Trauma Can Up Risk of Mental Disorders in First Responders ...

By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on February 27, 2013

A new study suggests repeated exposure to traumatic events increase the risk of developing a psychiatric disorder among protective service workers, especially for those early in their careers.

Overall, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that protective services workers do not appear to have a higher prevalence of mental health problems than workers in other occupations.

The critical factor appears to be exposure to trauma, as only those with repeated contact to violence or suffering have an increased likelihood of developing psychiatric problems. A hardening effect also appears to occur as contact with trauma among well-experienced protective services worker is less harmful.

?Our findings suggest that exposure to diverse types of traumatic events among protective services workers is a risk factor for new onset of psychopathology and alcohol use disorders,? said Christopher N. Kaufmann, M.H.S., lead author of the study.

?When we examined the relationship of exposure to common traumas with the development of mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorders among protective services workers, we found that these workers were at greater risk for developing a mood or alcohol use disorder.

?Interestingly, this relationship was not seen in those who had been in these jobs for a longer period, but was strong and statistically significant in workers who recently joined the profession. Developing curricula in coping skills and providing timely interventions for early career protective services workers may help reduce future psychiatric morbidity in these workers.?

Using data from the U.S National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions researchers compared the prevalence of mental disorders of protective services workers to that of adults in other occupations.

In addition, they examined the association of exposure to common traumatic experiences with the development of new mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorders among protective services workers who recently joined the workforce and those who had been in these jobs for a longer period.

Lifetime and recent trauma events most commonly reported by protective services workers included: seeing someone badly injured or killed; unexpectedly seeing a dead body; having someone close die unexpectedly and having someone close experience a serious or life-threatening illness, accident or injury.

?The association between the number of different traumatic event types and incident mood and alcohol-use disorders, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder, was virtually confined to the group of early career protective services workers,? said Ramin Mojtabai, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., senior author of the study.

?Future research should examine the coping skills of protective services workers who have been in these jobs for many years, which might make them less likely to develop psychiatric complications in the face of various potentially traumatic experiences, ? said Mojtabai.

The authors note, ?Special support programs and services for these early career workers can potentially help to prevent development of chronic psychopathology and attrition from these critical jobs.?

Source: Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

APA Reference
Nauert PhD, R. (2013). Trauma Can Up Risk of Mental Disorders in First Responders. Psych Central. Retrieved on February 28, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/27/trauma-can-up-risk-of-mental-disorders-in-first-responders/51995.html

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/02/27/trauma-can-up-risk-of-mental-disorders-in-first-responders/51995.html

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Legislators take on proposal to legalize same-sex marriage (Star Tribune)

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U.S. Senate approves Lew as Treasury chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Jack Lew as President Barack Obama's new Treasury secretary, putting the former White House chief of staff in the middle of political brawls over the government's budget.

Senators backed Lew 71-26, with all 53 Democrats voting in favor.

Lew's most pressing task will be to find a compromise to lessen the economic blow from $85 billion in government spending cuts set to kick in on Friday.

But two more deadlines will quickly follow. Funds for most government operations expire on March 27, and the U.S. government is expected to hit its legal borrowing limit on May 19, setting the stage for a default unless an agreement can be secured to raise the debt ceiling again.

Lew was Obama's chief of staff before the president named him to succeed Timothy Geithner at the Treasury, and has spent much of his career in Washington in public service. He was previously White House budget director under Obama and former President Bill Clinton.

"As my chief of staff, Jack was by my side as we confronted our nation's toughest challenges," Obama said after the Senate vote. "His reputation as a master of fiscal issues who can work with leaders on both sides of the aisle has already helped him succeed in some of the toughest jobs in Washington."

Lew is expected take the lead on difficult talks with Congress on how to trim U.S. budget deficits and keep a lid on $16.6 trillion U.S. national debt.

STAFF MENTALITY?

Lew, 57, led talks with Congress in 2011 that averted a U.S. debt default. At the time, he antagonized Republicans and even some Democrats with his unwavering defense of government-run benefit programs.

His status as an Obama confidant may give him more authority in representing the administration during fiscal talks. But his close relationship with the White House has also raised some hackles.

"He's got a political staff mentality, not an august, independent personality of leadership," said Senator Jeff Sessions, the top Republican on the Senate Budget Committee, who had pressed lawmakers to vote against Lew.

During the confirmation process, Lew also had to confront questions about his investment in the Cayman Islands tax haven and a nearly $1 million bonus he received from Citigroup in 2009, just before the bank got a taxpayer-funded bailout.

And Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa berated Lew for not disclosing more details about a $1.4 million loan he received while working as an executive with New York University.

LONG TO-DO LIST

Senator Max Baucus of Montana, the Democrat who chairs the Finance Committee, had wondered if Lew had sufficient gravitas to be the chief U.S. economic spokesman during a committee hearing this month.

But he later endorsed Lew for the post, commending his commitment to bipartisanship.

"If confirmed, we'll be entrusting Mr. Lew to oversee America's economic policy," Baucus said before the Senate vote. "It is a great responsibility, one I believe Mr. Lew will live up to."

Lawmakers in both parties praised Lew when he said revamping the byzantine U.S. tax code would be a top priority. But prospects for achieving tax reform are clouded by Washington's constant fiscal fights.

The new secretary also will also have to deal with the growing clout of China.

He has pledged to press the world's second-largest economy to further loosen its currency restrictions. Lawmakers have complained China keeps the value of the yuan artificially low to boost its exports, hurting American manufacturers.

Other delicate tasks for Lew include implementing new financial regulations and finding a way to wind down government-controlled mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have drawn almost $190 billion from the Treasury.

(Reporting by Anna Yukhananov and Rachelle Younglai; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Xavier Briand)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-senate-approves-lew-treasury-chief-014649331--sector.html

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Did Amanda Seyfried Dress Bomb Anne Hathaway?!

