The Chief of Police in Aurora Indiana was arrested and his wife was transported to the hospital after a physical confrontation between the two.
Reported by WTHR 8 hours ago.
Domestic dispute results in arrest of Aurora Police Chief
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Community College of Aurora Adds Driving Simulator to Aid in First-Responder Training
CCA, one of the Colorado community colleges, will use donated training device in its police, fire and EMS curriculum to further expand its reality-based training capabilities.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
Community College of Aurora has received a driving simulator for use in its Emergency Medical Services, Police and Fire Academies as a donation from intergovernmental partners City and County of Denver and Denver Fire Department, helping the college further enhance its training capabilities for first responders.
“One of the biggest things you can do to put wear and tear on a vehicle is train people to drive urgently in it, so this is a really great thing to have,” said Beth Lattone, department chair for CCA’s EMS and Fire Science Technology departments.
The City and County of Denver and Denver Fire donated the driving simulator to the CCA Foundation for the benefit of the college. There no longer was a space for the simulator at Denver’s joint training center. It previously was used by Denver Fire at the Rocky Mountain Fire Academy, according to the donation agreement signed by all parties.
“Brand new the unit would cost about $250,000,” Mark Stephenson said. Stephenson provides Colorado firefighter training as CCA’s Fire Science Technology Coordinator.
The simulator has two driving “seats” that will connect to a big-screen TV with software designed to mimic road conditions and potential hazards. One of the seats is equipped with a normal automatic transmission and light box setup found on a police car or ambulance; the other has a diesel framework, with parking brake and battery switch regularly used on a fire rig.
“It’s just one more opportunity we can offer to our students as far as simulation,” said Renie Del Ponte, dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety. “Whenever we can create a simulation scenario, we want to try and do that. This just allows us to expand our reality-based training even further.” Del Ponte oversees departments that provide Colorado police training as well as fire and EMT training.
CCA already is well known nationally for its simulation capabilities. The Center for Simulation has several spaces, including house, bar, attic, industrial, elevator and high scaffolding scenes. High fidelity mannequins can mimic scenarios from a simple heart attack to a woman giving birth. There are two full-sized ambulances and an ambulance box.
There is also a fully functional Emergency Operations Management Center, with Microsoft Surface tabletops, smart boards, big-screen televisions and other tools to handle wide-scale and small-scale disaster communications.
The latest addition to those technological capabilities will be set up by CCA faculty in the coming months and curriculum will be adapted to include the driving simulators for use in classrooms by the fall semester.
“Both police and fire academies use driving as aspects of training, and both are specialized skills,” Del Ponte said. “The simulators allow them to get some of that done before driving in an actual vehicle, making it an easier process to acclimate to a regular police car, fire truck or ambulance.”
###
About CCA
Community College of Aurora has campuses at CentreTech and Lowry in the greater Denver area. Equipped with the latest technologies, CCA allows students to study new and traditional programs, while also offering degrees and online courses in Colorado. CCA’s service community spans 325,000 people in a 350-square-mile area and CCA’s student population reflects that diversity. The college provides lifelong educational opportunities, prepares the current and future workforce, and promotes excellence in teaching, learning and service. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
Community College of Aurora has received a driving simulator for use in its Emergency Medical Services, Police and Fire Academies as a donation from intergovernmental partners City and County of Denver and Denver Fire Department, helping the college further enhance its training capabilities for first responders.
“One of the biggest things you can do to put wear and tear on a vehicle is train people to drive urgently in it, so this is a really great thing to have,” said Beth Lattone, department chair for CCA’s EMS and Fire Science Technology departments.
The City and County of Denver and Denver Fire donated the driving simulator to the CCA Foundation for the benefit of the college. There no longer was a space for the simulator at Denver’s joint training center. It previously was used by Denver Fire at the Rocky Mountain Fire Academy, according to the donation agreement signed by all parties.
“Brand new the unit would cost about $250,000,” Mark Stephenson said. Stephenson provides Colorado firefighter training as CCA’s Fire Science Technology Coordinator.
The simulator has two driving “seats” that will connect to a big-screen TV with software designed to mimic road conditions and potential hazards. One of the seats is equipped with a normal automatic transmission and light box setup found on a police car or ambulance; the other has a diesel framework, with parking brake and battery switch regularly used on a fire rig.
“It’s just one more opportunity we can offer to our students as far as simulation,” said Renie Del Ponte, dean of Health Sciences and Public Safety. “Whenever we can create a simulation scenario, we want to try and do that. This just allows us to expand our reality-based training even further.” Del Ponte oversees departments that provide Colorado police training as well as fire and EMT training.
CCA already is well known nationally for its simulation capabilities. The Center for Simulation has several spaces, including house, bar, attic, industrial, elevator and high scaffolding scenes. High fidelity mannequins can mimic scenarios from a simple heart attack to a woman giving birth. There are two full-sized ambulances and an ambulance box.
There is also a fully functional Emergency Operations Management Center, with Microsoft Surface tabletops, smart boards, big-screen televisions and other tools to handle wide-scale and small-scale disaster communications.
The latest addition to those technological capabilities will be set up by CCA faculty in the coming months and curriculum will be adapted to include the driving simulators for use in classrooms by the fall semester.
“Both police and fire academies use driving as aspects of training, and both are specialized skills,” Del Ponte said. “The simulators allow them to get some of that done before driving in an actual vehicle, making it an easier process to acclimate to a regular police car, fire truck or ambulance.”
###
About CCA
Community College of Aurora has campuses at CentreTech and Lowry in the greater Denver area. Equipped with the latest technologies, CCA allows students to study new and traditional programs, while also offering degrees and online courses in Colorado. CCA’s service community spans 325,000 people in a 350-square-mile area and CCA’s student population reflects that diversity. The college provides lifelong educational opportunities, prepares the current and future workforce, and promotes excellence in teaching, learning and service. Reported by PRWeb 7 hours ago.
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HR.com's Interactive Personal Excellence Essentials ePublication for December 2013 Available for Online Access to Personal and Professional Development
The December issue of Personal Excellence Essentials is online and interactive and, best of all, complimentary. This interactive online monthly publication creates a personal learning journey focused on personal and professional development to become a better leader and person.
Aurora, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
The largest global human resources (HR) network of shared resources, HR.com has developed the online publication, Personal Excellence Essentials, from thirty years of articles collected by top thought leaders and leadership development experts.
The December issue of Personal Excellence Essentials is online and interactive. Personal Excellence Essentials creates a personal learning journey focused on personal and professional development to become a better leader and person. READ NOW
This month's issue features the following articles:
"The Eternal Now" by Brian Moran
"Positive Transformation" by Chris Majer
"Your Best Work" by Todd Henry
"Do You Need a Coach?" by Shannon Cassidy
"Broken Relationships" by Erick Lauber
"Happiness Habits" by Michele Phillips
"Emotional Isolation" by Christian E. Megrelis
"Toxic People" by Van Moody
"Winning From Within" by Erica Ariel Fox
"Practical Negotiation" by Steven P. Cohen
"Personal Belief Systems" by Bob Burg
"Lean Body, Fat Wallet" by Danna Demetre
"Surviving the Easy Life" by James L. Hardeman
"Healthy Eating" by Shelley Alexander
"Are All Bosses Idiots?" by John Hoover
"Plan for the Future" by Eleanor Blayney
"5 Money Management Tips" by Luna Jaffe
"Serving the One" by Jill Gabrielle Klein
"Showing Up Is Fine" by Chuck Sink
"Extraordinary Performance" by John Shufeldt
"Christmas for Mystics" by Marianne Williamson
"Leadership Capacity" by Dick Daniels
"Hone Feminine Intuition" by Leela Francis
"Be an Above-Average Man" by Marshall Chamberlain
All Excellence Essentials Publications provide an interactive online experience with access to options such as surveys and benchmark data, learning modules, online archives, custom content for a company, and a mobile excellence app to launch soon. Companies interested in using these stories in internal newsletters should contact HR.com (sales(at)hr(dot)com). Archive access is also available for a nominal fee.
To complement Personal Excellence Essentials' personal skills and development resources, executives can currently also subscribe for free to:· Leadership Excellence Essentials, and
· Sales and Service Excellence Essentials.
More information available on HR.com: Excellence Essentials Publications
In the coming months, additional targeted editions will be added to the series with themes including Talent Acquisition Excellence Essentials, HR Strategy and Planning Excellence Essentials, and Benefits and Employee Wellness Excellence Essentials, Integrated Talent Management, Rewards and Recognition/Employee Engagement, Workforce Management (Time and Attendance), Technology Enabled Learning, Legal and Compliance, as well as Core HR (HRIS and Payroll).
