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Consumer Reports Rates Best & Worst Prepaid Cards

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Consumer Reports Rates Best & Worst Prepaid Cards

Report Issued on Eve of CFPB Field Hearing on Prepaid Cards; 
Consumers Union Calls for Reforms to Better Protect Consumers


YONKERS, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Prepaid cards have become an increasingly popular payment option but it can be challenging for consumers to determine which cards are the most affordable and easiest to use.  That’s the conclusion of a new Consumer Reports investigation which offers tips to help consumers make smarter choices and rates prepaid cards based on value, convenience, safety, and how well fees are disclosed. 

The report was released on the eve of a field hearing in Delaware on prepaid cards organized by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is expected to issue proposed rules covering the cards very soon.  Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy division of Consumer Reports, has called on the CFPB to improve prepaid card fee disclosure and adopt other reforms to better protect consumers who use them. 

“Competition has helped bring down fees and many prepaid cards offer an attractive option for managing your money,” said Christina Tetreault, staff attorney for Consumers Union.  “But some cards come with costly fees that aren’t always disclosed clearly and prepaid cards still lack the same legal protections consumers get with debit cards.”

General purpose reloadable prepaid cards can be used much like a traditional debit card linked to a bank account and are used by an estimated one in four U.S. households.  Unlike traditional debit and credit cards, prepaid cards don’t enjoy the same legal protections that limit the financial liability consumers face in the event of fraud or merchant mistakes, although most card issuers provide these safeguards voluntarily.  However, those voluntary protections can be changed or rescinded at any time.

Consumer Reports reviewed 23 different prepaid cards based on four different factors:  value (how much they cost to use); convenience (availability of in-network ATMs, bill pay features, and how widely the card network brand is accepted); safety (whether funds are protected with FDIC insurance); and how well fees are disclosed.  In general, the highest rated cards have fewer fees and make it easier to avoid them; carry FDIC insurance for each cardholder; offer features comparable to traditional checking accounts; and do an excellent job of disclosing fees.  By contrast, the worst cards reviewed by Consumer Reports came up short in at least one, and usually multiple categories.

Because some consumers rely on prepaid cards as bank account substitutes while others use them in addition to bank accounts, Consumer Reports evaluated each card based on these different usage patterns.  Research shows that consumers who use prepaid cards as a bank account substitutes load their cards more often, make more ATM withdrawals, and use the card’s bill pay feature.  Consumers who use prepaid cards in addition to bank accounts use their card primarily to make purchases and are less likely to withdraw cash from their card or use the bill pay feature. 

Consumer Reports Ratings for Prepaid Cards Used As Bank Account Substitutes

Best Cards:   Topping the list is the Bluebird card (by American Express and Walmart), which comes without a monthly fee, no inactivity fees or fees for calling customer service, along with a bill paying feature and no-overdraft paper checks.  Chase Liquid (Visa) is the second highest rated card with low fees and many of the features provided by bank accounts, although no bill pay.  The American Express Serve was ranked third with low fees and convenient features, followed by the Prepaid Visa RushCard, Rush Unlimited Plan, a good value that comes with convenient features like bill pay. 

Worst Cards:  At the bottom of the ratings are the NetSpend Fee Advantage Plan, NetSpend Pay-As-you-Go Plan (both issued by Metabank), and the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card.  None of these cards offer free in-network ATM access and consumers may incur high fees.  The lowest rated prepaid card is the American Express for Target, which cannot be recommended because it lacks FDIC insurance for individual cardholders.      

Consumer Reports Ratings for Prepaid Cards Used in Addition to Bank Accounts

Best Cards:  The Bluebird card (by American Express and Walmart) was the top rated card, with a low monthly fee and few other fees along with improved disclosure. H&R Block’s Emerald Prepaid MasterCard is the second highest rated card with no purchase fees or monthly fees. Chase Liquid (Visa) card is third and offers clear fee disclosure and features consumers with bank accounts are likely to appreciate, such as free ATM access. Rounding out the top four is American Express Serve, with low fees, convenient access to in-network ATMs and a bill pay feature.