We'd heard that Anne Hathaway's controversial pink Prada Oscar dress was a last-minute pick. But why ditch the dress she'd been planning on wearing for months? Now, thanks to a statement Hathaway issued to People, we know the truth. 

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/anne-hathaway-apologizes-oscar-dress-not-reason-you-think/1-a-524162?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Aanne-hathaway-apologizes-oscar-dress-not-reason-you-think-524162

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Singer Rick Springfield Returning To ?General Hospital? With His Son!

Singer Rick Springfield Returning To “General Hospital” With His Son!

Jessie’s Girl singer Rick Springfield will be reprising his role as Dr. Noah Drake on the soap opera “General Hospital”, with his son Liam Springthorpe making his television debut as an undercover cop on the show. The 63-old singer, who last appeared on the show in March 2012, says his character has lots of personal ...

Singer Rick Springfield Returning To “General Hospital” With His Son! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/02/singer-rick-springfield-returning-to-general-hospital-with-his-son/

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Italy parliamentary elections outcome raises possibility of political ...

With 99.9 percent of the ballots counted for the lower house, or Chamber of Deputies, Bersani?s coalition polled 29.54 percent, compared to 29.18 percent for Berlusconi?s bloc. The ballots cast by about 3 million Italian citizens abroad are yet to be counted, but this will hardly change the results. Bersani?s razor-thin victory means that his coalition will take 340 seats in the 630-seat lower house.

In the Senate, Berlusconi?s and Bersani?s coalitions won 116 seats and 113 seats, respectively, something that may considerably complicate the process of forming a new government, says Rome-based political analyst Michele Comelli.

"Forming a new coalition government may prove a tricky task, Comelli says, referring to Bersani?s and Monti?s persistent unwillingness to create a coalition. Even if formed, the coalition government may well resign several months later, something that will mean another early election in Italy."

Theoretically, Bersani and Berlusconi could create a coalition with outgoing Prime Minister Mario Mon, whose centrist coalition obtained 10 percent of the vote. This would help the country continue a spate of economic reforms aimed at resolving the crisis, a step that Berlusconi rejects. As for Bersani, he remains at odds with Monti over a host of pressing issues.

Surprisingly, the Five Star Movement, led by popular comedian and blogger Beppe Grillo won more than a quarter of the overall votes, in a move that reflects the protest mood in the society, according to Vladislav Belov, of the Moscow-based Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Beppe Grillo has repeatedly been up in arms against the eurozone. Actually, he united all those who withdrew their support from both Berlusconi and Bersani. These people voice protest against the current political situation in Italy.

Meanwhile, Silvio Berlusconi has already promised to consider creating a coalition with Bersani?s bloc. Berlusconi stressed the importance of creating a new government in Italy as soon as possible, a government that analysts say will hopefully be able to call the shots.

Source: http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_02_26/Italy-parliamentary-elections-outcome-raises-possibility-of-political-gridlock-analysts/

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Mediterranean diet can ward off heart disease: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A Mediterranean diet high in olive oil, nuts, fish and fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent heart disease and strokes, according to a new large study from Spain.

Past research suggested people who eat a Mediterranean-like diet have healthier hearts, but those studies couldn't rule out that other health or lifestyle differences had made the difference.

For the new trial, researchers randomly assigned study volunteers at risk of heart disease to a Mediterranean or standard low-fat diet for five years, allowing the team to single out the effect of diet, in particular.

"This is good news, because we know how to prevent the main cause of deaths - that is cardiovascular disease - with a good diet," said Dr. Miguel Angel Martinez-Gonzalez, who worked on the study at the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona.

He and colleagues from across Spain assigned almost 7,500 older adults with diabetes or other heart risks to one of three groups.

Two groups were instructed to eat a Mediterranean diet - one supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and the other with nuts, both donated for the study - with help from personalized advice and group meetings. The third study group ate a "control" diet, which emphasized low-fat dairy products, grains and fruits and vegetables.

Over the next five years, 288 study participants had a heart attack or stroke or died of any type of cardiovascular disease.

People on both Mediterranean diets were 28 to 30 percent less likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those on the general low-fat diet, the researchers reported Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The new study is the first randomized trial of any diet pattern to show benefit among people initially without heart disease, said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, who studies nutrition and cardiovascular disease at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

NOT DUE TO SINGLE INGREDIENT

It's the blend of Mediterranean diet components - not one particular ingredient - that promotes heart health, according to Martinez-Gonzalez.

"The quality of fat in the Mediterranean diet is very good," he told Reuters Health. "This good source of calories is replacing other bad sources of calories. In addition, there is a wide variety of plant foods in the Mediterranean diet," including legumes and fruits as desserts, Martinez-Gonzalez added.

"I think it's a combination of what's eaten and what's not eaten," agreed Mozaffarian, who wasn't involved in the new research.

"Things that are discouraged are refined breads and sweets, sodas and red meats and processed meats," he told Reuters Health. "The combination of more of the good things and less of the bad things is important."

Martinez-Gonzalez suggested people seeking to improve their diet start with small changes, such as forgoing meat one or two days per week, cooking with olive oil and drinking red wine with meals rather than hard alcohol.

Replacing a high-carbohydrate or high-saturated fat snack with a handful of nuts is also a helpful change, said Teresa Fung, a nutrition researcher at Simmons College in Boston who also wasn't on the study team.

"All of these steps are making, at the end of the day, a big difference," Martinez-Gonzalez said.

Fung pointed out many people in the new trial were already on medications, such as statins and diabetes drugs.

"The way I see it is, even if people are on medication already, diet has substantial additional benefit," she told Reuters Health.

That's likely the case for people without heart risks - including high blood pressure or cholesterol - as well, Fung added.