About HR.com
HR.com, the largest global social networking and resource site for HR Professionals, is THE ONLY place to earn IHR (Institute for Human Resources), HRCI and WorldatWork credits all at the same time for NO COST. HR.com is committed to providing a deeper understanding of the HR function for 240,000 members by offering guaranteed pass re-certification prep courses, certification and re-certification credits, interactive Excellence Essentials monthly e-publications, 23 Expert Certification Programs, 19 Certificate Programs, 3,500+ webcasts, 230+ virtual conferences, blogs, community networks, industry news and advisory boards. http://www.hr.com
HR.com Contact:
Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO
dmcgrath(at)hr(dot)com
877-472-6648 Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.
Aurora, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
The largest global human resources (HR) network of shared resources, HR.com has developed the online publication, Personal Excellence Essentials, from thirty years of articles collected by top thought leaders and leadership development experts.
The December issue of Personal Excellence Essentials is online and interactive. Personal Excellence Essentials creates a personal learning journey focused on personal and professional development to become a better leader and person. READ NOW
This month's issue features the following articles:
"The Eternal Now" by Brian Moran
"Positive Transformation" by Chris Majer
"Your Best Work" by Todd Henry
"Do You Need a Coach?" by Shannon Cassidy
"Broken Relationships" by Erick Lauber
"Happiness Habits" by Michele Phillips
"Emotional Isolation" by Christian E. Megrelis
"Toxic People" by Van Moody
"Winning From Within" by Erica Ariel Fox
"Practical Negotiation" by Steven P. Cohen
"Personal Belief Systems" by Bob Burg
"Lean Body, Fat Wallet" by Danna Demetre
"Surviving the Easy Life" by James L. Hardeman
"Healthy Eating" by Shelley Alexander
"Are All Bosses Idiots?" by John Hoover
"Plan for the Future" by Eleanor Blayney
"5 Money Management Tips" by Luna Jaffe
"Serving the One" by Jill Gabrielle Klein
"Showing Up Is Fine" by Chuck Sink
"Extraordinary Performance" by John Shufeldt
"Christmas for Mystics" by Marianne Williamson
"Leadership Capacity" by Dick Daniels
"Hone Feminine Intuition" by Leela Francis
"Be an Above-Average Man" by Marshall Chamberlain
All Excellence Essentials Publications provide an interactive online experience with access to options such as surveys and benchmark data, learning modules, online archives, custom content for a company, and a mobile excellence app to launch soon. Companies interested in using these stories in internal newsletters should contact HR.com (sales(at)hr(dot)com). Archive access is also available for a nominal fee.
To complement Personal Excellence Essentials' personal skills and development resources, executives can currently also subscribe for free to:· Leadership Excellence Essentials, and
· Sales and Service Excellence Essentials.
More information available on HR.com: Excellence Essentials Publications
In the coming months, additional targeted editions will be added to the series with themes including Talent Acquisition Excellence Essentials, HR Strategy and Planning Excellence Essentials, and Benefits and Employee Wellness Excellence Essentials, Integrated Talent Management, Rewards and Recognition/Employee Engagement, Workforce Management (Time and Attendance), Technology Enabled Learning, Legal and Compliance, as well as Core HR (HRIS and Payroll).
About HR.com
HR.com, the largest global social networking and resource site for HR Professionals, is THE ONLY place to earn IHR (Institute for Human Resources), HRCI and WorldatWork credits all at the same time for NO COST. HR.com is committed to providing a deeper understanding of the HR function for 240,000 members by offering guaranteed pass re-certification prep courses, certification and re-certification credits, interactive Excellence Essentials monthly e-publications, 23 Expert Certification Programs, 19 Certificate Programs, 3,500+ webcasts, 230+ virtual conferences, blogs, community networks, industry news and advisory boards. http://www.hr.com
HR.com Contact:
Debbie McGrath, Chief Instigator and CEO
dmcgrath(at)hr(dot)com
877-472-6648 Reported by PRWeb 6 hours ago.
↧
FBI Disrupts Shootings Through Interventions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI has helped to disrupt or prevent nearly 150 shootings and violent attacks this year, in part by steering potential gunmen toward mental health professionals.
There have been hundreds of these disruptions since 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder told an audience of police chiefs in October, touting the behind-the-scenes work of a small FBI unit based out of Quantico, Va. In most cases, the FBI has helped potential offenders get access to mental health care. Preventing mass shootings through threat assessments and treatment is an unusual tactic for an agency known for its crime fighting and not for interventions. The achievement stands out during a time when President Barack Obama made curbing gun violence a priority for his administration, yet has had very little success. One year after the deadly mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, the White House's biggest efforts to curb gun violence — attempts to reinstate the assault weapons ban and expand background checks for all gun purchases — failed without congressional support.
Mass shootings like the rampages in Newtown, Conn., the Washington, D.C., Navy Yard and the Aurora, Colo., movie theater do not represent the majority of gun violence. Yet when they do occur, the impact is high. And many times there's the question of whether the shooter had adequate mental health treatment to prevent it from happening. Yet, in the national discourse about reducing gun violence, mental health treatment has received much less attention than banning assault weapons.
The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, for years, has been working with state and local authorities to profile potential offenders with the goal of preventing violent crimes like mass shootings. The "prevented" shootings and violent attacks from January through November of this year represent 148 cases that a division of that unit, the Behavioral Threat Assessment Center, has conferred on during 2013. And that number is up 33 percent from 2012, Andre Simmons, unit chief of the center, said in an interview with The Associated Press.
In the past year, this unit has received about three new cases a week referred by federal, state, local and campus law enforcement, schools, businesses and houses of worship, Simmons said.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center gets involved when someone notifies law enforcement, for example, about some troubling behavior, and law enforcement reaches out to the center to help assess the situation.
"The people around that subject often become fearful that that outcome is catastrophic act of violence, such as an active shooting or some type of mass attack," Simmons said.
The center is staffed by agents and analysts of the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and a psychiatrist. It helps the local officials assess the threat the person of concern poses. And then the center recommends how to proceed. Depending how far along the person is on the "pathway to violence," Simmons said, the center makes recommendations based on the specific case. The recommendations could be arrest, if the person is involved in illegal activity, but most often, it's getting that person access to mental health care, he said.
As an example, Simmons referred to a case his unit consulted on a few years back. There was a man at a university who began to display bizarre behaviors coupled with an increasing interest in firearms, Simmons said. This man created a makeshift shooting range in the basement of his home where he lived with roommates, and he used pictures of the roommates as bull's-eyes for target practice. He also was involved in animal abuse, Simmons said, and he was making statements that were troubling. Collecting firearms and target practice are not illegal activities, but the roommates feared for their safety. So they alerted university authorities, Simmons said.
The university reached out to the FBI behavioral analysts and worked with them to develop a strategy. Working with mental health officials and campus police, a "caretaking" interview was arranged with the man, Simmons said. And that meeting resulted in a voluntary admission to a psychiatric facility.
"Once in that facility, he was deemed to be of such compromised state, that it turned into an involuntary evaluation," Simmons said. "And the attending physician noted as well that it was not really a question of if he would attack, but when, given the statements that he made and the thoughts he was disclosing."
The FBI would not provide specific details of this case or others they've consulted on because many are ongoing and involve people who have not been charged with crimes.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center operates with the knowledge that mass shootings like Newtown are uncommon, and that's important, said Ronald Schouten, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and expert on threat assessments.
"These occur very rarely, and there's no profile," Schouten said of those who carry out the shootings.
The center was launched in the fall of 2010. The unit's existence is not yet common knowledge around the country. But awareness is growing, as the FBI has recently been sponsoring two-day conferences about the threat of active shooters, Simmons said.
Having a mental illness does not mean that a person is predisposed to violent behavior, Simmons said. So a person's history and surroundings are an important part of assessing the threat.
"And we recognize that for many individuals, the coping strategies may be overwhelmed and they may lose the ability to see an alternative to violence," he said.
One year ago, a 20-year-old gunman, Adam Lanza, shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and massacred 20 children and six women with a semi-automatic rifle. He also killed his mother in their Newtown home before driving to the school. He committed suicide as police arrived at the scene, and authorities still do not know his motive. Since the shooting, Lanza has been described as "troubled." Investigators said his fascination with violence was apparent to teachers and other acquaintances.
After that tragedy, Obama spoke to the nation about reducing gun violence.
