Reported by US Weekly 10 hours ago.
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Holly Madison on Baby Rainbow Aurora: "She Really Is the Perfect Baby"
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Two-vehicle, injury crash in Aurora slows traffic in area
A two-vehicle accident, with injuries, in Aurora has traffic tied up near East Florida Avenue and South Chambers Road.
Reported by Denver Post 9 hours ago.
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IT'S OFFICIAL
Snow White, you're old news. There's a new woman in town, and her bodacious red curls taking over the spotlight.
Disney has announced that it will crown Merida, the lead character from the 2012 Disney/Pixar flick "Brave," the 11th official Disney princess on May 11 in a ceremony at the Orlando, Fla., theme park's Cinderella Castle. The ceremony will include a royal coronation, according to Disney news site Inside the Magic. Merida joins Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora ("Sleeping Beauty"), Ariel ("The Little Mermaid"), Belle ("Beauty and the Beast"), Jasmine ("Aladdin"), Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana (from "The Princess and the Frog") and Rapunzel (from "Tangled)."
Despite "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" dating back to 1937, the official Disney princess effort didn't kick off until the early 2000s, when then-chairman Andy Mooney saw young girls' fascinations with the animated ladies as the perfect marketing strategy. It was then that all the princesses were presented as one collective unit, although Mooney has reportedly stated that memorabilia posters featuring all the girls show each character looking in a different direction so their mythologies will not seem interconnected.
Voiced in the film by Kelly Macdonald, Merida is the first Pixar character to join the Disney lineup. (The Walt Disney Co. bought Pixar in 2006 for a reported $7.4 billion.) The studio has redesigned Merida's look to better match that of the traditional Disney princesses, rendering her image without the computer-generated animation for which Pixar has become known. She will presumably join the promotional poster the features the current 10 princesses standing in a row.
"Brave" was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2012, taking in $237.3 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, becoming the sixth Pixar release to take home the award in its 12-year history. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.
Disney has announced that it will crown Merida, the lead character from the 2012 Disney/Pixar flick "Brave," the 11th official Disney princess on May 11 in a ceremony at the Orlando, Fla., theme park's Cinderella Castle. The ceremony will include a royal coronation, according to Disney news site Inside the Magic. Merida joins Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora ("Sleeping Beauty"), Ariel ("The Little Mermaid"), Belle ("Beauty and the Beast"), Jasmine ("Aladdin"), Pocahontas, Mulan, Tiana (from "The Princess and the Frog") and Rapunzel (from "Tangled)."
Despite "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" dating back to 1937, the official Disney princess effort didn't kick off until the early 2000s, when then-chairman Andy Mooney saw young girls' fascinations with the animated ladies as the perfect marketing strategy. It was then that all the princesses were presented as one collective unit, although Mooney has reportedly stated that memorabilia posters featuring all the girls show each character looking in a different direction so their mythologies will not seem interconnected.
Voiced in the film by Kelly Macdonald, Merida is the first Pixar character to join the Disney lineup. (The Walt Disney Co. bought Pixar in 2006 for a reported $7.4 billion.) The studio has redesigned Merida's look to better match that of the traditional Disney princesses, rendering her image without the computer-generated animation for which Pixar has become known. She will presumably join the promotional poster the features the current 10 princesses standing in a row.
"Brave" was the eighth highest-grossing film of 2012, taking in $237.3 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, becoming the sixth Pixar release to take home the award in its 12-year history. Reported by Huffington Post 9 hours ago.
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Top Stories in April: Police Pursuit, Lyrid Meteor, Restaurant Closing and a Car Crash
Patch Huntington-Belle Haven, VA --A few stories caught the attention of Greater Alexandria Patch readers this month. Here are the top 10 stories on the site from April.
Once you're done reviewing the list, let us know if you're surprised by this month's top stories. Which story had you talking to neighbors and co-workers at the water cooler the next day?
10. *Construction on Fort Hunt Road Trail Begins*
The Fairfax County Park Authority started construction Monday on the Fort Hunt Road trail.
Crews will install 3,150 linear feet of eight-foot wide asphalt trail along Fort Hunt Road in Mount Vernon District Park. It will connect the new trail section to the sidewalk near Quander Road at the southern end and the sidewalk at Martha Washington Library at the northern end.
An additional 350 linear feet of six-foot wide asphalt trail will connect the new trail to the parking lot for the Mount Vernon RECenter.
9. *To Be Thai Closing April 27*
Huntington Thai restaurant To Be Thai closed its doors on April 27.
The restaurant is currently located in the Huntington Gateway shopping center on Route 1. According to a restaurant employee, the owners decided not to renew their lease because it was too expensive. The owners have no plans to relocate.
8. *Top 20: Walgreens, 7-Eleven Not Welcome, Babysitter Indicted, Affordable Housing, DNA in Crimes and a Long, Happy Marriage*
Patch has 31 community sites in Virginia and D.C. Here are some of the top stories from around the region over the past week.
Affordable housing continues to be a major topic of discussion in Alexandria. The Virginia Department of Transportation sold Hunting Point, two eight-story apartment buildings, to a realty firm. Alexandria's City Council had asked that any purchaser not turn the buildings into luxury apartments that could displace its current tenants who require more affordable housing. That message was passed on to the new buyers, according to VDOT, but was not a condition of the sale.
7. *WOW House for Sale in Greater Alexandria: Entertaining Guests in Style*
This home in Greater Alexandria is sure to make you the best host in the neighborhood with a fantastic game room.
AOL Real Estate has this WOW house for sale in Greater Alexandria, located at 9051 Tower House Place.
6. *Construction on Insight Huntington Metro Begins*
Construction has begun on the Insight Huntington Metro project located at North Kings Highway and School Street in Alexandria.
According to the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation (SFDC), Insight Property Group began construction in February on the apartment building on a 3.38-acre site. The site was re-planned as part of the Comprehensive Plan amendment for the Penn Daw area approved in April 2012. The estimated total project cost is $54 million.
5. *UPDATED: All Lanes Clear After Crash Shuts Down I-495 South*
All lanes were cleared at 3:20 p.m. after a vehicle just after 1:30 shut down all lanes of the outer loop of I-495 S near mile marker 44, just before the Dulles Toll Road/VA-267 (exit 45).
Back-ups and delays stretched three miles at the height of the shut-down.
4. *Police Pursue Three Alexandria Men in Groveton*
*PURSUIT*, Rolling Stone Way/Vantage Drive, 3/30/13, 12:35 a.m. An officer attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Groveton Street. The vehicle allegedly sped away. The officer was able to follow until the occupants ran away from the vehicle on Vantage Drive.