"This is a high-risk group, but I don't think people should wait until they become high-risk in order to change," she said.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/YuyV7v New England Journal of Medicine, online February 25, 2013.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mediterranean-diet-ward-off-heart-disease-study-182104968.html

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BPA may affect the developing brain by disrupting gene regulation

Feb. 25, 2013 ? Environmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a widespread chemical found in plastics and resins, may suppress a gene vital to nerve cell function and to the development of the central nervous system, according to a study led by researchers at Duke Medicine.

The researchers published their findings -- which were observed in cortical neurons of mice, rats and humans -- in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Feb. 25, 2013.

"Our study found that BPA may impair the development of the central nervous system, and raises the question as to whether exposure could predispose animals and humans to neurodevelopmental disorders," said lead author Wolfgang Liedtke, M.D., PhD, associate professor of medicine/neurology and neurobiology at Duke.

BPA, a molecule that mimics estrogen and interferes with the body's endocrine system, can be found in a wide variety of manufactured products, including thermal printer paper, some plastic water bottles and the lining of metal cans. The chemical can be ingested if it seeps into the contents of food and beverage containers.

Research in animals has raised concerns that exposure to BPA may cause health problems such as behavioral issues, endocrine and reproductive disorders, obesity, cancer and immune system disorders. Some studies suggest that infants and young children may be the most vulnerable to the effects of BPA, which led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of the chemical in baby bottles and cups in July 2012.

While BPA has been shown to affect the developing nervous system, little is understood as to how this occurs. The research team developed a series of experiments in rodent and human nerve cells to learn how BPA induces changes that disrupt gene regulation.

During early development of neurons, high levels of chloride are present in the cells. These levels drop as neurons mature, thanks to a chloride transporter protein called KCC2, which churns chloride ions out of the cells. If the level of chloride within neurons remains elevated, it can damage neural circuits and compromise a developing nerve cell's ability to migrate to its proper position in the brain.

Exposing neurons to minute amounts of BPA alters the chloride levels inside the cells by somehow shutting down the Kcc2 gene, which makes the KCC2 protein, thereby delaying the removal of chloride from neurons.

MECP2, another protein important for normal brain function, was found to be a possible culprit behind this change. When exposed to BPA, MECP2 is more abundant and binds to the Kcc2 gene at a higher rate, which might help to shut it down. This could contribute to problems in the developing brain due to a delay in chloride being removed.

These findings raise the question of whether BPA could contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders such as Rett syndrome, a severe autism spectrum disorder that is only found in girls and is characterized by mutations in the gene that produces MECP2.

While both male and female neurons were affected by BPA in the studies, female neurons were more susceptible to the chemical's toxicity. Further research will dig deeper into the sex-specific effects of BPA exposure and whether certain sex hormone receptors are involved in BPA's effect on KCC2.

"Our findings improve our understanding of how environmental exposure to BPA can affect the regulation of the Kcc2 gene. However, we expect future studies to focus on what targets aside from Kcc2 are affected by BPA," Liedtke said. "This is a chapter in an ongoing story."

In addition to Liedtke, study authors include Michele Yeo and Ken Berglund of the Liedtke Lab in the Division of Neurology at Duke Medicine; Michael Hanna, Maria D. Torres and Jorge Busciglio of the University of California, Irvine; Junjie U. Guo and Yuan Gao of the Lieber Institute for Brain Development and Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md.; and Jaya Kittur, Joel Abramowitz and Lutz Birnbaumer of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

The research received funding from Duke University, the Klingenstein Fund, the National Institutes of Health (R21NS066307, HD38466 and AG16573), and intramural funds from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Duke University Medical Center.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Michele Yeo, Ken Berglund, Michael Hanna, Junjie U. Guo, Jaya Kittur, Maria D. Torres, Joel Abramowitz, Jorge Busciglio, Yuan Gao, Lutz Birnbaumer, and Wolfgang B. Liedtke. Bisphenol A delays the perinatal chloride shift in cortical neurons by epigenetic effects on the Kcc2 promoter. PNAS, February 25, 2013 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1300959110

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/NaeyTOnLcT0/130225153122.htm

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Hazara Killings In Pakistan Call For International Action - OpEd ...

Quetta, Pakistan

By Arab News -- (February 25, 2013)

By Muhammad Waqas

THE very existence of Hazara minority in Pakistan?s insurgency-hit province of Balochistan is under threat. Over the last five years, a militant organization, named Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, has claimed responsibility for killing over 1,000 Hazaras in the country. The militant group has repeatedly challenged the writ of the state by carrying out ?ethnic cleansing? of the Shiite minority, who it claims are not true Muslims.

Lashkar-e Jhangvi is believed to have been established in the eastern Punjab province during the 1990s.

It is an armed wing of the Sunni group Anjuman-e-Sipahe Shaba Pakistan, a violent and fiercely anti-Shiite organization. Formed by radical elements who received education at hard-line religious schools, the group has only recently eyed the Balochistan province. For years, the massacre of this community remained a non-issue for the country?s political elite and security establishment. During this time, the government failed to arrest or prosecute any prominent member of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, which caused great anger and frustration in the Hazara community. The massacre of Hazaras recently led to the imposition of federal rule in the province, but there has been no respite in attacks. When a deadly bomb attack killed around 100 members of the Shiite Hazara minority last week, protests erupted all across the country. The protesters demanded that army be given powers to control security situation in the province, while the government should also take immediate measures to curb Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The mourning Hazaras refused to bury the dead till they were provided justice and government took a decisive action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.

The authorities buckled under pressure from this unique form of protest. The government soon sprung into action and claimed to have arrested over 170 people suspected of being linked to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. They also revealed the arrest of a founding member of the banned terror group. However, many remain unconvinced of the government?s actions and call them inadequate in stemming the roots of violence.