"We're going to need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun," he said five days after the deadly shooting.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center has not been promoted by the White House as one of its major efforts to reduce gun violence. Instead, it's continued the behind-the-scenes work it's been doing for the past three years. And referrals keep coming in. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
There have been hundreds of these disruptions since 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder told an audience of police chiefs in October, touting the behind-the-scenes work of a small FBI unit based out of Quantico, Va. In most cases, the FBI has helped potential offenders get access to mental health care. Preventing mass shootings through threat assessments and treatment is an unusual tactic for an agency known for its crime fighting and not for interventions. The achievement stands out during a time when President Barack Obama made curbing gun violence a priority for his administration, yet has had very little success. One year after the deadly mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, the White House's biggest efforts to curb gun violence — attempts to reinstate the assault weapons ban and expand background checks for all gun purchases — failed without congressional support.
Mass shootings like the rampages in Newtown, Conn., the Washington, D.C., Navy Yard and the Aurora, Colo., movie theater do not represent the majority of gun violence. Yet when they do occur, the impact is high. And many times there's the question of whether the shooter had adequate mental health treatment to prevent it from happening. Yet, in the national discourse about reducing gun violence, mental health treatment has received much less attention than banning assault weapons.
The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, for years, has been working with state and local authorities to profile potential offenders with the goal of preventing violent crimes like mass shootings. The "prevented" shootings and violent attacks from January through November of this year represent 148 cases that a division of that unit, the Behavioral Threat Assessment Center, has conferred on during 2013. And that number is up 33 percent from 2012, Andre Simmons, unit chief of the center, said in an interview with The Associated Press.
In the past year, this unit has received about three new cases a week referred by federal, state, local and campus law enforcement, schools, businesses and houses of worship, Simmons said.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center gets involved when someone notifies law enforcement, for example, about some troubling behavior, and law enforcement reaches out to the center to help assess the situation.
"The people around that subject often become fearful that that outcome is catastrophic act of violence, such as an active shooting or some type of mass attack," Simmons said.
The center is staffed by agents and analysts of the FBI, the U.S. Capitol Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and a psychiatrist. It helps the local officials assess the threat the person of concern poses. And then the center recommends how to proceed. Depending how far along the person is on the "pathway to violence," Simmons said, the center makes recommendations based on the specific case. The recommendations could be arrest, if the person is involved in illegal activity, but most often, it's getting that person access to mental health care, he said.
As an example, Simmons referred to a case his unit consulted on a few years back. There was a man at a university who began to display bizarre behaviors coupled with an increasing interest in firearms, Simmons said. This man created a makeshift shooting range in the basement of his home where he lived with roommates, and he used pictures of the roommates as bull's-eyes for target practice. He also was involved in animal abuse, Simmons said, and he was making statements that were troubling. Collecting firearms and target practice are not illegal activities, but the roommates feared for their safety. So they alerted university authorities, Simmons said.
The university reached out to the FBI behavioral analysts and worked with them to develop a strategy. Working with mental health officials and campus police, a "caretaking" interview was arranged with the man, Simmons said. And that meeting resulted in a voluntary admission to a psychiatric facility.
"Once in that facility, he was deemed to be of such compromised state, that it turned into an involuntary evaluation," Simmons said. "And the attending physician noted as well that it was not really a question of if he would attack, but when, given the statements that he made and the thoughts he was disclosing."
The FBI would not provide specific details of this case or others they've consulted on because many are ongoing and involve people who have not been charged with crimes.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center operates with the knowledge that mass shootings like Newtown are uncommon, and that's important, said Ronald Schouten, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and expert on threat assessments.
"These occur very rarely, and there's no profile," Schouten said of those who carry out the shootings.
The center was launched in the fall of 2010. The unit's existence is not yet common knowledge around the country. But awareness is growing, as the FBI has recently been sponsoring two-day conferences about the threat of active shooters, Simmons said.
Having a mental illness does not mean that a person is predisposed to violent behavior, Simmons said. So a person's history and surroundings are an important part of assessing the threat.
"And we recognize that for many individuals, the coping strategies may be overwhelmed and they may lose the ability to see an alternative to violence," he said.
One year ago, a 20-year-old gunman, Adam Lanza, shot his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and massacred 20 children and six women with a semi-automatic rifle. He also killed his mother in their Newtown home before driving to the school. He committed suicide as police arrived at the scene, and authorities still do not know his motive. Since the shooting, Lanza has been described as "troubled." Investigators said his fascination with violence was apparent to teachers and other acquaintances.
After that tragedy, Obama spoke to the nation about reducing gun violence.
"We're going to need to work on making access to mental health care at least as easy as access to a gun," he said five days after the deadly shooting.
The Behavioral Threat Assessment Center has not been promoted by the White House as one of its major efforts to reduce gun violence. Instead, it's continued the behind-the-scenes work it's been doing for the past three years. And referrals keep coming in. Reported by Huffington Post 2 hours ago.
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Innovative Denver-Based Homebuilder, Century Communities Set to Offer Homebuyer Assistance Grants That Cover up to 5% of a New Home Loan Amount
Denver-based new homebuilder, Century Communities, in association with Academy Mortgage Corporation, is offering FHA-backed grant programs to help families who may be struggling to buy a new home rather than rent.
Greenwood Village, Colorado (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
Colorado’s leading new home builder offering attainably priced homes is rolling out an FHA-backed grant program to enable families to purchase homes even when they don’t have savings to meet current borrowing requirements. Century Communities’ new grant program is designed to provide qualified buyers as much as 5% of a new home’s loan amount, without requiring a minimum borrower contribution.
“Rents are rising sharply, leaving many families with few viable options,” said Kathy Ellis, Century’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Century’s program is designed specifically for families struggling to buy, rather than rent. “The market has now shifted dramatically in favor of people who own their homes,” said Brian Kerby of Academy Mortgage. “We know that saving a down payment is difficult today, but the benefits are huge and this program will make a great difference for many families.”
Century’s grants, created in association with Academy Mortgage Corporation, offer significant advantages over current down-payment programs. They will be available statewide – no specific residency required – and can be used by borrowers making a second or third home purchase, not just those purchasing for the first time. Borrowers can own other property and qualify on their own income, not that of the household. In many cases, a grant may cover the entire down payment and closing cost for a new Century Communities home, meaning that a buyer may receive their earnest money back. And grants do not need to be paid back.
New Century Communities neighborhoods are arriving along the Front Range in Broomfield, Thornton, Castle Rock, Aurora, Commerce City, Firestone, Erie and Colorado Springs – joining 15 neighborhoods already open here. Century, a top-100 homebuilder, offers single-family homes, townhomes, condos and lofts ranging from the $100,000s to $600,000s. Sales offices are open Mondays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays-through-Saturdays 10-5, and Sundays 11 - 5. For a complete listing visit http://www.centurycommunities.com or call 303-268-8371.
All advertised offers are only available when using Century’s preferred lender: Academy Mortgage Corporation, 300 Union Blvd # 650 Lakewood CO 80228, 303-914-3820, Brian Kerby - Branch Manager - LO NMLS #234744 - State Lic #CO Lic#100020437 - Corp NMLS #3113 Regulated by the Colorado Division of Real Estate. Grant-based down payment assistance is provided by Academy Mortgage and maximum amount may be limited by the loan program and advertised price. Academy Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender. See sales representative for details. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
Greenwood Village, Colorado (PRWEB) December 16, 2013
Colorado’s leading new home builder offering attainably priced homes is rolling out an FHA-backed grant program to enable families to purchase homes even when they don’t have savings to meet current borrowing requirements. Century Communities’ new grant program is designed to provide qualified buyers as much as 5% of a new home’s loan amount, without requiring a minimum borrower contribution.
“Rents are rising sharply, leaving many families with few viable options,” said Kathy Ellis, Century’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Century’s program is designed specifically for families struggling to buy, rather than rent. “The market has now shifted dramatically in favor of people who own their homes,” said Brian Kerby of Academy Mortgage. “We know that saving a down payment is difficult today, but the benefits are huge and this program will make a great difference for many families.”
Century’s grants, created in association with Academy Mortgage Corporation, offer significant advantages over current down-payment programs. They will be available statewide – no specific residency required – and can be used by borrowers making a second or third home purchase, not just those purchasing for the first time. Borrowers can own other property and qualify on their own income, not that of the household. In many cases, a grant may cover the entire down payment and closing cost for a new Century Communities home, meaning that a buyer may receive their earnest money back. And grants do not need to be paid back.
New Century Communities neighborhoods are arriving along the Front Range in Broomfield, Thornton, Castle Rock, Aurora, Commerce City, Firestone, Erie and Colorado Springs – joining 15 neighborhoods already open here. Century, a top-100 homebuilder, offers single-family homes, townhomes, condos and lofts ranging from the $100,000s to $600,000s. Sales offices are open Mondays 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays-through-Saturdays 10-5, and Sundays 11 - 5. For a complete listing visit http://www.centurycommunities.com or call 303-268-8371.
