Category Archives: News

Gov’t Confirms Authenticity of Contract Request for ‘Escort Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children’ at the Border

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A recently discovered government request for “escort services for unaccompanied alien children” dating back to January is raising questions about whether the government was planning for a surge of illegal immigrants this year as amnesty talks heated up in the United States.

The request specifically says it was preparing for 65,000 undocumented children.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed the request to TheBlaze, which is for transportation companies to escort children from the U.S.-Mexico border to relocation facilities throughout the United States. The conservative website Weasel Zippers was among the first to notice it.

Read more at The Blaze

SEE ALSO BizPac Review

New excuse: My dog kept me awake all night

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sleeping-with-dogPHOENIX – Along with the dog ate my homework, kids can now add the dog slept with me as an excuse why they are late for school. The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix conducted a study of sleep deprivation and claim a link to owners allowing pets to sleep with them. Some scientist warn of Zoonoses, or the transmission of disease from pets to owners from allowing pets to sleep in beds.

Web MD says 53% were disturbed by pet bedroom sharing. Medical Daily claims 63% have some sleep deprivation by sharing bed with a pet.

More than half of pet owners (54%) said they shared their bed or bedroom with their dog (58%) or cat (42%) Sowjanya Duthuluru, MD told MedScape. He said that is “quite a lot.” The Web MD site also cites:

Sleeping with pets isn’t unusual in this country. According to a recent survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association, nearly half of dogs sleep in their owner’s beds. The survey found that 62% of small dogs, 41% of medium-sized dogs and 32% of large dogs sleep with their owners.

Several stories quote Lois Krahn, M.D., Mayo Clinic psychiatrist and author of the study.

“The study determined that while the majority of patients did not view their pets intolerably disturbing their sleep, a higher percentage of patients experienced irritation — this may be related to the larger number of households with multiple pets. When people have these kinds of sleep problems, sleep specialists should ask about companion animals and help patients think about ways to optimize their sleep.”

She also noted:

“One patient owned a parrot who consistently squawked at 6 a.m. He must have thought he was a rooster.”

Could zoonoses explain the mental instability of Canadian actor James Eugene Carrey?

Could zoonoses explain the mental instability of Canadian actor James Eugene Carrey?

According to the document “Zoonoses in the Bedroom” by Bruno B. Chomel and Ben Sun (PDF)—which is not the title of the latest hot adult novel—transmission of disease from pets to human can occur from kissing animals on the mouth and sleeping with them. Particularly flea and tick infested animals.

During a 1974 outbreak of plague in New Mexico, USA, 7 cases of bubonic plague were investigated. One patient noticed flea bites the morning after he allowed his flea-infested cat to share his bed. Similarly, in a series of 23 cases of plague related to cat exposure, a 9-year-old boy from Arizona had handled and slept with a sick cat. Another case, which occurred in 1983 in New Mexico, was likely acquired after indoor/outdoor cats slept with the patient.

Listening to Ted Nugent is not the only way to contract Cat-Scratch Fever. The document stated that cat-scratch disease can be transmitted in the bedroom.

Cat-scratch disease is mainly transmitted to humans when they are scratched by a cat that harbors Bartonella henselae–infected fleas and flea feces. However, a few documented cases have been associated with sleeping or being licked by a household pet.

The report admits that zoonotic infections acquired by sleeping with a pet are uncommon and more cases of disease transmission are caused by kissing animals.

However, severe cases of C. canimorsus infection or plague in humans have been documented. More zoonotic agents that are transmitted by kissing a pet or being licked by a pet have been identified, especially zoonotic pathogens that are commensal in the oral cavity of carnivores, such as Pasteurella spp. and C. canimorsus.

The document recommends the common sense step regular veterinary visits. Immediate steps should be taken to rid pets of flea and tick infestations.

So the lesson here is that instead of telling the little dog to move over because A new dog’s movin’ in, you should just kick him out. Then spray the dog house.

Nighty-night.

See Also Science Daily, NBC News

Texas leaders order “surge” to secure border

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texdpsTop Texas officials directed Department of Public Safety troopers late Wednesday to begin a surge to secure the Texas-Mexico border in the wake of a growing number of immigrants flooding into the southern part of the state.

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus signed off on a plan to spend $1.3 million a week to try to combat the problem, even as a group of conservative state lawmakers asked them to call the legislature back to work in a special session to address the situation.