Shams Mandokhel, a human rights campaigner in Balochistan, also questions the government?s inaction against the militant group. He believes that the group has ?a very dangerous mindset. This mindset believes in sectarian violence, which is catastrophic. Now, who is promoting this mindset? Why is it not being stopped?? Some analysts even accuse the government of secretly aiding Lashkar-e-Jhangvi to overcome the separatist insurgency that is raging across the Balochistan province.

Pakistan?s security establishment is also known to have used the parent organization of this group in fighting the Soviets during the 1980s. Therefore, any action by the civil government against this militant group could result in a backlash from the country?s powerful military.

A failure to reign in on this new wave of terror against the Hazaras will have catastrophic results for Pakistan. Such violent extremism risks national unity and could potentially cause a delay in holding the upcoming national elections. Lamenting the situation, Balochistan-based analyst Zahoor Shahwani states that ?It?s quite obvious that if these kinds of attacks continue it will be difficult to attract people?s attention to the elections. If their lives and properties are not safe, how can the politicians hold public events and local meetings? How are elections possible in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty??

The Hazaras have also questioned the competence of security and intelligence bodies, who have seriously failed in preventing sectarian strife. The latest protests by Hazaras to highlight their grievances have been successful in influencing public opinion and forcing the country?s security establishment to wake up from its deep slumber.

With media allotting prime space to the plight of Hazaras, Pakistan?s political and military elite has agreed to conduct a targeted operation against the terrorists, who are determined to eradicate the sect. The local media has also highlighted how the violence is disrupting lives of Hazaras. They are facing difficulty in continuing education, running businesses, accessing civil service jobs and, in essence, leading a normal life.

However, the Hazaras fear that the story of their plight may lose momentum as it has not received adequate international coverage. Condemnation of violence against them has been limited to clich?d statements by international leaders. About 271 renowned poets from 89 countries have recently written an open letter to world leaders to ensure the security of Hazaras and exert diplomatic pressure on Pakistan and Afghanistan to end violence against the community. The international community needs to pay immediate attention to acts of violence and discrimination against the Hazaras. The persecution of Hazaras on ethnic and religious grounds defies all international standards of civility and denies them rights guaranteed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

Source: http://www.albanytribune.com/25022013-hazara-killings-in-pakistan-call-for-international-action-oped/

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Legal question over PM's remarks - The Nation

The Nation February 25, 2013 1:00 am

Suriyasai said his group had asked its legal team to check and file a complaint with the Election Commission within a few days if they believe the PM committed a constitutional offence.

He said Yingluck made a campaign statement that if residents voted for Pongsapat, the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration would work together without conflict. Bangkok voters would gain benefits if they voted for number 9 because the government had funds to support mega projects, such as more Skytrain routes. But if people voted for other candidates, they would not receive support from the government.

"The PM's public address was deemed misleading. As the PM, she has the responsibility to provide mass transit systems and other services to the public in accordance with the Constitution," Suriyasai said.

Suriyasai said that according to the anti-corruption law, the PM spoke at the election rally as a state official because she was introduced to the stage to speak as the PM, so her statement could constitute abuse of authority.

"Her statement (in support of Pongsapat) aims to mislead the public into voting for number 9 and not other candidates, which is not right," Suriyasai said.

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Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Legal-question-over-PMs-remarks-30200683.html

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The Weekly Good: Embrace Wants To Give All Infants An Equal Chance For A Healthy Life

Disruption comes in all shapes and sizes, and benefits people of all shapes and sizes. When you think about global entrepreneurs solving hard problems, you might not think about creating hardware products that aim to save the lives of premature babies.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/5jBOdEOgqUQ/

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Lawmakers dispute records for private gun sales

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A dispute over whether to require record keeping for private gun sales is holding up a compromise between Republican and Democratic senators over expanding background checks for firearms transactions, one of President Barack Obama's top gun control priorities, people familiar with the private talks said Sunday.

Two GOP and two Democratic senators have been looking for a compromise on requiring more of the checks, currently required only for transactions by federally licensed dealers. Private transactions at gun shows, online and elsewhere are not covered by the system, which is designed to keep firearms from criminals, people with serious mental problems and others.

The senators have been bargaining quietly over ways to expand the checks to private sales. But Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., a conservative who has taken a leading role in the talks, has opposed requiring record keeping for private transactions because of a concern it could lead to a national registry of gun owners, which is vehemently opposed by the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.

Democrats say keeping records of private sales is the only way to ensure the checks are performed, and say fears of the creation of a federal gun registry are unfounded. They have offered to have gun manufacturers or other private entities, not the government, keep those records.

The talks were described by a Senate aide and a lobbyist who spoke on condition of anonymity because the senators' talks are private and considered extremely politically sensitive.

The other senators participating in the bargaining are liberal Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., moderate Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and moderate Mark Kirk, R-Ill.

An agreement involving the influential Coburn could be pivotal because it could pave the way for other Republicans to support a background check bill.

Coburn said Sunday that he opposed keeping records on "legitimate, law-abiding gun owners."

"All they have to do is create a record keeping and that will kill this bill," he said on "Fox News Sunday."

The bargainers are close to agreement on other parts of the background check compromise, including carving out exemptions for sales between close relatives and for people who have already been cleared to receive concealed carry permits. They are also working toward creating an appeals process for veterans initially denied guns because they have been treated for traumatic stress disorder.

Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., of the Senate Judiciary Committee is hoping his panel can begin writing gun control legislation this week, but that is considered likely to slip until the following week. His panel is expected to approve legislation on background checks and stiffer federal penalties against illegal gun trafficking.

It is unclear whether there will be enough votes to approve two other Obama priorities: bans on assault weapons and magazines carrying more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-24-Gun%20Control-Congress/id-87a46834b17e435185044038db6cf718

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EPA findings at toxic California Superfund site concern area residents

By Stephen Stock and David Paredes, NBCBayArea.com

Some residents who live around Moffett Federal Airfield near Mountain View, Calif., say they are scared. Others say they?re not worried at all.