Worst Cards:  Among the cards rated lowest were the NetSpend Prepaid Visa Fee Advantage Plan, NetSpend Prepaid Visa, Pay-As-You-Go Plan, and the AccountNow Gold Visa Prepaid Card.  These cards would be expensive for users who rely on their cards primarily for purchases and budgeting, with relatively high monthly fees, or in the case of NetSpend’s Pay As You Go Plan, a one or two dollar fee every time you make a retail purchase.  The lowest rated card, American Express for Target, doesn’t come with FDIC insurance. 

Consumers Union has called on regulators and lawmakers to adopt a number of reforms that would help protect consumers using prepaid cards, including:

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) should require that all prepaid card issuers display their fees in a simple, comprehensive chart with clear definitions of each fee that is available to consumers before they purchase their card.    
  • The CFPB should clarify that the Electronic Funds Transfer Act (EFTA) covers prepaid cards, giving cardholders the same dispute and error resolution rights they have with debit cards.
  • The CFPB should require prepaid card issuing banks to set up their prepaid programs so that each cardholder is covered by deposit insurance.
  • Congress should amend the EFTA to limit a consumer’s financial liability from fraudulent debit transactions to the current liability limit for credit cards – no more than $50.  The EFTA should also be amended to include a “chargeback” provision for both bank account-linked debit cards and prepaid cards.

“Consumers still lack the protections they need with this fast growing new way to pay,” said Pamela Banks senior counsel for Consumers Union.  “The CFPB should require clear disclosure of all prepaid card fees and enact strong safeguards that protect consumers.”   


Nearly Half of America’s Families With Young Children Struggle to Make Ends Meet

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Nearly Half of America’s Families With Young Children Struggle to Make Ends Meet

Coordinated Approach Needed to Connect Low-Income Families With Early Childhood Education, Job Training and Other Tools to Achieve Stability


BALTIMORE, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — With almost half the nation’s young children growing up in low-income households, a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation calls for a comprehensive effort to lift kids out of poverty. The report focuses on the importance of delivering high-quality early childhood education while simultaneously providing parents with access to job training, career paths and other tools that enable them to support their families.

The KIDS COUNT® policy report, Creating Opportunity for Families: A Two-Generation Approach, outlines how the public, nonprofit and private sectors must work together to reduce poverty among the 10 million low-income families with young children in the United States. The recommendations propose integrating state and federal employment, education and child care programs for parents and children to create better opportunities for the entire family.

“We hope this report will spark deep commitment in Washington and in board rooms across the country to remove the obstacles that prevent millions of families from putting their kids on a path to success,” said Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation. “For too long, our approach to poverty has focused separately on children and adults, instead of their interrelated needs. We’ve learned a lot about what works in separate areas, but we’re not combining these lessons to break the cycle of poverty.”

The Foundation’s two-generation approach seeks to equip families with the tools and skills to get on a path to opportunity and overcome some of the obstacles they face, such as inflexible and unpredictable jobs that do not offer high enough wages to support a family; lack of access to high-quality, reliable early child care and education; and increased stress levels for parents and children. The report describes specific strategies for addressing these challenges so that parents can fully nurture and support their children and, ultimately, build better futures for themselves and their kids.

The key findings show that nearly a third of children age 5 or younger in low-income families have parents with concerns about their development and that 45 percent of low-income families with young children (age 8 or younger) are headed by single parents, compared with 17 percent of middle- and upper-income families. In nearly 80 percent of low-income families with young children, parents do not have a postsecondary degree, which dramatically highlights the need to equip parents who have limited education with skills that can help them earn a family-supporting income. Additionally, the report emphasizes the need for federal and state agencies, along with businesses and community- and faith-based institutions, to work more closely together so that the whole family can succeed.

