San Antonio’s General Obligation ‘AAA’ Bond Rating Re-Affirmed
San Antonio’s General Obligation ‘AAA’ Bond Rating Re-Affirmed
SAN ANTONIO, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The City of San Antonio’s ‘AAA’ general obligation bond rating has been re-affirmed by the three major bond rating agencies – Standard & Poor’s, Fitch and Moody’s – for the fifth time since 2010. The ‘AAA’ bond rating is the highest credit rating an organization can receive. San Antonio is the only major city with a population of more than one million to have a ‘AAA’ bond rating from any one of the major rating agencies and with these most recent rating reviews, San Antonio has maintained its ‘AAA’ bond rating with all three major rating agencies.
In May, a City Council Budget Goal Setting Session was held to obtain policy direction for City Council Members for the development of the FY 2015 budget. During the goal setting session, City Council Members provided support for recommendations to strengthen and enhance the City’s Financial policies. Some of the key enhancements included increasing the General Fund Financial Reserves and ending Fund Balance, establishing financial targets and managing the growth in the Public Safety budgets so that other core services such as Street Maintenance, Libraries and Parks are not crowded out.
“The City’s strong bond rating is a great benefit for our community and a reflection of the excellent financial stewardship of our financial resources,” said Mayor Ivy R. Taylor. “Strong financial management coupled with our diverse local economy, rich history and culture make San Antonio a truly unique Big City in America.”
San Antonio’s ‘AAA’ bond rating is attributable to its strong fiscal performance and financial management policies, according to the bond rating reports. The City also maintains a two-year budget strategy and comprehensive long-term capital program.
“Among the ten largest cities in the U.S., San Antonio is the only municipality with ‘AAA’ ratings from all three major ratings services,” said City Manager Sheryl Sculley. “Superior bond ratings result in lower borrowing costs and decreased interest expense. These ratings also reflect our commitment to proactively manage the City’s finances for the long-term with updates to our financial policies and addressing legacy benefits.”
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. Nearly 30 million visitors come to San Antonio every year, generating more than $12 billion annually and making the travel industry a vital asset to the city’s economic health. For more information, visit www.sanantonio.gov.
(Español) Cristiano Ronaldo se incorpora al Real Madrid para la Copa Internacional de Campeones Guinness 2014
Latino Conservation Action Week Launches, Highlights Latinos Dedication to Protecting Our Environment
Latino Conservation Action Week Launches, Highlights Latinos Dedication to Protecting Our Environment
WASHINGTON, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Tomorrow, the inaugural Latino Conservation Action Week kicks off as Latinos demonstrate their passion for protecting our environment and getting outdoors. During the week, the Latino community, particularly in the Southwest, will go on hiking or camping outings, participate in community events or hold presentations designed to show their support for permanently protecting our land, water and air.
“This week is about sharing the Latino community’s perspective on the environment like the need to protect our public lands and natural surroundings for future generations,” said Maite Arce, president of Hispanic Access Foundation, which created the Action Week as part of its growing environmental program. “Hispanics are passionate about the outdoors and hold a strong belief that we have a moral obligation to take care of it.”
There has been a surge of activity from Hispanics across the country in relation to the environment. Polling consistently shows high levels of pro-conservation stances among Latinos, including high-levels of support for candidates sharing this same value. Numerous Latino groups dedicated to engaging and protecting the environment – including Action Week event sponsors Latino Outdoors and HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hiking and the Outdoors) – have been formed. And, recognizing the importance of the nation’s largest minority group as the environmental stewards of tomorrow, national parks, government agencies, environmental groups and others have initiated programs to heighten Latino participation.
“For many of our nation’s Hispanics, the outdoors provides a connection to their cultural heritage. Environmental tourism provides employment and financial security to numerous Latinos. Getting outdoors and experiencing nature benefits the physical and mental wellness of Hispanic youth and adults. And unfortunately, this population is much more likely to suffer negative health issues due to environmental hazards,” said Arce. “The environment affects so many aspects of our lives; it’s only natural to focus on nature.”
The activities span several states and a listing of events is available at www.LatinoConservationWeek.com. Those recognizing Latino Conservation Action Week will be using #Latinos4Conservation in their social media. For media looking to attend a specific event or arrange interviews, please contact Robert Fanger at [email protected].
