a Treadlite By UGG™ sole, the slip-on Henrick Perf driving moc, and the Bueller casual sneaker in a fresh, all-white colorway.

Beginning February 2016, the brand’s new spring collection can be purchased online at www.uggaustralia.com or experienced firsthand at all UGG® concept stores worldwide and at select retailers. To find an UGG® location near you, please visit http://www.uggaustralia.com/storelocator.

About the UGG® brand
Founded in 1978 in California, the UGG® brand has built a reputation on luxury and comfort by using only the finest materials in the world, employing the highest standards of craftsmanship, and delivering new and innovative styles. The UGG® brand is recognized as a premium lifestyle brand with more than $1 billion in annual sales, offering men’s, women’s and kid’s footwear as well as loungewear, outerwear, home products, cold weather accessories and handbags. The brand’s concept and outlet stores offer the ultimate brand experience with 150 locations worldwide, including New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Paris, London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. For more information please visit www.uggaustralia.com or the brand’s official blog at blog.uggaustralia.com. @UGGAustralia #thisisUGG

About Deckers Brands
Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes UGG®, Teva®, Sanuk®, Ahnu®, HOKA ONE ONE® and Koolaburra®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, 154 Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores, including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com.

*NPD Point-of-Sale Fashion Footwear Data

Media Contacts:
Lindsey Dicola / 212-247-8552 / [email protected]
Matthew Magnin / 212-247-8552 / [email protected]

American Honda Reports January 2016 Car and Truck Sales; New Civic Leads Honda Division to January Record

February 2, 2016

2016 Civic, the North American Car of the Year, helps Honda and itself to January sales records

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported January sales of 100,497 Honda and Acura vehicles, a decrease of 1.7 percent in an unusual month as the industry endured winter weather on both coasts along with two fewer selling days and one less weekend than January 2015. Honda Division set a new January record with 90,247 units sold; Honda car sales reached 50,812 while truck sales totaled 39,435 for the month. Acura sales totaled 10,250 with sedan sales of 3,570 and trucks reaching 6,680 units in January.

Honda

Despite the rains of El Nino on the West Coast and ice and a crippling snow storm on the Eastern seaboard, along with two fewer selling days and one less weekend due to quirks in the calendar, Honda sales crested its previous January record set just last year, led by the all-new 2016 Civic Sedan and strongly supported by Accord and HR-V.

The Civic demonstrated why it is the newly crowned North American Car of the Year with sales of 26,741, leaping 54.9 percent to set a new January record.
Accord held its own despite the winter challenges with sales of 20,765 units.
HR-V posted sales of 4,177 to also defy the unusual month.

“Led by incredibly strong demand for the all-new Civic, the Honda brand persevered rain, snow and two fewer selling days to post a strong first month of the year,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division. “With Honda’s strong cadence of new models throughout 2016 we will continue our momentum and remain positive about 2016.”

Acura

With a thick blanket of winter snow covering one of the Acura brand’s strongest markets in the Northeastern U.S., Acura sales dimmed slightly in January, but the performance of gateway model ILX defied the challenges.

Acura’s gateway luxury sedan, ILX gained a substantial 24.3 percent on sales of 1,233 in January

“The blowing snow obscured the fact that Acura’s momentum continued in January, with both sedan and truck sales essentially on track,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager of the Acura division. “2016 will be an exciting year for Acura with the 2017 NSX on the way to help celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the Acura brand.”