The helicopter and a K-9 team assisted in locating the occupants. Alexander Craft, 18, of Alexandria, was charged with speed to elude, driving without a license, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Keenan Strother, 26, of Alexandria, and Kibruysfa Degefa, 21, of Alexandria, were each charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
3. *Lyrid Meteor Shower 2013 Peak is Here: Where and When to Watch*
The Lyrid meteor shower 2013 peak is here, and while it'll be plenty chilly outside, the skies should be clear.
The skies have been largely empty of visible meteor showers since the Quadrantids of early January, but the shooting stars of the Lyrids have been a reliable spectacle for, oh, 2,600 years or so.
2. *Five Foreclosures for Sale in Greater Alexandria and Mount Vernon*
Foreclosures nationwide are on the decline, writes Amrita Jayakumar in the Washington Post. In Virginia, the number of homes in foreclosure is down more than 42 percent from where it was a year ago, according to the report released Tuesday by LPS Applied Analytics, a market research company.
The state has foreclosures resources for Virginia homeowners.
Here are five bank-owned homes on the market in the Greater Alexandria and Mount Vernon area for more than $300,000.
1. *Aurora Borealis: 'Northern Lights' Show May be Opening Act for Lyrid Meteor Shower*
A solar flare directed at Earth may provide a "spectacular" display of Northern Lights Saturday evening, and prime viewing could be in the skies over Nothern Virginia.
The aurora borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights, can be seen as colorful wisps in the skies, most often greens with areas of pinks, blues and yellows. Reported by Patch 5 hours ago.
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Avon Township Youth Baseball Hosts First Tournament of Season
Patch Grayslake, IL --Spring was in the air this past weekend as Avon hosted its first Travel Baseball Tournament of the season at the grounds of the old Softball City in Hainesville.
Participating teams not only took advantage of the beautiful spring-like weather, but the updated facilities and fields as well.
At the 10U level, the battle between Lake in the Hills and the Algonquin Storm provided a boisterous crowd of spectators, second to a major league stadium. Spectators on both sides cheered in unison as the game drew to an end. The see saw battle between these two teams ended in a 5-4 victory for the Algonquin Storm.
At the 11U level, the Algonquin Storm, Grayslake Coyotes, Lake in the Hills, Mundelein and the Avon Township Youth Baseball Double Headers battled for first place.
The 11U Double Headers faced Mundelein in their first game and won with a score of 10-2, advancing them to the championship game only to face the team that defeated them the night before with a score of 13-2—the Algonquin Storm. The game went back and forth with both teams tied at 1 then tied at 3. In the fourth inning, however, left fielder Jeremy Rowder broke the seal with a double and 2 RBIs! In the bottom of the 7th inning, Algonquin strung together a few runs and mounted what appeared to be a comeback. Closing pitcher Mykal Ashley shut the door with a game winning strike, allowing the Double Headers to win by a score of 12-10.
At the 12 U level the Grayslake Coyotes took the championship title with a win over the Richmond Rockets. The Coyotes were led by pitchers Ethan Peterson and Nate Twardock giving up only two runs. The offensive punch was provided by Chris Thomas, 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Wes Kemming, the championship game MVP, who was 2 for 2, a double, and 3 RBIs.
Coach Steve Sturm shared that "not only was the tournament well run and professionally officiated, the spirit of good sportsmanship was evident at all games. The free hot dog and pop for home run hitters was a nice touch, too."
The 13U championship game was a rematch between the Avon Double Headers and the Aurora Thunder. Aurora’s bats were hot. The Thunder immediately took a four run lead at the top of the first inning. The Double Headers did not give up and were anchored by the efforts of Regan Marsell, who went 3 for 3, Sergio Meza, who went 2 for 3, and relief pitcher Jay Patel. Excellent defense from the Thunder contained the Double Headers and the Aurora Thunder took the Championship title.
When asked about her thoughts on the Spring Swing Tournament, Coyote 12U parent and Grayslake resident Megan Thomas shared, “Kudos to the Avon Double Headers family. This weekend’s tournament was amazing! The atmosphere was fun and friendly, and we loved the whole feel of the ball parks, quaint and cozy, nothing fancy, just baseball done right. The concessions were out of this world, so many choices, and all made to order! We loved hearing the ‘congrats’ blaring over the loud speaker for the boys that hit home runs; really captured and added to the excitement! Well done Avon!”
At the completion of each game played, the coaches from each team awarded an MVP medal to a player on the opposing team. Various players received medals throughout the tournament, further underscoring good sportsmanship and an overall respect for the game.
—Courtesy of the ATYB Double Headers.
*Would you like to submit local sports news? Contact editor Korrina Grom at korrina.grom@patch.com.* Reported by Patch 5 hours ago.
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Tri-Cities Death Notices: Longtime Educators, Veterans, Jim's Pizza Owner Among Those We Lost
Patch Batavia, IL --*Malone Funeral Home*
· *Juliette M. Victor*, 93, of St Charles had a beautiful smile and made friends easily, she especially loved her friends at Carriage Oaks. She enjoyed arts and crafts and loved to entertain. However she found her greatest joy in spending time with her family.
· *James C. Cesario Sr.*, 87, of Elburn served in the Navy during WWII from 1943-1946. During the 1970s he owned Jim’s Pizza in Geneva and until his retirement in 1993 he owned Jim’s Pizza in Elburn. James had a passion for cars, loved to read and celebrated mass every day.
**Yurs Funeral Home** **
· *Wade L. Poziombka*, 47, of St. Charles died after a brief but courageous battle with cancer on April 29, 2013. He worked for Intel Corporation and was an avid outdoorsman. He also served in the Illinois National Guard.
· *Lorraine E. Tredup*, 93, of South Elgin graduated from St. Charles High School in 1937. On Feb. 22, 1941, she married Ralph Tredup in St. Charles. She was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the VFW Auxilary Post #2327 in South Elgin, IL.
· *Robert C. Stephen*, 87, of Geneva, died April 2, 2013. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, and children Sandy (Louis) Gonzalez, Don (Denise) Stephen, Jim Stephen.
· *Frank Bauman,* 88, of Naperville, met his wife, Dale at the age of 14 in Harvey, IL. Theirs has been a grand love story ever since. Frank was a compassionate and creative teacher at Thornton High School in Harvey. He was also a much respected Athletic Director at Thornwood High School. Frank used his career to mentor young people from all walks of life.
· *Mary M. Currie*, age 59, of St. Charles passed spent 36 years in education. She taught 10 years at various school districts: Geneva, Glendale Heights, Kaneland, Batavia while teaching a variety of grade levels. Mary then moved into administration by working in Kaneland and Sycamore. She spent her last 18 years in education as principal of Sycamore’s West Elementary School. Her passion and love for the students, staff, and curriculum was evident.