About Hispanic Access Foundation
Hispanic Access Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that improves the lives of Hispanics in the United States and promotes civic engagement by educating, motivating and helping them access trustworthy support systems. Our vision is that all Hispanics throughout the U.S. enjoy good physical health, a healthy natural environment, a quality education, economic success and civic engagement in their communities with the sum improving the future of America. For more information visit www.hispanicaccess.org.
Contact: Robert Fanger
P: 317-410-7668
E: [email protected]
Video – http://youtu.be/DylT_wA6SAI?list=UUlQuqIoXRysCYpW-vG-ItYQ
The Hepatitis C virus is the main cause of liver transplant in the world
The Hepatitis C virus is the main cause of liver transplant in the world
WORLD HEPATITIS DAY, JULY 28th
The Hepatitis C is a chronic illness, most commonly transmitted through blood-to-blood contact and it is 5 times more disseminated than the HIV infection.
Is a silent illness considered by the World Health Organization as a “viral bomb”. Approximately 70% – 80% of the people with the illness do not know about it, due to the fact that symptoms present in advanced stages of the illness.
New treatment is now available in Trinidad, an innovative therapy that increases the possibility of cure from this illness up to 80% in patients infected by the Hepatitis C virus, genotype 1.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The Chemistry, Food & Drugs Division of the Trinidad & Tobago Ministry of Health approved the introduction of Telaprevir to the market, an innovative therapy that significantly increases the cure rate from Hepatitis C, and it is indicated for patients infected with the genotype 1 virus. Telaprevir is available in Trinidad under the trade brand INCIVO®.
Photo – http://www2.prnewswire.com.br/imgs/pub/2014-07-25/original/2026.jpg
Clinical studies show that the regimen of the treatment based in Telaprevir together with pegylated interferon + ribavirin increases the percentage of patients that get cured in up to 80% of the cases, significantly superior to the efficacy rates observed with the conventional treatment with dual therapy, available today.
Furthermore, triple therapy with the inclusion of Telaprevir avoids the progression of the illness, the need of a liver transplant, and the prevalence of long term complications, such as hepatic cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death.
Hepatitis C is one of the most prevalent illnesses throughout the world. It affects around 170 million people[1]. In its chronic phase, it is considered by the World Health Organization, as a “viral bomb”, and it may have severe consequences on the patients and the public health systems.[2]
Approximately 70% – 80% of the people with the illness do not know about it, due to the fact that symptoms present in advanced stages of the illness. Reason why it is extremely important to maximize the early diagnosis with new therapies which increase the possibility of getting cured.
Clinical manifestations of the infection by the Hepatitis C virus vary according to the acuteness or chronic phase of the illness. An acute infection is in most of the cases asymptomatic and it leads to a chronic infection in 80% of the cases. Of these patients, 20% develop hepatic cirrhosis, which is the previous step to hepatic failure. Of these 20%, from 3% to 5% develop liver cancer.
Not treating the illness may lead to complications that in an important number of patients may lead to the necessity of a liver transplant. The transplant has additional complications of serious considerations, such as the availability of the organs, the high costs associated to it and the required post-transplant care. This may have severe consequences for the patients as well as for the public health systems.
The paradigm of the Hepatitis C treatment has changed, above all, starting with the arrival of therapeutic alternatives that directly attack the virus, increasing cure rates. We are facing a new era. Medications that change the regimen of treatment and management of Hepatitis C with higher cure rates in patients infected with HCV (Hepatitis C Virus) genotype 1, which is most predominant genotype in our environment and the most resistant to treatments.
The main goal of the Hepatitis C treatment is to accomplish a sustained viral response (SVR); this means that the virus remains undetectable in the patient´s blood (known as undetectable viral load) six months after finishing the treatment[3]. The patients that achieve an SVR are considered cured.
Telaprevir is part of the Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs), which are medications directed to specific enzymes to block important stages of the Hepatitis C virus replication. The DAAs have the potential to help the patients achieve a sustained viral response (SVR).
Telaprevir is a protease inhibitor that is used for only 12 weeks, in all cases, offering this way, a short duration treatment for the patients.