The report outlines three broad recommendations:

  • Create policies that equip parents and children with the income, tools and skills they need to succeed — as a family and as individuals. State and federal governments should strengthen policies that expand job-training, educational and career opportunities; adopt policies that give parents more flexibility at work, such as paid time off; increase the Child Tax Credit for low-income parents of very young children; and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit to increase the income of noncustodial parents.
  • Put common sense into common practice by structuring public systems to respond to the realities facing today’s families. State and federal governments should promote collaboration and align policies and programs through interagency commissions and innovation funds. For example, child- and adult-focused state agencies should consolidate their data to look at the whole family. Federal policymakers could take advantage of new legislation and reauthorization periods for Head Start and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, among others, to bring together child and adult programs.
  • Use existing child, adult and neighborhood programs and platforms to build evidence for practical pathways out of poverty for entire families. Early childhood, K-12, home-visiting, job-training and supportive housing programs could partner with one another to connect parents with financial coaching, job-readiness assistance, education and other tools to achieve financial stability, while also ensuring their children have access to high-quality care and schooling.

Creating Opportunity for Families: A Two-Generation Approach will be available Nov. 12 at 12:01 a.m. EST at www.aecf.org. Additional information is available in the KIDS COUNT Data Center, which also contains the most recent national, state and local data on hundreds of indicators of child well-being. The Data Center allows users to create rankings, maps and graphs for use in publications and on websites, and to view real-time information on mobile devices.

The Annie E. Casey Foundation creates a brighter future for the nation’s children by developing solutions to strengthen families, build paths to economic opportunity and transform struggling communities into safer and healthier places to live, work and grow. For more information, visit www.aecf.org. KIDS COUNT® is a registered trademark of the Annie E. Casey Foundation.


INVISION’s Traffic System Selected By NUVOtv

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INVISION’s Traffic System Selected By NUVOtv


NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — INVISION Inc., the media industry’s most experienced provider of multi-platform advertising sales software, is pleased to announce the launch of NUVOtv, the premier English-language Latino entertainment network, onto its end-to-end sales and traffic solution DealMaker Crossroad.

“Working with INVISION will allow us to transition from a multiple vendor sales & traffic operation to a single partner,” said Mike Roggero, CFO & COO of NUVOtv. “We see this move as helping the network meet its business needs and improve management of our television advertising inventory while delivering key operational efficiencies.”

DealMaker Crossroad is the leading sales and commercial operations solution.  This solution enables television & media companies to manage the entire advertising sales ecosystem across multiple properties, channels and platforms, as well as all types of media—including TV, radio, cable, digital display and mobile—from one single system.

The industry’s best integrations with third-party vendors such as GRiP-it!, SIMS and Miranda iTX amplify the efficiencies gained with using DealMaker Crossroad for clients.

“We are seeing a growing trend in clients looking for a single, end-to-end software solution to manage the entirety of their advertising sales business from sales to traffic to finance to meet the dynamic needs of the marketplace,” said Steve Marshall, co-founder & CEO of INVISION. “DealMaker Crossroad checks all of those boxes with its ability to bring sales and traffic together into one seamless workflow. It offers powerful inventory forecasting and management which integrates program and selling titles, providing true on-the-log avails reflecting overlaps and real-time no overnight batch jobs.”

For more information about DealMaker Crossroad, visit www.invisioninc.com/products/dealmaker-crossroad.

ABOUT INVISION Inc.

INVISION Inc. (www.invisioninc.com) is the media industry’s most experienced provider of multi-platform advertising sales software. Trusted by the largest media and television companies in the industry to manage over $13 billion in ad revenue each year, our proven software and expertise help clients streamline operations and maximize the revenue of their inventory through all stages of the ad sales process.

INVISION solutions are used by clients including DIRECTV, Warner Bros, Univision, Bloomberg and NBCUniversal to profitably operate and monetize ad-supported inventory distributed on linear and non-linear outlets. The DealMaker software suite automates the end-to-end advertising sales workflow, supports multi-platform deals (linear and non-linear), and provides advanced addressable inventory decisioning. 

