(NAPSI)—The lives of nearly 733,000 cats and dogs could be saved with the help of caring humans and an innovative Web-based platform introduced this week by Best Friends Animal Society.
Envisioned as a tool to help animal lovers help their communities save more pets, the new community lifesaving dashboard combines groundbreaking data visualization technology with the most comprehensive data set on animal welfare ever published.
Two years in the making, the tool crowdsources, validates and translates complex data about the dogs and cats in U.S. shelters.
It brings an unprecedented level of transparency to the animal welfare movement, unlocking new opportunities for saving pets by providing a detailed picture showing precisely—on a city, state and community level—where cats and dogs need to be saved. Continue reading
(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care for is ever diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer after exposure to asbestos at work decades ago, here’s news for you. If you’re undergoing medical treatment, you can use a free “Asbestos Disease Glossary” available from the Asbestos Lifeline Institute of Great Neck, New York.
The handy, pocket-size booklet explains all the common medical terms used in asbestos injury care and identifies all the different medical specialists involved in treating mesothelioma, lung cancer and several other nonmalignant, asbestos-related diseases.
The free booklet also contains helpful information about achieving monetary compensation for asbestos injuries, which hinges upon a timely filing of the claim and the ability to identify the specific asbestos products you used. In most instances, a “latency period” of several decades after exposure occurs before asbestos diseases develop, so most victims are in their 60s or older.
For victims with valid claims, choosing the right law firm for representation can be daunting, due to the many choices presented through TV commercials and Internet searches. The Asbestos Lifeline Institute can also be helpful in guiding you to the right firm.
To learn more, call the Asbestos Lifeline at (800) 990-1650, e-mail AsbestosLifeline@gmail.com or visit www.AsbestosDiseaseGlossary.com.
(NAPSI)—Most people can’t go a day without a cup of coffee or checking their e-mail. But with the demands of everyday life it’s not surprising that about 50 percent of patients sometimes fail to take their daily medications as prescribed.
According to a new survey by WebMD, over the past six months one-third of respondents either sometimes or most of the time missed taking their medication as prescribed even though 76 percent know it can cause their condition to worsen or symptoms to return.
When asked why they’d missed a dose, 66 percent of survey respondents said that they forgot, 38 percent said they experienced side effects, and 26 percent weren’t able to get to the pharmacy to refill their prescription on time.
“Not following a prescription correctly can seriously impact your health,” said Jamal Downer, a Walgreens pharmacist. “Your local pharmacist is an expert who can help you understand your medications and provide tips on how to use tools like smartphone apps that make it easier and more convenient to stay on track.” Continue reading
(NAPSI)—The next time you’re firing up the outdoor grill (or indoor grill pan, for that matter), throw on a sweetpotato or two. An easy, healthy side dish with a huge wow factor, grilled sweetpotatoes are nutrient rich, high in fiber and absolutely delicious. And they go great with burgers, steaks, chops, chicken or pretty much anything off the grill.
Start with this basic recipe, and if you’re feeling creative, try different shapes—sweetpotato coins or steak fries, for example. Or add your favorite herbs and spices—such as chopped fresh rosemary, thyme, cinnamon or smoked paprika.
Grilled Sweetpotatoes
Serves 3 or 4
1 lb orange- or yellow/white-fleshed sweetpotatoes, cut lengthwise into ¾-inch wedges
1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt, plus more for sprinkling
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine sweetpotatoes, oil and salt. Arrange sweetpotatoes on the grill or grill pan and cook until lightly charred and tender, 6 to 8 minutes, turning halfway through. Sprinkle with more salt and serve.
For more recipes, nutritional information and tips for cooking with California sweet potatoes, go to www.casweetpotatoes.com.
Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution announced a 40-year prison sentence for a defendant found guilty of a gun store burglary. James Moore previously entered an open plea to burglary of a structure while using a vehicle as an instrument and 35 counts of grand theft of a firearm. Moore is one of a larger group based in Orlando, using stolen vehicles to facilitate several types of smash-and-dash burglaries. The 20-member group stole from department and retail stores to steal guns, jewelry, electronics, sporting goods and more. Thursday, Judge Frances Perrone sentenced Moore to 40 years in prison.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “These criminals deliberately wrecked a Tampa store to steal firearms. Not only did they steal property, they also stole a sense of security from the surrounding neighborhood. I applaud the great work of my Office of Statewide Prosecution securing this strong prison sentence and continuing to seek prison time for the remaining defendants.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Summer is the most popular time of year to move, and Attorney General Ashley Moody is issuing a Consumer Alert to help Floridians avoid scams during this busy moving season. A common moving scam involves companies agreeing to a price for service, loading a consumer’s personal belongings and then demanding more money before delivering the property. Sometimes this tactic involves charging additional fees supposedly based on the weight or volume of property moved or other factors not previously disclosed.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Moving can be a stressful experience. Scammers know this and exploit an already tense situation to coerce consumers into paying increased costs or fees just to get through the process or to have their possessions safely returned. Before moving, do your research and take steps to ensure you do not fall victim to disreputable household movers.” Continue reading
Our fact-gathering mission to find out what is behind a dramatic increase in teen vaping in Florida continued. According to the Florida Department of Health, e-cigarette use among high school students increased 78 percent from 2017 to 2018.
We want to know why, and more importantly how to reverse this disturbing trend. This mission brought me to two Florida cities—Oviedo and Sarasota—this week, where I met with education leaders, law enforcement officers and concerned parents.
According to a FDOH study, more than 28 percent of students in Sarasota County and Seminole County use e-cigarettes—slightly higher than the state average. Shockingly, people I spoke to believe the rate is much higher.
This is extremely concerning because, according to the Centers for Disease Control, juvenile nicotine exposure can harm brain development in ways that may affect the health and mental health of youth.
To stop this trend and protect our kids, we need to find out how minors are getting their hands on these products. It’s illegal under Florida law to sell these products to anyone under 18, yet vaping among minors is out of control. Continue reading
Office of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody
Supporting law enforcement is very important to me and I have made it one of my office’s top priorities. I always enjoy working with deputies and officers and learning about recent cases or just parts of their everyday life. I want our law enforcement partners to know that our state fully supports them, so that is why I initiated the Back the Blue Campaign shortly after taking office.
Back the Blue highlights extraordinary and brave acts of law enforcement officers, persons or organizations that forge positive relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Just this week, I issued Back the Blue Awards to Jacksonville Sheriff Police Officers who risked their own lives to save another. Officer Kathleen James and Officer Chelsea McCullom responded to a vehicle crash on Interstate 10 that quickly erupted into fire. The officers heard screams coming from the vehicle, and without hesitation, went into action to rescue a female driver. They had to break a passenger window and physically force a jammed-door open to get to the woman. The officers then dragged the woman 10 feet away before the vehicle exploded and used their own bodies to shield the woman from flying shrapnel. Continue reading