All advertised offers are only available when using Century’s preferred lender: Academy Mortgage Corporation, 300 Union Blvd # 650 Lakewood CO 80228, 303-914-3820, Brian Kerby - Branch Manager - LO NMLS #234744 - State Lic #CO Lic#100020437 - Corp NMLS #3113 Regulated by the Colorado Division of Real Estate. Grant-based down payment assistance is provided by Academy Mortgage and maximum amount may be limited by the loan program and advertised price. Academy Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender. See sales representative for details. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
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Colo. shooting hits state still trying to recover
- A Colorado high school student with an apparent grudge against a teacher wounded a classmate with a shotgun before killing himself, chilling a state that's still trying to make sense of mass shootings at Columbine High School and an Aurora movie theater.
Reported by WTOP 3 days ago.
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reviewauthority.com Publishes December 2013 Standings of Best Personal Computer Manufacturers
Ten best personal computer manufacturers declared by reviewauthority.com for the month of December 2013
(PRWEB) December 14, 2013
reviewauthority.com has awarded the 10 top desktop computer consultants supplying solutions in the consumer products and services industry for the month of December 2013. Businesses scouring for sufficient desktop computer solutions turn to the rankings supplied online in order to discover desktop computer consultants which have been judged by an independent third party. The rankings are revisited monthly to account for the latest achievements of top contending consumer products and services consultants and to highlight the top producers of sufficient solutions.
The 10 top desktop computer companies for December 2013 are:
1. Alienware Aurora-R3
2. Apple Imac 27-Inch
3. HP Pavilion Elite HPE-270F
4. Gateway FX6860-UR20P
5. Lenovo K330B 77472BU
6. Dell STUDIO XPS 8300
7. Dell Vostro 460 Mini
8. Lenovo Ideacentre H405 77231AU
9. Acer Veriton X4618G
10. HP Pavilion Slimline s5-1120
The principal purpose of reviewauthority.com is to identify the most renowned personal computer consultants the consumer products and services industry has to offer. The listings offer clients of personal computer solutions with a listing of consultants which provide the best solutions based on the opinion of the independent authority, an independent third party, which maintains years of experience and information. The listings are updated monthly based on the veracious evaluation process, client referrals, and industry research and analysis.
ABOUT reviewauthority.com
reviewauthority.com is a well-known independent authority on consumer products and services. The first goal of reviewauthority.com is to establish and declare those individuals or manufacturers providing the top consumer products and services solutions all over the world. A specialized team of researchers examine thousands of applicants each month who are seeking to be ranked as a top consumer products and services product or service by the independent authority.
To view the ratings of the best desktop computer consultants visit:
http://reviewauthority.news-prs.com/us/desktop-computers-rankings
Desktop computer manufacturers interested in being evaluated and revealed can visit:
http://reviewauthority.news-prs.com/us/apply-for-rankings Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.
(PRWEB) December 14, 2013
reviewauthority.com has awarded the 10 top desktop computer consultants supplying solutions in the consumer products and services industry for the month of December 2013. Businesses scouring for sufficient desktop computer solutions turn to the rankings supplied online in order to discover desktop computer consultants which have been judged by an independent third party. The rankings are revisited monthly to account for the latest achievements of top contending consumer products and services consultants and to highlight the top producers of sufficient solutions.
The 10 top desktop computer companies for December 2013 are:
1. Alienware Aurora-R3
2. Apple Imac 27-Inch
3. HP Pavilion Elite HPE-270F
4. Gateway FX6860-UR20P
5. Lenovo K330B 77472BU
6. Dell STUDIO XPS 8300
7. Dell Vostro 460 Mini
8. Lenovo Ideacentre H405 77231AU
9. Acer Veriton X4618G
10. HP Pavilion Slimline s5-1120
The principal purpose of reviewauthority.com is to identify the most renowned personal computer consultants the consumer products and services industry has to offer. The listings offer clients of personal computer solutions with a listing of consultants which provide the best solutions based on the opinion of the independent authority, an independent third party, which maintains years of experience and information. The listings are updated monthly based on the veracious evaluation process, client referrals, and industry research and analysis.
ABOUT reviewauthority.com
reviewauthority.com is a well-known independent authority on consumer products and services. The first goal of reviewauthority.com is to establish and declare those individuals or manufacturers providing the top consumer products and services solutions all over the world. A specialized team of researchers examine thousands of applicants each month who are seeking to be ranked as a top consumer products and services product or service by the independent authority.
To view the ratings of the best desktop computer consultants visit:
http://reviewauthority.news-prs.com/us/desktop-computers-rankings
Desktop computer manufacturers interested in being evaluated and revealed can visit:
http://reviewauthority.news-prs.com/us/apply-for-rankings Reported by PRWeb 3 days ago.
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We can longer allow sick individuals like Adam Lanza to go on untreated | Matthew Lysiak
There's a high probability America's next mass shooter is suffering from severe mental illness and, worse, isn't treated
There is a powerful lesson that can be learned from the tragedy of 14 December 2012, but while our attention has focused on gun legislation and tightening up school security measures, my fear is that we have neglected the problem at the core of this recent spat of mass shootings; the fatal flaw in America's mental health system.
In the case of Adam Lanza, we have a young man who had been suffering from mental illness since childhood. From a young age, the smallest sense of touch, light, or sound could be enough to cause him to withdraw completely into isolation. As he got older, that isolation grew into obsessions over mass killers and weaponry.
In the months before the killing, Adam was left alone in his room. Black garbage bags covered the windows to keep out the light. He spend hours playing violent first-person video games, where he held a gun in his hand, shooting his way through human after human. He had cut off those closest to him, his father, brother, and in the final months, his mother, Nancy Lanza.
We know that Nancy Lanza recognized early on that her son was suffering from mental illness. We know she had sought professional help. Remarkably, we also know that Adam was not on medication or being treated.
How could this happen?
Adam Lanza is just the latest mass shooter to suffer from severe mental illness. We saw Aaron Alexis, the man who shot up the Washington Navy Yard in September, who believed people were tracking him by sending vibrations through microwave ovens into his body. There was James Holmes who shot up an Aurora, Colorado movie theater, Jared Loughner, the shooter from Tucson, Arizona, and the Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho.
While violence overall has been trending downward, the list of carnage caused by mass shootings continues to escalate.
Over the last three decades, the overall national homicide rate has fallen from 10 per 100,000 in 1980 to 4 per 100,000 today, but the number of mass shootings has risen from 4 per year, between 1900 and 1970, to 29 per year since then.
It is no coincidence that this rise correlates with the closure of the mental health institutions in 1969. After they were shuttered, they were supposed to be replaced by community outreach programs. Sadly, these programs never took root and many parents who are dealing with severe mental illness feel they are out of options.
Many of the parents I've spoken to fear their mentally-disturbed son or daughter might be capable of committing a terrible act of violence, but without the mental institutions, in many cases their only alternatives are the emergency room or law enforcement, neither of which are equipped to deal with those suffering from severe mental illnesses. In large part, that void has been filled by the United States prison system.
Debates over school security and guns are both important issues in their own right, but let's not fool ourselves; the next mass shooter is out there. He is plotting. Like those before him, there is a high probability he is suffering from severe mental illness, and, also like these others, his sickness is not being treated.
My fear is that if we don't act, we are in the midst of a trend that is poised to continue well into the foreseeable future. Until we deal with the issue of what to do with those suffering from mental illness who remain untreated, we can expect this pattern of mass shootings to continue.
If Americans are serious about stopping the next mass shooter, they will finally decide to do something about the dangerously mentally ill. The Avielle Foundation, named after Avielle Richman, a victim at Sandy Hook, is looking into the field of mental health for proactive ways to prevent the next tragedy.
The statistics are shocking: one in five adults experience a mental illness and forty-five million Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or PTSD. The majority of those suffering with mental illness will go untreated. Reaching those who are untreated will go a long way in not only preventing future mass killings, but unleashing this group of productive individuals back into our society.
The mission of The Avielle Foundation, as described on its website, "is bridging behavioral and biochemical sciences" and decreasing the "shame, secrecy, and stigma associated with brain illness; and ultimately facilitate appropriate early-identification and prevention/intervention methods to prevent violence".
Simply put, the lesson of 14 December 2012, is that we no longer have the luxury of allowing sick individuals like Adam Lanza to go on untreated. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.
There is a powerful lesson that can be learned from the tragedy of 14 December 2012, but while our attention has focused on gun legislation and tightening up school security measures, my fear is that we have neglected the problem at the core of this recent spat of mass shootings; the fatal flaw in America's mental health system.
In the case of Adam Lanza, we have a young man who had been suffering from mental illness since childhood. From a young age, the smallest sense of touch, light, or sound could be enough to cause him to withdraw completely into isolation. As he got older, that isolation grew into obsessions over mass killers and weaponry.
