Flu-Fighting Facts
October 6, 2018 by
(NAPS)—The flu is nothing to sneeze at. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza has resulted in between 9.2 million and 35.6 million illnesses annually since 2010. The best way to stay out of such statistics, the CDC says, is for everyone who is eligible and at least 6 months old to get a flu shot as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
To help, all CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations have the vaccine available seven days a week with no appointment needed.
Study Shows
That may be just as well, since the annual survey, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of CVS Pharmacy [1], found that two-thirds of those surveyed get a flu vaccine every year or plan to get one this year, a 5 percent increase from last year. [Read more…]
Gov. Scott: Florida Awarded More Than $50 Million to Fight National Opioid Crisis
October 6, 2018 by
Grant to Aid Communities as they Continue to Provide Treatment, Support Services
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to begin utilizing a new federal grant to increase access to medication-assisted treatment, reduce opioid-related deaths and equip professionals with the necessary tools to combat the national opioid epidemic in Florida. DCF applied for and received more than $50 million from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to continue providing treatment and recovery support services for individuals seeking help for opioid use. This funding is in addition to $65 million that is already being used to combat opioid use and addiction. The Governor’s existing executive order enables DCF to immediately begin drawing down and distributing these funds. [Read more…]
Education Deserts
October 6, 2018 by
(NAPSI)—The U.S. Department of Education reports that nearly 57 million children will go to shool in America this year. Some of them live in what are known as “education deserts,” but fortunately, there are solutions.
Mapping School Deserts
A new study used geospatial analysis software to map families’ drive times to schools, whether public, magnet, charter or voucher-accepting private schools. It discovered three kinds of deserts:
- In A-rated school deserts, no A-rated schools of any kind are within a 30-minute drive for families in a given area;
- In choice deserts, no options such as charter, magnet or voucher-participating schools exist within a 30-minute drive for families, other than the zoned traditional public school;
- In educational opportunity zone deserts, families’ only option within a 30-minute drive radius is a D- or F-rated traditional public school.
The study also found that even in places considered to be choice-rich when it comes to education, such as the state of Indiana, access to quality schools is not universal. [Read more…]
Junior’s Smokehouse Processing Plant Recalls Beef Jerky Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
October 6, 2018 by
Class II Recall 083-2018
Health Risk: Low
Sep 21, 2018
Congressional and Public Affairs
Autumn Canaday
(202) 720-9113
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2018 – Junior’s Smokehouse Processing Plant, an El Campo, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 690 pounds of ready-to-eat teriyaki beef jerky products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically pieces of hard metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. [Read more…]
Tree Trimming and Debris Removal Information for City Residents
October 6, 2018 by
OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 13, 2018) – The City of Ocala Public Works Department, Sanitation Division would like to provide the following tips to City residents to keep them safe and informed when selecting a company to perform tree work on their property this fall.
“The threat of severe weather events, declining tree health or residents’ desire to have trees removed on their property creates a heightened awareness of trees and their threat to homes and businesses,” said Dwayne Drake, Sanitation Division Head, City of Ocala. “It is important for residents to know what their tree trimming and debris removal options are and what they should expect from a tree service company.” [Read more…]
Diabetes Classes Register today for upcoming diabetes self-management classes
October 6, 2018 by
During short-term illnesses, many people interrupt their normal habits to help fight their symptoms. For example, they may eat chicken noodle soup and drink a lot of water to speed up their recoveries. When someone is facing a chronic illness like diabetes, however, there may be long-term changes that people need to make to their daily habits to ensure they stay as healthy as possible.
The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is holding a series of free Diabetes Self-Management classes starting Oct. 2 so residents can learn more about diabetes and the changes they may need to make to their daily habits if they have it. The six-week class will cover: understanding diabetes, risk factors, eyes, teeth, toes and feet, physical activity, meal planning, preventing complications, and medications and medical care. Class locations, dates and times are: [Read more…]
The State of Florida Has Taken Action on Red Tide
October 6, 2018 by
Florida Fish and Wildlife
FWC and DEP have provided an additional nearly $2.2 million to Mote Marine Laboratory for the initiation of its field testing of a specialized clay focused on quelling red tide and expansion of its Ozone Treatment System which takes water containing the algae that causes red tide and filters it, returning clean water back to areas impacted by this naturally-occurring algae.
Governor Scott sent a letter to FWC urging the Commission to take the following action on red tide:
Create the Florida Center for Red Tide Research, a new resource for local communities impacted by red tide;
Re-establish the Florida Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force; and
Request an increase of funding for red tide research during the upcoming 2019 Florida Legislative Session. [Read more…]
Gov. Scott: Nearly $2.2 Million Investment to Expand Mote Marine Laboratory Ozone Systems, Clay Testing Combatting Red Tide
October 6, 2018 by
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced that the State of Florida will direct a $2,178,000 investment to test innovative technologies to mitigate the effects of red tide utilizing specialized clay field experiments and other innovative approaches for controlling and mitigating the impacts of red tide including expansion of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Ozone Treatment System. Mote Marine Laboratory has continuously and successfully tested the Ozone systems in both their tanks at the Mote Marine Laboratory aquarium in Sarasota and most recently in canals in Boca Grande. These systems have proven to successfully clean water, ridding it of the algae that causes red tide. Three additional mitigation technologies are also in development at Mote Marine Laboratory. Last week, Governor Scott announced a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and world-renowned experts and scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Mote Marine Laboratory, the University of South Florida (USF) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to focus on using a form of specialized clay to quell the effects of red tide. Red tide is naturally-occurring algae that has been documented along Florida’s Gulf Coast since the 1840’s and occurs nearly every year. For more information on red tide in Florida, go to http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/faq/. [Read more…]
False Information about FAIRtax
October 6, 2018 by
Florida governor candidate Adam Putnam has endorsed false information about the FAIRtax bill HR 25 as co-sponsored by Ron DeSantis. FAIRtax is not in addition to the federal income tax. The FAIRtax is REPLACEMENT tax for the present income/payroll tax system. Representative DeSantis understands the evils of the present federal income/payroll tax system.
Florida has no state income tax. Unlike other states which have both state income taxes and state sales taxes, the state of Florida receives its revenue from a state sales tax. This appeals to many who are moving to Florida to escape their states’ income taxes and , more importantly, to have financial liberty. Residents choose when they pay state sales taxes by their spending habits . All the while all people who make purchases in the state contribute to the state coffers. What is working best for Florida is also best for the country by having FAIRtax ,the national sales tax, provide the same amount of federal revenue and apply fairly to all citizens. [Read more…]
