BLOOMINGTON, Ill., April 21, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Spring storm season has arrived which means it’s important all drivers understand that any amount of rain can cause hazardous road conditions. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration, 74% of weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement. Contrary to what most may think, only 17% of weather related crashes occur during snow or sleet.

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Take time today to gain some simple wet weather wisdom that can help all drivers reduce the risk of car crashes.

Get wet road savvy this spring by:  

• Making sure windshield wiper blades and headlights are working well. Replace blades at least once a year for best results. It’s the law in all states to turn headlights on when visibility is low, and many states also require having the headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use.
• Checking that rear and brake lights are functioning properly. They help your vehicle be seen in rainy weather.
• Switching from winter to summer tires, if needed. Don’t forget to check tread wear and tire inflation. Both can help with traction.
• Reducing your speed on wet surfaces and allowing a safe following distance. Rain, oil and dust equal slippery conditions and traction problems on roads.
• Turning off cruise control. When roads are wet it is best to allow the driver to control speed and react to conditions.
• Paying attention to flood warnings and barricades. They’re typically placed in areas where flooding occurs often and can be potentially dangerous.
• Avoiding driving through standing water, putting yourself, passengers and your vehicle at risk. You can lose control in as little as six inches of water; deeper, moving water can cause stalling or carry vehicles away.
• The Centers for Disease Control report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.
• Hydroplaning, the skidding or sliding of tires on wet surfaces, can happen anytime roads are wet. If your vehicle hydroplanes:
  • Don’t panic.
  • Avoid hard braking and quick turns.
  • Ease off the gas, gently apply the brakes (lightly pump standard brakes, apply consistent pressure if you have ABS).
  • Steer straight ahead or to a safe open area.
  • Vehicle braking and traction control systems vary. Check your vehicle owner’s manual to know your vehicle systems and recommended action.

If you’re teaching a new driver, be sure to practice driving in an array of weather conditions, including rain, and cover these tips with them. Warmer weather means children, pets and bicycles will be out and about. Take extra caution, especially in residential areas. Teach new teen drivers to scan for these potential hazards.

The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to affect coverage under any policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.

About State Farm®:
State Farm and its affiliates are the largest provider of car insurance in the U.S. In addition to providing auto insurance quotes, their 18,000 agents and more than 65,000 employees serve over 82 million policies and accounts – nearly 80 million auto, home, life, health and commercial policies, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 41 on the 2014 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com.

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Safelite AutoGlass®, the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services, has teamed up with a group of local corporations to support Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s “Get Fresh” campaign to prevent unsold fresh produce on farms from going to waste by getting it on the table of those struggling with hunger. During the Ohio State Buckeyes’ spring game on Saturday, April 18, 2015, Safelite, a proud sponsor of Ohio State Athletics, made a financial donation to Mid-Ohio Foodbank for each score for a total of $5,000.

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Each year in the U.S., more than 14 billion pounds of fresh produce is left in the field, meanwhile, 1 in 4 children and 1 in 6 adults in our community face food insecurity every day. In collaboration with their network of agency partners, Mid-Ohio Foodbank has set a goal to raise funds to host 1,000 produce markets in central and eastern Ohio. Each produce market connects roughly 200 low-income families with nearly 10,000 pounds of fresh foods that they can’t afford to buy in stores.

Additionally, Safelite is partnering with local insurance agents to raise funds for “Get Fresh” produce markets at food pantries in their community this summer.

“Just about every central Ohio community has a food pantry to assist our hungry neighbors,” said Jon Cardi, vice president of national client sales and vice chair of Mid-Ohio Foodbank Board of Directors. “With these partnerships, we can give local agencies the opportunity to make a difference in their own neighborhood.”

The public may also make donations at GetFresh.MidOhioFoodbank.org.

About Safelite AutoGlass®

Safelite AutoGlass® is the nation’s largest provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services with 5,000 MobileGlassShops™ and company stores in all 50 states. Each year, nearly 5 million customers choose Safelite for its 24/7 national contact centers, advanced online scheduling, superior repair and replacement systems, and the industry’s only nationwide lifetime guarantee. Founded in 1947, the Columbus, Ohio-based company employs more than 11,000 people across the United States. For more information, visit Safelite.com, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact: Melina Metzger, Safelite AutoGlass® PR Manager, 614.210.9232, [email protected]

SAN ANTONIO, April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Fiesta San Antonio, the citywide celebration commemorating the history and culture of San Antonio, kicked off celebrations Thursday. The City of San Antonio welcomes locals and visitors from around the world who attend the annual event to enjoy the many festivities through Sunday, April 26.

The City’s Green. Fit. Friendly. Fiesta initiative reminds Fiesta-goers to think “green” by recycling, using alternative modes of transportation, making healthier food choices and promoting a smoke-free environment.

“Five years ago, we responded to community requests by initiating a recycling program for the first time ever during Fiesta,” Mayor Ivy R. Taylor said. “We’ve seen a great change toward picking up litter and recycling rather than throwing away plastic bottles and cups. Let’s make Green. Fit. Friendly. Fiesta as much a tradition as Fiesta itself.”