· *William “Bill” Hicks*, 82 of Freeport, formerly of St. Charles was a member of the St. Charles Volunteer Fire Deptartment for many years, and owned his own dry-cleaning delivery business in St. Charles.
· *Helen Meros' *funeral was held Tuesday, April 30, at Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Church, 2501 Wolf Road, Westchester, IL.
· *Joan Geiser*, 80, of St. Charles, died Wednesday, April 24, 2013, at her home. She is survived by her children James (Karen) Geiser, Michael (Evelyn), Stephen (Sandra), Diane (Robert) Sturkey, and her seven loving grandchildren.
· *Kent A. Grayson*, 77 of St. Charles spent his career as a salesman. He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Carol Ann (nee Pearson), son Jeffrey (Tina), Grandchildren Bradley, Alex and Dana. Siblings Roy, and Lenore (Thorsen), Brother-in-Law of Howard & Sandra Anderson and Jerry Pearson.
· *Jacob C. Scherer*, 101, of St. Charles, died Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Central DuPage Hospital, Winfield. He was born June 1, 1911 in Ridgewood, New York.
· *Jason R. Vander Woude*, 42, was a quiet, simple man, who was known for making family, friends, colleagues, and students feel safe and comfortable. Jason brought happiness to those around him with small gestures of kindness and love. His professional career spanned 18 years, all at Southeast Alternative School (SASED) in Naperville, IL. He taught physical education, was a dean of students, and most recently, was the assistant principal. He also coached basketball at Southeast and at Lake Park High School.
**Moss Funeral Home**
· *Barbara Ann Fabini,* 64, of North Aurora worked as a grocery bagger at Eagle Foods in Aurora before she started working at Pine View Care Center in St. Charles where she was a dietary aide. She was a great wife, mother, and grandmother.
*LINK TO LAST WEEK'S NOTICES:*
· Tri-Cities Death Notices: A Longtime GHS Teacher, WWII Veterans, Business Leaders, Wives and Mothers
**Patch Funeral Home Guide**
Are you looking for more information about Tri-Cities funeral homes and services? Would you care to review the services provided by a local funeral home? Click on the funeral home names to see the Patch Places listing for each business to write a review or learn more about the funeral home.
*Batavia*
· Moss Family Funeral Home
*Geneva*
· Malone Funeral Home
· Yurs Funeral Home
*St. Charles*
· Moss-Norris Funeral Home
· Yurs Funeral Home
**Want to keep up with Death Notices in St. Charles, Geneva and Batavia?**
· *Click the "Keep Me Posted" button below this text.*
· *Please post Death Notices in our Announcements and send followup emails to rickn@patch.com.* Reported by Patch 2 hours ago.
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Eos Energy Storage, Con Edison Announce Groundbreaking Pilot in New York City
Filed under: Investing
*Eos Energy Storage, Con Edison Announce Groundbreaking Pilot in New York City*
*NYSERDA-Funded Project Will Enhance Grid Reliability, Reduce Customer Costs*
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eos Energy Storage and Con Edison, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYS: ED) , today announced a trailblazing partnership to install and test Eos's cutting-edge energy storage technology within the utility's New York City facilities. Eos is currently commercializing a safe, low cost, and long-lasting grid-scale battery technology that can reduce customer costs, defer utility infrastructure upgrades and enhance power quality and reliability.
Supported by funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the pilot will demonstrate the benefits of distributed energy storage.
"Through this pilot and partnership with Con Edison, we have the opportunity to install our safe, efficient battery technology in a dense load center like New York City, where the benefits of energy storage are particularly significant," said Eos President Steve Hellman.
Eos stated that the pilot, targeted to begin in early 2014, is a milestone in the scale-up and commercialization of Eos's core product, a 1MW/6MWh grid-scale battery called the Eos Aurora. The Aurora is backed by Eos's novel, low-cost and proprietary zinc hybrid cathode technology, which has a 75% round-trip efficiency rate and a 10,000-cycle/30-year lifetime.
"Our belief is that affordable energy storage will improve the efficiency and resilience of the electricity grid while reducing costs for utilities and customers alike, and it is a great opportunity to prove this together with a pre-eminent utility like Con Edison." Eos CEO Michael Oster said.
"Con Edison looks forward to installing and measuring Eos's new battery. As pioneers in the delivery of electricity, Con Edison sees the potential of another pioneer, which is why the company is working with Eos," said Troy Devries, Con Edison's director of Research and Development. "Energy storage is one of the last frontiers for electric utilities and Eos Energy Storage holds promise for smooth integration."
*ABOUT EOS ENERGY STORAGE:*
Eos is developing a novel, low-cost energy storage solution for the electric utility and transportation industries. Eos's mission is to produce cost-effective energy storage solutions that are less expensive than both other battery technologies and the most economical incumbent alternatives used to provide the same service, such as gas turbines for power generation. Eos is located in Edison, NJ, and New York, NY.
Eos Energy Storage LLC
Philippe Bouchard, 212-628-7191
pbouchard@eosenergystorage.com
*KEYWORDS:* United States North America New Jersey New York
*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*
The article Eos Energy Storage, Con Edison Announce Groundbreaking Pilot in New York City Reported by DailyFinance 1 day ago.
*Eos Energy Storage, Con Edison Announce Groundbreaking Pilot in New York City*
*NYSERDA-Funded Project Will Enhance Grid Reliability, Reduce Customer Costs*
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Eos Energy Storage and Con Edison, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYS: ED) , today announced a trailblazing partnership to install and test Eos's cutting-edge energy storage technology within the utility's New York City facilities. Eos is currently commercializing a safe, low cost, and long-lasting grid-scale battery technology that can reduce customer costs, defer utility infrastructure upgrades and enhance power quality and reliability.
Supported by funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the pilot will demonstrate the benefits of distributed energy storage.
"Through this pilot and partnership with Con Edison, we have the opportunity to install our safe, efficient battery technology in a dense load center like New York City, where the benefits of energy storage are particularly significant," said Eos President Steve Hellman.
Eos stated that the pilot, targeted to begin in early 2014, is a milestone in the scale-up and commercialization of Eos's core product, a 1MW/6MWh grid-scale battery called the Eos Aurora. The Aurora is backed by Eos's novel, low-cost and proprietary zinc hybrid cathode technology, which has a 75% round-trip efficiency rate and a 10,000-cycle/30-year lifetime.
"Our belief is that affordable energy storage will improve the efficiency and resilience of the electricity grid while reducing costs for utilities and customers alike, and it is a great opportunity to prove this together with a pre-eminent utility like Con Edison." Eos CEO Michael Oster said.
"Con Edison looks forward to installing and measuring Eos's new battery. As pioneers in the delivery of electricity, Con Edison sees the potential of another pioneer, which is why the company is working with Eos," said Troy Devries, Con Edison's director of Research and Development. "Energy storage is one of the last frontiers for electric utilities and Eos Energy Storage holds promise for smooth integration."