	American Honda Vehicle Sales for January 2016
						Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
						January 2016	January 2015	DSR % Change**	MoM % Change	January 2016		January 2015	DSR % Change**	YoY % Change
	American Honda Total					100,497	102,184	6.5%	-1.7%	100,497		102,184	6.5%	-1.7%
	Total Car Sales					54,382	50,015	17.8%	8.7%	54,382		50,015	17.8%	8.7%
	Total Truck Sales					46,115	52,169	-4.2%	-11.6%	46,115		52,169	-4.2%	-11.6%
				Honda Total Car Sales		50,812	45,931	19.8%	10.6%	50,812		45,931	19.8%	10.6%
				Honda Total Truck Sales		39,435	44,271	-3.5%	-10.9%	39,435		44,271	-3.5%	-10.9%
				Acura Total Car Sales		3,570	4,084	-5.3%	-12.6%	3,570		4,084	-5.3%	-12.6%
				Acura Total Truck Sales		6,680	7,898	-8.4%	-15.4%	6,680		7,898	-8.4%	-15.4%
	Total Domestic Car Sales					51,450	49,377	12.9%	4.2%	51,450		49,377	12.9%	4.2%
				Honda Division		47,978	45,475	14.3%	5.5%	47,978		45,475	14.3%	5.5%
				Acura Division		3,472	3,902	-3.6%	-11.0%	3,472		3,902	-3.6%	-11.0%
	Total Domestic Truck Sales					46,115	52,169	-4.2%	-11.6%	46,115		52,169	-4.2%	-11.6%
				Honda Division		39,435	44,271	-3.5%	-10.9%	39,435		44,271	-3.5%	-10.9%
				Acura Division		6,680	7,898	-8.4%	-15.4%	6,680		7,898	-8.4%	-15.4%
	Total Import Car Sales					2,932	638	397.9%	359.6%	2,932		638	397.9%	359.6%
				Honda Division		2,834	456	573.3%	521.5%	2,834		456	573.3%	521.5%
				Acura Division		98	182	-41.7%	-46.2%	98		182	-41.7%	-46.2%
	Total Import Truck Sales					0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		0	0.0%	0.0%
				Honda Division		0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		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					90,247	90,202	8.4%	0.0%	90,247		90,202	8.4%	0.0%
		* ACCORD				20,765	21,011	7.1%	-1.2%	20,765		21,011	7.1%	-1.2%
		* CIVIC				26,741	18,699	54.9%	43.0%	26,741		18,699	54.9%	43.0%
		CR-Z				192	196	6.1%	-2.0%	192		196	6.1%	-2.0%
		FCX CLARITY				0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		0	0.0%	0.0%
		* FIT				3,095	5,802	-42.2%	-46.7%	3,095		5,802	-42.2%	-46.7%
		INSIGHT				19	223	-90.8%	-91.5%	19		223	-90.8%	-91.5%
		CROSSTOUR				266	661	-56.4%	-59.8%	266		661	-56.4%	-59.8%
		* CR-V				19,208	23,211	-10.3%	-17.2%	19,208		23,211	-10.3%	-17.2%
		HR-V				4,177	0	0.0%	0.0%	4,177		0	0.0%	0.0%
		ODYSSEY				7,221	7,870	-0.6%	-8.2%	7,221		7,870	-0.6%	-8.2%
		PILOT				8,561	12,315	-24.7%	-30.5%	8,561		12,315	-24.7%	-30.5%
		RIDGELINE				2	214	-99.0%	-99.1%	2		214	-99.0%	-99.1%
			***		Memo: Accord FHEV	71	805	-90.4%	-91.2%	71		805	-90.4%	-91.2%
					Memo: Accord PHEV	0	28	-100.0%	-100.0%		0	28	-100.0%	-100.0%
					Memo: Civic Hybrid	161	320	-45.5%	-49.7%	161		320	-45.5%	-49.7%
					Memo: Fit EV	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		0	0.0%	0.0%
	Acura Division Total					10,250	11,982	-7.3%	-14.5%	10,250		11,982	-7.3%	-14.5%
		ILX				1,233	992	34.7%	24.3%	1,233		992	34.7%	24.3%
		RLX / RL				98	176	-39.7%	-44.3%	98		176	-39.7%	-44.3%
		TL				0	18	-100.0%	-100.0%	0		18	-100.0%	-100.0%
		TLX				2,239	2,892	-16.1%	-22.6%	2,239		2,892	-16.1%	-22.6%
		TSX				0	6	-100.0%	-100.0%	0		6	-100.0%	-100.0%
		MDX				3,576	4,381	-11.6%	-18.4%	3,576		4,381	-11.6%	-18.4%
		RDX				3,104	3,517	-4.4%	-11.7%	3,104		3,517	-4.4%	-11.7%
		ZDX				0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		0	0.0%	0.0%
			***		Memo: ILX Hybrid	0	3	-100.0%	-100.0%	0		3	-100.0%	-100.0%
					Memo: RLX Hybrid	18	14	39.3%	28.6%	18		14	39.3%	28.6%
					Memo: TSX Wagon	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0		0	0.0%	0.0%
	Selling Days					24	26			24		26
	**** Hybrid					461	1,589	-68.6%	-71.0%	461		1,589	-68.6%	-71.0%

	* 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

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/328702

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/HONDALOGO

Estrella TV Bolsters News Division With Hiring Of Esteemed Journalist To Anchor Nightly News Broadcast

February 2, 2016

BURBANK, California, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Liberman Broadcasting, the owner and operator of the Estrella TV network, announced today that esteemed Mexican journalist Pedro Ferriz Hijar has joined the company as news anchor of Cierre de Edición, the network’s leading national evening newscast.