INVISION is headquartered in New York, with offices in Washington, DC and Atlanta, providing worldwide services.  

About NUVOtv

NUVOtv (www.myNUVOtv.com) is the premier English-language destination for Latino entertainment, embodying the spirit, energy and richness of modern Latino culture. Providing original entertainment and lifestyle programming, NUVOtv is available in more than 32 million homes nationwide with major distribution partners: AT&T U-verse, Comcast, Cox, Dish Network, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FIOS.

The network is widely available in all top Hispanic DMAs and most major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago and New York. Iconic superstar and powerhouse entrepreneur Jennifer Lopez serves as NUVOtv’s Chief Creative Officer collaborating closely with the network on programming strategy, production and marketing.


American Honda Foundation Marks 30th Anniversary with Major Support of Education Programs for Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families

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American Honda Foundation Marks 30th Anniversary with Major Support of Education Programs for Military Personnel, Veterans and their Families


TORRANCE, California, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The American Honda Foundation is marking its 30th anniversary in conjunction with Veteran’s Day with a series of new, special donations to organizations that provide educational scholarships and support to active military personnel, veterans and their families.

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The American Honda Foundation is focused primarily on contributing to organizations involved in youth and scientific education, with a specific emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Three organizations that will receive support from these special donations from the American Honda Foundation include:

  • Folds of Honor provides annual educational scholarships to the families of U.S. service members who have been killed or disabled while in active duty. The American Honda Foundation has provided Folds of Honor with $30,000 for scholarships that support STEM education and aspiring teachers.
  • The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) provides needs-based college scholarship grants, financial aid and educational counseling to the children of Special Operations personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The American Honda Foundation has provided the SOWF with $30,000 for scholarships that support STEM education and aspiring teachers. An additional $10,000 will support SOWF program services, which includes immediate financial assistance to severely-wounded and hospitalized special operations personnel and their families.
  • ThanksUSA provides needs-based educational scholarships to the children and spouses of active-duty and reserve U.S. military personnel. The American Honda Foundation has provided ThanksUSA with $30,000 for scholarships that support STEM education and aspiring teachers.

“In researching unmet needs, the American Honda Foundation quickly zeroed-in on military personnel and their families, who have sacrificed for all of us and now need our support,” said Alexandra Warnier, executive director of the American Honda Foundation. “The Foundation is proud to support these organizations, which provide the families of our men and women of the U.S. military with the gift of education, creating a legacy for the whole community.”

About the American Honda Foundation

Celebrating 30 years of providing strategic grants to nonprofit organizations in the United States, the American Honda Foundation is dedicated to helping prepare America’s children for tomorrow’s challenges. As such, the Foundation focuses its efforts in the areas of youth and scientific education, with a specific focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects and the environment. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $33 million to organizations serving approximately 115 million people in every state in the U.S. For more information please visit http://www.foundation.honda.com.

About Honda

Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 39,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion.

Based on its longstanding commitment to “build products close to the customer” Honda operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet light jet, using domestic and globally sourced parts.


Ismael Cala to Present His Latest Book “Un buen hijo de P”

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Ismael Cala to Present His Latest Book “Un buen hijo de P”


MIAMI, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Penguin Random House and Cala Enterprises will be presenting on November 22 at the Miami International Book Fair “Un buen hijo de P…”, an inspirational story by Ismael Cala.

Coming on the heels of the enormous success of his book “El poder de escuchar” (The Power of Listening), the CNN en Espanol host returns with an inspirational story about human development, the true meaning of our life stories, emotional intelligence, the search for success, and the inner wellbeing that helps us change the way we see our lives.

As one of the most important interviewers on Latin American and U.S. Hispanic television, Ismael Cala has not been spared from the passion of those who in the midst of a political discussion where opinions differ, respond with “You son of a b….,” words which, although directed at one’s mother, have given Cala a further reason to pause and reflect and change their meaning entirely. 

“God wanted my three “P’s” of constant success and growth to be joined together with the offensive phrase ‘hijo de p…’ (son of a b….),” said Cala. Those “P’s” represent the success in his life: Passion, Patience and Perseverance.