Depending on whom you talk to, the Environmental Protection Agency?s findings of higher than expected levels of TCE in the air and in the groundwater near the Mountain View property is either a cause for big concern or no big deal.

But one thing is certain. Everyone is talking about the new test results from the EPA showing a presence of toxic chemicals in the air and in the groundwater in and around the Middlefield, Ellis, Whisman (or M-E-W) Superfund site.

According to the EPA, the underground Superfund site include a wide variety of toxic chemicals including PCE and vinyl chloride, chemicals left over from the budding semi-conductor industry that got its start in the buildings along Middlefield and Whisman Roads and Ellis Street.

The chemical of most concern and most quantity in the toxic underground plume is a chemical called trichloroethylene, known as TCE.?It's a cleaning solvent once commonly used by the military and the budding semi-conducting industry 30 years ago.

The EPA says that TCE is a toxic solvent that causes cancer in people and heart deformities in unborn babies. According to EPA experts the toxic plume has been lurking underground for decades ever since nascent semi-conductor companies apparently dumped or allowed TCE and other chemicals to leak into the ground.

According to EPA officials the United States military also used TCE to clean airplanes and vehicles during that same time period.

The plume extends from under the runway at Moffett Field a mile and a half south and west under Highway 101 and past Middlefield Road. To the north it goes to Whisman Road and south to just past Ellis Street.

The plume of mostly TCE is believed by EPA investigators to be about a half-mile wide at its widest point.

After NBC Bay Area?s Investigative Unit began asking questions in April 2012 about possible health effects of the TCE plumes, the Cancer Prevention Institute of California (CPIC) opened its own probe.

After exhaustive research and analysis of three decades worth of health data, California?s state cancer registry announced that it found a higher than expected number of people living in neighborhood surrounding the M-E-W Superfund site who had contracted a group of cancers the registry?s scientists call non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The higher than expected incidence of these cancers occurred during the years 1996 to 2005.

NBC Bay Area

Now the EPA admits that until recently it had somehow missed some ?hot spots? of higher than acceptable levels of TCE in groundwater and in the air in several homes and more than 20 commercial buildings in the area. Two of the hotspots were found by EPA investigators along Evandale Avenue outside the original plume area.

That concerns some residents who live on that road. Residents like Theresa Larrieu, who has lived in a home along Evandale with her family for a quarter century. Larrieu said that the family always knew the M-E-W Superfund was nearby but figured it didn?t directly affect them since it wasn?t right next door. The Superfund site was far enough away, Larrieu thought, to be present but not an impact on her family?s health or life. Now, with these new EPA test results, the TCE plumes appears to actually be right next door and it may even be under Larrieu?s home. The EPA has conducted air, water and soil tests in and around the home but the results have not come back as of this writing.

Larrieu says she's worried and is holding her breath waiting on the results of those air and water sample tests the EPA took from her home. ?Scared. Nervous. Worried. Very worried,? Larrieu said when asked to describe her emotions. ?(There?s) way more suspense than I need in my life.?

?Your first thought is your health, is this affecting us is this affecting other neighbors that I know had health issues,? said Larrieu.

The EPA shares Larrieu?s concerns and M-E-W Superfund Site manager Alana Lee emphasizes they are working hard to address and clean up the mess. ?We cleaned up over 5 1/4 billion gallons of contaminated water and over 110,000 pounds of toxic contaminant,? said Lee.

But Lee also said that the EPA also missed these hot spots of TCE both in groundwater and in the air inside some buildings along Evandale Avenue including two homes outside the original plume area.

?The concentration (found there) is very high,? said Lee, ?A very high concentration.?

How high?

According to documents from test results, the highest TCE levels that the EPA measured in ground water in the area reached 130,000 parts per billion. The EPA considers anything over 5 parts per billion unsafe.

In the commercial buildings nearby, including two now occupied by Google, EPA tests found TCE in the air at levels 26 times higher than the level considered by the EPA to be acceptable and safe.

?Once we found these concentrations, which were a surprise, we took immediate action,? said Lee.

EPA

Bruce Panchal?s home is one of the two houses located on Evandale where the EPA found high levels of TCE. The companies responsible for the toxic chemical cleanup installed a series of four pipes in and around his home to ventilate the toxic TCE fumes leeching from the ground away from the house?s interior to the outside.

Even so Panchal said he?s not worried. ?They found a high concentration and with the system it pumps out all the fumes so it safe,? said Panchal.

Panchal and his family have lived in his home along Evandale for 45 years. He said he worked for the budding semi-conductor businesses that got their start in his neighborhood. He even said he handled the chemicals now in question and dumped them in the ground back then.

Despite the new contraptions now pumping air away from the inside of his house, he says he isn?t worried about his or his family?s health. ?I?m living proof that they have an issue with the fumes but it is not death defying or a detriment to your health,? said Panchal.

EPA officials said they also found high levels of TCE in more than twenty different commercial buildings between Whisman Road and Ellis Street. Included among those buildings are two new office complexes for Google employees where, the EPA says, renovations and construction allowed higher than expected levels of TCE to leech from the ground through the buildings? concrete slabs and into the air inside.

It is in some of these buildings where EPA investigators found levels of TCE vapors in the interior air that were as much as 26 times higher than acceptable safe levels with air conditioning systems off.

The EPA says it has systems in place in and around those buildings to keep vapors outside.

Google tells us they take this matter seriously and they?ve already taken measures to ensure that the buildings and the work area is safe.

Theresa Larrieu worries that it may be too late to keep her family from feeling the health effects of this toxic plume. She wonders how long they may have been exposed to these vapors and chemicals that went undetected until recently.

?It is scary,? said Larrieu. ?I?m very scared. I have children. I have grandchildren.?

