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2016 Acura TLX – Hot-Selling Luxury Sports Sedan Returns with Unique Blend of Athleticism and Premium Luxury Refinement

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TORRANCE, California, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Fast on the heels of a very successful first year, the Acura TLX will enter 2016 with great momentum when it goes on sale September 24 with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $31,6951 for the TLX with 8-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT) and $35,750 for the same model with the Technology Package. The MSRPs for all five models with the 9-speed automatic transmission are unchanged from mid-model year 2015. The TLX garnered the admiration of luxury sports sedan drivers and critics alike with its combination of proportion, prestige, performance and luxury, leading to robust sales and industry awards.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150922/269664
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100923/ACURALOGO

The 2015 Acura TLX was recognized for its successful blend of style, performance and advanced technology with a 2015 Best Cars for the Money award from U.S. News & World Report, topping the Upscale Midsize Car category, and with a 2015 Best Value award from Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in the Best New/Redesigned Car in the $40,000-$50,000 category. The Acura brand was also named the 2015 Best Retained Value® Luxury Brand by Edmunds.com for its outstanding projected resale value after five years of ownership.

“The success of TLX in its initial year on the market has been instrumental in Acura’s resurgence as a luxury sedan manufacturer,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president and general manager, Acura Division. “The unique combination of proportion, prestige and performance is a hallmark of all Acura vehicles, from the gateway ILX luxury sedan to the MDX three-row luxury SUV and, of course, the upcoming next-generation NSX supercar.”

Developed under the theme of Red Carpet Athlete, the TLX delivers a unique and compelling blend of sports-sedan athleticism and premium (red-carpet) luxury refinement. On the performance side, TLX models are powered by two high-output direct-injected i-VTEC engines; two advanced transmissions, including a Dual Clutch Transmission with torque converter; and the latest iterations of Acura precision-handling technologies – Precision All-Wheel Steer™ (P-AWS™), next-generation Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive™ (SH-AWD®), and Agile Handling Assist (AHA).

The TLX also was designed to appeal to a broader cross-section of luxury sports-sedan customers, with a wider range of powertrain and drivetrain options.  There are three distinct TLX model offerings:

  • The TLX with 2.4-liter, 206-horsepower2i-VTEC inline-4 with 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (8DCT) with torque converter, and P-AWS;
  • The TLX with 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower3i-VTEC V-6 with 9-speed automatic transmission and P-AWS;
  • And the TLX SH-AWD with next-generation SH-AWD, available with the 3.5-liter, 290 horsepower3 V-6 and 9-speed automatic.

All three TLX models carry a long list of standard luxury comfort, convenience and safety features. TLX models with the 2.4-liter engine can be upgraded to the Technology package and models with the 3.5-liter engine are available with Technology or the line-topping Advance Package. View, build and price a 2016 Acura TLX at acura.com/tlx.

TRIM

MSRP1

Anticipated EPA

 MPG Rating 4

(city/highway/combined)

TLX 2.4L

$31,695

24/35/28

TLX 2.4L with Technology Package

$35,750

24/35/28

TLX 3.5L

$35,320

21/34/25

TLX 3.5L with Technology Package

$39,375

21/34/25

TLX 3.5L with Advance Package

$42,600

21/34/25

TLX 3.5L SH-AWD with Technology Package

$41,575

21/31/25

TLX 3.5L SH-AWD with Advance Package

$44,800

21/31/25

Design and Packaging
The TLX’s chassis, powertrains and precision-handling technologies are wrapped in a lithe exterior design with taut body surfaces, dynamically sculpted fender arches, and purposeful character lines. Its sporting character is emphasized by compact sports-sedan proportions.

Acura’s signature Jewel Eye™ LED headlights, standard on all models, lend the TLX an advanced and bright-eyed appearance while producing superior down-the-road illumination. Its LED lighting theme carries through to the LED-accented side mirrors, LED taillights and LED license plate illumination.

The TLX also features a 60/40-split folding rear seatback for greater cargo-carrying flexibility and a trunk design featuring a wide and deep opening, a low lift-over height, a fully flat cargo floor, and two optional underfloor storage compartments.

Interior
The TLX’s spacious five-passenger interior is designed and engineered to provide a high degree of refinement, luxury comfort and technological sophistication while supporting an exhilarating driving experience. High-end premium elements include a soft-touch, one-piece instrument panel upper cover, alloy and wood-grain design accents, and available Milano leather seat trim.