What: Launch of “Un buen hijo de P…”.
When: November 22, 2014.
Where: Room 3314. Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus, 300 NE 2nd Avenue.

ABOUT ISMAEL CALA

Ismael Cala, host of the show CALA on CNN en Espanol, has more than 25 years of media experience in Cuba, Canada, the United States and Mexico, including Televisa, TLN and AmericaTeve.

In 2013, he published his first book “El poder de escuchar” (The Power of Listening), which became a best seller in Latin America and the United States. That same year, he was named Ibero-American Personality by the Ibero-American Journalists Organization. In 2014, he received the John Maxwell Leadership award in the media category, and the Gold Palms award from the National Journalists Circle of Mexico.

The program CALA airs on CNN en Espanol at 9:00 p.m. (U.S.A., ET), 8:00 p.m. (Mexico City) and 8:30 p.m. (Caracas). Follow it on Twitter: @calacnn and @cala. And on facebook.com/calacnn


Construction on highly-anticipated community The Mansions at Doral quickly advances

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Construction on highly-anticipated community The Mansions at Doral quickly advances


DORAL, Fla., Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Future residents and community members alike are eagerly awaiting the completion of The Mansions at Doral – a 64-lot, gated enclave of ultra-luxurious and customizable mansions that are set to change the standard of living in Doral, Florida.

The Doral community is beginning to get a glimpse of what this exclusive project will look like, as 70% of the streets have been carved out, the curbs are completed, the pipes & sewage system have been installed, and the sparkling lake is ready to go.

Perhaps the most exciting news to date is that construction on the very first mansion has begun, which is projected to be complete by summer 2015. 

Fred Sanchez, Director of Construction, expects to begin building 3 mansions per month and eventually shift to 4 per month.

Although quickly progressing, The Mansions at Doral has faced – and conquered – some challenges.

“The biggest challenge we had was meeting our Land Development deadline,” explains Sanchez. “South Florida’s infamous rainy season significantly delayed our schedule, but our superior team made sure we stayed on track and we got it done.”

Juan Carlos Tovar, the project’s Business Partner, is proud to tell us that The Mansions at Doral is 50% sold. And, although the construction process is highly detailed and complicated, the entire community may be complete as early as 2016.

“Our construction and development team is very different from that of other developments in Doral,” says Tovar. “We have brought in teams from areas like Pinecrest and Miami Beach, where crews are used to building custom-homes with fine details. This is not a mass production project.”

With 7 models and over 100 possible customizations, this most certainly is not a mass production product. And despite quick construction timelines, buyers can rest easy knowing they are investing in a high-quality home.

“We have partnered with designers and companies who have a reputation for high quality,” affirms Tovar. “Every mansion features top of the line brands so that the end result is not only beautiful, but long-lasting as well.”

What’s next for The Mansions at Doral? The team will soon be paving the streets and starting construction of the entry walls and entrance guardhouse. 

The Mansions at Doral is located at 6805 NW 107th Ave. Doral, FL 33178.

For more information, visit www.TheMansionsatDoral.com. 

For media inquiries: Susan Mendez at [email protected].

     


NHCLC/Conela and ICEJ to Partner to Advance Hispanic Christian Engagement with Israel

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NHCLC/Conela and ICEJ to Partner to Advance Hispanic Christian Engagement with Israel

Set goal to bring more Hispanic Christians to Jerusalem for Feast of Tabernacles


SACRAMENTO, California, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)/Conela and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) announced today the formation of a strategic partnership to advance and deepen Hispanic Christian engagement with the state and people of Israel.

Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/CL72800LOGO

This cooperative effort will focus on the ICEJ’s annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem serving as the official and exclusive gathering for Hispanic Evangelicals to make pilgrimage to Israel each year and to express in person their support for the Jewish nation and people.