Larrieu also remains concerned that not even the EPA can say how long the fumes have been leeching into the neighborhood or how long she and her family have unknowingly been exposed.

When we asked the EPA if they knew exactly how long have these newly discovered TCE hot spots had been there the EPA?s Superfund Site manager Alana Lee said, ?We don?t know.?

When we asked whether the toxic chemicals migrate underground or traveled down Evandale Avenue or whether those chemicals had been lurking there underground along with the rest of the toxic plume for decades, Lee had the same answer. ?We don?t know.?

The EPA said it will take decades more to clean up this toxic mess.

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/23/17068747-epa-findings-at-toxic-california-superfund-site-concern-area-residents?lite

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China: Remarks from Abe 'mislead the world'

Japanese leader's China-bashing aims to 'seek support from US'

Beijing on Friday criticized hostile comments regarding China made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Washington. Abe, who was due to hold talks with US President Barack Obama that were expected to focus on a closer alliance, told the Washington Post that China has a "deeply ingrained" need to spar with Japan and other Asian neighbors over territory. The remarks, published on Thursday, provoked a strong protest from Beijing. Abe is keen to attract more attention from Washington by criticizing Beijing, observers said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a news conference later on Friday that Japan intends to play up the "China threat", mislead world opinion, purposely create regional tensions and has ulterior motives. Lu Yaodong, director of the department of Japanese diplomacy of the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said Tokyo has been "shifting blame to China" and has alleged China was the troublemaker for regional security issues. Abe's remarks came in an attempt to attract more attention from Washington, but "in fact it was Japan who played a role in stirring up the situation in Northeast Asia", Lu said. Beijing urged Japan to take a correct view of China and its development and pursue a "positive policy" with China, according to Hong. Abe has repeatedly emphasized that the relationship with China remains one of the most important for Japan, and that Tokyo will push forward strategic and mutually beneficial relations through an overall perspective, Suga said. China-Japan ties were deadlocked after the Japanese government in September illegally "purchased" part of the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea. Beijing has since beefed up regular patrols in the waters off the islands. Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation and an influential industry figure, started a three-day visit to China on Friday, seeking a breakthrough for strained China-Japan ties, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported. Jiang Xinfeng, an expert on Japanese studies at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, said Japan has been seeking dual policies toward China, and in light of its friendly posture Japan has persistently escalated confrontations against China regarding the Diaoyu Islands. "Japan has ramped up reconnaissance of the relevant waters and airspace, and has scrambled F-15 fighter jets to follow the China Marine Surveillance aircraft," Jiang said. Tension further flared after Japan spread accusations on Feb 5 that Chinese warships targeted Japanese vessels using fire-control radar. The Chinese Defense Ministry then refuted the accusation and said the media hype was meant to mislead international public opinion. China carries out normal maritime activities in accordance with domestic and international laws, and "freedom and security of navigation in the East China Sea and South China Sea have never been affected", Hong Lei said on Friday. Jiang, at the PLA Academy of Military Science, said a further deterioration, and even a major breakdown in relations, is not a good thing for Japan and is also not within the expectations of the US. During his meeting with Obama, Abe may stress the importance of boosting US-Japan cooperation to contain China's "provocations" regarding the Diaoyu Islands, Japan's Fuji Television reported. At a news briefing on Thursday, White House Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the upcoming meeting underscored the importance of the US-Japan alliance as "the foundation of US strategy in Asia". Liu Jiangyong, an expert on Japanese studies at Tsinghua University, said Washington should not let Tokyo hijack the US over the Diaoyu Islands. "It is impossible (for Japan) to establish a strategic order in the Asia-Pacific region that is led by Japan," Liu said. Washington has refused to take a position on the territorial row, though it said the islands fall within the scope of a 1960 US-Japan mutual security treaty.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/PukhtunkhwaTimes/~3/vefP515UhZk/china-remarks-from-abe-mislead-world.html

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Iterations: Inception, Courtesy of Public Relations

"FOR every reporter employed in America, around six people work in public relations: a few too many, some might think." So began The Economist's obituary for Daniel Edelman in January 2013, a sharp eulogy commemorating the life of a public relations giant. For decades, Edelman, in addition to founding and running the firm that bears his name today, successfully convinced legions of companies and brands to work with him to win the "air game" of public relations.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/4tS5B-6vg0M/

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Zendesk hack hits Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr

Customer support tool Zendesk announced in a blog post Friday that it had been hacked earlier this week. The hack affected users of three services that use Zendesk: Pinterest, Tumblr and Twitter.

"We believe that the hacker downloaded email addresses of users who contacted those three customers for support, as well as support email subject lines," Zendesk said in the post. It did not name the three customers publicly, but subsequent e-mails from Pinterest, Tumblr and Twitter to their customers confirmed the breach.

"We recently learned that the vendor we use to answer support requests and other emails (Zendesk) experienced a security breach," said Pinterest in an email. The pinboard-style photosharing social network site said it was only sending the e-mail to people who had used Zendesk and were possibly compromised.

It urged users to take measures to keep their accounts secure by not sharing their passwords and using strong passwords.

Tumblr told its customers to review any e-mail conversations they had with Zendesk to make sure there was no account information that could be used in phishing attacks.

Source: http://www.wyff4.com/news/money/technology/Zendesk-hack-hits-Pinterest-Twitter-Tumblr/-/9323972/19047054/-/13pin8g/-/index.html?absolute=true

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12K troops may stay in Afghanistan

February 23, 2013 at 1:00 am

• By Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor
• Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, left, talked with Afghanistan Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi and members of his delegation this week at NATO headquarters in Belgium about the military alliance in Afghanistan. (Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)

More From Nation-World

• 1:00 am

  12K troops may stay in Afghanistan

  

  Washington ? The U.S. and its NATO allies revealed Friday they may keep as many as 12,000 troops in Afghanistan after the combat mission ends next year, largely American forces tasked with hunting down remnants of ?