The TLX offers an abundance of available luxury features and technologies, including heated and ventilated front seats, HomeLink®, Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®, Smart Entry/Push Button Start keyless access system, Acura Navigation System with 3D view, and AcuraLink Real-Time Traffic™ with Traffic Rerouting. A 7-inch On Demand Multi-Use Display™ (ODMD) touch screen, located in the center console, controls these and other features, and, with its contextual menus, displays relevant items while minimizing instrument panel clutter. 

The TLX also features the next generation of AcuraLink®, Acura’s cloud-based connected car system, offering Acura owners a broad range of cloud-based and embedded convenience, connectivity and available security features. All TLX models come equipped with Siri Eyes Free technology that, when paired with a compatible iPhone, allows the driver to use the features of Siri using familiar voice commands. Additional standard and available luxury features includes one-touch turn-signals and power windows, power driver and front passenger seats, GPS-linked automatic climate control, color Multi-Information Display (MID) with turn-by-turn guidance, LED accent lighting, HD Radio®, Pandora® and Aha™ integration, and HDMI and USB connectivity.

In keeping with Acura’s commitment to delivering a world-class audio experience, the TLX in Technology and Advance trims come equipped with a 490-watt, 10-speaker Acura/ELS Studio® Premium Audio System, engineered specifically for the TLX by legendary recording engineer Elliot Scheiner. 

TLX models featuring the 3.5-liter V-6 engine utilize an advanced Electronic Gear Selector, using an intuitive push-button array in place of a traditional gear lever, freeing up center-console space while presenting an advanced and futuristic appearance. All TLX models incorporate an Electronic Parking Brake with Automatic Brake Hold that, when activated, retains brake pressure when the vehicle is stopped, simplifying driving in heavy traffic or on steep hills.

Powertrains
At the heart of the TLX’s athletic sports-sedan performance capabilities are its two powertrains, both utilizing direct-injection, i-VTEC valvetrains with variable cam phasing, and low-friction technologies to deliver higher output and linear and responsive power delivery, as well as to garner class-leading fuel-economy ratings.

The direct-injected 2.4-liter DOHC i-VTEC in-line 4, producing a peak 206 horsepower and 182 lb.-ft. of torque, is mated to an 8-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (8DCT) with torque converter. Featuring Sequential SportShift, closely spaced ratios, ultra-quick shifts and automatic rev-matching downshifts, the 8DCT gives the 2.4-liter TLX an aggressively sporting yet refined feel. The torque converter provides exceptionally smooth operation in stop-and-go situations, plus it offers off-the-line torque multiplication for substantially improved initial acceleration that a DCT alone cannot equal.

The direct-injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC V-6 incorporates Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), with the ability to deactivate three of the engine’s six cylinders, for improved fuel efficiency. The aluminum-alloy 24-valve engine produces a peak 290 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission with wide gear ratios featuring Sequential SportShift.

TLX models featuring the 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 9AT also utilize an advanced Electronic Gear Selector that replaces the traditional gear lever with an intuitive and easy-to-operate push-button array. The interface frees up center-console space while presenting an advanced and sophisticated appearance.

The TLX SH-AWD also incorporates an idle-stop capability for improved fuel efficiency.  A 28-volt Active Control engine mount significantly reduces engine vibration during restarts.

The TLX equipped with the 2.4-liter engine has an anticipated EPA fuel-economy rating of 24/35/281 mpg city/hwy/combined, among the highest for any vehicle in its class. The TLX with the 3.5-liter V-6 with P-AWS has an anticipated EPA fuel-economy rating of 21/34/251 mpg. The TLX SH-AWD has an anticipated EPA fuel-economy rating of 21/31/251.

Acura Precision-Handling Technologies
Two-wheel-drive TLX models, with either the 2.4-liter or 3.5-liter engine, come equipped with the latest iteration of Acura P-AWS. The P-AWS system was integrated into the fundamental chassis design from the earliest stages of development, allowing engineers to take full advantage of its independent left and right rear-wheel toe angle control to enhance overall handling precision, low-speed maneuverability and high-speed stability.  

The TLX SH-AWD features a hydraulically controlled new generation of Acura’s acclaimed torque vectoring SH-AWD®. The rear-drive unit is constantly overdriven by 2.7-percent, providing torque-vectoring effect across a broad spectrum of driving situations, enhancing cornering capability at lower speeds and in tighter-radius corners.