“Our objective is to exponentially increase Hispanic participation and attendance at the annual Feast of Tabernacles, held each fall in Jerusalem under the sponsorship of the Christian Embassy,” said Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the NHCLC/Conela. “We will encourage all followers of Christ in the Latino world to come to Jerusalem at this divinely appointed time, to see the biblical sites, stand in solidarity with Israel, and take part in this dynamic worship experience with believers from all over the world.”

Since 1980, the ICEJ’s Christian celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem has been Israel’s largest annual tourist event, with more than 5,000 Christians from 80 nations attending Feast 2014 last October. The week-long gathering features powerful preaching by leading Christian ministers, dynamic music and worship, and warm encounters with Israelis.

“We are excited about partnering with Dr. Samuel Rodriguez in this new initiative to bring more Hispanic pilgrims to the Feast each year,” noted Dr. Jurgen Buhler, ICEJ executive director. “Their presence in Jerusalem will have a great impact on the Israeli people, and it will only enhance the incredible fellowship we enjoy with Christians from across the globe at this unique biblical festival.”

Feast 2015 will run from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2, beginning with an outdoor desert celebration at the Ein Gedi oasis along the Dead Sea; communion services in the beautiful Garden Tomb; worship celebrations and teaching seminars in the new Jerusalem Pais Arena; and the popular Jerusalem March through the streets of the capital city.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem is considered the world’s largest pro-Israel Christian organization, with established branches in over 80 nations and a reach into more than 140 nations worldwide. For more information, visit http://int.icej.org/.

NHCLC/CONELA is the largest Hispanic Christian organization.  It serves as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches and another 500,000 congregations spread throughout the Spanish-speaking community. For more information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.


Cal/OSHA Cites Fuel Distributor Nearly $100,000 after Fatal Explosion: Investigation Determines Lack of Safety Measures Caused Death, Dismemberment and Severe Employee Burns

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Cal/OSHA Cites Fuel Distributor Nearly $100,000 after Fatal Explosion: Investigation Determines Lack of Safety Measures Caused Death, Dismemberment and Severe Employee Burns


SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Cal/OSHA has cited fuel distribution company National Distribution Services Inc. (NDS) $99,345 following an investigation into an explosion at the company’s Corona facility that killed one employee and left another with severe burns. The owner of the company has been previously cited for similar incidents.

On May 6, 2014, two employees attempted welding operations on a 9,000-gallon tanker truck containing an unknown amount of crude oil. The tank had not been purged or tested for flammable vapors, resulting in the explosion. Samuel Enciso, 52, was a welder who had been with NDS for four years. He was found dead on the floor of the facility with his right hand and lower arm completely severed. A second employee with five years of experience suffered burns to more than 50 percent of his body.

Investigators from the San Bernardino Cal/OSHA District Office determined that NDS contributed to this incident by failing to have required safety procedures in place for working with flammable vapors. Additionally, investigators found that NDS failed to train employees on the dangers of welding near combustible materials.

“California requires employers to have and adhere to an Injury and Illness Prevention Program,” said Christine Baker, Director of the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR). Cal/OSHA, formally known as the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, is a division of DIR. “This preventable death is a reminder of what can happen when that requirement is ignored,” said Baker. 

While investigating the May 6 event, investigators learned about a previous explosion at the Corona facility that occurred under similar circumstances, and involved the same two NDS employees.  On September 25, 2012, the lid of a fuel tanker blew through the ceiling of the repair facility after the employees commenced welding on a truck filled with flammable vapors. No injuries occurred on that date.

“Enforcement of California safety laws sends a message to non-compliant employers,” said Juliann Sum, Acting Chief of Cal/OSHA. “You cannot cut corners when it comes to worker safety.”

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration served NDS with an emergency restriction order on August 14, prohibiting the company from using cargo tank motor vehicles. The company appealed the order in September.

The owner of NDS, Carl Bradley Johansson, served prison time following a previous similar incident. In the 1990s, Johansson operated a business in Montebello known as Atlas Bulk Carriers. On September 27, 1993 there was an explosion involving welding operations on a fuel tanker that had also not been purged or tested. This incident also took the life of a welder employed by the company. Atlas Bulk Carriers was cited by Cal/OSHA for this incident.