A seasoned journalist, Ferriz Hijar has extensive of experience covering politics, government and economic issues across Mexico at some of the country’s leading media outlets including Efeckto Noticias, Poder Mexico Radio, Poder America, Hola TV, TV Mexiquense and other news media. He earned a Masters Degree at Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, Spain. He also attended Universidad Anahuac del Norte, Universidad Iberoamericana, and Universidad Panamericana in Mexico.

“I am honored and excited to have this opportunity to enter the U.S. market at this extraordinary and fraught moment in the history of North America,” said Ferriz Hijar. “The issues covered at Cierre de Edición, including immigration, the disturbing rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric in U.S. politics and the struggles of Latino families are essential. Covering them with one of the best news teams in front of and behind the camera is an amazing opportunity. I’m grateful to Liberman Broadcasting for that chance.”

Well known for his charismatic and articulate news delivery, Ferriz Hijar has become perhaps best known for his closing slogan “¡Hagámos historia!” (Let’s make history!) at the end of every news show. Ferriz Hijar is the third generation of his family to serve in the news media. His father, Pedro Ferriz de Con, is one of Mexico’s most outstanding radio and TV personalities, and his grandfather, Pedro Ferriz Santacruz, was a veteran radio and TV presenter and a pioneer of Mexican television from the early 50s. The family has been on the frontlines in defense of freedom of expression in Mexico, one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists according to Reporters Without Borders.

“We are delighted to have Pedro bolster our already surging news division,” said Andres Angulo, Vice President of News at Estrella TV. “He is the definition of ‘destination viewing’ for Hispanic families who value experience, knowledge and credibility.”

“This is an exciting time at Estrella,” added Lenard Liberman, CEO of Liberman Broadcasting. “In markets across America we are providing Latino viewers something they haven’t traditionally had on TV – real choice. As a Hispanic-owned broadcaster, we are proud to compete with Telemundo and Univision and to regularly deliver ratings that meet or beat theirs thanks to a robust lineup of entertainment, sports and news. The addition of talent like Pedro only makes us more competitive.”

ABOUT CIERRE DE EDICIÓN

Cierre de Edición is ESTRELLA TV’s leading national newscast, featuring news stories on U.S. Hispanics, national and international politics, entertainment, immigration, health care, education and other topics of interest to Hispanics/Latinos. Current events from Mexico, Central and South America are also a significant part of this news show’s content Monday through Friday, 10:30 p.m./9:30c.

ABOUT LIBERMAN BROADCASTING

Since its 2009 launch, Estrella TV has established itself as a top U.S. Hispanic television network across all demos and dayparts. The broadcast network has achieved its fast-track success by developing high-quality, all-original programming produced in-house at its Burbank, Calif. studios featuring well-known stars and popular personalities from the U.S. and Latin America. Estrella TV has built a catalog of more than 7,500 hours of programming now being distributed by the company to broadcasters worldwide. Estrella TV is owned and operated by Liberman Broadcasting, Inc., a leading Spanish-language, minority-owned media and entertainment company and one of the largest Spanish-language radio and television broadcasters in the U.S., based on both revenues and number of stations. For more information visit www.estrellatv.com.

More than 3 million US women at risk for alcohol-exposed pregnancy

February 2, 2016

ATLANTA, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — An estimated 3.3 million women between the ages of 15 and 44 years are at risk of exposing their developing baby to alcohol because they are drinking, sexually active, and not using birth control to prevent pregnancy, according to the latest CDC Vital Signs report released today. The report also found that 3 in 4 women who want to get pregnant as soon as possible do not stop drinking alcohol when they stop using birth control.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160202/328802
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151116/287595LOGO

Alcohol use during pregnancy, even within the first few weeks and before a woman knows she is pregnant, can cause lasting physical, behavioral, and intellectual disabilities that can last for a child’s lifetime. These disabilities are known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). There is no known safe amount of alcohol – even beer or wine – that is safe for a woman to drink at any stage of pregnancy.

“Alcohol can permanently harm a developing baby before a woman knows she is pregnant,” said CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat, M.D. “About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and even if planned, most women won’t know they are pregnant for the first month or so, when they might still be drinking. The risk is real. Why take the chance?”

Healthcare providers should advise women who want to become pregnant to stop drinking alcohol as soon as they stop using birth control. Most women don’t know they are pregnant until they are four to six weeks into the pregnancy and could unknowingly be exposing their developing baby to alcohol. FASDs are completely preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy.