Near-limit and high speed maneuvering capabilities of both the P-AWS and SH-AWD models are enhanced by the use of Agile Handling Assist (AHA), which utilizes the TLX’s Vehicle Stability Assist and premium 6-piston brake modulator to create a yaw moment (a vehicle turning force), helping the driver smoothly and easily trace the desired line with smaller steering-wheel inputs. AHA stabilizes the car earlier than conventional VSA, resulting in more agile and engaging dynamic performance in everyday driving conditions.

All TLX models also feature the latest development of Acura’s Integrated Dynamics System (IDS), which allows drivers to customize their driving experience through four selectable modes – ECON, Normal, Sport and Sport+. Depending on the setting, IDS will adjust power-steering effort, throttle response, transmission shift logic, HVAC system operation, and the control logic for either the P-AWS or SH-AWD systems. The Sport+ mode, a first for Acura, unlocks the full performance potential of the TLX with the most aggressive settings in all areas.

Safety and Driver-Assistive Technologies
The TLX also advances Acura’s reputation for delivering cutting-edge safety and driver-assistive technologies. The TLX deploys a cooperative monocular camera and millimeter wave radar system that expands both the fidelity and scope of the vehicle’s road-sensing capabilities. This fusion of camera and radar technology underpins the TLX’s available Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBS), which can provide enhanced car-to-car and car-to-pedestrian collision mitigation, while also enhancing the capabilities of the Adaptive Cruise Control.

The TLX utilizes Acura Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), which is included with the Advance Package. RDM uses the monocular camera to recognize painted lane lines, Botts’ Dots and Cat Eye markers to determine lane boundaries. When the vehicle’s current travelling direction would cause it to stray from a detected lane, the system warns the driver and assists by applying corrective steering input and, if required, braking force to help the driver maintain their current lane.

Additional standard and available driver-assistive features include blind spot information (BSI), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Expanded View Driver’s Side Mirror, Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS) and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor (CTM).

The TLX also employs Acura’s next-generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, along with advanced supplemental restraint systems – including front, side, side-curtain and driver’s knee airbags – to provide a high level of occupant protection in a wide spectrum of collision scenarios.

Body and Chassis
The TLX platform (body and chassis) was designed from the ground up to support and enhance the vehicle’s outstanding driving dynamics, luxury-sedan refinement, class-leading fuel efficiency and high-level collision safety performance.  

The chassis features a four-wheel independent suspension system – McPherson Strut front and multi-link rear – with optimized geometry and Amplitude Reactive Dampers for improved ride comfort and handling performance. The TLX’s Motion-Adaptive Electronic Power Steering delivers a high level of steering precision and responsiveness while aiding fuel efficiency. It also works cooperatively with the vehicle’s Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) traction-control system to help the driver maintain vehicle control in slippery road conditions.

The TLX’s unit body utilizes advanced lightweight materials, including ultra-high-strength steels, aluminum (hood, bumper beams and front subframe) and magnesium (steering hangar beam), to minimize weight while providing for a high degree of rigidity that benefits both dynamic performance and occupant safety. Also incorporated into the body is the next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) frontal body structure, and a one-piece, hot-stamped-steel door stiffener ring. The sleek body design is also optimized for class-leading aerodynamic efficiency.

For a premium interior experience, Acura engineers paid special attention to body sealing to provide a quiet and relaxing cabin experience.  This includes the application of acoustic spray foam, which is applied in 10 critical locations throughout the body. Additional noise-reducing features include triple door seals, the expanded application of body sealing and sound absorptive materials, an acoustic glass windshield, and electronic Active Noise Control (ANC).

For More Information
Consumer information is available at www.acura.com. To join the Acura community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/Acura. Additional media information including pricing, features and high-resolution photography is available at acuranews.com/channels/tlx.

1 MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, vehicle options and destination charge of $920.00. Dealer prices may vary.
2 206 horsepower @ 6800 rpm (SAE net), 182 lb-ft of torque @ 4500 rpm
3 290 horsepower @ 6200 rpm (SAE net), 267 lb-ft of torque @ 4500 rpm
4 Based on anticipated 2016 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.

(Español) Nuevo método de medicina de precisión para tratamiento del cáncer es prometedor en la eliminación de la brecha de desigualdades por cáncer

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Government of Mexico Presents Alex López Negrete with Ohtli Award

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HOUSTON, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Lopez Negrete Communications’ President, CEO and co-founder Alex López Negrete received the prestigious Ohtli Award, a recognition from the government of Mexico during a ceremony at this year’s United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce convention in Houston. Bestowed by the Government of Mexico to a leader outside of said country, the Ohtli celebrates the recipient’s commitment to lifting the Mexican or Latino community, along with their vision and impact. The award, consisting of a medallion, silver rosette, and a diploma, is presented once a year. It symbolizes opening a path to progress as reference to Ohtli being the Nahuatl word for “path” among the Aztecs.