Cal/OSHA helps protect workers from health and safety hazards on the job in almost every workplace in California. Employers who want to learn more about California workplace health and safety standards or labor law violations can access information on DIR’s website as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

Cal/OSHA’s Consultation Program provides free and voluntary assistance to employers and employee organizations to improve their health and safety programs. Employers should call (800) 963-9424 for assistance from the Cal/OSHA Consultation Program.

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

For media inquiries contact Erika Monterroza at (510) 286-1164 or Peter Melton at (510) 286-7046.

The California Department of Industrial Relations, established in 1927, protects and improves the health, safety, and economic well-being of over 18 million wage earners, and helps their employers comply with state labor laws. DIR is housed within the Labor & Workforce Development Agency. Non-media inquiries can contact DIR’s Communications Call Center at 1-844-LABOR-DIR (1-844-522-6734) for help in locating the appropriate division or program in our department.

 


(Español) McDonald’s retira del mercado silbatos de Hello Kitty debido a riesgos de atragantamiento y aspiración

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Popular Learning Resource Now Provides GRE® Test Takers Free Math Support

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Popular Learning Resource Now Provides GRE® Test Takers Free Math Support


PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The GRE® Program has just introduced a brand-new resource for helping test takers gain more familiarity around the math concepts that appear on the GRE ® revised General Test. 

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

Individuals can visit the GRE website to get a detailed lesson mapping of GRE math concepts connected to free instructional interactive exercises and videos on the Khan Academy website. This lesson mapping provides direct links to dozens of relevant Khan Academy interactive exercises and videos in the areas of arithmetic, algebra, geometry and data analysis, all concepts covered in the GRE revised General Test. These can be accessed at www.ets.org/gre/khan.

“We are always seeking new ways to help test takers feel comfortable and succeed. The Khan Academy interactive exercises and videos can provide extra help, whether individuals are looking for added practice or need to refresh their math skills in a particular area,” says Dawn Piacentino, Director of Communications and Services for the GRE Program at ETS.

A recent survey of GRE test takers revealed that slightly more than one-third of individuals said they prepare about one to four hours per week and another one-third said they averaged about five to nine hours per week. Responses were well divided among those who said they spend more time preparing for the Quantitative Reasoning section of the GRE revised General Test compared to those who prepared more for the Verbal Reasoning section of the test. 

The lesson mapping for the instructional interactive exercises and videos on the Khan Academy ties directly to the free, downloadable 100-page GRE® Math Review — available on the GRE website — which includes definitions, properties, examples and a set of exercises with answers at the end of each section. 

Students now have the ability to access germane instructional math content in print and video formats to facilitate their test preparation. The GRE Program also offers other test preparation materials in a variety of formats, such as the highly recommended free POWERPREP ® II software which includes two full-length computer-delivered practice tests.

“It’s about giving students the power of confidence,” Piacentino said. “That’s why we also introduced the ScoreSelect ® Option, available only with the GRE tests. With this option, GRE test takers can decide on test day — or anytime up to five years after test day — which of their sets of scores to send to graduate or business schools worldwide. So whether they test once or more than once, they can show their best scores. It helps people approach test day with confidence knowing they have options.”

The GRE revised General Test is the most widely accepted admissions test for graduate and business school worldwide. Last year, nearly 800,000 GRE tests were taken in pursuit of master’s, MBA, specialized master’s in business and doctoral programs.

Khan Academy is a nonprofit organization that provides free online materials and resources to support personalized education for learners of all ages and has delivered over 400 million lessons, with learners completing over 2.5 billion exercise problems. On Khan Academy, students can practice math at their own pace within an adaptive environment, starting from 1+1, all the way up to calculus.

For more information about the GRE revised General Test or to register to take the test, visit www.ets.org/gre. 

About ETS
At ETS, we 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


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