In the months before the killing, Adam was left alone in his room. Black garbage bags covered the windows to keep out the light. He spend hours playing violent first-person video games, where he held a gun in his hand, shooting his way through human after human. He had cut off those closest to him, his father, brother, and in the final months, his mother, Nancy Lanza.
We know that Nancy Lanza recognized early on that her son was suffering from mental illness. We know she had sought professional help. Remarkably, we also know that Adam was not on medication or being treated.
How could this happen?
Adam Lanza is just the latest mass shooter to suffer from severe mental illness. We saw Aaron Alexis, the man who shot up the Washington Navy Yard in September, who believed people were tracking him by sending vibrations through microwave ovens into his body. There was James Holmes who shot up an Aurora, Colorado movie theater, Jared Loughner, the shooter from Tucson, Arizona, and the Virginia Tech shooter, Seung-Hui Cho.
While violence overall has been trending downward, the list of carnage caused by mass shootings continues to escalate.
Over the last three decades, the overall national homicide rate has fallen from 10 per 100,000 in 1980 to 4 per 100,000 today, but the number of mass shootings has risen from 4 per year, between 1900 and 1970, to 29 per year since then.
It is no coincidence that this rise correlates with the closure of the mental health institutions in 1969. After they were shuttered, they were supposed to be replaced by community outreach programs. Sadly, these programs never took root and many parents who are dealing with severe mental illness feel they are out of options.
Many of the parents I've spoken to fear their mentally-disturbed son or daughter might be capable of committing a terrible act of violence, but without the mental institutions, in many cases their only alternatives are the emergency room or law enforcement, neither of which are equipped to deal with those suffering from severe mental illnesses. In large part, that void has been filled by the United States prison system.
Debates over school security and guns are both important issues in their own right, but let's not fool ourselves; the next mass shooter is out there. He is plotting. Like those before him, there is a high probability he is suffering from severe mental illness, and, also like these others, his sickness is not being treated.
My fear is that if we don't act, we are in the midst of a trend that is poised to continue well into the foreseeable future. Until we deal with the issue of what to do with those suffering from mental illness who remain untreated, we can expect this pattern of mass shootings to continue.
If Americans are serious about stopping the next mass shooter, they will finally decide to do something about the dangerously mentally ill. The Avielle Foundation, named after Avielle Richman, a victim at Sandy Hook, is looking into the field of mental health for proactive ways to prevent the next tragedy.
The statistics are shocking: one in five adults experience a mental illness and forty-five million Americans suffer from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or PTSD. The majority of those suffering with mental illness will go untreated. Reaching those who are untreated will go a long way in not only preventing future mass killings, but unleashing this group of productive individuals back into our society.
The mission of The Avielle Foundation, as described on its website, "is bridging behavioral and biochemical sciences" and decreasing the "shame, secrecy, and stigma associated with brain illness; and ultimately facilitate appropriate early-identification and prevention/intervention methods to prevent violence".
Simply put, the lesson of 14 December 2012, is that we no longer have the luxury of allowing sick individuals like Adam Lanza to go on untreated. Reported by guardian.co.uk 3 days ago.
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Aurora car fire causes evacuation of residences, no injuries
An apartment building was briefly evacuated early Monday morning in Aurora by a car fire.
Reported by Denver Post 1 day ago.
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Kitchen fire in Aurora contained to one apartment
Firefighters in Aurora put out a kitchen fire Monday morning; no one was injured in the incident.
Reported by Denver Post 20 hours ago.
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AAA Chicago: Year-End Holiday Travel Expected to Increase for the Fifth Consecutive Year to 94.5 Million Travelers
AURORA, Ill., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AAA projects 94.5 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 0.6 percent from the 94 million people who traveled last year. This upward trend marks the fifth consecutive...
Reported by PR Newswire 11 hours ago.
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Fine Design Living, One of the GTA’s Leading Boutique Design and Build Firms, Weighs in on Energy Rate Hike and Popularity of Ethanol Fireplaces
Fine Design Living (http://www.FineDesignLiving.com), one of the GTA’s leading boutique design and build firms specializing in high quality exterior and interior custom renovations for residential and commercial clients, is weighing in on the recently announced energy rate hike and the rising popularity of custom ethanol fireplaces for homes and condominiums.
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) December 17, 2013
Fine Design Living (http://www.FineDesignLiving.com), one of the GTA’s leading boutique design and build firms specializing in high quality exterior and interior custom renovations for residential and commercial clients, is weighing in on the recently announced energy rate hike and the rising popularity of custom ethanol fireplaces for homes and condominiums.
“The Ontario government recently announced its long-term energy plan, one that would see homeowners facing a 33% increase in electricity rates over the next three years. While the average monthly bill today is $125.00, by 2016, it will jump to $167.00. Even in the short term, Ontarians will be paying more for energy; on November 1, electricity rates went up three percent,” says Braden White, owner of Fine Design Living. “This sharp hike in energy prices and an early, icy start to winter has triggered an increased demand for ethanol fireplaces.” (Source: Leslie, K., “Ontario electricity rates to rise 33% in three years under Liberals’ long-term energy plan,” Financial Post web site, December 2, 2013; http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/02/ontario-electricity-rates-to-keep-rising-as-long-term-energy-plan-released/.)
Whether it’s for a large custom home or a suite on the 30th floor of a condominium, ventless ethanol fireplaces are an affordable, safe, and efficient way to heat up a home. Because they are ventless, the heat doesn't escape through a chimney, staying in the room. According to White, unlike gas or traditional wood-burning fireplaces, which can be difficult and expensive to install, ethanol fireplaces are an easy and inexpensive alternative.
“Until recently, those living in a condo or apartment had to do without a fireplace. While installing a gas or wood-burning stove in a condominium is out of the question, having an environmentally friendly ethanol fireplace isn’t,” White adds. “Whether someone owns a condominium or rents, they can enjoy the warmth of an ethanol fireplace. That’s because an ethanol fireplace works in a similar fashion to candles: there are no gas lines, no need to haul wood, and no sparks involved. Using ethanol, the fire burns without smoke, ash or soot, and built-in safety features ensure that the ethanol fireplace will shut off if it tilts, shakes, or tips over.”
One major advantage of an ethanol fireplace is that it doesn’t need a chimney and can be installed in any building, in any room, and on any wall. In fact, a wall-mounted ethanol fireplace can be installed in minutes and taken down just as easily.
“Ethanol fireplaces are not limited to being mounted to a wall and come in an endless variety of styles and price points,” White concludes. “An experienced boutique design and build firm can create a custom faux chimney covered with a wide range of different types of stones. This makes for a very dramatic look inside of a condo unit located where you wouldn't expect to see a fireplace and chimney.”
Fine Design Living is a boutique design and build firm specializing in high-quality exterior and interior custom renovations for both residential and commercial clients. From unique landscape designs and landscape construction to custom interior renovations, Fine Design Living is committed to providing the highest-quality workmanship, backed by the personalized approach of excellent service. Based out of Markham, Fine Design Living serves customers in Toronto and the GTA, including Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan, Newmarket, Unionville, Aurora, Woodbridge, and Stouffville. More information on Fine Design Living is available by visiting the firm's web site at http://www.FineDesignLiving.com or by calling 416-817-6128. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) December 17, 2013
Fine Design Living (http://www.FineDesignLiving.com), one of the GTA’s leading boutique design and build firms specializing in high quality exterior and interior custom renovations for residential and commercial clients, is weighing in on the recently announced energy rate hike and the rising popularity of custom ethanol fireplaces for homes and condominiums.
“The Ontario government recently announced its long-term energy plan, one that would see homeowners facing a 33% increase in electricity rates over the next three years. While the average monthly bill today is $125.00, by 2016, it will jump to $167.00. Even in the short term, Ontarians will be paying more for energy; on November 1, electricity rates went up three percent,” says Braden White, owner of Fine Design Living. “This sharp hike in energy prices and an early, icy start to winter has triggered an increased demand for ethanol fireplaces.” (Source: Leslie, K., “Ontario electricity rates to rise 33% in three years under Liberals’ long-term energy plan,” Financial Post web site, December 2, 2013; http://business.financialpost.com/2013/12/02/ontario-electricity-rates-to-keep-rising-as-long-term-energy-plan-released/.)
Whether it’s for a large custom home or a suite on the 30th floor of a condominium, ventless ethanol fireplaces are an affordable, safe, and efficient way to heat up a home. Because they are ventless, the heat doesn't escape through a chimney, staying in the room. According to White, unlike gas or traditional wood-burning fireplaces, which can be difficult and expensive to install, ethanol fireplaces are an easy and inexpensive alternative.