“We’re thrilled that Alex has been recognized by the government of Mexico with the Ohtli award – the most prestigious honor that Mexico can offer a foreign citizen,” said USHCC President & CEO Javier Palomarez. “Alex has built one of the nation’s preeminent multicultural full service advertising agencies, with a client roster including some of the world’s most iconic brands. He is an exceptional entrepreneur and a true role model for the Hispanic community. The USHCC congratulates him for his extraordinary achievement.”

Alex López Negrete received the Ohtli for his outstanding career as a community and business leader. Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc., is the largest independent Hispanic agency in the US with a diverse set of clients spanning various industries. The success of the agency and its status as an inspiration to Mexican and other Hispanic entrepreneurs who want to innovate and contribute to their new country is one reason Mr. López Negrete was chosen to receive this award. Lopez Negrete’s multicultural vision, which favors the integration of the immigrant and Hispanic community in this country, was also a factor. Additionally, the valuable work of the Lopez Negrete Hispanic Marketing Education Fund, which supports studies of Hispanic youth, was recognized.

“To impact my community and to deliver on my promise and commitment to the constituencies I hold myself accountable to is reward enough,” said López Negrete. “However, to receive the Ohtli Award, as a Mexican-American, is far beyond my dreams and expectations.” 

ABOUT LOPEZ NEGRETE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Lopez Negrete Communications, Inc. specializes in providing full service marketing services to corporations wishing to reach and engage with the Hispanic marketplace in America, and stands as the largest Hispanic, independently owned and operated, full-service agency in the United States. Founded in 1985 by Alex and Cathy López Negrete, the agency offers thought leadership and a full range of marketing, advertising and communications services, including strategic planning, research and consumer insights, media planning and buying, creative, brand strategy, digital/social/mobile marketing services, public relations, and promotions. Award winning throughout a rich, 30-year history, Lopez Negrete counts as clients some of the nation’s largest corporations and their prestigious brands, including Verizon Communications Inc. (Wireless and Telecom), Bank of America, Walmart Stores, Inc., SAMSUNG Telecommunications America, NBC Universal Motion Pictures Group, Chrysler Group LLC, Feld Entertainment, the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation and Southern California Edison. With national headquarters in Houston, Texas and offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Mexico City, Lopez Negrete employs more than 250 employees who keep clients at the forefront of a burgeoning Hispanic market.

Do You Know When You Were Hooked? Netflix Does

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LOS GATOS, California, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — It may have taken Walter White nearly an entire season to become Heisenberg and Frank Underwood 13 episodes to become VP (spoiler alert!), but it turns out fans committed to these series long before those plot twists unfolded. Hint: it wasn’t in the pilot episode.

Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX) analyzed its global streaming data* across the inaugural seasons of some of today’s most popular shows – both Netflix original series and shows that premiered on other networks – looking for signals that pointed to when viewers became hooked. It turns out that when commercial breaks and appointment viewing are stripped away and consumers can watch an entire season as they choose, you can see fandom emerge. That is, 70% of viewers who watched the hooked episode went on to complete season one or more poetically, when members were hooked and there was no turning back.

“Given the precious nature of primetime slots on traditional TV, a series pilot is arguably the most important point in the life of the show,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer for Netflix.  “However, in our research of more than 20 shows across 16 markets, we found that no one was ever hooked on the pilot. This gives us confidence that giving our members all episodes at once is more aligned with how fans are made.”

While the data identified the hooked episode, it was shy on pinpointing exact moments**, but we have a few ideas of our own to help jog your memory… For starters, in Breaking Bad it may have taken the flip of a coin to decide whether Jesse or Walt would put the finishing blow on Krazy 8, but when the decrepit heap of a former drug dealer rains down from Jesse’s ceiling, there’s no denying viewers would stay to see how the season cleaned up (episode 2). Speaking of messes, Crazy Eyes drops both poems and fluids in her roller coaster romance with Piper in Orange is the New Black, but it was likely the throw of a pie to defend her (then) bae’s honor that had members asking for seconds (episode 3). For Dexter another episode equals another body, this time courtesy of the “Ice Truck Killer,” but our money’s on Dexter’s trip down memory lane reliving his inaugural kill that was the real tipping point – after all, fans never forget the first time (episode 3).