This new therapeutic alternative, presented by the pharmaceutical laboratory Janssen, offers the possibility of shortening the treatment to half the time (with interferon + ribavirin), in 6 to 7 of every 10 patients. It is important that the management of the triple therapy (protease inhibitor as Telaprevir + interferon and ribavirin) is in the hands of experienced doctors in liver diseases.
The importance of the diagnosis
Since this is a treatable and curable illness in many cases, it is crucial to put personal emphasis in the request of an Hepatitis C detection test, for which is necessary to work more as a team with the clinical doctors and increase the awareness of this public health necessity. Once the infection is diagnosed, the patient should be referred to the specialist for him to evaluate the integrated approach and the needed treatment.
Part of the difficulty in the diagnosis generates in the fact that it is a highly asymptomatic illness or with vague symptoms, such as tiredness and fatigue.
Populations that are in high risk of bearing the virus, exist: intravenous drug users (current or previous), people with conditions associated with high prevalence of HIV, patients with hemophilia that received blood transfusions before 1992, people that have been in hemodialysis, people with elevated transaminases, transfusion receptors or organ transplants before July 1992, children of mothers with Hepatitis C, sexual partners of people with Hepatitis C and health personnel.
[1]-[2] World Health Organization. Hepatitis C Weekly Epidemiological Record. 1997;82:65-69
[3] The Hepatitis C Trust. Treatments: Potential New Drugs. [cited 2010 Feb 20]
Coco Jack Sponsors ¡LATIN FOOD FEST!
Coco Jack Sponsors ¡LATIN FOOD FEST!
SAN DIEGO, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Coco Jack (www.coco-jack.com), a new line of innovative kitchen tools for opening, scooping, sipping, and “noodling” young Thai Coconuts, will sponsor the 2014 ¡LATIN FOOD FEST!, presented by the Lincoln Motor Company September 11-13, 2014. The three-day festival celebrates the world’s greatest chefs, culinary personalities, winemakers and spirits producers, together with the city’s best food and drink.
Coco Jack’s sponsorship of the festival, as with similar endeavors, represents continued support of innovative culinary and mixology leadership. David Goodman, Coco Jack’s founder and CEO, said, “Just as ¡LATIN FOOD FEST! is showcasing Latin food and spirits in new and exciting ways, Coco Jack offers a safe and easy way to open and serve young Thai coconuts.”
The company offers a complete line of tools for Young Thai Coconuts. The Coco Jack, Mallet and Scoop are their core products.
As the signature sponsor, Coco Jack will also provide coconuts for the “Spirits of the Americas” Pavilion during ¡LATIN FOOD FEST!’s Grand Tasting Village.
This is not Coco Jack’s first foray into the world of spirits and food. Coco Jack targets a broad demographic including bartenders, mixologists, and a wide range of consumers, retailers and distributors of innovative kitchenware. Coco Jack has participated in such diverse expos as The Las Vegas Bar and Nightclub Convention, The Yoga Journal Expo in New York and San Diego, The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, The Green Festival, Tales of The Cocktail and will be participating in the following events, through the end of the year:
- 8/13/2014 – 8/17/2014 IDEA Fit Expo, Anaheim, CA
- 9/11/2014 – 9/13/2014 ¡LATIN FOOD FEST!, San Diego, CA
- 9/12/2014 – 9/14/2014 Green Festival, Los Angeles, CA
- 9/17/2014 – 9/20/2014 Expo East, Baltimore, MD
- 10/27/2014 – 10/28/2014 Tri-State Food Expo, Secaucus, NJ
- 11/14/2014 – 11/16/2014 Green Festival San Francisco, CA
- 11/14/2014 – 11/17/2014 Yoga Journal Conference, FL
About Coco Jack
A Safe, Easy Way to Open Young Thai Coconuts! For more information, visit: www.coco-jack.com. For media, distribution and retail inquiries, contact Alice Gomez at [email protected].
Christian Leaders to Gather Saturday at the Border to Pray ‘For His Children’
MCALLEN, Texas, July 25, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — In order to do everything possible to help the unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S./Mexico border, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference/Conela, which serves 40,118 U.S. churches and more than 500,000 churches across the world, along with Convoy of Hope, Buckner and Somebody Cares International, are launching a new effort “For His Children” to help meet both physical and spiritual needs of the minors and their families.