“Texas can’t afford to wait for Washington to act on this crisis and we will not sit idly by while the safety and security of our citizens are threatened,” Perry said in a statement. “Until the federal government recognizes the danger it’s putting our citizens in by its inaction to secure the border, Texas law enforcement must do everything they can to keep our citizens and communities safe.”

Perry, Dewhurst and Straus released a joint letter directing DPS officials to move forward with surge operations through at least the end of the calendar year, using any money allocated for the agency. They noted that previous law enforcement surge operations in the border proved effective.

This came as a number of state legislators asked for a special session to try to find their own solution.

Read more at the Star-Telegram

Mosquito-borne chikungunya virus hits U.S.

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Aedes aegypti (left) and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are the most common transmitter of chikungunya. – CDC Photo

The drier than normal northern Arizona weather may actually have at least one bright spot this year. A mosquito-borne illness labeled chikungunya, that is prevalent in the Caribbean, has now appeared in the United States. The virus causes high fevers and intense pain after an incubation period of three- to seven-days.

The dramatic claim by Phoenix television news that the disease “may be” fatal is apparently meant to appeal to the “reality television” mentality of their audience. Yes, it “may be” fatal, but like Swine Flu almost always isn’t. The World Health Organization contends that it could be a factor in the deaths of some elderly.

There is no vaccine or cure for the illness, however. Treatment revolves around mitigating the symptoms as possible. The Center for Disease Control web site says that the disease has been transmitted to unborn children from a pregnant mother, but that is rare. In theory, they say, it could be transmitted in a blood transfusion but there have been no recorded cases of that happening.

According to FOX News, Dr. Jorge Parada, medical director of the infection prevention program at Loyola University, Chicago, and medical spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, said.

“The mosquitos that transmit this infection are pretty widespread around the world, and that’s why the infection has been able to spread across the tropical Pacific and now into the Caribbean.”

He said that the spread of the disease is another consequence of our highly mobile society.

From the CDC web site:

Chikungunya virus is most often spread to people by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are the same mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus. They bite mostly during the daytime.

According to the World Health Organization, chikungunya is a viral disease first described in 1952 during an outbreak in southern Tanzania.

It is an RNA virus that belongs to the alphavirus genus of the family Togaviridae. The name ‘chikungunya’ derives from a word in the Kimakonde language, meaning “to become contorted” and describes the stooped appearance of sufferers with joint pain (arthralgia).

Their web site goes on to say:

“Most patients recover fully, but in some cases joint pain may persist for several months, or even years. Occasional cases of eye, neurological and heart complications have been reported, as well as gastrointestinal complaints. Serious complications are not common, but in older people, the disease can contribute to the cause of death.”

The CDC web site on chikungunya—not updated as of this writing—states that the disease was first noted in 2013 in the Caribbean and warned travelers about the transmission of the disease.

Dr. Parada echoes the sentiment of the CDC that bite prevention is the best medicine.

The CDC recommends a good mosquito repellent when going outdoors even during the day.

Collections of water, whether intended or not, are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Those in northern Arizona who may have stored some of what little moisture we have had should cover any water storage containers. Residents who transport water to their homes should check for leaks causing puddles to form and seal any leaks found.

In the event of a good monsoon season, residents should continually check for old tires or containers not meant for water storage and drain them. Check for leaks inside or outside the home which might provide a breeding puddle for mosquitoes and have them repaired.

Work on SR 89 in Prescott for the next two weeks

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PRESCOTT – Crews will be present on State Route 89 (White Spar Road) in Prescott over the next two weeks to complete miscellaneous work on the improvement project.

There will be intermittent lane restrictions between 6 am. and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday through July 3. The speed limit will be reduced to 25 mph through the work zone.

Also, overhead utility work is scheduled Monday, June 23 through Wednesday, June 25 between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. Drivers can expect a single lane restriction.

ADOT advises drivers and bicyclists to proceed through the work zone with caution, comply with the reduced speed limit and be alert for construction equipment and personnel.

Junipine fire 25% contained

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OAK CREEK – Just after recovering from the Slide Fire, the residents of upper Oak Creek were evacuated briefly from 4 to about 10:30 pm on the 16th. Reports today indicate that the fire remains as 13-acres and is 25% contained. The decrease wind-speed will no doubt assist fire fighters in their efforts. The fire was started by a downed power line. State Route 89 from Flagstaff to Sedona remains open after ADOT completed road work earlier than anticipated.

