Commuters who log 16 or more miles each way on their daily haul to the job tend to pack plumper paunches and post higher blood pressure when compared to those with shorter excursions, according to the first research exploring the intersection of travel distances and health impacts.
The previous 12 months were the warmest in the U.S. since record keeping began in 1895, government scientists reported Tuesday, with the period averaging 55.7 degrees Fahrenheit — nearly three degrees warmer than the average May-April.
Norway is the best country in the world to be a mother, according to a new report from the international nonprofit Save the Children. Niger replaces Afghanistan as the worst country for moms. Afghanistan had been at the bottom of the list for the previous two years.
The 13th annual State of the World's Mothers report ranked the well-being of mothers in 165 countries - 43 developed nations and 122 in the developing world - based on a variety of criteria including health, nutrition, education, and economic and political status. Countries that did not release sufficient data were not included in the study.
At 25th in the world, the U.S. jumped six spots from 2011. "While the U.S. has moved up in the rankings, ahead of last year's 31st place, we still fall below most wealthy nations," said Save the Children President and CEO Carolyn Miles in a statement. "A woman in the U.S. is more than seven times as likely to die of a pregnancy-related cause in her lifetime than a woman in Italy or Ireland."
In addition to the country rankings, the report highlights the important role nutrition plays in the overall well-being of mothers and their children.
"I think the major message from the report is what we call the hidden crisis of malnutrition -- 170 million kids are suffering from malnutrition. It's something that has a big impact on the country rankings," Miles told the NewsHour. "It kills kids. So it is a big issue when it comes to being a mom."
According to Save the Children, malnutrition is the underlying cause of at least one-fifth of all maternal deaths and more than one-third of child deaths worldwide.
Approximately 40,000 people will die on U.S. roads this year, and thousands more will be injured. A disproportionate number of those traffic injuries will befall people from lower-income communities. According to new research, pedestrians in the poorest neighborhoods of Montreal were six times more likely to suffer traffic injuries than pedestrians in the wealthiest neighborhoods. Bicyclists and motorists in poorer neighborhoods were also at greater risk; they were four times more likely to be injured on the road.
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Issue: JEA pay raises
What it means: The council considered five bills that would authorize new labor contracts for unionized JEA employees. About 1,730 employees would get up to 3 percent base pay raises.
Bill Nos. 2011-677 through 2011-681
Action: Vote delayed until Feb. 14
Issue: Parking garage subsidy
What it means: The council considered changes to a contract with Metropolitan Parking Solutions, which operates three downtown parking garages that receive city loans because they annually lose money. The changes would give the city two more years to buy out the MPS contract and lower the return on investment the city has guaranteed MPS.
Bill No. 2011-700
Action: Approved
Issue: Meat packer incentives
What it means: The council was asked to endorse a package of $1.2 million in state and city aid for Bruss Co., a meat packing subsidiary of Tyson Foods. The company would spend about $10 million updating a factory at 5441 W. Fifth St. that would employ 200 people.
Bill No. 2011-728
Action: Approved
A look at some of the issues Jacksonville’s City Council considered in its meeting Tuesday:
Issue: City election dates
What it means: The council was asked to authorize a referendum in November 2012 on changing city election dates to coincide with Florida’s gubernatorial elections.
Bill No. 2011-654
Action: Denied
Issue: Poker room rezoning
What it means: The council was asked to rezone part of the site of a planned poker room at 201 Monument Road across from Regency Square mall. The effect was to make the entire property zoned CCG-2, a designation that allows the sale of liquor as well as beer and wine.
Bill No. 2011-585
Action: Approved
Issue: Fire and rescue projects
What it means: The council was asked to defer for a year a set of projects once intended to improve the city’s fire and rescue services.
Bill No. 2011-657
Action: Approved
Issue: Curb, gutter and sidewalk bills
What it means: The council was asked to raise the price the city charges people who want curbs, gutters and sidewalks built at their property. The price hasn't changed since 1989 and would rise from $12 per linear foot to $35.
