Washington University introduces new effort to help students go green

ST. LOUIS — In Washington University's continued effort to remain green, the Office of Sustainability has developed a plan that it calls a "pledge for sustainability," according to Student Life. The pledge aims to deal with the issue of sustainability on a micro level, teaching the university community to take small steps toward becoming green, the article stated. The pledge is broken down into five categories: energy, food, water, transportation and waste, and offers 24 recommendations to students who aim to incorporate more sustainable habits into their daily lives, the article noted. "I think the point is to give people an opportunity to learn more about the small parts about leading a sustainable lifestyle," said Will Fischer, assistant coordinator for special projects and fellow in the Office of Sustainability. Click here to read the complete article.

Suspected illegal immigrant hired as custodian at E.A. Cox Middle School, TN

COLUMBIA, TN — A woman who reportedly worked as a custodian at E.A. Cox Middle School is behind bars suspected of being in the country illegally, according to WTVF-TV.

Olga Bueno-Romero, 25, was arrested late last week by the U.S. Marshal's Office, immigration and customs enforcement officers, and investigators from the Maury County Sheriff's Department, the article stated.

"We believe, by the information that we have, that she'd been here quite a long time," said Lt. Mike Diaz, with the sheriff's department. "Possibly since last year, or maybe longer than that."

Romero is wanted, on a felony warrant for violation of probation, in the state of Texas, the article noted.

According to the article, the federal government can either opt for immediate deportation, or it can send her back to Texas to face those charges.

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Sustainable campus planned in Pittsburgh, Chatham University

PITTSBURGH — Chatham University has unveiled a master plan that calls for developing a 388-acre site into what it says will be the nation's first fully sustainable campus, according to a press release.

The Eden Hall campus, donated to the university in 2008 by the Eden Hall Foundation, will be home to Chatham's School of Sustainability and the Environment, whose inaugural class began studies in the fall 2010 semester, the release noted.

"There is tremendous pent-up demand for sustainability education," says David Hassenzahl, founding dean of the School of Sustainability and the Environment (SSE).

"Over the next 10 years, SSE will offer bachelor's through doctoral degrees, beginning with master's programs, as well as professional certification in topics ranging from health care, energy and urban forestry to national security, aquaponics and education," Hassenzahl added.

The campus plan envisions four phases of development, which will result in the construction of climate-positive facilities — where on-site greenhouse gas emissions are actually less than zero — and environmentally sensitive landscape design, the release stated.

Florida gets first LEED-certified acute care building

LUTZ, FL — St. Joseph's Hospital-North, incorporated with evidence-based and eco-friendly design features, has achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certification, becoming the first acute care hospital in Florida to do so, according to the World Interior Design Network.

The $225 million facility has been designed based on environmentally sustainable philosophy featuring ample landscape of open space, providing habitat for wildlife and natural views for patients, the article noted.

The environmentally-friendly building is made of materials that support energy conservation and clean air with low chemical emissions and recycled content; it is designed and developed to meet key categories to achieve green building certification, the article stated.

According to the article, some of the energy saving strategies include: Individual controls for lighting and heating to promote productivity, comfort and well-being of building occupants; high-efficiency systems to lessen energy consumption; and usage of 12 percent less energy than a standard building.

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Maintenance man escaped Metrodome collapse on forklift

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN — It was one of the most-viewed videos of the weekend: Fox Sports' exclusive footage of the collapse of the Metrodome from inside, according to City Pages.

Producers suspected the Dome was going to give-way and wisely left their cameras running overnight, which is how they captured the 5 a.m. collapse, the article noted.

According to the article, one question remained unanswered — who or what was the shadowy creature on the far sideline who just barely escaped the deluge with his life?

Some suggested it looked like a dog, a horse or a ghost, while some jokingly suggested it was Brett Favre or Zygi Wilf running away from the hole with scissors, the article stated.

"It is one of our maintenance men who was emptying large buckets," said Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission Director Bill Lester.

The maintenance man, who wishes to remain anonymous, wasn't even supposed to be on-duty at the time of the collapse, but was helping out, the article added.

Most Americans consider showing up to work when sick

PARSIPPANY, NJ — It's going to take more than a cold or a flu to get between most Americans and their jobs this cold and flu season, according to a press release.

A national telephone survey conducted by HALLS^®, America's number one selling cough drop, found that most working Americans won't sacrifice a sick day this year for most cold and flu symptoms, including a cough, sore throat, body aches and sinus headache, the release noted.

Nearly half of Americans, 44 percent, would consider going to work with a fever, while about a third of Americans, 32 percent, said they would show up to work no matter how sick they get this season, the release stated.

According to the release, the results aren't all that surprising based on the country's current economic conditions: With an unemployment rate upwards of nine percent this October, according to the latest from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the survey revealed that one in five Americans, 19 percent, feel pressure by their boss or supervisor to head into work when they're sick.

"While HALLS doesn't condone anyone going to work when they're sick, it's clear that many Americans plan to defy the advice of most experts and try to fight through this cold and flu season at work," said Sebastian Genesio, marketing director at HALLS.

"Since we know that the economic climate has made an impact on the workplace, we conducted the survey to specifically see how Americans are affected by common cold and flu symptoms when it comes to work, and to identify any concerns they have about taking time off when they're sick," Genesio added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Housekeeper finds body parts

LOS ANGELES — What was a typical day for a housekeeper in a Los Angeles hotel turned into a real life nightmare, according to USA Today.

During a routine cleaning of a room at the Continental Hotel in Los Angeles, a housekeeper picked up a backpack left behind in a guest room and found body parts, the article stated.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the body of 49-year-old Herbert White was found on November 29 and was "cut up into five different parts — basically his limbs were removed," the article noted.

According to the article, a Pennsylvania couple has been charged with heinous crime and the Los Angeles district attorney issued a warrant for the couple's arrest, charging them with capital murder involving torture.

Additional body parts were found wrapped in blankets underneath the bed, and a knife was found in the hotel room, the article added.

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