Slide Fire Community Meeting Planned planned for tomorrow

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Slide Fire Information Facebook photo

Slide Fire Information Facebook photo

SEDONA – A community meeting is scheduled in Sedona to discuss the possibility of flooding from the Slide Fire during the monsoon season. The meeting will be held tomorrow—Thursday, June 19 from 4 to 6 pm—at the Sedona Red Rock High School Performing Arts Center; 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road.

The meeting will be conducted by the City of Sedona, Coconino and Yavapai counties, and the cooperative agencies which assisted in fighting the human-caused blaze. Residents will receive an update on the U.S. Forest Service’s Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) assessment of the Slide Fire. Attendees will also learn how multiple agencies have spent the past several weeks assessing Oak Creek Canyon properties in anticipation of possible monsoonal flooding this summer.

A video recording of the meeting will be posted June 20 at the Coconino County YouTube Channel for those unable to attend the meeting. A link to the video will be posted at the Coconino County Post-Slide Fire Information web page.

The Slide Fire began May 20 just north of Slide Rock State Park and charred more than 21,000 acres north of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon. The fire was fully contained on June 6. Investigation into the start of the fire is still on-going.

Just why did the chicken cross the road?

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SARAH PALIN: The chicken crossed the road because, gosh-darn it, he’s a maverick!

BARACK OBAMA: Let me be perfectly clear, if the chickens like their eggs they can keep their eggs. No chicken will be required to cross the road to surrender her eggs. Period.

JOHN McCAIN: My friends, the chicken crossed the road because he recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the chickens on the other side of the road.

HILLARY CLINTON: What difference at this point does it make why the chicken crossed the road.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don’t really care why the chicken crossed the road. We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road or not. The chicken is either with us or against us. There is no middle ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where’s my gun?

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken.

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken’s intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white?

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won’t realize that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he is acting by not taking on his current problems before adding any new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which is why he wants to cross the road so badly. So instead of having the chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I’m going to give this chicken a NEW CAR so that he can just drive across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER: We have reason to believe there is a chicken, but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road.

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he’s guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

MARTHA STEWART: No one called me to warn me which way the chicken was going. I had a standing order at the Farmer’s Market to sell my eggs when the price dropped to a certain level. No little bird gave me any insider information.

DR SEUSS: Did the chicken cross the road? Did he cross it with a toad? Yes, the chicken crossed the road, but why it crossed I’ve not been told.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone.

GRANDPA: In my day we didn’t ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough for us.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn’t that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish it’s lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

BILL GATES: I have just released eChicken2014, which will not only cross roads, but will lay eggs, file your important documents and balance your checkbook. Internet Explorer is an integral part of eChicken2014. This new platform is much more stable and will never reboot.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Arizona’s redesigned driver license, new process now effective

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250px-port-driver-licensePHOENIX – Effective June 16, the newly designed Arizona driver license – and a new process to get it – are now in place.

The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division has expanded the central credential issuance process to all offices statewide, meaning that customers visiting a Motor Vehicle Division or Authorized Third Party office to obtain a new driver license or identification card will leave with a temporary credential. The permanent license or identification card will be mailed to the customer and received within 15 days.

With a primary focus on protecting a customer’s personal information and protect against identity theft, ADOT has launched a new, high-security credential format. Arizona is following a change occurring across the nation by many states with the production of a driver license with a background that contains numerous security features. The previously designed photo background was very limited in its capability to contain viable security features.

“Our top priority is always customer safety and security,” said Stacey Stanton, director of ADOT’s Motor Vehicle Division. “The new and improved security features better safeguard personal information. The updated issuance process has added steps for ensuring the license or identification card is delivered to the right person and helps prevent identity theft.”

There is no need for a customer to rush out to an office to obtain the new credential. A current driver license or identification card will remain valid until its expiration date – or at least until the 12-year mark when the photo needs to be refreshed. The price of a duplicate credential remains $12 for many customers.

Customers at ADOT Motor Vehicle Division offices will no longer be issued a permanent or duplicate driver license or identification card at the end of the application process. The credential will instead be mailed to the address on the customer’s application. It is important to ensure the correct mailing address has been provided in order to receive the credential.

