(NAPSI)—If any of the nearly 57 million elementary and high school students in America is someone you care about, there could be good news for you.

Schools today have discovered some wonderful new ways to make learning something kids want to do and school a place they want to be.

These engaging, 21^st century classrooms are powered by modern, digital curriculum and content that helps create real-world learning experiences.

What It Does

As a result, studies show that students with access to high-quality digital curriculum resources from Discovery Education, one of the world’s leading education companies, outpace their peers on state assessments in reading, mathematics and social studies, and have higher school attendance rates than those that don’t have access to these resources. In particular:

• Hispanic students attended an average of three more days per year
• Students affected by poverty attended an average of six more days per year
• Students with disabilities attended an average of 12 more days per year.

Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Following record-setting rainfall in many areas of the country, flooding has taken its toll on vehicles. It’s important for those considering buying a used vehicle to be car care aware and check for signs of water intrusion or contamination, advises the nonprofit Car Care Council.

“Purchasing a used vehicle and later learning it has been flood damaged can be very problematic and lead to costly issues down the road. Worse yet, these vehicles can be unhealthy to occupy because of mold and bacteria growing in the carpet and ventilation system,” explained Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

The Car Care Council and the Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN), a group of automotive service providers, say it all comes down to how much water the vehicle took in and where it can be reached. They recommend these five steps to determine if a vehicle has been flood damaged: Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—BookBites is a continuing series bringing readers information and ideas for their next read. Here are four thrilling new books to try from BookTrib.com.

“A Stranger on the Beach” by Michele Campbell

An edge-of-your-seat story of passion and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the end. Caroline Stark realizes her husband is lying to her, their money is disappearing and there’s a stranger on the beach outside her house. As Caroline’s marriage and her carefully constructed lifestyle begin to collapse, she turns to Aidan, the stranger, for comfort…and revenge. After a brief and desperate fling, Aidan’s infatuation with Caroline and her life becomes more destructive. But who is manipulating whom in this deadly game of obsession and control? Who will take the blame when someone ends up dead…and what is Caroline hiding?

To purchase “A Stranger on the Beach” (St. Martin’s Press), go to https://amzn.to/2K48fKY. Continue reading →

(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.

(NAPSI)—The average American household now has nine Internet-enabled devices to connect to the Internet, watch movies or television shows, or “smarten” the thermostats, doorbells or nanny cams. These products let people save energy, buy groceries, connect with family members and access a seemingly limitless catalog of entertainment.

It’s important, however, to realize that some devices may not be as secure as others. For example, millions of rogue entertainment boxes are now in homes. While these devices look like an Apple TV or Roku box, they are unsecured and can expose consumers to malware. Typically, they are used to illegally access pirated movies, TV shows or live events.

The Digital Citizens Alliance (DCA)investigated apps on these devices and found malware on them that stole researchers’ user names and passwords, probed user networks and surreptitiously uploaded user data without consent. Most consumers are unaware of the security risks that can occur when plugging one of these devices into a home network, and if they did know, they would be much less likely to allow them in their home. Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Getting a flat tire is no fun for anyone at any time, especially on vacation. To keep your next road trip rolling along, the nonprofit Car Care Council recommends a quick tire check before you leave the driveway.

“The excitement of summer vacation quickly deflates when your car has a flat tire,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “A quick four-step tire check will help you to avoid the aggravation of changing a flat tire on the side of the road.”

1. Check that all tires, including the spare, are inflated to recommended pressure levels.
2. Check tire tread depth with a simple penny test-if you see Lincoln’s head above the tread, then it is time for new tires.
3. Check for irregular wear as uneven wear indicates a need for wheel alignment.
4. Check tires for cuts, bruises, bulges, bald spots or other irregularities that can lead to a flat tire.

“AAA expects to get calls from stranded motorists this summer and a good portion of those vehicle troubles will be tire related,” said White. “A comprehensive pre-trip vehicle inspection, including the tires, is the best way to alert yourself to any potential issues so you can address them before you leave home and keep your road trip on track.” Continue reading →

(NAPSI)—Among the tastiest and most versatile fruits on Earth, olives are enjoyed by many cultures around the world. They have been in existence for 8,000 years, and while olives are not indigenous to the Americas, they have been in the New World for a good long time.

Then

It was the Spanish who introduced olives to Peru and Argentina in the 1500s. As time passed, olive trees made their way up the Pacific Coast through Mexico when Spanish missionaries brought them to California in 1769.

However, it wasn’t until the 1900s when commercial olive production began in the United States, thanks to a German immigrant woman named Freda Ehmann. She had a small grove and began experimenting with 280 gallons of olives on her back porch in Oakland, California, thus inventing the ripe olive style that Americans have come to know and love. Continue reading →