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120912/CL72800LOGO
“For His Children” is a messaging and mobilization campaign to save, deliver and heal unaccompanied children entering the country. Leaders from NHCLC/Conela have been meeting with White House officials and members of Congress to discuss the border crisis and encourage swift action. This campaign is just one of their efforts to provide answers to the physical and moral dilemma surrounding the immigration issue.
A large group of local and regional pastors, along with representatives from each of the aforementioned organizations will hold a prayer service to kick off “For His Children” in McAllen, Texas on July 26 at 1 p.m. CDT.
“This is about HIS children,” said Dr. Gus Reyes, Director of the Christian Life Commission, and a member of the NHCLC executive board. “We pray because we believe in a God of miracles. We believe the crisis requires a solution that only God can provide.”
The leaders of “For His Children” have asked that those not able to attend to commit time to prayer from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. CDT on July 26.
“Children, created in God’s image should never be unaccompanied nor should they be exploited, trafficked or sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. I believe it is wrong for parents to send children to the U.S. border when the primary protective firewall for these children lies in a loving Christ-filled home where faith, family and education stand prevalent,” said Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of NHCLC/Conela. “Correspondingly, as a nation and as people of faith, we must serve, heal and minister to those that have arrived in our nation because theirs, according to Jesus, is the kingdom of heaven.”
“For His Children” will meet at Anzalduas Park in McAllen, Texas where a large number of immigrants cross the Rio Grande at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 26. At 2 p.m. they will divide into three groups and go to the Border Patrol Station (3000 W. Military Hwy, McAllen, Texas), BP Center for Unaccompanied Minors (Ware Rd. & Ursula Ave., McAllen, Texas) and Sacred Heart Catholic Church (306 S. 15th Street, McAllen, Texas). Then at 3 p.m they will meet back at Archer Park (101 N. Broadway, McAllen, Texas) for a closing prayer time.
“One need only to peer into the eyes of the frightened children and teenagers and hear the adult immigrants’ stories of sheer determination for a better life to know that God has called us to be a channel of His love and compassion,” said Robert Cepeda, Director of Missions at Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association. “Even as the partisan political debate continues, may our prayer be that God will allow us to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, and feel with His heart.”
The group will be concentrating their prayer on five important fronts: unaccompanied children, their parents, Latin American government leaders, U.S. government leaders and the overwhelmed law enforcement officers who are in the middle of this crisis and doing their best to enforce current policies.
“While the crisis rages and politicians talk, children having basic needs and emotional feelings should be addressed. A day of prayer and reflection where we make ourselves and others aware of what’s happening will be a start,” said Ruben Mendez, pastor and local chapter director at the NHCLC.
“For His Children” follows an informative and educational campaign begun by NHCLC/Conela across Latin America to urge congregants not to send their children to cross the border. Organization leaders met with thousands of pastors in Latin America over the last few weeks as well as White House officials. Over the next month, NHCLC/Conela will launch a PSA campaign across Latin America through television and radio advertisements as well as leaflets, print ads and other materials with the goal of reducing the number of unaccompanied children at the border to zero by the end of the year.
“The current humanitarian crisis at our southern border provides us the opportunity to live out the narrative of Mathew 19:14 and display Christian compassion interwoven with our historic American hospitality,” said Rev. Tony Suarez, Vice President of Chapters for NHCLC/Conela. “‘For His Children’ exemplifies the NHCLC’s desire to do both vertical and horizontal ministry. We have received calls from all around the country from pastors, leaders and churches ready to answer the call to service at the border. Our conviction is the same … ‘For such is the kingdom of God.'”
NHCLC/Conela is the largest Hispanic Christian organization serving millions of Evangelicals, 40,118 U.S. churches and more than 500,000 churches across the globe. Seeking to reconcile evangelist Billy Graham’s message of salvation with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march of prophetic activism, the NHCLC/Conela emphasizes “7 Directives” of Life, Family, Compassionate Evangelism, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth. For additional information, visit http://www.nhclc.org.