Well, it’s finally over. The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled 5-0that Democrat Al Franken won the 2.9 million vote Senate election there by a landslide 312 votes.

Hours later Republican incumbent Norm Coleman conceded defeat and congratulated the former comedian. Coleman said he “will abide by its results” and “now congratulate Al Franken and his victory in this election.”

Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty has indicated he would sign the official election certificate according to the state’s top court decision.

A 5.4-magnitude earthquake struck near Anchorage today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It did not cause any injuries or major damage, according to officials in the city, Alaska’s largest.

The quake hit at 11:28 a.m. local time, the survey said. Its epicenter was about 60 miles northwest of Anchorage.

FDA now regulates tobacco products under sweeping new legislation.

Today, President Obama signed historic legislation granting authority over tobacco products to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Some of the key elements of this legislation include:

• New Center for Tobacco Products:  FDA will create a new Center for Tobacco Products to oversee the science-based regulation of tobacco products in the United States. 
• Banning Candy-Flavored Cigarettes:  By October 2009, cigarettes will be prohibited from having candy, fruit, and spice flavors as their characterizing flavors. 
• Full Disclosure of Ingredients and Additives:  By January 2010, tobacco manufacturers and importers will submit information to FDA in their possession about ingredients and additives in tobacco products, a description of the nicotine content and delivery, and the health consequences of tobacco products.  
• Stopping Youth-Focused Marketing:  By April 2010, FDA will issue the agency’s 1996 regulation aimed at reducing young people’s access to tobacco products and curbing the appeal of tobacco to the young.  When the regulation becomes effective, a number of measures will take effect, including: 
  • Tobacco manufacturers may no longer sponsor sporting, athletic, and entertainment events using tobacco product brand names and logos; 
  • Tobacco manufacturers may no longer sell or give away clothing or other items which bear the brand name or logo of a tobacco product; and 
  • Tobacco manufacturers will no longer be able to distribute free samples of cigarettes, and free samples of smokeless tobacco will be allowed only in adult-only facilities. 
• Prohibiting Other Marketing Measures Misleading Consumers:  By July 2010, tobacco manufacturers may no longer use the terms “light,” “low,” and “mild” on tobacco products. 
• New Warning Labels:  By July 2011, warning labels for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products will be revised and strengthened.  Warnings will comprise the top 50 percent of the front and rear panels of the package.  FDA will issue regulations requiring graphics on labels depicting the health risks of smoking.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 also provides FDA with regulatory authority to regulate marketing and promotion of tobacco products and set performance standards for tobacco products to protect the public health.

Subject: Adopt the endangerment finding and issue strong pollution standards

 

Dear Administrator Jackson and EPA staff,

I applaud the EPA’s proposed finding that global warming pollution endangers human health and the environment, and urge you to adopt this finding as a final determination. Climate change is causing devastating damage — from heat waves to hurricanes — throughout the United States and around the world.

Although President Obama announced that the EPA will set Clean Air Act standards to cut vehicle emissions and raise fuel economy, powerful negative forces are trying to block EPA and the rest of the administration from adopting these measures. I urge you to reject this pressure to derail the administration’s commitment to solving global warming.

 We, as a nation, need strong standards to clean up global warming pollution from the next generation of cars, trucks and other vehicles. In addition, we need fast action to curb global warming emissions from power plants, which are responsible for even more of this pollution as vehicles.

Cleaner cars and cleaner power plants will help America meet its greatest challenges and be an economic engine for the 21st century. I urge you to continue your efforts to make our planet safer for future generations and protect us from global warming.

Prime Tanning Co., the former owner of a St. Joseph, Mo., tannery, is being sued over health concerns related to allegations that the plant’s sludge contained hexavalent chromium, a known human carcinogen.  

Prime Tanning apparently gave tons of the sludge to farmers to spread on their fields for use as fertilizer. As a result, sludge from the plant has been spread on thousands of acres of farmland in northwest Missouri since 1983

Lawsuits filed last month claim that the sludge contained hexavalent chromium.  The suit alleged a link between the sludge and brain tumors occurring in the area.  

In response to the lawsuit, Prime Tanning denies the link between the personal injuries alleged in the complaint and its sludge.  The company also denies the existence of hexavalent chromium in the plant’s sludge.  U.S. EPA is apparently testing the sludge to confirm the position of Prime Tanning.

Hexavalent chromium compounds are a group of chemical substances that contain the metallic element chromium in its positive-6 valence (hexavalent) state.

Chromium occurs in the environment primarily in two valence states, trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium.  Chromium III is much less toxic than hexavalent chromium.  The respiratory tract is also the major target organ for chromium toxicity.

Indeed, according to research reports, hexavalent chromium will cause an increased risk of lung cancer. Other adverse health effects associated with hexavalent chromium exposure include dermal irritation, skin ulceration, allergic contact dermatitis, occupational asthma, nasal irritation and ulceration, perforated nasal septa, rhinitis, nosebleed, respiratory irritation, nasal cancer, sinus cancer, eye irritation and damage, perforated eardrums, kidney damage, liver damage, pulmonary congestion and edema, epigastric pain, and erosion and discoloration of the teeth.

Prime Tanning may to have regulatory problems arising from this mess in addition to defending the toxic tort lawsuits.  The company allegedly did not tell the state agency about its use of hexavalent chromium at the tanning plant in St. Joseph, Missouri.

After June 12, 2009 all full power television stations will only broadcast in digital, over-the-air signals. EPA encourages all U.S. citizens who own an analog TV set and who receive free broadcasts (via rabbit ears or a roof-top antenna) to extend the life of their TV by subscribing to a paid TV service or connecting it to a converter box. Energy Star-qualified digital converter boxes are available for purchase.