*ABOUT EOS ENERGY STORAGE:*
Eos is developing a novel, low-cost energy storage solution for the electric utility and transportation industries. Eos's mission is to produce cost-effective energy storage solutions that are less expensive than both other battery technologies and the most economical incumbent alternatives used to provide the same service, such as gas turbines for power generation. Eos is located in Edison, NJ, and New York, NY.
Eos Energy Storage LLC
Philippe Bouchard, 212-628-7191
pbouchard@eosenergystorage.com
*KEYWORDS:* United States North America New Jersey New York
*INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:*
The article Eos Energy Storage, Con Edison Announce Groundbreaking Pilot in New York City Reported by DailyFinance 1 day ago.
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Man charged in the Aurora slaying of woman, 67, in wheelchair
Charges have been filed against a man suspected of stabbing a 67-year-old woman in a wheelchair to death behind an Aurora shopping center.
Reported by Denver Post 23 hours ago.
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Missing Man Found, DWI Charges Top April News
Patch Tri-Boro, NJ --*'Missing' Butler Man Found After Seven Years*
Timothy Carney safe, missing persons advocate said she still believes religious organization could be involved in him vanishing in 2004.
*Accident Leads to DWI Charge for Kinnelon Woman*
There was no report of injuries in the incident.
*Northern Lights Expected To Be Visible Saturday In New Jersey*
Area will get rare look at famed aurora borealis
Drunken Driver Flipped Hummer Over Rt. 23 Barrier On to Car, Cops Say
Vernon man hospitalized after SUV landed on his Volkswagen's roof.
*Kinnelon Schools Seek to Fill 4 Open District Positions*
Other positions are available at certain schools within the district.
*Kinnelon, Butler Not Ranked Among 'Top' High Schools*
U.S. News & World Report released their high school rankings Tuesday
*2 Tri-Boro Residents at Boston Marathon; Both Confirmed Safe*
Two explosions were reported near the finish line Monday.
*Boonton Ave. Retail Complex Proposal Moves Forward*
One-story restaurant and retail plaza could take the place of former Marco's Market.
*Discarded Cigarette Causes Fire that Closes Fuddruckers*
Blaze reportedly started in the mulch of a flower bed outside the building.
*Tick Tock Diner Manager Charged in Murder-for-Hire Plot*
Clifton man tried to have his uncle, the co-owner of the Passaic landmark, killed by two men, authorities say.
*Bud Bennett, Beloved Bloomingdale Volunteer, Will Be Laid to Rest Tuesday*
Funeral mass to be held Tuesday at St. Anthony's RC Church
*Bloomingdale Bids Farewell to a 'Saint'*
Bud Bennett memorialized during funeral mass.
*March Health Inspection Reports in Bloomingdale*
Union Avenue Deli, Rite Aid, Bloomingdale Liquors and more inspected last month.
*Public Peeing Leads to Two Bloomingdale Arrests*
Two charged, in separate incidents, with public urination.
*Butler High School 'Lags' in Academic Achievement, Report Says*
School outperforms some in state in college and career readiness.
*State School Report is 'Loaded With Errors,' Superintendent Says*
Kinnelon, Butler superintendents disagree with choices of comparative 'peer' schools in newly released New Jersey Department of Education data.
*Kinnelon Schools Seek to Fill 4 Open District Positions*
School outperforms some in state in college and career readiness.
*Bloomingdale Council Primary Election Uncontested*
Two Democrats and two Republicans, including incumbent Linda Shortman, to run in November election.
*Kinnelon High School Academic Achievement Higher Than Other NJ Schools*
Report shows school outperforms 19 percent of schools educating students of similar demographics in academics.
*New Editors Take Over Tri-Boro Patch*
Laura Silvius and Natalie Davis take over for Ariana Cohn-Sheehan as co-editors for the Tri-Boro.
*Local Runner: Boston Marathon Tragedy 'Will Make Me Run More'*
Bloomingdale marathoner earned her personal best an hour before the explosions. Reported by Patch 18 hours ago.
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How Long is the ER Wait at Oak Creek-Area Hospitals?
Patch Oak Creek, WI --If you go to the emergency room at the new Wheaton Franciscan Hospital in Franklin, how long will it take before you see a health-care professional?
The federal government says 17 minutes on average.
That's a better than both the state and national averages — 19 minutes and a 29 minutes, respectively. And it's only half of the average wait time at the other hospital closest to Oak Creek: St. Luke's Medical Center in Milwaukee, according to a new federal database causing some hospital officials nationwide to cringe.
At St. Luke's, a person has to wait an average of 34 minutes before being seen.
Key measures of ER efficiency have been posted from hospitals taking part across the country, according to a report by Cheryl Clark, now senior quality editor for HealthLeaders Media.
“With precious little fanfare, Uncle Sam ... rolled out a big, fat database with seven measures comparing a service that many people — healthcare providers and patients alike — consider the most critical any hospital can provide,” Clark wrote.
Data collected in 2011 and early 2012 also tracked things like how long it took for an ER patient with a broken bone to get pain medication, or how long the wait was to get a bed, if they needed admission. Other data showed how long patients spent in the ER before being sent home and whether they received a brain scan if they might have suffered a stroke. It even asked questions about how clean the bathrooms are.
Clark interviewed Dr. Jesse Pines, an emergency room doctor and researcher who directs the center for healthcare quality at George Washington University.
“The theory is that when hospitals report this information, it makes them focus on it, and improve throughout their (Emergency Department),” Pines was quoted as saying.
“But it’s very hard to do. Certain performance measures are easier to fix—like simple process measures like giving patients an aspirin—than improving ED throughput, which involves development of interdisciplinary teams.”
Pines told Clark the public focus good pushes hospital administrators to focus on the emergency room as well as other metrics.
Here's how the two facilities nearest to Oak Creek compare to state and national averages
*
* *Wheaton- Franklin* *Aurora- St. Luke's* *Wisc. Avg.* *U.S. Avg.*
Average time patients spent in ER before being were admitted as an inpatient 226 minutes 242 minutes 204 minutes 277 minutes
Average time patients spent in ER before being sent home 158 minutes 167 minutes 120 minutes 140 minutes
Average time patients spent in ER before being being seen by health-care professional 17 minutes 34 minutes 19 minutes 29 minutes
Average time patients who came to the ER with broken bones had to wait before receiving pain medication 46 minutes 64 minutes 41 minutes 42 minutes
Residents can compare the ER care at these two hospitals with any other local hospital in the national database.
First go to the Hospital Compare website. Then type in your ZIP code, city or local hospital. When a list of hospitals is displayed, put a checkmark next to two or three hospitals.