Source: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130223/NATION/302230350/1020/rss09

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Rape and killing of 3 young sisters unravels in India

MAHASTRA PROVIDENCE, INDIA:? Local police are up in arms after the Mahastra village became outraged following the deaths and rape(s) of three extremely young girls this week. The girls, unidentified, but aged 7,9, and 11 were found in a well deep in the heart of the remote village in which they lived.

Several police officers in the case have already been placed on leave, and replaced? by others.

We?ve got some strong, solid indications and we?re working very hard,? says the female superintendent ? who preferred to remain anonymous. The government has already offered 1million rupees to the mother of the girls, who immediately slammed the move calling it ?Irresponsible? ?No amount of money will bring my girls back?

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About Derick Goff

Lover of all things food, Trey Songz, Christiano Renaldo, and purple. I haven't yet discovered my calling in life, until then, I can be found here in Daily News. I am 18 years old. Follow me on Twitter @Bendelll. Contact me by phone for business: (251)-330-8985. We're having a 'Typing Service' special, $50 for ALL material.

Source: http://bazaardaily.com/2013/02/22/rape-and-killing-of-3-young-sisters-unravels-in-india/

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Yanks' Granderson, Gardner may switch?OF spots

By MARK DIDTLER

Associated Press

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:22 p.m. ET Feb. 21, 2013

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Yankees outfielders Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner could be switching positions.

Granderson worked out in left field Thursday and the speedy Gardner switched to center.

"I think it has a chance to help us a little bit, but I'm not really sure," manager Joe Girardi said. "That's why I've said from the beginning that I'm going to toy with it. I'm not saying today that this is what it's going to be opening day."

Girardi plans to play the pair together in upcoming spring training games.

"See if we like it," Girardi said. "If we do, we'll stay with it. If we don't, we won't."

Granderson also will get some playing time in center.

"I'd loved to play center. That's what I've been playing. At the same time, I want to play in general," Granderson said. "No matter where that happens to be, that's where I want to be at. You never know unless you try things out. We don't know what the best way is going to be."

Gardner still thinks of himself as center fielder, a spot where he has previous experience.

"For the last few years I've been playing left, and that's fine with me," he said. "If we went out there and played right now, I'd go to center, I'd go to left, it doesn't really matter to me."

Ichiro Suzuki homered off countryman Hiroki Kuroda during batting practice and tipped his helmet toward the fans after an ovation.

Derek Jeter, coming back from ankle surgery, continued taking part in defensive drills and faced right-hander Jim Miller in BP. He took six pitches, hit a liner to right and fouled a ball in the batting cage.

Jeter is jogging on and off the field but hasn't started a full outdoor running program.

Second baseman Robinson Cano and first baseman Mark Teixeira are among the position players scheduled to play in Saturday's game against Atlanta at Kissimmee. David Phelps will the starting pitcher.

Notes: Cano will find himself in an unfamiliar spot March 6 when he plays against the Yankees for the first time as a member of the Dominican Republic national team. "It's going to be weird. I think that it's going to be fun," he said. "You get to see a different view of the game." ... Girardi said RHP Phil Hughes (injured upper back) felt better, which was a "good sign for me." The Yankees are hopeful that the right-hander will be able to resume throwing in about a week.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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The rise and fall of A-Rod

The Big Read by Joe Posnanski: How did the most extraordinary young player of his generation, a handsome young man who three times (three times!) was named one of People Magazine?s Most Beautiful People, a phenom who was the best shortstop in the game more or less the day he showed up ? how did that guy become this A-Rod?

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50894897/ns/sports-baseball/

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Wall Street drops on growth concerns, fear index jumps

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell for a second day on Thursday and gauge of investor concern hit its highest in two months after reports cast doubt over the health of the U.S. and euro-zone economies.

The second day of sharp declines in equity markets put the S&P 500 on course for its worst two-day loss since November.

The CBOE Volatility Index or VIX, a measure of investor fear, jumped 6.7 percent to 15.67.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week while the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia said its index of business conditions in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region fell in February to minus 12.5, the lowest in eight months.

In Europe, business activity indexes dealt a blow to hopes that the euro zone might emerge from recession soon, showing the downturn across the region's businesses unexpectedly grew worse this month.

"The PMI numbers out of Europe were really a blow to the market," said Jack De Gan, chief investment officer at Harbor Advisory in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

"The market was expecting signs that recovery is still there, but the numbers just highlighted that the euro-zone problem is still persistent."

The abrupt reversal in markets, which started on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's January meeting suggested stimulus measures may end earlier than thought, looks set to halt a seven-week winning streak for stocks that had lifted indexes close to all-time highs.

The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 53.87 points, or 0.39 percent, to 13,873.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 10.30 points, or 0.68 percent, to 1,501.65. The Nasdaq Composite Index lost 35.08 points, or 1.11 percent, to 3,129.33.

The two-day decline marked the U.S. stock market's first sustained pullback this year. The Standard & Poor's 500 has fallen 2 percent over the period, but is still up 5.2 percent so far this year.

"The upside momentum in markets appears to be coming to an end as we consolidate recent gains," said Adam Sarhan, chief executive at Sarhan Capital in New York. "If the S&P breaks under its 50-day moving average, something more serious could be in store."

The S&P 500 would need to fall 1.9 percent to reach that level of 1,473.62.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc shares gained 2.1 percent to $70.66 and helped curb the Dow's decline after the world's largest retailer reported earnings that beat expectations, though early February sales were sluggish.

Wall Street will soon face another test with the upcoming debate in Washington over the automatic across-the-board spending cuts put in place as part of a larger congressional budget fight. Those cuts, set to kick in on March 1 unless lawmakers agree on an alternative, are expected to depress economic growth.