“Until recently, those living in a condo or apartment had to do without a fireplace. While installing a gas or wood-burning stove in a condominium is out of the question, having an environmentally friendly ethanol fireplace isn’t,” White adds. “Whether someone owns a condominium or rents, they can enjoy the warmth of an ethanol fireplace. That’s because an ethanol fireplace works in a similar fashion to candles: there are no gas lines, no need to haul wood, and no sparks involved. Using ethanol, the fire burns without smoke, ash or soot, and built-in safety features ensure that the ethanol fireplace will shut off if it tilts, shakes, or tips over.”
One major advantage of an ethanol fireplace is that it doesn’t need a chimney and can be installed in any building, in any room, and on any wall. In fact, a wall-mounted ethanol fireplace can be installed in minutes and taken down just as easily.
“Ethanol fireplaces are not limited to being mounted to a wall and come in an endless variety of styles and price points,” White concludes. “An experienced boutique design and build firm can create a custom faux chimney covered with a wide range of different types of stones. This makes for a very dramatic look inside of a condo unit located where you wouldn't expect to see a fireplace and chimney.”
Fine Design Living is a boutique design and build firm specializing in high-quality exterior and interior custom renovations for both residential and commercial clients. From unique landscape designs and landscape construction to custom interior renovations, Fine Design Living is committed to providing the highest-quality workmanship, backed by the personalized approach of excellent service. Based out of Markham, Fine Design Living serves customers in Toronto and the GTA, including Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Vaughan, Newmarket, Unionville, Aurora, Woodbridge, and Stouffville. More information on Fine Design Living is available by visiting the firm's web site at http://www.FineDesignLiving.com or by calling 416-817-6128. Reported by PRWeb 3 hours ago.
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Dial-a-Carol Offers University Of Illinois Students A Jolly Study Break (VIDEO)
CHICAGO (AP) — The phones are jingling off the hook at Dial-a-Carol, a student-run project on the University of Illinois' Champaign campus. It's a hotline of sorts for people who prefer hearing holiday music sung by a choir of amateurs who've been up all night studying.
The carols echoing in the lobby of Snyder Hall may be out of tune at times, but the voices ring with youthful energy. "They're not music majors. They're singing from their hearts," said Kirsten Ruby, spokeswoman for the university's housing department.
The program was started in 1960 by a former hall secretary, Betty Gordon, and a group of dorm residents. Last year, the student volunteers took more than 4,000 calls from people all over the world requesting "Jingle Bells," ''White Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Phone lines are open 24 hours a day until just before midnight Wednesday. The number is 217-332-1882. When lines are busy, a recorded message greets callers with "Our first available caroler will be right with you."
Dial-a-Carol isn't raising money — and that's part of its charm. It coincides with final exams, giving students needed stress relief between tests.
"It's something fun to do when there's nothing other than studying to do," said 19-year-old Christian Dillon, a freshman architecture student from Chicago. He took carol requests for eight hours overnight Friday and was back Monday for more.
"You're sleepy, just all laughing and drinking coffee to keep each other awake," he said.
There are even Dial-a-Carol miracles.
Renee Nelson, 51, of Naperville, Ill., heard about it on the radio and decided to call.
"My niece Erin (Markovich) is a junior there. I called and she answered, but I did not know she would be there," she said. Nelson requested "Jingle Bells."
"She got a couple of her friends to back her up.... You have to smile," Nelson said. "It's a bunch of college kids who could be doing anything else in their day. It was really cute."
Garrick Bradley, 22, an accounting major from South Holland, Ill., said he answered a Dial-a-Carol phone at 7 a.m. Monday, groggy from studying. The peppy voice on the line was a radio host in Phoenix asking him to sing "Feliz Navidad" on the air.
Other students came to his rescue: "I'm on a radio station live," he said. "I needed some help."
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" is so popular the students keep track with a "Mariah Meter." The count Monday morning: 107 requests.
"I sing in the shower like everyone else," said 19-year-old Kelly Sarna, an aspiring pharmacist from New Lenox, Ill. "I've never been a part of a choir. It's more about the tradition. ... When I have kids, I'm going to look back at this and tell them I did Dial-a-Carol."
Singing to strangers who may be having trouble finding the Christmas spirit can be a moving experience.
"It really makes you feel you're doing some good," said Evan Lorenz, 19, a freshman psychology major from Aurora, Ill. "We don't even sound that good when we sing, but it really makes their day." Reported by Huffington Post 1 hour ago.
The carols echoing in the lobby of Snyder Hall may be out of tune at times, but the voices ring with youthful energy. "They're not music majors. They're singing from their hearts," said Kirsten Ruby, spokeswoman for the university's housing department.
The program was started in 1960 by a former hall secretary, Betty Gordon, and a group of dorm residents. Last year, the student volunteers took more than 4,000 calls from people all over the world requesting "Jingle Bells," ''White Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."
Phone lines are open 24 hours a day until just before midnight Wednesday. The number is 217-332-1882. When lines are busy, a recorded message greets callers with "Our first available caroler will be right with you."
Dial-a-Carol isn't raising money — and that's part of its charm. It coincides with final exams, giving students needed stress relief between tests.
"It's something fun to do when there's nothing other than studying to do," said 19-year-old Christian Dillon, a freshman architecture student from Chicago. He took carol requests for eight hours overnight Friday and was back Monday for more.
"You're sleepy, just all laughing and drinking coffee to keep each other awake," he said.
There are even Dial-a-Carol miracles.
Renee Nelson, 51, of Naperville, Ill., heard about it on the radio and decided to call.
"My niece Erin (Markovich) is a junior there. I called and she answered, but I did not know she would be there," she said. Nelson requested "Jingle Bells."
"She got a couple of her friends to back her up.... You have to smile," Nelson said. "It's a bunch of college kids who could be doing anything else in their day. It was really cute."
Garrick Bradley, 22, an accounting major from South Holland, Ill., said he answered a Dial-a-Carol phone at 7 a.m. Monday, groggy from studying. The peppy voice on the line was a radio host in Phoenix asking him to sing "Feliz Navidad" on the air.
Other students came to his rescue: "I'm on a radio station live," he said. "I needed some help."
Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" is so popular the students keep track with a "Mariah Meter." The count Monday morning: 107 requests.
"I sing in the shower like everyone else," said 19-year-old Kelly Sarna, an aspiring pharmacist from New Lenox, Ill. "I've never been a part of a choir. It's more about the tradition. ... When I have kids, I'm going to look back at this and tell them I did Dial-a-Carol."
Singing to strangers who may be having trouble finding the Christmas spirit can be a moving experience.
"It really makes you feel you're doing some good," said Evan Lorenz, 19, a freshman psychology major from Aurora, Ill. "We don't even sound that good when we sing, but it really makes their day." Reported by Huffington Post 1 hour ago.
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IE Vulnerability Used in Operation Aurora Still Making the Rounds
Experts say that the old Internet Explorer vulnerability leveraged in the Operation Aurora cyberattacks is still being utilized. Operation Aurora was a major cyberattack carried out by actors with alleged ties to the Chinese military back in 2009. The campaign targeted several major companies, including Google, Adobe, Juniper Networks, Yahoo, Symantec, Morgan Stanley and Northrop Grumman. Despite the fact that the vulnerability in question was patched back in early 2...
Reported by Softpedia 1 hour ago.
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Becker's Healthcare Names "100 Hospitals With Great Heart Programs"
Becker's Hospital Review has named the following hospitals to its list of "100 Hospitals With Great Heart Programs."
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 17, 2013
Becker's Hospital Review has named the following hospitals to its list of "100 Hospitals With Great Heart Programs." These hospitals are institutions with programs demonstrating excellent clinical outcomes, cutting-edge research, cardiac risk-reduction programs and an innovative approach to cardiac care. They exemplify the pursuit of better cardiac care for all patients.
The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team selected the hospitals based on their heart programs' recognition for quality of care, clinical awards and research contributions to cardiovascular care. These hospitals have received recognition as outstanding providers of cardiovascular services by U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Note: This list is not an endorsement of included hospitals or associated healthcare providers. The following content should be used for informational purposes only. Hospitals cannot pay to be included on this list and are presented in alphabetical order.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis).
Adventist Medical Center (Portland, Ore.).
Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn, Ill.).
Allen Memorial Hospital (Waterloo, Iowa).
AnMed Health (Anderson, S.C.).
Aspirus Wausau (Wis.) Hospital.
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center (Milwaukee).
Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis).
Baptist Hospital East (Louisville, Ky.).
Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital (Dallas).
Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.).
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital (Richmond, Va.).
Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston).
Bronson Methodist Hospital (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
Carolina Regional Heart Center (High Point, N.C.).
CarolinaEast Medical Center (New Bern, N.C.).
Carolinas Medical Center (Charleston, N.C.).