Scroll down to a yellow button labeled Compare Now, and click to display more details. Look for a tab called Timely and Effective Care and click that.
Finally, scroll down to a section called Timely Emergency Department Care. A green button allows you to “View More Details,” displaying something like this page comparing our two local hospitals.
*Were you surprised by any of the stats displayed? Tell us in the comments.* Reported by Patch 17 hours ago.
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How Long is the ER Wait at Area Hospitals?
Patch Mount Pleasant-Sturtevant, WI --If you go to the emergency room at the Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints Hospital in Racine, how long will it take before you see a health-care professional?
The federal government says 35 minutes on average. That's worse than both the state and national averages — 19 minutes and a 29 minutes, respectively.
But if you drive about 12 miles from Mount Pleasant to the Aurora Medical Center in Kenosha, the average ER wait time is about half of that: 19 minutes, according to a new federal database causing some hospital officials nationwide to cringe.
Key measures of ER efficiency have been posted from hospitals taking part across the country, according to a report by Cheryl Clark, now senior quality editor for HealthLeaders Media.
“With precious little fanfare, Uncle Sam ... rolled out a big, fat database with seven measures comparing a service that many people — healthcare providers and patients alike — consider the most critical any hospital can provide,” Clark wrote.
Data collected in 2011 and early 2012 also tracked things like how long it took for an ER patient with a broken bone to get pain medication, or how long the wait was to get a bed, if they needed admission. Other data showed how long patients spent in the ER before being sent home and whether they received a brain scan if they might have suffered a stroke. It even asked questions about how clean the bathrooms are.
Clark interviewed Dr. Jesse Pines, an emergency room doctor and researcher who directs the center for healthcare quality at George Washington University.
“The theory is that when hospitals report this information, it makes them focus on it, and improve throughout their (Emergency Department),” Pines was quoted as saying.
“But it’s very hard to do. Certain performance measures are easier to fix—like simple process measures like giving patients an aspirin—than improving ED throughput, which involves development of interdisciplinary teams.”
Pines told Clark the public focus good pushes hospital administrators to focus on the emergency room as well as other metrics.
Here's how the two facilities nearest to Mount Pleasant compare to state and national averages.
*
* *Aurora - Kenosha* *All Saint's* *Wisc. Avg.* *U.S. Avg.*
Average time patients spent in ER before being were admitted as an inpatient 220 minutes 272 minutes 204 minutes 277 minutes
Average time patients spent in ER before being sent home 120 minutes 147 minutes 120 minutes 140 minutes
Average time patients spent in ER before being being seen by health-care professional 19 minutes 35 minutes 19 minutes 29 minutes
Average time patients who came to the ER with broken bones had to wait before receiving pain medication 23 minutes 56 minutes 41 minutes 42 minutes
Residents can compare the ER care at these two hospitals with any other local hospital in the national database.
First go to the Hospital Compare website. Then type in your ZIP code, city or local hospital. When a list of hospitals is displayed, put a checkmark next to two or three hospitals.
Scroll down to a yellow button labeled Compare Now, and click to display more details. Look for a tab called Timely and Effective Care and click that.
Finally, scroll down to a section called Timely Emergency Department Care. A green button allows you to “View More Details,” displaying something like this page comparing our two local hospitals.
*Were you surprised by any of the stats displayed? Tell us in the comments.* Reported by Patch 17 hours ago.
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Community College of Aurora Students Awarded $8,000 in Grant Funding to Make Short Films Designed to Attract Investors
Commissioner of Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media on hand for final judging, speaks highly about CCA, a community college in Colorado
Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) May 01, 2013
Three movie-making teams from the prestigious Colorado Film School were awarded $8,000 in game-based and immersive learning grant funding April 26, allowing them to make short films that will be ultimately used to pitch full-length features to potential investors.
The monetary outlay comes after the culmination of a three-month, interdisciplinary exercise at CCA, an Aurora and Denver community college, that involved numerous departments and tackled not only the creative aspects of filmmaking but also the business side.
Production teams pitched their ideas to Denver-area business leaders twice during the month of April in hopes of securing funding that was supplied by the Colorado Community College System.
Accounting, marketing, computer information systems, business communications, and graphic design classes backed the creative efforts, ensuring that the filmmakers had sales forecasts, developed realistic budgets, identified demographics, invented market strategies, and applied visual elements that reinforced each project’s real-world viability.
“There’s going to be a time when these kids are going to go out there trying to get something made, and maybe it won’t be with the studios but with an investor, trying to put together a presentation that will attract attention,” said Donald Zuckerman, commissioner of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media, who was on hand for the final round of judging.
Getting practice with the pitch process at Community College of Aurora, “I think it’s a great idea,” Zuckerman added. ”And I don’t know if anybody’s done this before. This could be a first of its kind.”
Local business leaders including Duane Reed, CEO of CEOFocus Denver; Tery Larrew, of Caddis Capital; Sam C. Searcy of DCMI Data Communications; Larry Baird, principal of blufrog studios; and Diana Whye, director of CCA’s Foundation graded each of seven projects on a wide variety of criteria including story, presentation and long-range viability.
The winner of the first prize of $4,000 to make a “sizzle reel,” ostensibly is a short trailer encapsulating the movie, was the project “Ivory and Gold.” The theme of the movie is about the crippling effects of regret, and the realization that our past choices do not have to dictate our future. The Fates – who have motives of their own, grant a college professor an opportunity – to correct his perceived miscues.
“Spanish and Gold” ($2,500) by John McSween was the runner-up, followed by Tachyon ($1,500) by Blake Talley.
Benjamin Erbach, director/writer/producer for the winning entry, said that finishing first in the competition gives his team “one less thing to worry about” and the ability to just jump into production. The five- to 10-minute short that ultimately evolves from the funding will be shown next fall.
The experience with the pitch process will then be used once again.
“We’re going to take it to more investors,” Erbach said. “We’ll take it to people who have money and are interested in film, show them, and say, ‘Hey, look. This is what we’ve done for $4,000. If you invest and collaborate with us we can make something really special.”
Four departments and six classes in total were involved in the project, whose funding was made possible by the Colorado Community College System. A documentary by the Colorado Film School has accompanied the entire filmmaking journey, culminated by producers and their teams sweating in front of the judging panel with the money on the line to green light their projects.
But such outside-the-box educational experiences are part of the reason why the Colorado Film School once was recognized by Hollywood Reporter as a top-25 film school in the world and gave it honorable mention this year.
“The school’s impressive,” Zuckerman said. “It’s got a very hands on culture. Kids learn how to actually make a movie and not just talk about film theory. A lot of film schools are very heavy in theory and history and that’s not the same as learning how to make a movie. I have seen work here. I’ve gone to film presentations and seen some really remarkable work.”