For consumers who choose to buy a new TV, EPA recommends purchasing Energy Star-qualified sets. EPA also encourages consumers to recycle their unwanted TVs, which recovers valuable materials from the circuit boards, metal wiring, leaded glass, and plastics.

Last year Americans disposed of more than 20 million TVs rather than recycle them, which represent millions of lost opportunities to conserve natural resources such as copper and iron.  Consumers who are interested in recycling their old TVs can contact their local household hazardous waste collection and recycling program to find out whether they will be sponsoring an upcoming recycling event.

EPA is working through its Plug-In To eCycling program to promote the environmental benefits of recycling and provide the public with information on safely reusing and recycling obsolete electronics products, including televisions, computers, and cell phones. Plug-In To eCycling is a partnership between EPA and electronic manufacturers and retailers to offer consumers more opportunities to donate or recycle their used electronics.

More information on the digital TV transition: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/tv-convert.htm

Important iore information on where to recycle a TV: http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/ecycling/tv-challenge.htm

Sheriff Si Leis is going to waste $100,000 on a whacky patrol boat to patrol the Ohio River near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Hamilton County Commissioners (Ohio) voted to allow Sheriff Simon Leis to buy a sports cabin boat for $98,691 in homeland security money.  This decision is absolutely outlandish and is symbolic of the waste of money in this country! 

This area of the country is some of the most conservative in the nation and there is no valid reason to waste this money on a folly simply because the Office of Homeland Security is throwing money around like it was 1999.  There are no terrorists roaming the Ohio River.  This boat is a total waste of taxpayer money and Si Leis should be ashamed of himself.

 The 25-foot-long vessel would be used to respond to emergencies, provide security for events and patrol the river. The department is eligible for the boat because of the potential terrorist targets on the Ohio River such as power plants, water works, oil terminals and bridges.

Leis’ request for the boat made waves with commissioners, who are dealing with budget cutbacks, even though the boat would not be funded with county dollars. The $98,691 would come from federal homeland security money and Leis would pay for ongoing operations with money his department seizes from drug dealers and not with tax dollars.  Let’s all also thank Mr. John Boehner and Jean Schmidtz for this wacky idea.

In May and June each year, you can take part in the World Naked Bike Ride in approximately 70 cities throughout the world. Upcoming rides in the United Kingdom, include rides through Belfast, Cardiff/Caerdydd, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Manchester, Sheffield, Southampton, York and London.  Check the below link for a city near you.

Over 1000 naked, body-painted and scantily-clad cyclists turn out for the annual World Naked Bike Ride in London, protesting against climate change and the tyranny of the automobile. Motorists stuck in traffic jams may get more than they bargained for during rush hour.

Nudity is optional – riders are encouraged to go “as bare as you dare” – while the route offers an enjoyable “naked sightseeing experience”, passing a number of city-centre landmarks.  You can sign up for the ride at: http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/

Naked Bike Riding Tips

• Smike and have fun with it.
• Prepare for riding rain or shine!
• If sunny, put on sunscreen!
• You do not have to be naked to join the ride.
• Wear shoes!
• Keep your cloths with you — you never know when you may need them (like… after the ride.)
• Decorate your bike! Come with signs and funky hats! Cover your bike seat with fun fur.
• Ride safely and stay together as a group.
• Tell your friends! Spread the word!

I don’t expect to see a naked bike ride protesting climate change or motor vehicle congestion being held in Cincinnati, Louisville, or Covington this century, or next!  Somehow, this event sounds better than it looks. 

Don't expect a nake protest bike ride to be held anywhere near Cincinnati, Ohio in the next several centuries.

FDA notified consumers and healthcare professionals to discontinue use of three Zicam Nasal Gel/Nasal Swab products sold over-the-counter as cold remedies because they are associated with the loss of sense of smell that may be long-lasting or permanent.

The FDA has received more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell associated with the use of the three Zicam products.  In these reports, many people who experienced a loss of smell said the condition occurred with the first dose; others reported a loss of the sense of smell after multiple uses of the products. People who have experienced a loss of sense of smell or other problems after use of the affected Zicam products should contact their health care professional.

FDA wants Zicam off the shelves of stores.

The loss of sense of smell can adversely affect a person’s quality of life, and can limit the ability to detect the smell of gas or smoke or other signs of danger in the environment.

[06/16/2009 - Public Health Advisory - FDA]

[06/16/2009 - Consumer Update - FDA]

America has reached a critical juncture on climate change. The United States and other developed nations must reduce global warming pollution and inspire developing countries to do their fair share as well.  We as Americans must become involved in saving the planet from catastrophic climate change.

In May, the House Energy and Commerce Committee took the first big step toward achieving this goal by approving the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The committee’s vote helps build momentum for setting the nation’s first limits on global warming pollution, sending Americans back to work building a clean energy economy and reducing our dependence on foreign oil.

As currently written, the American Clean Energy and Security Act would reduce global warming pollution 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. It also sets a goal of producing 20 percent of America’s energy from renewable energy, a portion of which could be met with energy efficiency measures.

Finally, the bill would fund clean energy technologies and green jobs training programs to empower local communities to build these technologies. These measures would establish the United States as a worldwide leader in clean energy technologies and in efforts to prevent the worst effects of global warming from occurring.

The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act by the end of June; until then, the challenge is to ensure that the bill is not weakened or derailed completely.

What to do ==

Send a message right away urging your representative to support and vote Yes for the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454).  It is the responsible ethical action to take to protect the wonderful gift from God that is our planet.  It is truly the right action to take to protect our planet for our children and children’s children.  

== Contact information ==

You can send a message to your representative directly from NRDC’s Action Center at http://www.nrdconline.org/ct/L75VFUn1FqVv/

If you prefer to call your representative, the Capitol switchboard number is 202-224-3121.