CaroMont Health (Gastonia, N.C.).
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles).
Centerpoint Medical Center (Independence, Mo.).
The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati).
Cleveland Clinic.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center (Upland, Pa.).
Duke University Medical Center (Durham, N.C.).
Emory University Hospital (Atlanta).
Florida Hospital (Orlando).
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center.
Hahnemann University Hospital (Philadelphia).
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).
Houston Methodist Hospital.
Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital.
Integris Baptist Medical Center (Oklahoma City).
IU Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis).
John Muir Medical Center (Concord, Calif.).
Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore).
Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital.
Lehigh Valley Hospital (Allentown, Pa.).
Lenox Hill Hospital (New York City).
Liberty (Mo.) Hospital.
Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood, Ill.).
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston).
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.).
McLaren Bay Region (Bay City, Mich.).
Medical Center of Central Georgia (Macon, Ga.).
Medical University Hospital of South Carolina (Charleston, S.C.).
MedStar Washington (D.C.) Hospital Center.
Memorial Medical Center (Springfield, Ill.).
Mercy Medical Center (Des Moines, Iowa).
Methodist Hospital of Southern California (Arcadia).
Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, N.Y.).
Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center.
Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York City).
Nebraska Methodist Hospital (Omaha).
The Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha).
NewYork-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell (New York City).
North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago).
NYU Langone Medical Center (New York City).
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus).
Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans).
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Denham Springs, La.).
Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth (Texas).
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (Portland, Ohio).
The Reading Hospital and Medical Center (West Reading, Penn.).
Resurrection Medical Center (Chicago).
Rex Hospital (Raleigh, N.C.).
Riverside Medical Center (Kanakkee, Ill.).
Rush University Medical Center (Chicago).
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center (Hartford, Conn.).
Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.).
Scripps La Jolla (Calif.) Hospitals and Clinics.
Sentara Norfolk (Va.) General Hospital.
Shands at the University of Florida (Gainesville).
Shannon Medical Center (San Angelo, Texas).
Shawnee Mission (Texas) Medical Center.
Sparrow Hospital (Lansing, Mich.).
Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital (Grand Rapids, Mich.).
St. Francis Hospital (Roslyn, N.Y.).
St. Joseph Hospital–Orange (Calif.).
St. Luke's (Duluth, Minn.).
St. Luke's Hospital (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
Stanford Hospital and Clinics (Palo Alto, Calif.).
Stormont-Vail HealthCare (Topeka, Kan.).
Tacoma (Wash.) General Hospital-Allenmore.
Tampa General Hospital.
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (Houston).
Trident Health – Trident Medical Center (Charleston, S.C.).
UC San Diego Medical Center.
UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles).
University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland).
University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City).
University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers (Ann Arbor).
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian.
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (Madison).
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.).
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center (Kingsport, Tenn.).
West Jefferson Medical Center (Marrero, La.).
Winchester (Va.) Medical Center.
Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Hospital.
The full list can be read here.
About Becker's Hospital Review
Becker's Hospital Review is a monthly publication offering up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. Our content is geared toward high level hospital leaders, and we work to provide valuable content, including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance specifically for these decision makers. Each issue of Becker's Hospital Review reaches more than 18,000 people, primarily acute-care hospital CEOs and CFOs. Reported by PRWeb 38 minutes ago.
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) December 17, 2013
Becker's Hospital Review has named the following hospitals to its list of "100 Hospitals With Great Heart Programs." These hospitals are institutions with programs demonstrating excellent clinical outcomes, cutting-edge research, cardiac risk-reduction programs and an innovative approach to cardiac care. They exemplify the pursuit of better cardiac care for all patients.
The Becker's Hospital Review editorial team selected the hospitals based on their heart programs' recognition for quality of care, clinical awards and research contributions to cardiovascular care. These hospitals have received recognition as outstanding providers of cardiovascular services by U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the American College of Cardiology Foundation and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Note: This list is not an endorsement of included hospitals or associated healthcare providers. The following content should be used for informational purposes only. Hospitals cannot pay to be included on this list and are presented in alphabetical order.
Abbott Northwestern Hospital (Minneapolis).
Adventist Medical Center (Portland, Ore.).
Advocate Christ Medical Center (Oak Lawn, Ill.).
Allen Memorial Hospital (Waterloo, Iowa).
AnMed Health (Anderson, S.C.).
Aspirus Wausau (Wis.) Hospital.
Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center (Milwaukee).
Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St. Louis).
Baptist Hospital East (Louisville, Ky.).
Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital (Dallas).
Beaumont Hospital (Royal Oak, Mich.).
Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital (Richmond, Va.).
Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston).
Bronson Methodist Hospital (Kalamazoo, Mich.).
Carolina Regional Heart Center (High Point, N.C.).
CarolinaEast Medical Center (New Bern, N.C.).
Carolinas Medical Center (Charleston, N.C.).
CaroMont Health (Gastonia, N.C.).
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles).
Centerpoint Medical Center (Independence, Mo.).
The Christ Hospital (Cincinnati).
Cleveland Clinic.
Crozer-Chester Medical Center (Upland, Pa.).
Duke University Medical Center (Durham, N.C.).
Emory University Hospital (Atlanta).
Florida Hospital (Orlando).
Hackensack (N.J.) University Medical Center.
Hahnemann University Hospital (Philadelphia).
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).
Houston Methodist Hospital.
Huntsville (Ala.) Hospital.
Integris Baptist Medical Center (Oklahoma City).
IU Health Methodist Hospital (Indianapolis).
John Muir Medical Center (Concord, Calif.).
Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore).
Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital.
Lehigh Valley Hospital (Allentown, Pa.).
Lenox Hill Hospital (New York City).
Liberty (Mo.) Hospital.
Loyola University Medical Center (Maywood, Ill.).
Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston).
Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn.).
McLaren Bay Region (Bay City, Mich.).
Medical Center of Central Georgia (Macon, Ga.).
Medical University Hospital of South Carolina (Charleston, S.C.).
MedStar Washington (D.C.) Hospital Center.
Memorial Medical Center (Springfield, Ill.).
Mercy Medical Center (Des Moines, Iowa).
Methodist Hospital of Southern California (Arcadia).
Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, N.Y.).
Morristown (N.J.) Medical Center.
Mount Sinai Medical Center (New York City).
Nebraska Methodist Hospital (Omaha).
The Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha).
NewYork-Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell (New York City).
North Kansas City (Mo.) Hospital.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Chicago).
NYU Langone Medical Center (New York City).
Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus).
Ochsner Medical Center (New Orleans).
Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (Denham Springs, La.).
Plaza Medical Center of Fort Worth (Texas).
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (Portland, Ohio).
The Reading Hospital and Medical Center (West Reading, Penn.).
Resurrection Medical Center (Chicago).
Rex Hospital (Raleigh, N.C.).
Riverside Medical Center (Kanakkee, Ill.).
Rush University Medical Center (Chicago).
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center (Hartford, Conn.).
Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, S.D.).
Scripps La Jolla (Calif.) Hospitals and Clinics.
Sentara Norfolk (Va.) General Hospital.
Shands at the University of Florida (Gainesville).
Shannon Medical Center (San Angelo, Texas).
Shawnee Mission (Texas) Medical Center.
Sparrow Hospital (Lansing, Mich.).
Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital (Grand Rapids, Mich.).
St. Francis Hospital (Roslyn, N.Y.).
St. Joseph Hospital–Orange (Calif.).
St. Luke's (Duluth, Minn.).
St. Luke's Hospital (Cedar Rapids, Iowa).
Stanford Hospital and Clinics (Palo Alto, Calif.).
Stormont-Vail HealthCare (Topeka, Kan.).
Tacoma (Wash.) General Hospital-Allenmore.
Tampa General Hospital.
Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (Houston).
Trident Health – Trident Medical Center (Charleston, S.C.).
UC San Diego Medical Center.
UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles).
University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland).
University of Kansas Hospital (Kansas City).
University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers (Ann Arbor).
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian.
University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics (Madison).
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, Tenn.).
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center (Winston-Salem, N.C.).
Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center (Kingsport, Tenn.).
West Jefferson Medical Center (Marrero, La.).
Winchester (Va.) Medical Center.
Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Hospital.
The full list can be read here.
About Becker's Hospital Review
Becker's Hospital Review is a monthly publication offering up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems. Our content is geared toward high level hospital leaders, and we work to provide valuable content, including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance specifically for these decision makers. Each issue of Becker's Hospital Review reaches more than 18,000 people, primarily acute-care hospital CEOs and CFOs. Reported by PRWeb 38 minutes ago.
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North Aurora to Crack Down on Holiday-Season Drunken Driving
Patch Geneva, IL --From Dec. 20 through Jan. 5 of the New Year, North Aurora Police officers will be out in force as part of the statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” crackdown on drunken drivers. Reported by Patch 22 hours ago.