Bill No. 2011-410
Action: Approved
Issue: Council members using computers
What it means: Council members considered whether to allow themselves to use city phones and computers to stay in touch with their outside jobs. Other city employees can't do that. Council members wouldn't be allowed to run up special costs to the city. Bill No. 2011-576
Action: Approved
Issue: Kernan speed zone
What it means: The council was asked for permission to agree to a joint project with the Duval County School Board to set up flashing lights and other controls for a speed zone on Kernan Boulevard near Kernan Trail Elementary and Kernan Middle School. The city could spend about $100,000. Bill No. 2011-594
Action: Approved
Item: Ready for Tomorrow contract.
What it means: Consider a contract not exceeding $270,000 to continue the Ready for Tomorrow tutoring and mentoring program at Raines and Ribault high schools and North Shore Elementary School and offer it at Andrew Jackson High School.
Action taken: Approved 7-0.
Item: Upgrade the SuccessMaker program for 13 elementary schools designated
Correct II schools.
What it means: SuccessMaker is a computer-based software program that provides adaptive, individualized intervention in both reading and math concepts and skills. Purchasing the upgrade would cost up to $638,000.
Action taken: Approved 7-0.
Item: Per-capita and examination fees for 2011-12 to International Baccalaureate North America for Stanton College Preparatory School, Paxon School for Advanced Studies and Ribault High School.
What it means: The cost would not exceed $123,325 for Stanton, not exceed $58,000 for Paxon and not exceed $10,500 for Ribault. Legislated incentive funds for passing schools on exams will be used to refund the school district for the cost of the exams.
Action taken: Approved 7-0.
Item: Selection of initial option for first-year intervene schools Forrest High School, A. Philip Randolph High School and Ed White High School.
What it means: The board decided to select the option to reconstitute the three high schools and make them "district-managed" high schools. The district will have to proceed with the option if the schools fail to make enough progress this school year.
Action: Approved 7-0
Item: Selection of an option for third-year intervene schools Andrew Jackson, Raines and Ribault high schools and North Shore Elementary.
What it means: The board selected the option to hand the schools over to a management organization for the 2012-13 school year if the schools fail to make the needed progress this school year.
Action: Approved 7-0
The Duval County School Board had its monthly meeting Tuesday. Among the actions taken were:
Item: KIPP's charter school applications
What it means: Despite its first school earning the lowest area FCAT score last year, the charter school organization wants to open two elementary schools in the 2012-13 school year.
Action: Delayed approval; will invite KIPP to discussion at Oct. 18 meeting. (6-1, Hazouri)
Item: Public hearing and vote on a new policy for teen-dating violence or abuse
What it means: State law mandates all school districts adopt policies addressing teen-dating violence and institute curriculum designed to teach teens how to recognize if they are in an abusive relationship and how to seek help.
Action: Approved, 7-0
Item: Suspensions without pay
What it means: Frederick Richardson, a teacher at Highlands Middle, faces a 15-day suspension for choking a student and pinning him against a concrete wall. Richardson got into a physical altercation May 9 with a student he said was disobedient and disruptive in class. This would be Richardson's second time being suspended by the district for his conduct as a teacher.
Action: Richardson was suspended for 5 days (6-1, Wright).
Cigarettes and lighters will now be considered contraband inside prison fences.
The ban is being implemented for two reasons, said Gretl Plessinger, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Corrections.
She said the state spent almost $9 million on hospital bills for inmates for tobacco related illnesses. Additionally, to smoke you need a lighter.
Jacksonville has lent $16 million in five years to subsidize a parking company it picked to own and run three downtown garages.
Now, the city could spend $50 million buying its way out of the deal.
That would leave City Hall owning and operating garages it never wanted and hoping that spending big money up front can cut taxpayers' losses - eventually.
The justices unanimously ruled on Thursday that a 2007 law creating the offices unconstitutionally passed overhead expenses to Florida's 67 counties.
Forty-eight Jacksonville police officers are being laid off as the Sheriff's Office cuts payroll to handle a shrunken 2012 budget, Nelson Cuba, the police union's president, said Tuesday.
Cuba said he learned the number of layoffs from a letter sent to the union from the city's Human Resources Department. Another 23 vacancies have been eliminated, along with an uncertain number of civilian employees, Cuba said.
The police layoffs, from the last two police academy classes, occurred Monday and Tuesday.
Rutherford has been repeatedly critical of the police union opposing a 2 percent salary cut, which the sheriff said would allow him to fund the positions. Cuba called that argument "smoke and mirrors."
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