Will Hicks, faculty at the Colorado Film School, fully expects to see some of the projects involved in this competition one day made by a small Hollywood or independent studio because many of the stories at their core are “marketable ideas.”
“So many schools do not have student-centric programs and this is a very student-centric program,” said Reed, one of the judges. “They took students from various aspects – finance, computer, accounting, film – and brought that all together in a challenge to come together as a team, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s real world. That’s the part I really respect.
“Whomever conceived this idea and brought it to fruition really believes in the student population and the mission of helping them become viable people that can go out to the real world and have a job.”
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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 Colorado online classes and degrees. 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 16 hours ago.
Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) May 01, 2013
Three movie-making teams from the prestigious Colorado Film School were awarded $8,000 in game-based and immersive learning grant funding April 26, allowing them to make short films that will be ultimately used to pitch full-length features to potential investors.
The monetary outlay comes after the culmination of a three-month, interdisciplinary exercise at CCA, an Aurora and Denver community college, that involved numerous departments and tackled not only the creative aspects of filmmaking but also the business side.
Production teams pitched their ideas to Denver-area business leaders twice during the month of April in hopes of securing funding that was supplied by the Colorado Community College System.
Accounting, marketing, computer information systems, business communications, and graphic design classes backed the creative efforts, ensuring that the filmmakers had sales forecasts, developed realistic budgets, identified demographics, invented market strategies, and applied visual elements that reinforced each project’s real-world viability.
“There’s going to be a time when these kids are going to go out there trying to get something made, and maybe it won’t be with the studios but with an investor, trying to put together a presentation that will attract attention,” said Donald Zuckerman, commissioner of the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media, who was on hand for the final round of judging.
Getting practice with the pitch process at Community College of Aurora, “I think it’s a great idea,” Zuckerman added. ”And I don’t know if anybody’s done this before. This could be a first of its kind.”
Local business leaders including Duane Reed, CEO of CEOFocus Denver; Tery Larrew, of Caddis Capital; Sam C. Searcy of DCMI Data Communications; Larry Baird, principal of blufrog studios; and Diana Whye, director of CCA’s Foundation graded each of seven projects on a wide variety of criteria including story, presentation and long-range viability.
The winner of the first prize of $4,000 to make a “sizzle reel,” ostensibly is a short trailer encapsulating the movie, was the project “Ivory and Gold.” The theme of the movie is about the crippling effects of regret, and the realization that our past choices do not have to dictate our future. The Fates – who have motives of their own, grant a college professor an opportunity – to correct his perceived miscues.
“Spanish and Gold” ($2,500) by John McSween was the runner-up, followed by Tachyon ($1,500) by Blake Talley.
Benjamin Erbach, director/writer/producer for the winning entry, said that finishing first in the competition gives his team “one less thing to worry about” and the ability to just jump into production. The five- to 10-minute short that ultimately evolves from the funding will be shown next fall.
The experience with the pitch process will then be used once again.
“We’re going to take it to more investors,” Erbach said. “We’ll take it to people who have money and are interested in film, show them, and say, ‘Hey, look. This is what we’ve done for $4,000. If you invest and collaborate with us we can make something really special.”
Four departments and six classes in total were involved in the project, whose funding was made possible by the Colorado Community College System. A documentary by the Colorado Film School has accompanied the entire filmmaking journey, culminated by producers and their teams sweating in front of the judging panel with the money on the line to green light their projects.
But such outside-the-box educational experiences are part of the reason why the Colorado Film School once was recognized by Hollywood Reporter as a top-25 film school in the world and gave it honorable mention this year.
“The school’s impressive,” Zuckerman said. “It’s got a very hands on culture. Kids learn how to actually make a movie and not just talk about film theory. A lot of film schools are very heavy in theory and history and that’s not the same as learning how to make a movie. I have seen work here. I’ve gone to film presentations and seen some really remarkable work.”
Will Hicks, faculty at the Colorado Film School, fully expects to see some of the projects involved in this competition one day made by a small Hollywood or independent studio because many of the stories at their core are “marketable ideas.”
“So many schools do not have student-centric programs and this is a very student-centric program,” said Reed, one of the judges. “They took students from various aspects – finance, computer, accounting, film – and brought that all together in a challenge to come together as a team, which isn’t the easiest thing to do, but it’s real world. That’s the part I really respect.
“Whomever conceived this idea and brought it to fruition really believes in the student population and the mission of helping them become viable people that can go out to the real world and have a job.”
###
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 Colorado online classes and degrees. 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 16 hours ago.
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AAA Chicago: Gas Prices Climb Heading into May
AURORA, Ill., May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Gas price averages for Illinois and Indiana are continuing on a high streak. Illinois and Indiana drivers are currently paying on average, $3.91 and $3.67 respectively for a gallon of regular unleaded. While much of the rest of the U.S. has...
Reported by PR Newswire 15 hours ago.
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"Support Small Business Month On Havana Street" Tells the Story of Shopping in Aurora, Colorado
Havana Street, the top shopping district in Aurora, Colorado, celebrates small businesses in May with Support Small Business Month and a $250 Facebook prize.
Aurora, Colorado (PRWEB) May 01, 2013
Shopping in Aurora gets a social media boost in May as the Havana Business Improvement District (BID), dba On Havana Street, has declared May to be Support Small Business Month On Havana Street.
“Our hard-working small business owners are the backbone of the Havana Corridor,” said Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director of the Havana BID. “Through their hard work and help from the business district through advocacy, events and marketing, the Havana Corridor became the top shopping district in Aurora in 2012.”
Sales tax revenues On Havana Street rose over 200 percent in 2012.
Facebook will be the central hub for Support Small Business Month. The Havana BID will highlight a different successful small business every day in May on its Facebook page, telling their stories through photo albums and profile landing pages. People who “like” the Facebook page can enter to win a $250 Office Depot gift card.
Shoppers who wish to support Aurora, Colorado small businesses but who do not have a Facebook account can visit the On Havana Street website, where the Aurora business district provides a directory listing all of its member merchants. Another page on the website features links to the photo albums about each business featured during Support Small Business Month.
The Havana BID consists of 209 commercial properties and over 500 businesses including restaurants, taverns, retail shops, ethnic markets, health spas, beauty salons and much more. Many of the small business owners along Havana are third- and fourth-generation family-owned businesses. Some have been on Havana Street for over 20 years.
According to the Small Business Association, half of working Americans either own or work for a small business and small business creates two out of every three new jobs. “When you buy a product or service from a small business your money goes right back into the local community, so the value of small business to the community cannot be overstated,” said Jetchick.
“Let small business owners know you are on their side,” Jetchick urged. “This May, when shopping in Aurora, support small businesses and shop On Havana Street.”