With the new central issuance process it is critical that customers keep their address updated with MVD. State law requires that residents notify the Motor Vehicle Division of an address change within 10 days, although the purchase of a new credential isn’t required. Address changes can be made online at ServiceArizona.com.

This central-issuance process has already been in place in 14 of ADOT’s offices in communities in Greater Arizona and in the Authorized Third Party offices that process driver licenses. Now the process has expanded to all offices statewide.

The temporary driver license or identification card contains a photo and the basic information that appears on the actual credential. As in other states that have moved to this process, the decision to accept the temporary credential as proof of identity exists solely with the organization requesting to see the license or identification card.

The process of central credential issuance is used by most states around the country and is a growing trend as states transition to higher-security credentials.

For at least 12 years, there will be more than one valid Arizona driver license and identification card.

Security features of the new credential include:

  • A larger primary portrait with a smaller redundant ghost portrait ensuring customer appearance is clearly reflected.
  • A high-security, design comprised of unique Arizona geological features in the background created through the use of Guilloché innovative symmetry.A Guilloché design involves techniques consisting of intricate, repetitive patterns that are interwoven to guard against counterfeiting, altering or other fraudulent use, making for a more secure credential.
  • A laser perforation in the shape of Arizona, which when held up to the light is used to quickly authenticate the credential.
  • Tactile date of birth field to assist in authenticating the credential using the sense of touch. The date in this field will have a raised feel to it.
  • Tri-color Optically Variable Device consisting of the state outline, the state name “Arizona,” the state seal, a saguaro cactus and a star. This laminate overlay provides the final layer of the credential and provides one more feature for authentication.
  • The ringtail, declared the state mammal in 1986, is illustrated on the front of the new credential. Ringtails, found throughout the state, are cat-sized carnivores resembling a small fox with a long raccoon-like tail.

State Route 89A switchbacks closure lifted early

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640px-sr89-Sedona-140501-42PHOENIX — Drivers traveling between Sedona and Flagstaff received welcome news when the Arizona Department of Transportation lifted restrictions and opened the “switchbacks” section of State Route 89A to motorists, well ahead of schedule, late last night. There are currently no construction/fire-related restrictions along SR 89A between Sedona and Flagstaff.

The three-mile section of SR 89A (mileposts 387-390) between the Pine Flat Campground and the Vista Point scenic overlook south of Flagstaff was closed to allow crews to resurface the highway along this narrow, twisty section of roadway, which is prone to rockfalls. As part of the $2 million improvement project, ADOT removed loose rocks from the mountainside along the roadway and made deck repairs to the historic Pumphouse Wash Bridge.

By allowing the contractor (Phoenix-based Combs Construction) unrestricted access to the work zone, crews were able to safely complete paving, bridge repair and rock scaling work in an expedited manner that would not have been possible without the full closure of the roadway.

From the beginning, ADOT was committed to completing the project as soon as possible while focusing on safety and quality. Prior to the start of the project, ADOT provided the contractor monetary incentives to complete the project prior to the end of the scheduled five-week closure. The contractor will receive the maximum allowed bonus ($104,000) for completing the work early.

“Thanks to the swift efforts by the contractor Combs Construction and ADOT’s steadfast commitment to complete the project as efficiently and safely as possible, we were able to reopen the closed SR 89A section of roadway – an incredible 16 days ahead of schedule,” said Flagstaff District Engineer Audra Merrick. “Despite this project’s many challenges, in the end, this will be a smoother, safer road for the traveling public for many years to come.”

The project began on April 21, with single lane restrictions in place along the switchbacks. The five-week full closure of the highway had originally been scheduled from May 27 – July 2, but crews were evacuated from the project on May 20, at the start of the Slide Fire. The wildfire originated approximately six miles south of the project near Slide Rock State Park and forced the closure of the highway from Sedona to Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff.

Work on the project resumed on June 1, shortly after local authorities lifted wildfire-related restrictions near the highway.

ADOT had a limited window in which to complete the paving work in this region (June – August) because applying new pavement is extremely temperature sensitive. The goal was to complete the pavement improvements prior to the rainy monsoon season, which could have delayed the project significantly.

ADOT will need to return next month to complete final lane striping through the project corridor. A single-lane restriction will be required and flaggers will be present to guide traffic through the work zone.