Allstate Insurance data center receives LEED-Gold certification

ROCHELLE, IL — The new Allstate Insurance data center recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Gold level from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it one of a handful of data centers in the nation to achieve the designation, according to a press release.

Some sustainable aspects of the data center include: A heat-reflecting white roof; use of natural lighting; use of recycled materials for making concrete; and native landscaping that requires minimal maintenance, the release stated.

Buildings that are LEED-certified use less water and energy and help taxpayers, businesses and families save money while contributing to a more healthy environment for workers, residents and the community, the release noted.

According to the release, the certification was verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI).

The LEED-Gold-certified data center also uses technology that mixes heat generated from computers, mechanical equipment and outside air to keep equipment rooms cool and office areas consistently comfortable, the release added.

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Thousands may have been exposed to Legionnaires' disease

CUDAHY, WI — Thousands of people may have been exposed to Legionnaires' disease at Aurora St. Luke's South Shore hospital last month, according to TMJ4-TV.

According to the story, eight people have been officially diagnosed with the disease, which presents symptoms similar to pneumonia, and hospital officials have been making phone calls searching for others who may have been exposed.

Carol Wantuch, Cudahy's health officer, said: "I'm sure we're going to be getting more cases."

Two of the eight people diagnosed are still hospitalized with the disease that, although easily treatable, can be deadly if not caught early, the story stated.

Wantuch feels that the hospital is now safe after the facility was thoroughly cleaned by workers and that officials are close to determining the source of the disease, the story stated.

Symptoms include a high fever, cough and difficulty breathing, the story added.

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Maintenance chief used school equipment for private business

MONROE, LA — Energy and Maintenance Manager Kirk Clark has been suspended for 10 days and ordered to repay the Monroe City Schools district $2,000 for allegedly using school equipment for his private janitorial business, according to the Associate Press.

According to the story, Clark used two buffers, a carpet cleaner and wet vacuum to perform services for area businesses through his company, Kz Clark Enterprises.

Clark has worked with the school district for 29 years and receives an annual salary of about $50,000, the story stated.

According to the story, the Monroe Federation of Teachers has complained that any other employee would have been fired for the same transgressions, and that they first asked the district to investigate Clark's actions over two years ago.

Clark will not receive pay during his 10-day suspension, the story added.

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Alarming rise in cruise ship norovirus outbreaks despite cleaning

CHARLOTTE, SC — Only three months into 2010, there have already been eight cruise ship norovirus outbreaks — a startling number compared to the total 15 outbreaks last year, and one that cruise companies fear may set a trend for the months to come, according to USA Today.

According to the story, experts can’t confirm whether the outbreaks — four of which happened in one week — are coincidence or are indicative of something worse, such as the possibility that the virus may have changed to become more easily-spread or resistant to cleaning.

Dr. Claire Panosian, a clinical professor of infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles, said: "It could be a blip or it could be a trend. It's too early to say."

The outbreaks are occurring despite cruise ships taking extra precautions to clean and disinfect, some even delaying the boarding to allow for additional cleaning time between groups of passengers, the story stated.

Royal Caribbean spokesperson Cynthia Martinez said: "In these situations, there will be heightened cleaning procedures being carried out throughout the ship during the entire sailing."

Norovirus is particularly difficult to eradicate because it can linger on surfaces like doorknobs, countertops and buffet tables and can sometimes even survive being cleaned with a bleach solution, the story noted.

The virus also has an incubation period, the story added.

University instates changes to increase custodial supervision

MONTCLAIR, NJ — The facilities department at Montclair State University is instating a new cleaning strategy expected to begin during spring break, according to The Montclarion.

Cleaning at Montclair State University is currently done over three shifts a day with a separate cleaning staff for each shift, the story stated.

Vice President of University Facilities Greg Bressler said: "We think this rearrangement will make the cleaning better. We are trying to manage it to a number of four supervisors. This allows us better supervision. We think this will be an improvement to the level of service provided to the constituency."

According to the story, the new strategy, which will come with no additional costs, is to change from three shifts per day to two, a move that is hoped to provide better results.

With the change, the first cleaning shift will begin at 4 a.m. and the second shift at 1 p.m., the story noted.

A letter is to be circulated by the facilities department to the students about the change in the coming week, the story added.

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Officials: Next wave of H1N1 on its way

WASHINGTON DC— Though reports of the H1N1 influenza A (swine flu) virus have decreased steadily in recent weeks, health officials warn that another wave may be on the horizon just waiting to strike, according to the Gazette.

In America, roughly 80 million individuals have been infected with the H1N1 virus, resulting in approximately 360,000 hospitalizations and 16,000 deaths, the story stated.

According to the story, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the pandemic has not waned, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that a third wave may be making the rounds.

Marita Mike, health director at the University of Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, said: "It wouldn't be surprising to see another peak this year. When you look at flu outbreaks in the past, there were multiple peaks. The best time to get vaccinated is before everyone gets sick. We saw this flu start initially in the summer."

Continued education of the public, including promoting hand hygiene and thorough cleaning, is vital to control the virus' spread, the story noted.

Though many individuals and organizations have been proactive in preventing the virus, the WHO and the CDC warn against complacency and urge everyone to remain vigilant, the story added.

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School custodian steals student's medication

NORRISTOWN, PA — A school custodian was sentenced to two years' probation after admitting he stole a student's prescription medication from the school nurse's office, according to The Mercury.

According to the story, 28-year-old Jonathan Schilling was working as a custodian at Pennbrook Middle School in September of 2009 when he was caught on camera opening a locked cabinet in the nurse’s office and stealing and ingesting prescription medication.

The camera had been installed after an incident three days earlier where 96 tablets of Adderall, a stimulant drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), went missing, the story stated.

Schilling was also sentenced to 60 hours of community service, the story added.

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