About Havana Business Improvement District
The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) dba On Havana Street is a special district in Colorado created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and Aurora city staff working together to build a stronger, better community. The District makes a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do and working to keep the area clean, safe and beautiful. For more information please contact Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director info (at) OnHavanaStreet (dot) com, (303) 360-7505. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
Aurora, Colorado (PRWEB) May 01, 2013
Shopping in Aurora gets a social media boost in May as the Havana Business Improvement District (BID), dba On Havana Street, has declared May to be Support Small Business Month On Havana Street.
“Our hard-working small business owners are the backbone of the Havana Corridor,” said Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director of the Havana BID. “Through their hard work and help from the business district through advocacy, events and marketing, the Havana Corridor became the top shopping district in Aurora in 2012.”
Sales tax revenues On Havana Street rose over 200 percent in 2012.
Facebook will be the central hub for Support Small Business Month. The Havana BID will highlight a different successful small business every day in May on its Facebook page, telling their stories through photo albums and profile landing pages. People who “like” the Facebook page can enter to win a $250 Office Depot gift card.
Shoppers who wish to support Aurora, Colorado small businesses but who do not have a Facebook account can visit the On Havana Street website, where the Aurora business district provides a directory listing all of its member merchants. Another page on the website features links to the photo albums about each business featured during Support Small Business Month.
The Havana BID consists of 209 commercial properties and over 500 businesses including restaurants, taverns, retail shops, ethnic markets, health spas, beauty salons and much more. Many of the small business owners along Havana are third- and fourth-generation family-owned businesses. Some have been on Havana Street for over 20 years.
According to the Small Business Association, half of working Americans either own or work for a small business and small business creates two out of every three new jobs. “When you buy a product or service from a small business your money goes right back into the local community, so the value of small business to the community cannot be overstated,” said Jetchick.
“Let small business owners know you are on their side,” Jetchick urged. “This May, when shopping in Aurora, support small businesses and shop On Havana Street.”
About Havana Business Improvement District
The Havana Business Improvement District (BID) dba On Havana Street is a special district in Colorado created in 2007 by business and neighborhood leaders and Aurora city staff working together to build a stronger, better community. The District makes a difference by focusing on unique, culturally diverse events and fun new things to do and working to keep the area clean, safe and beautiful. For more information please contact Gayle Jetchick, Executive Director info (at) OnHavanaStreet (dot) com, (303) 360-7505. Reported by PRWeb 13 hours ago.
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Communications Failure Cited in Aurora Shootings
Records show lack of communications between agencies after Aurora movie theater shootings
Reported by ABCNews.com 7 hours ago.
Reported by ABCNews.com 7 hours ago.
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Communications failure cited in Aurora shootings
AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Police and fire officials failed to tell each other when and where rescuers were needed following the Aurora theater shootings, according to reports obtained by the Denver Post that portray a chaotic and confused scene.
Reported by Boston.com 6 hours ago.
Reported by Boston.com 6 hours ago.
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TLV networks launches Aurora350 Cermak low-latency microwave network as leader for speed and reliability providing both Market Data and capacity
CHICAGO, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- TLV networks ("TLV") today announces the commercial launch of its ultra-low latency microwave network connecting the exchange data centers in Aurora, IL and 350 E. Cermak in Chicago. The TLV multi-channel microwave network offers both bandwidth...
Reported by PR Newswire 6 hours ago.
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Loaded: how gun manufacturers and the NRA capitalise on tragedy | Sadhbh Walshe
Mass shootings like Aurora drive up gun sales. And after Sandy Hook, the NRA is set to profit by training armed guards in schools
After the Sandy Hook massacre when 20 school children were gunned down in their classrooms along with several of their teachers, many of us thought the country would finally wake up to the insanity of allowing civilians to arm themselves with weapons designed to inflict mass carnage. Instead, what we have seen is tragedy descend into farce as all efforts to pass sensible gun reform measures have collapsed and gun makers, their lobbyists and now security companies are lining up to exploit the deaths of these children for profit.
The cunning geniuses in the NRA are on track to make millions of dollars in the wake of the massacre by developing a whole new revenue stream with their plan to have armed guards in every American school. Not to be left out, security companies are also getting in on the action by launching new ranges of bulletproof clothing and accessories designed exclusively for school children. It might seem counterintuitive for a society to respond to the threat of gun violence by enriching the manufacturers of guns and their allies in the security business, but apparently, this has become the price of our freedom, or at least the price of the freedom to own guns.
Elite Sterling Security, a Denver-based company, has developed a new line of "children's items", including a ballistic puffer vest that sells for $1,040, a ballistic backpack that sells for $295 and a ballistic jacket that sells for $380. According to a recent report by the Guardian, the company has sold over 300 bulletproof backpacks in the last two months in Colorado alone and has received over 2,000 inquiries from across the US. The company is also talking with dozens of schools in the state about equipping them with ballistic safety vests.
If this becomes our new normal, it will cost parents nearly $2,000 per child to kit them out in bulletproof gear to go to school – or more, if their kids have designer tastes. Miguel Caballero, the "Giorgio Armani of bulletproof couture", has also launched a children's range and some of the jackets in his summer line are going for the bargain price of £80,000 (pounds sterling). The upside is that the clothing and backpacks all weigh 3-4lb per item, so at least kids will get a bit of a workout toting the extra weight around.
One might have thought that in a state like Colorado, which has seen more than its fair share of mass shootings (most notably, in Aurora and Columbine), that people might be less willing to propagate the gun culture that allowed the shootings to happen. Instead, however, either out of fear for their safety or fear that new gun control measures might be enacted, after each massacre in the state, gun sales shot up. Now, in addition to boosting the profits of gun manufacturers, the state is leading the charge to the next frontier of craziness and boosting the profits of security companies, too. The sickening truth, of course, is that mass killings are good for the gun business.
No one knows this better than the NRA, which has shamelessly capitalized on the deaths of the children in Sandy Hook and appears to be succeeding with its battle plan to convince the American people that the best way to counter gun violence in society is to introduce even more guns into the mix. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are 132,183 schools nationwide. If we put armed guards in all those schools, that means at least 132,183 more potential gun sales. The estimated cost of the "school shields" program is somewhere in the region of $4bn, and the taxpayer will foot the bill, naturally.
That amount will only cover the cost of the guns, the personnel and the training. The cost to our children, who will have to grow up in an increasingly militarized environment, is inestimable.