“There’s a unique sense of intimacy with creating a show for Netflix. Knowing you have an audience’s undivided attention and that in essence, they are letting these characters in their home, we unfolded storylines at a more natural pace,” said Marta Kauffman. “In episode four, we see Grace and Frankie having no choice but to confront their fear, anger and uncertainty head on, which to me as a creator was a nice turning point to shift the narrative to focus on the future instead of the past; it is nice to know viewers were there right along with us.”

While around the world the hooked episode was relatively consistent, slight geographic differences did present themselves. The Dutch, for instance, tend to fall in love with series the fastest, getting hooked one episode ahead of most countries irrespective of the show. Germans showed early fandom for Arrow whereas France fell first for How I Met Your Mother. In Better Call Saul, Jimmy McGill won Brazilians over one episode quicker than Mexicans. And Down Under, viewers prove to hold out longer across the board, with members in Australia and New Zealand getting hooked one to two episodes later than the rest of the world on almost every show. Despite these differences, the hooked moment had no correlation to audience size or attrition, regardless of show, episode number or country.

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150923/269720-INFO
Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150923/269721-INFO

Methodology:

The data in this research was pulled from accounts who started watching season one of the selected series between January 2015 – July 2015 in Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, UK and US and between April 2015 – July 2015 for Australia and New Zealand. A hooked episode was defined when 70% of viewers who watched that episode went on to complete season one. Hooked episodes were first identified by country, then averaged to create the global hooked episode. The hooked episode had no correlation to total viewership numbers or attrition.

*Denotes shows where for one or more countries, the show was unavailable to watch on Netflix and therefore the average is comprised of data from less than 16 countries

**The Netflix research didn’t indicate exact plot points, but it did confirm episodes. 

About Netflix

Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 65 million members in over 50 countries enjoying more than 100 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.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101014/SF81638LOGO

Coors Light® Refreshes J Balvin’s First Headlining U.S. Tour

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CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Coors Light is proud to sponsor J Balvin’s first headlining U.S. tour shortly after guest starring in the artist’s record-breaking music video for “Ginza.” Concert goers will experience the heat of J Balvin’s urban sound and enjoy the unrivaled refreshment that only Coors Light can bring. The Colombian reggaeton singer will tour nationwide from September through November.

Because Coors Light refreshes those who refresh the world, the brand is recognizing Latin artists who refresh music. In addition to sponsoring the tour, Coors Light will also delight fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes content from J Balvin’s “Ginza” video and his tour with “Diario de una Gira” on CoorsLight.com.

“J Balvin is at the forefront of a new wave of urban Latin artists, and we’re excited to support him in his journey to refresh the music landscape,” said Sonia Urintsev, brand manager at Coors Light. “In addition to enjoying an incredible performance by J Balvin, his fans can count on Coors Light to bring crisp, clean refreshment for an exhilarating concert experience.”

Fans 21 and older in select markets will have the opportunity to win meet-and-great passes and VIP access courtesy of Coors Light. When concert goers are not singing along to his songs in the crowd, they will have the opportunity to produce unique mashups of their own video recording with J Balvin’s “Ginza” at Coors Light’s Smash-up kiosks. Fans will be able to dub over their video recording, and share the finished mashup on their social channels in an audio clip or an animated GIF.

J Balvin is known for creating a unique urban fusion that blends influences from Puerto Rico’s pioneering reggaeton artists, the distinct Colombian rhythms of his heritage and a love for progressive hip hop and R&B. He is touring the U.S. after celebrating the highly successful launch of his new single “Ginza,” which earned 2.5 million views in just 24 hours and more than 4.7 million views within the first three days.

For more information on Coors Light and J Balvin’s tour, visit www.CoorsLight.com or follow Coors Light Latino on Facebook at facebook.com/CoorsLightLatino and on Twitter @MiCoorsLight.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130523/CG19623LOGO

About Coors Brewing Company
Coors Brewing Company was founded in 1873 by Adolph Coors, who chose the Clear Creek Valley in Golden, Colo., for his new brewery because of the pure water in the nearby Rocky Mountain springs. The brewery’s original and most enduring beer is Coors Banquet (Coors.com, Facebook.com/CoorsBanquet, YouTube.com/OfficialCoorsBanquet), still brewed exclusively in Golden using only Rocky Mountain water and high-country barley. Coors Light (CoorsLight.com, Facebook.com/CoorsLight, @CoorsLight on Twitter, YouTube.com/CoorsLight) was introduced in 1978 and now is the second-best-selling beer in the United States. Triple-filtered smooth Keystone Light (KeystoneLight.com, Facebook.com/KeystoneLight) is one the country’s most popular economy beers. Coors Brewing Company operates in the United States and Puerto Rico as part of MillerCoors, a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at Facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