For this Vital Signs report, scientists from CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities analyzed data from the 2011–2013 National Survey of Family Growth, which gathers information on family life, marriage, divorce, pregnancy, infertility, use of birth control, and men’s and women’s health. National estimates of alcohol-exposed pregnancy were calculated among 4,303 non-pregnant, non-sterile women ages 15–44 years. A woman was considered to be at risk for an alcohol-exposed pregnancy if in the past month she was not sterile, her partner was not known to be sterile, she had vaginal sex with a male, drank any alcohol, and did not use birth control. A woman was considered to be trying to get pregnant if a desired pregnancy was the reason she and her partner stopped using contraception.

Overall, 3.3 million US women (7.3 percent of women ages 15–44 who were having sex, who were non-pregnant and non-sterile) were at risk of exposing their developing baby to alcohol if they were to become pregnant.

“Every woman who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant – and her partner – want a healthy baby. But they may not be aware that drinking any alcohol at any stage of pregnancy can cause a range of disabilities for their child,” said Coleen Boyle, Ph.D., director of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. “It is critical for healthcare providers to assess a woman’s drinking habits during routine medical visits; advise her not to drink at all if she is pregnant, trying to get pregnant or sexually active and not using birth control; and recommend services if she needs help to stop drinking.”

CDC works to prevent alcohol-exposed pregnancies and FASDs through a variety of activities including:

Tracking alcohol use among women of reproductive age in the United States;
Supporting the implementation of evidence-based interventions to reduce risky alcohol use and alcohol-exposed pregnancies, including through alcohol screening and brief intervention and the CHOICES program;
Collaborating with FASD Practice and Implementation Centers and national partners to promote practice changes among healthcare providers in the prevention, identification, and management of FASDs;
Promoting effective interventions for children, adolescents, and young adults living with FASDs and their families; and
Offering FASD-related educational information and materials for women of reproductive age, healthcare providers, and the general public.

For more information about alcohol use during pregnancy and FASDs, please visit www.cdc.gov/fasd.

Vital Signs is a CDC 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 are 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.

Ismael Cala presents “Be like the Bamboo,” his first children’s book, illustrated and bilingual

February 2, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — From the inspiration of Ismael Cala and based on his bestseller “El secreto del bamboo,” HarperCollins Español presents “Be like the bamboo,” a beautifully illustrated bilingual book that will allow parents from both sides of the border to spend quality time with their young ones. It deals with a story that will inspire your children to develop several values such as patience, perseverance, determination, independence and generosity.

Illustrated by Yunior Suárez, and through 32 pages, in this book Ismael Cala tells the story of Mommy Panda and Baby Panda, two bears that “look like two very big balls of cotton, with very black stains,” who live in a giant bamboo forest. Baby Panda looks very daring when he climbs to the end of the bamboo tree in order to eat its leaves and most tender stalks. Mommy Panda, wise and careful, teaches him through the characteristics of that plant an invaluable lesson for life that parents can also share with their little ones: The bamboo, tall and flexible, needs years to grow roots and strengthen itself in the soil before emerging as the member of the vegetable kingdom that grows at the fastest speed.

The bamboo, highly appreciated in the Far East, not only culturally but also because of its usefulness, teaches us that success in life does not necessarily mean reaching goals and becoming famous. Without strong roots that provide us with values to face adversities, we will never be flexible or strong enough. Baby Panda must learn that in order to be as tall and kind as the bamboo, that allows him to climb up and eat its leaves, he will first have to grow internally.

“For our children to be like the bamboo, we must teach them to be kind and strong, but flexible,” Cala says. “Bamboos live in communities but at the same time they act independently, adjust to and overcome difficult times, know how to train themselves for years with patience in order to succeed and be useful all of their lives. Let us help our children be like the bamboo!”

“Be like the bamboo” will develop the joy of reading to our little ones, besides generating conversations on the subject of the important qualities in life. This book is a valuable opportunity to learn a second language or to improve in its fluency, for the whole story appears in every page both in Spanish and English.

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

Ismael Cala is a communicator, inspirational author, and international speaker on the subjects of leadership and self-improvement. He is the host of “Cala” the CNN’s Spanish interview show, an intimate program that goes through the most powerful and relevant characters in the international scenario, from politicians, writers, philosophers, artists and celebrities, to scientists and sports stars.

Cala is regular contributor at “Despierta América” show in Univision Network, he writes a weekly column for more than 50 periodicals in Latin America and the U.S., Cala is also the director of “Cala 3.0,” a successful app for iPad, iPhone, Android, and PC; besides being one of the most acclaimed motivational speakers in the Continent.

The author of bestsellers “El secreto del bambú” (2015), “Un buen hijo de P…” (2014), and “El poder de escuchar” (2013), Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba (1969) and received a Bachelor’s degree in History of Art from the Universidad de Oriente. He graduated with honors at the School of Communication in the University of York, in Toronto, and received a Seneca Diploma in TV Production.

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