It's too early to say how fearful and paranoid and even trigger-happy the next generation will be if we subject them to an upbringing of normalized and omnipresent firearms that involves daily interaction with armed guards and bulletproof vests. We do know that our schools are already over-policed. We also know that we have a far too established school-to-prison pipeline that needlessly funnels children into the criminal justice system for minor infractions. Research suggests that this police presence does little to enhance safety in schools, but does a lot to cause children distress and to create a negative learning environment. Despite this knowledge, we seem to be all set to go along with the NRA's self-enriching plans rather than enacting sensible gun control measures that would have a far greater impact on public safety.
The simple truth is that if Adam Lanza's mother had not been legally able to purchase a stockpile of weapons, including the .22-caliber rifle her son used to shoot her and the Bushmaster XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle he used to shoot the children and their teachers and the semi-automatic handgun he used to kill himself, the terrible tragedy in Sandy Hook would never have happened. The logical response should be to control civilian access more tightly to these kinds of weapons, or indeed, to any weapon.
But we are not logical, and so far, our response has been to hand a gift voucher to the weapons manufacturers and their affiliates. The freedom to buy guns that kill has just gotten very expensive. Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 hours ago.
After the Sandy Hook massacre when 20 school children were gunned down in their classrooms along with several of their teachers, many of us thought the country would finally wake up to the insanity of allowing civilians to arm themselves with weapons designed to inflict mass carnage. Instead, what we have seen is tragedy descend into farce as all efforts to pass sensible gun reform measures have collapsed and gun makers, their lobbyists and now security companies are lining up to exploit the deaths of these children for profit.
The cunning geniuses in the NRA are on track to make millions of dollars in the wake of the massacre by developing a whole new revenue stream with their plan to have armed guards in every American school. Not to be left out, security companies are also getting in on the action by launching new ranges of bulletproof clothing and accessories designed exclusively for school children. It might seem counterintuitive for a society to respond to the threat of gun violence by enriching the manufacturers of guns and their allies in the security business, but apparently, this has become the price of our freedom, or at least the price of the freedom to own guns.
Elite Sterling Security, a Denver-based company, has developed a new line of "children's items", including a ballistic puffer vest that sells for $1,040, a ballistic backpack that sells for $295 and a ballistic jacket that sells for $380. According to a recent report by the Guardian, the company has sold over 300 bulletproof backpacks in the last two months in Colorado alone and has received over 2,000 inquiries from across the US. The company is also talking with dozens of schools in the state about equipping them with ballistic safety vests.
If this becomes our new normal, it will cost parents nearly $2,000 per child to kit them out in bulletproof gear to go to school – or more, if their kids have designer tastes. Miguel Caballero, the "Giorgio Armani of bulletproof couture", has also launched a children's range and some of the jackets in his summer line are going for the bargain price of £80,000 (pounds sterling). The upside is that the clothing and backpacks all weigh 3-4lb per item, so at least kids will get a bit of a workout toting the extra weight around.
One might have thought that in a state like Colorado, which has seen more than its fair share of mass shootings (most notably, in Aurora and Columbine), that people might be less willing to propagate the gun culture that allowed the shootings to happen. Instead, however, either out of fear for their safety or fear that new gun control measures might be enacted, after each massacre in the state, gun sales shot up. Now, in addition to boosting the profits of gun manufacturers, the state is leading the charge to the next frontier of craziness and boosting the profits of security companies, too. The sickening truth, of course, is that mass killings are good for the gun business.
No one knows this better than the NRA, which has shamelessly capitalized on the deaths of the children in Sandy Hook and appears to be succeeding with its battle plan to convince the American people that the best way to counter gun violence in society is to introduce even more guns into the mix. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are 132,183 schools nationwide. If we put armed guards in all those schools, that means at least 132,183 more potential gun sales. The estimated cost of the "school shields" program is somewhere in the region of $4bn, and the taxpayer will foot the bill, naturally.
That amount will only cover the cost of the guns, the personnel and the training. The cost to our children, who will have to grow up in an increasingly militarized environment, is inestimable.
It's too early to say how fearful and paranoid and even trigger-happy the next generation will be if we subject them to an upbringing of normalized and omnipresent firearms that involves daily interaction with armed guards and bulletproof vests. We do know that our schools are already over-policed. We also know that we have a far too established school-to-prison pipeline that needlessly funnels children into the criminal justice system for minor infractions. Research suggests that this police presence does little to enhance safety in schools, but does a lot to cause children distress and to create a negative learning environment. Despite this knowledge, we seem to be all set to go along with the NRA's self-enriching plans rather than enacting sensible gun control measures that would have a far greater impact on public safety.
The simple truth is that if Adam Lanza's mother had not been legally able to purchase a stockpile of weapons, including the .22-caliber rifle her son used to shoot her and the Bushmaster XM15-E2S semi-automatic rifle he used to shoot the children and their teachers and the semi-automatic handgun he used to kill himself, the terrible tragedy in Sandy Hook would never have happened. The logical response should be to control civilian access more tightly to these kinds of weapons, or indeed, to any weapon.
But we are not logical, and so far, our response has been to hand a gift voucher to the weapons manufacturers and their affiliates. The freedom to buy guns that kill has just gotten very expensive. Reported by guardian.co.uk 5 hours ago.
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Colorado Theater Shootings Lawsuit: Cinemark Claims It Had No 'Right to Control' Suspect
Theater company Cinemark has shot back in the a lawsuit filed by victims of the July 2012 shootings at an Aurora, Colo., screening of "The Dark Knight Rises," saying that the suit should be dismissed because the theater had "no control or right to control" suspect James Holmes.
In its answer to victims Denise Traynom and Brandon K. Axelrod, Cinemark also claims that it "is not the proper defendant" in the suit, because Cinemark subsidiary Century Theatres, Inc., actually owns the Century Aurora 16, the theater where the shootings took place.
Related Articles:
Colorado Theater Shootings: James Holmes Asks How 'Dark Knight Rises' Ends (Report)
After Colorado Shootings, a Wake-Up Call for Theater Security
Sarah Palin Speaks on Colorado Shootings
Image Caption:
Getty Images
read more Reported by The Wrap 1 day ago.
In its answer to victims Denise Traynom and Brandon K. Axelrod, Cinemark also claims that it "is not the proper defendant" in the suit, because Cinemark subsidiary Century Theatres, Inc., actually owns the Century Aurora 16, the theater where the shootings took place.
Related Articles:
Colorado Theater Shootings: James Holmes Asks How 'Dark Knight Rises' Ends (Report)
After Colorado Shootings, a Wake-Up Call for Theater Security
Sarah Palin Speaks on Colorado Shootings
Image Caption:
Getty Images
read more Reported by The Wrap 1 day ago.
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Multiple high-volume pileups in Aurora close I-70 ramp to I-225
Wednesday's recent snowstorm continues to cause multiple pileups around the metro area, including closing the ramp to southbound Interstate 70 at Interstate 225 in Aurora.
Reported by Denver Post 1 day ago.
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