About J Balvin
J Balvin has been hailed by Billboard as “the biggest breakout act Latin music has seen in many years.” Creating a unique urban fusion that blends influences from Puerto Rico’s pioneering Reggaeton artists, the distinct Colombian rhythms of his heritage and a love for progressive Hip-Hop and R&B, J Balvin is undeniably Latin music’s most significant new artist. This recognition stems from three consecutive chart-topping singles – “6 AM” and “Ay Vamos” from J Balvin’s breakthrough album “La Familia” and the fast follow-up ascent to #1 on Latin Airplay of his latest single “Ginza”. Billboard recently certified that “Ay Vamos” was the #1 overall Latin single in the United States across the first six months of 2015, and its related video has received well over 500 Million Views. Now “Ginza” is picking up the pace further for the second half of this year, as it instantly set a new Spanish-language video record for debut views upon its launch, and has now skyrocketed into Vevo’s overall Top-5 videos in early September (charting right alongside Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, while exceeding weekly views of The Weekend, One Direction, and many more). Driven by his irreverent humor and openness with fans, J Balvin has also become a social media powerhouse– with over 3 Million Instagram fans.

Courts Megastore to Expand and Offer New Services

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PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad & Tobago, Sept. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Courts is pleased to announce that their flagship megastore is about to get even larger.

Already the largest Courts in the Caribbean, the brand’s Unicomer (Trinidad) Ltd store will soon be growing again.

This Courts location is currently the largest of more than 90 stores across eleven territories in the Caribbean. In business since September of 1993, the bigger better Megastore will now feature a service technician department called SERVITECH. The location will also feature a Courts Optical branch, and they will continue their partnership with top international brands creating a true “one-stop-shop” for everything customers need for their homes.

The MEGA concept, the first of its kind, opened with a showroom size of 30,000 sq. ft. in the early 1990s. It housed many different businesses on the compound making it the go-to hub for everything. Complete with new upgrades and expanded services, this new MEGA drives home the core Courts value of “Bringing Value Home.”

Courts works hard to uphold their core values, which have stayed forefront in the company’s persona as the brand continues to grow, to be friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable in all their products and provide easy and convenient shopping. Courts takes great pride in providing a technical staff who work hard to provide superior service.

Courts believes that the fulfillment of promises are a part of what makes Courts the Caribbean’s leading retailer.

About Courts
Courts has been serving the people of the Caribbean with quality affordable furniture and appliances since 1959. With 93 stores on eleven different islands, Courts strives to be a household name in the appliance industry that can be trusted for generations to come. The company also takes their responsibility to the communities they serve very seriously. From helping fund tutors for children with reading difficulties due to dyslexia to providing vision screenings to mentally challenged adults, the Courts attention to social responsibility is a building block of the organization. In the past 5 decades thousands of lives have been touched through their sponsorship of education, sport, and health. To learn more about Courts please visit http://www.shopcourts.com/trinidadandtobago/

Contact:
Michael Oderson
868-672-7577 ext 201
[email protected]

ETS Launches Praxis® Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT)

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PRINCETON, New Jersey, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Teacher candidates required to submit a teacher performance assessment can now use the Praxis® Performance Assessment for Teachers (PPAT) to effectively demonstrate what they know and are able to do in a classroom.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33419LOGO

This portfolio-based performance assessment — developed in collaboration with 26 teachers and teacher educators from 16 U.S. states and territories — is designed both to inform a teacher candidate’s student-teaching, and to measure the candidate’s success in planning instruction, implementing it, analyzing the results and reflecting upon the whole experience in a way that promotes continuous improvement and professional growth. PPAT is predicated upon the Interstate Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (InTASC) model core teaching standards and indicators.

“The PPAT will help educator preparation programs ensure that their teacher candidates can positively affect student learning in the classroom,” said Diane Bailey, Vice President of ETS’s Teacher Licensure & Certification Programs. “Delaware and Hawaii have already signed on to use PPAT to help them place effective teachers in their schools.”