Semiconductor stocks ranked among the weakest of the day, pressuring the Nasdaq as the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index <.sox> fell 2.3 percent. Intel Corp fell 2.9 percent to $20.13 while Advanced Micro Devices lost 6.7 percent to $2.53 as the S&P 500's biggest percentage decliner.

The semiconductor sector has performed well so far in 2013, rising 8.4 percent.

In other company news, shares of supermarket operator Safeway Inc jumped 12.3 percent to $22 after the company reported earnings that beat expectations.

In contrast, shares of VeriFone Systems Inc tumbled nearly 40 percent to $19.28 after the credit-card swipe machine maker forecast first- and second-quarter profits well below expectations.

Of the 427 companies in the S&P 500 that have reported results so far, 69.3 percent have exceeded analysts' expectations, compared with a 62 percent average since 1994 and 65 percent over the past four quarters, according to Thomson Reuters data through Thursday morning.

Fourth-quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are estimated to have risen 5.9 percent, according to the data, above a 1.9 percent forecast at the start of the earnings season.

Berry Petroleum Co jumped 17.2 percent to $45.23 after oil and gas producer Linn Energy LLC said it would buy the company in an all-stock deal valued at $4.3 billion, including debt. Linn Energy shares advanced 1.9 percent to $37.36.

(Editing by Jan Paschal)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/wall-st-opens-lower-jobless-data-143541850--finance.html

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Source: http://www.etsy.com/listing/123493047/wedding-ring-set-including-a-blue

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Ford to add 450 jobs at US engine plant

CHICAGO: Ford announced plans Thursday to add 450 jobs and invest nearly $200 million at an Ohio engine plant as it expects to more than double the sale of its fuel efficient 'EcoBoost' engines.

The 2.0 liter engines had previously been produced at Ford's plant in Valencia, Spain for use in the North American market.

"Overall employment at the Valencia plant will not be impacted," Ford said in a statement.

"The Valencia Engine Plant will transfer some employees to Valencia Assembly Plant to support increased production for C-MAX, Kuga, Transit Connect and Tourneo Connect."

The Valencia plant will also continue to produce parts used for the US-built engine and will remain the only site at which the 2.0 liter engines are built for European vehicles.

The second largest US automaker is now more than halfway to its goal of creating 12,000 hourly jobs in the United States by 2015.

The expansion is aimed at supporting new products and investments as it recovers from a deep economic downturn and painful restructuring.

It has also been expanding its salaried workforce and announced plans last month to hire 2,200 people this year to fill positions in product development, manufacturing and information technology.

The Cleveland Engine Plant currently builds the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine and 3.7-liter V6 and will begin production of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine in late 2014.

The engines deliver up to 20 percent better fuel economy by using turbocharging, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing.

Ford said it plans to expand global EcoBoost production to 1.6 million engines this year, nearly 100,000 above its previous target.

Source: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/ford-to-add-450-jobs-at-us-engine-plant/articleshow/18615160.cms

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THE LONGEST YARD:Florida School's Stadium Named for Prison Firm

Florida Atlantic University is christening its football field GEO Group Stadium, but fans on Twitter have a catchier moniker: 'Owlcatraz'

The Boca Raton school, home of the Owls, sold naming rights to its 29,000-seat stadium to a private prison corporation, a change that has brought the school criticism, controversy and $6 million - the biggest gift ever made to the school's athletic department. GEO Group, a billion-dollar company which operates an immigration center in nearby Pompano Beach, as well as prisons elsewhere in the U.S., South Africa and the United Kingdom, will pay for the honor in $500,000 yearly installments over the next 12 years, University Press, the school?s paper, reported.

"We are incredibly grateful for this wonderful gift," Mary Jane Saunders, FAU's president said. "It is so exciting to now have a name for our beautiful stadium, and I couldn't think of a better way to do that than by way of philanthropy."

GEO's boss, and the school's most deep-pocketed booster, George Zoley, is an alum and a former chairman of the school's Board of Trustees.

"We couldn?t be more local,? Zoley told the student paper. "This is the finest example of community outreach our company has activated in its history."

Fans know professional and college sports teams rename their fields and arena's for sponsors who pay for the privilege all the time. The Central Florida Knights kick off at Bright House Networks Stadium, named after a cable provider, and the NFL's Miami Dolphins play in Sun Life Stadium, named for the financial services company. But some critics question why a school for higher education would want to be associated with a private prison company.?

"How many FAU football fans are going to see GEO Group Stadium and think, 'Oh, next time I need to find someone to run my immigrant detention center, I'll definitely give them a call!'" quipped Sun-Sentinel columnist Michael Mayo.

GEO is also reportedly facing a multimillion-dollar lawsuit about its treatment of prisoners. A phone call from FoxNews.com inquiring about the lawsuit to the company was not immediately returned.

Dream Activist, which calls itself an "undocumented student action and resource network," started an online petition asking the school to reconsider the move.

"FAU should not be associating itself with a prison," the group said on its website, DreamActivist.org.

FAU is building a name for itself on the gridiron, despite being in a state with perennial powerhouses like Florida State, Florida and Miami. Despite struggling to a 3-9 record in the Sun Belt Conference this past season, Owls fans did have the pleasure of seeing former star Alfred Morris star as a rookie for the Washington Redskins after being selected in the sixth round of the 2012 draft.

FAU's Athletic Director Pat Chun told the University Press that securing a naming partner was his chief goal this year. At least one pundit thinks the new name - and sponsor - suits the Owls.?

"For years, football players ?and jail have carried bad connotations," wrote Mayo's colleague at the Sun-Sentinel, Dave Hyde. "Now FAU is being paid millions to change that. Good for them. Who says crime doesn't pay? And who says sports doesn't have a sense of humor?"

Source: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/02/20/fau-teams-up-with-private-prison-company-in-stadium-renaming/

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