Fiesta attendees are asked to place plastic bottles and aluminum cans in recycling receptacles at Fiesta events and parades. Blue recycling and brown garbage carts will be stationed at most street intersections along parade routes for convenient disposal of items. Solid Waste Management staff and volunteers from the City of San Antonio and Keep San Antonio Beautiful will distribute yellow-mesh bags to collect recyclables during the Battle of Flowers and Fiesta Flambeau parades. Parade attendees who are seen utilizing the yellow mesh recycling bags correctly may receive a special Fiesta medal for their efforts. 

Residents and visitors are also encouraged to utilize the City’s bike share program, San Antonio B-Cycle, for travel to and from Fiesta events. San Antonio offers 55 B-Cycle stations and 450 bikes convenient to downtown with day and weekly passes for purchase. Annual memberships are also offered.

To promote a healthy and family-friendly Fiesta environment, a smoking ban prohibits smoking in areas with public right-of-ways along streets, sidewalks and the San Antonio River during three Fiesta parades: Texas Cavaliers’ River Parade, Fiesta Battle of Flowers Parade and Fiesta Flambeau Parade. Private properties are excluded from the ban, though voluntary compliance is encouraged.

“The Green. Fit. Friendly. Fiesta initiative is one way the City of San Antonio contributes to the overall Fiesta experience,” City Manager Sheryl Sculley said. “Residents and visitors can ensure a positive Fiesta experience for all by recycling, opting for alternative modes of transportation and making healthier food choices.”

As one of San Antonio’s signature events, Fiesta San Antonio is an 11-day celebration attracting nearly 3.5 million visitors each year and featuring more than 100 events that boast music, food, sports, pageantry, military and patriotic observances, exhibits and parades.

For information regarding B-Cycle and the City’s bike share program, visit sanantonio.bcycle.com. For more information on Fiesta San Antonio, visit fiesta-sa.org or sanantonio.gov.

City on the Rise: San Antonio

San Antonio is a city on the rise for the new face of America—a diverse, progressive and globally competitive city with a solid vision for national and international economic development. The City of San Antonio maintains a strong financial position with a “AAA” general obligation bond rating from all three major rating agencies. In 2014, Forbes labeled San Antonio the “Best City in the Southwest” for adults ages 18-34 for its dynamic economy, employment opportunities and affordable living. As the seventh-largest city in the United States, San Antonio is experiencing solid economic growth in 21st century industries such as bioscience, aerospace, cybersecurity and healthcare, which contribute billions to the local economy. San Antonio has also positioned itself at the forefront of the New Energy Economy in the United States, committed to investing and creating employment opportunities in green industries. San Antonio continues to experience the addition of missions at its several military commands, further fostering a significant relationship spanning more than 200 years. Thirty-one million visitors come to San Antonio every year, generating more than $13.4 billion annually and making the travel industry a vital asset to the city’s economic health. For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov.

CHICAGO, April 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — A man of peace, tenacity and courage has been called home to the Lord. Our beloved Cardinal George passed away today at 10:45 a.m. at the Residence.

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Cardinal George’s life’s journey began and ended in Chicago. He was a man of great courage who overcame many obstacles to become a priest. When he joined the priesthood he did not seek a comfortable position, instead he joined a missionary order, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and served the people of God in challenging circumstances – in Africa, Asia and all around the world.

A proud Chicagoan, he became a leader of his order and again traveled far from home, not letting his physical limitations moderate his zeal for bringing the promise of Christ’s love where it was needed most. When he was ordained a bishop, he served faithfully, first in Yakima, where he learned Spanish to be closer to his people. He then served in Portland, where he asked the people to continue to teach him how to be a good bishop. In return, he promised to help them become good missionaries.

Cardinal George was a respected leader among the bishops of the United States. When, for example, the church struggled with the grave sin of clerical sexual abuse, he stood strong among his fellow bishops and insisted that zero tolerance was the only course consistent with our beliefs.

He served the Church universal as a Cardinal and offered his counsel and support to three Popes and their collaborators in the Roman congregations. In this way, he contributed to the governance of the Church worldwide.

Here in Chicago, the Cardinal visited every corner of the Archdiocese, talking with the faithful and bringing kindness to every interaction. He pursued an overfull schedule– always choosing the church over his own comfort and the people over his own needs. Most recently, we saw his bravery first hand as he faced the increasing challenges brought about by cancer.

Let us heed his example and be a little more brave, a little more steadfast and a lot more loving. This is the surest way to honor his life and celebrate his return to the presence of God.

As we celebrate in these Easter days our new life in the Risen Lord, join me in offering comfort to Cardinal George’s family, especially his sister, Margaret, by assuring them of our prayers, thanking God for his life and years of dedication to the Archdiocese of Chicago. Let us pray that God will bring this good and faithful servant into the fullness of the kingdom.

May Cardinal George rest in peace.

CONTACT: Susan Burritt, Media Relations Director, 312-534-8233, [email protected]