The assessment contains four tasks (Task 1 is formative while Tasks 2, 3 and 4 are summative) designed to allow candidates to demonstrate real-world teaching skills. These include:

Task 1: Knowledge of Students and the Learning Environment
Task 2: Assessment and Data Collection to Measure and Inform Student Learning
Task 3: Designing Instruction for Student Learning
Task 4: Implementing and Analyzing Instruction to Promote Student Learning

In order to ensure that the scoring process is fair and reliable, the PPAT will use multiple raters for each candidate. Each of the three summative tasks will be evaluated by two independent raters, and no rater will evaluate more than a single task submitted by a given candidate. In other words, each candidate’s assessment will be evaluated by six different raters. All raters will be trained and certified on a given task before being allowed to score submissions for that task. ETS will also carefully monitor the raters as they score to ensure that they apply the rubrics accurately and consistently throughout the rating process.

For more information about the registration process, including submission dates, deadlines and fees, please visit http://www.ets.org/ppa/test-takers/teachers/about.

About ETS
At ETS, we help advance quality and equity in education for people worldwide by creating assessments based on rigorous research. ETS serves individuals, educational institutions and government agencies by providing customized solutions for teacher certification, English language learning, and elementary, secondary and postsecondary education, and by conducting education research, analysis and policy studies. Founded as a nonprofit in 1947, ETS develops, administers and scores more than 50 million tests annually — including the TOEFL® and TOEIC ® tests, the GRE ® tests and The Praxis Series ® assessments — in more than 180 countries, at over 9,000 locations worldwide. www.ets.org

President Obama to Address CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) announced today that President Barack Obama will address the largest Latino gala in the country at CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.This marks six of the past eight years President Obama has addressed the CHCI Gala, going back to when he was a presidential candidate in 2008.

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“CHCI is honored to welcome President Obama to address our 38th Annual Awards Gala in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on October 8,” said Rep. Linda T. Sánchez.  “His attendance reflects his ongoing commitment to the Latino community and to the future Latino and Latina leaders that CHCI works so hard to develop each year.”

CHCI’s 38th Annual Awards Gala, themed “Powering Growth and Influence” will convene the nation’s largest and most prestigious gathering of Hispanic nonpartisan, public, and private sector leaders. The evening’s festivities will include the presentation of the CHCI Medallion of Excellence awards to NFL hall of famer Anthony Muñoz and education advocate Sonia Gutierrez.

Actor Roselyn Sanchez will serve as celebrity host for the gala ceremony and the event will also feature a performance from Grammy Award–winning band La Santa Cecilia at the gala entertainment finale.

Each year, the CHCI Annual Awards Gala is the hallmark event during Hispanic Heritage Month in Washington, D.C., and serves as the unifying event for the Hispanic-American community. Proceeds from the Gala benefit CHCI’s award-winning leadership development programs.

CHCI’s 2015 CHCI Annual Public Policy Conference will be held October 6-7 in Washington, D.C.  The full agenda is available online at http://hhm.chci.org/2015-agenda/. CHCI’s HHM events will be available to view online at hhm.chci.org/livestream. 

About CHCI
CHCI is the premier Hispanic nonprofit and nonpartisan 501(c)(3) leadership development organization in the country that educates, empowers, and connects Latino youth by providing leadership development programs and educational services. CHCI directly impacts the lives of more than 1,700 students and young professionals each year through its fellowships, congressional internships, scholarships, Ready to Lead (R2L®) college readiness program, and R2L NextGen program. CHCI NextOpp is its latest resource allowing young Latinos to save, search and share life-changing opportunities for Latinos across the United States.

The CHCI Board of Directors is comprised of Hispanic members of Congress, nonprofit, union and corporate leaders. Visit www.chci.org, or join us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

Discovery En Espanol Premieres The Original Production ‘Porfirio Diaz, 100 Anos Sin Patria’

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Leading Mexican actor Hector Bonilla as Porfirio Diaz. The original production 'Porfirio Diaz, 100 Anos sin Patria' will premiere on October 4 at 10PM E/P on Discovery en Espanol.

MIAMI, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A century after the death of General Porfirio Diaz, and 105 years after he went into exile from his homeland, Discovery en Espanol tells the true story of one of the most controversial figures in Mexican history, considered a tyrant by many and a national hero by others.  PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA premieres Sunday, October 4 at 10PM E/P during the Discovery a Fondo block, as part of the network’s Hispanic Heritage Month special programming.

Leading Mexican actor Hector Bonilla as Porfirio Diaz. The original production 'Porfirio Diaz, 100 Anos sin Patria' will premiere on October 4 at 10PM E/P on Discovery en Espanol.