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Three indicted in Aurora mortgage fraud
The federal government has charged three people with allegedly swindling at least 54 suburban homeowners out of $220,000 in a mortgage rescue fraud scheme that targeted Hispanic homeowners in the Aurora area.
Reported by ChicagoTribune 20 hours ago.
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Aurora police seek help in identifying driver who hit patrol car
Aurora police are asking the community for help in identifying a motorist who hit an officer's occupied patrol car during a traffic stop.
Reported by Denver Post 14 hours ago.
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Watermelon Research Selects Confirmit to Drive its Digital Research Business
“The decision to implement Confirmit was simple - we consider it to be the market leader.”
New York, NY and Oslo, Norway and London, UK (PRWEB) December 18, 2013
Confirmit, the leading global solutions provider for Customer Experience, Employee Engagement and Market Research, has announced that Watermelon Research has chosen Confirmit as a solution for interactive voice response (IVR) and online Market Research for its clients.
Watermelon was formed in January 2012 with the aim of bridging the gap between technology and Market Research. Mark Squires, managing director, Watermelon, explains: “We believe that there are some amazing technology products on the market for a wide variety of research tasks but these products have developed quickly for the digital age. This can mean that it is difficult for customers to know how to use these technologies to get the best out of them or that they don’t understand how the new technologies can apply to research. Watermelon is here to bridge that gap.”
Watermelon has a range of in-house products and works with a variety of suppliers to be able to tailor its approach to clients. As well as consulting on technology, Watermelon executes Market Research programs and works with a syndicate of partners for face-to-face or computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) projects. With clients who have their own relationships with partners, Watermelon acts as a mediator and manages the whole process. As Squires says: “Our focus is 100 percent on obtaining the best research data for our clients so that they can focus on answering their business questions. They may need anything from IVR and online data collection, through to research techniques such as conjoint analysis, to online dashboards and portals. Because of the technology we have and the expertise in our people, we can apply the most appropriate, proven and productive process, with some innovative touches along the way.”
Squires continues: “The decision to implement Confirmit in-house was simple because we consider it to be the market leader. We spoke with former colleagues, suppliers, and clients within the industry and asked them for their experience of working with a variety of market leading products. We were just really taken aback by Confirmit, not only by its scripting platform that allowed us the ability to script complex questionnaires, but by its extreme user friendliness. Suddenly we had a product available to us that not only achieved the complexity we needed but also had a very easy user interface for people without programming skills in areas like HTML or Visual Basic.”
Another key factor in Squires’ decision was the speed at which Confirmit not only develops its product but rolls out new versions. He also believes that the frontline support team is very responsive and responds well to client inquiries and concerns.
Tim Hannington, EVP, Confirmit says: “We are delighted to be helping Watermelon achieve success with its clients in the Market Research arena. Watermelon is blazing a trail with its team of expert, specialist digital research practitioners using technology to achieve outstanding results. It’s a pleasure to be a key part of such an exciting venture.”
###
About Watermelon Research
Watermelon is most definitely not traditional research with a ‘digital badge.’ Watermelon most certainly is a team of expert, specialist digital research practitioners. We live, breathe and frequently dream digital research. All of us, all the time. That’s what we do, exclusively. So our focus is 100% on obtaining the best research data for our clients so that they can focus on answering their business questions. They may need anything from IVR and online data collection, through to research techniques such as conjoint analysis, to online dashboards and portals.
Our team has energy, experience and boundless enthusiasm for getting our clients exactly what they need. And we’re a part of Chime Communications Plc., so we fully understand the bigger picture when it comes to creating insight.
Watermelon marries the rigorous demands of modern research to the vast capabilities of digital technology. For more information, visit http://www.watermelonresearch.com/.
About Confirmit
Confirmit is the world’s leading SaaS vendor for multichannel Voice of the Customer, Employee Feedback, and Market Research applications. The company has offices in Oslo (headquarters), Cologne, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Yaroslavl. Confirmit's software is also distributed through partner resellers in Madrid, Milan, Salvador, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Confirmit targets Global 5000 companies and Market Research agencies worldwide with a wide range of software products for feedback / data collection, panel management, data processing, analysis, and reporting. Customers include A&N Media, Aurora, British Airways, Cross-Tab, Dow Chemical, Farmers Insurance, GfK, GlaxoSmithKline, GMO Research, JTN Research, Keep Factor, Morehead Associates, Nielsen, Research Now, Swapit, Swisscom, Symantec and The Wellcome Trust. Visit http://www.confirmit.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
New York, NY and Oslo, Norway and London, UK (PRWEB) December 18, 2013
Confirmit, the leading global solutions provider for Customer Experience, Employee Engagement and Market Research, has announced that Watermelon Research has chosen Confirmit as a solution for interactive voice response (IVR) and online Market Research for its clients.
Watermelon was formed in January 2012 with the aim of bridging the gap between technology and Market Research. Mark Squires, managing director, Watermelon, explains: “We believe that there are some amazing technology products on the market for a wide variety of research tasks but these products have developed quickly for the digital age. This can mean that it is difficult for customers to know how to use these technologies to get the best out of them or that they don’t understand how the new technologies can apply to research. Watermelon is here to bridge that gap.”
Watermelon has a range of in-house products and works with a variety of suppliers to be able to tailor its approach to clients. As well as consulting on technology, Watermelon executes Market Research programs and works with a syndicate of partners for face-to-face or computer assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) projects. With clients who have their own relationships with partners, Watermelon acts as a mediator and manages the whole process. As Squires says: “Our focus is 100 percent on obtaining the best research data for our clients so that they can focus on answering their business questions. They may need anything from IVR and online data collection, through to research techniques such as conjoint analysis, to online dashboards and portals. Because of the technology we have and the expertise in our people, we can apply the most appropriate, proven and productive process, with some innovative touches along the way.”
Squires continues: “The decision to implement Confirmit in-house was simple because we consider it to be the market leader. We spoke with former colleagues, suppliers, and clients within the industry and asked them for their experience of working with a variety of market leading products. We were just really taken aback by Confirmit, not only by its scripting platform that allowed us the ability to script complex questionnaires, but by its extreme user friendliness. Suddenly we had a product available to us that not only achieved the complexity we needed but also had a very easy user interface for people without programming skills in areas like HTML or Visual Basic.”
Another key factor in Squires’ decision was the speed at which Confirmit not only develops its product but rolls out new versions. He also believes that the frontline support team is very responsive and responds well to client inquiries and concerns.
Tim Hannington, EVP, Confirmit says: “We are delighted to be helping Watermelon achieve success with its clients in the Market Research arena. Watermelon is blazing a trail with its team of expert, specialist digital research practitioners using technology to achieve outstanding results. It’s a pleasure to be a key part of such an exciting venture.”
###
About Watermelon Research
Watermelon is most definitely not traditional research with a ‘digital badge.’ Watermelon most certainly is a team of expert, specialist digital research practitioners. We live, breathe and frequently dream digital research. All of us, all the time. That’s what we do, exclusively. So our focus is 100% on obtaining the best research data for our clients so that they can focus on answering their business questions. They may need anything from IVR and online data collection, through to research techniques such as conjoint analysis, to online dashboards and portals.
Our team has energy, experience and boundless enthusiasm for getting our clients exactly what they need. And we’re a part of Chime Communications Plc., so we fully understand the bigger picture when it comes to creating insight.
Watermelon marries the rigorous demands of modern research to the vast capabilities of digital technology. For more information, visit http://www.watermelonresearch.com/.
About Confirmit
Confirmit is the world’s leading SaaS vendor for multichannel Voice of the Customer, Employee Feedback, and Market Research applications. The company has offices in Oslo (headquarters), Cologne, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Yaroslavl. Confirmit's software is also distributed through partner resellers in Madrid, Milan, Salvador, Sydney, and Tokyo.
Confirmit targets Global 5000 companies and Market Research agencies worldwide with a wide range of software products for feedback / data collection, panel management, data processing, analysis, and reporting. Customers include A&N Media, Aurora, British Airways, Cross-Tab, Dow Chemical, Farmers Insurance, GfK, GlaxoSmithKline, GMO Research, JTN Research, Keep Factor, Morehead Associates, Nielsen, Research Now, Swapit, Swisscom, Symantec and The Wellcome Trust. Visit http://www.confirmit.com for more information. Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.
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James Holmes due in court in Aurora theater shooting case
Attorneys in the Aurora theater shooting case are scheduled to appear for a brief hearing on Wednesday, where they will set future dates to argue whether the gunman will undergo another psychiatric evaluation.
Reported by Denver Post 20 minutes ago.
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