Combining historically accurate reenactments and the testimony of renowned researchers and historians, the docudrama recounts the life and deeds of General Jose de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori, raising such thought-provoking questions as: Why isn’t Porfirio Diaz buried in Mexico?  How can we reconcile his role as a precursor of modernization in Mexico with an official history that condemns him?  Was Diaz a hero who deserves to have his remains repatriated and honored by his home country, or was he a traitor who has no place on Mexican soil?

“Discovery en Espanol has a reputation for presenting new and different angles on a specific issue and encouraging viewers to draw their own conclusions, guided by serious research and professional analysis,” remarked Allan Navarrete, the network’s Executive Vice President and General Manager for Mexico, Central America, the Andean Region and U.S. Hispanic.  “We are proud to present this revisionist take on Porfirio Diaz’s role in Mexican history, which will serve as a valuable resource for new generations.”

PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA stars Hector Bonilla as Porfirio Diaz and Patricia Reyes Spindola as his wife, Carmen Romero Rubio.  Sergio Bonilla plays Diaz as a young man. The production was filmed at such sites as Museo Casa Carranza, Panteon Frances cemetery, Casa Berlin and Mexico City’s Geology Museum.  

PORFIRIO DIAZ, 100 ANOS SIN PATRIA is an original Discovery en Espanol production made by Bravo Films, with Michela Giorelli, Rafael Rodriguez and Irune Ariztoy supervising.  It was directed by Emilio Maille (El asesinato de Villa: la conspiracion; Miradas multiples) and produced by Patricia Arriaga (Bacalar, XY.)

For more information about the network’s programming, please visit discoveryenespanol.com and follow us on facebook.com/discoveryenespanol, Twitter @DiscoveryenESP and Instagram @discoveryenespanol.

About Discovery a Fondo:
Discovery en Espanol takes an objective and impartial look at current topics in the investigative documentary series Discovery a Fondo (#afondo).  With Discovery’s exclusive access and indelible stamp of quality, this segment goes beyond the headlines to expose all of the angles of real issues of interest to Hispanic audiences.

About Discovery en Espanol
Discovery en Espanol 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 Espanol 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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FDA Encourages Juice Safety This Fall

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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — As fall arrives, so do drives in the country and drinking fresh-squeezed juices and cider. Unfortunately, serious outbreaks of foodborne illness, often called “food poisoning,” have been traced to drinking fruit and vegetable juice and cider that have not been pasteurized or otherwise treated to kill harmful bacteria. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds consumers to read the label carefully on juice and cider products.

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Learn more at:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm210573.htm

Juices provide many important nutrients, but consuming untreated juices can pose health risks to your family. When fruits and vegetables are fresh-squeezed or used raw, bacteria from the produce can end up in your juice or cider. Unless the produce or the juice has been treated to destroy any harmful bacteria, the juice could be contaminated. While most people’s immune systems can usually fight off the effects of foodborne illness, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes) risk serious illnesses or even death from drinking untreated juices.

Most of the juice sold in the United States is pasteurized (heat-treated) to kill harmful bacteria. Juice products may also be treated by non-heat processes for the same purpose. However, some grocery stores, health food stores, cider mills, farmers’ markets, and juice bars sell packaged juice that was made on site that has not been pasteurized or otherwise processed to ensure its safety. These untreated products should be kept under refrigeration and are required to carry the following warning on the label:

WARNING: This product has not been pasteurized and therefore may contain harmful bacteria that can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems.

However, FDA does not require warning labels on juice or cider that is fresh-squeezed and sold by the glass, such as at apple orchards, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and juice bars.

Follow these simple steps to prevent illness when purchasing juice:

  • Look for the warning label to avoid the purchase of untreated juices. You can find pasteurized or otherwise treated products in your grocers’ refrigerated sections, frozen food cases, or in non-refrigerated containers, such as juice boxes, bottles, or cans. Untreated juice is most likely to be sold in the refrigerated section of a grocery store.
  • Don’t hesitate to ask if you are unsure if a juice product is treated, if the labeling is unclear, or if the juice or cider is sold by the glass.

Foodborne Illness: Know the Symptoms

Consuming dangerous foodborne bacteria will usually cause illness within 1 to 3 days of eating the contaminated food. However, sickness can also occur within 20 minutes or up to 6 weeks later. Symptoms of foodborne illness include: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and flu-like symptoms (such as fever, headache, and body ache). If you think that you or a family member has a foodborne illness, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Contact: Media: 1-301-796-4540 Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)

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