SALEM, OR — In an effort to help Oregon cope with its deepening budget crisis, Governor Ted Kulongoski has proposed that state workers lose 24 days of pay over the next two years, according to The Oregonian.
Included in the unprecedented proposal are plans for workers to get a mixture of unpaid holidays and days off without pay and eliminating the salary increases that many state workers get annually, the story stated.
Both the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the two unions representing the majority of state workers, had expressed a willingness to accept eight furlough days, the number Governor Kulongoski proposed in December, the story noted.
The furloughs would save the state's general fund $105 million over the next two years while eliminating cost-of-living increases would save an additional $56 million, the story added.
Friday, February 27, 2009
E. coli outbreak hits day care center
LEMONT, IL — At least 21 children, 18 of whom are under the age of five, and one adult at KinderCare Learning Center have contracted E. coli, according to the Southtown Star.
KinderCare has increased its sanitization efforts, including enhanced cleaning of surfaces, bringing in additional staff to monitor hand washing and hiring a certified nurse, the story stated.
According to the story, the day care center has been allowed to remain open so the children have a place to go and so they do not carry the bacteria to other centers.
The Cook County Health Department has mandated all children and adults at the KinderCare Learning Center be tested for the bacteria that caused the outbreak thought to be linked to a lack of proper hand washing, the story noted.
Beth Daniels, a spokeswoman for the day care, said: "KinderCare working with parents to reimburse them for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages due to staying home with their children. We've been doing everything possible to prevent the further spread of this."
Three children have been hospitalized, treated and released as a result of the outbreak, the story added.
KinderCare has increased its sanitization efforts, including enhanced cleaning of surfaces, bringing in additional staff to monitor hand washing and hiring a certified nurse, the story stated.
According to the story, the day care center has been allowed to remain open so the children have a place to go and so they do not carry the bacteria to other centers.
The Cook County Health Department has mandated all children and adults at the KinderCare Learning Center be tested for the bacteria that caused the outbreak thought to be linked to a lack of proper hand washing, the story noted.
Beth Daniels, a spokeswoman for the day care, said: "KinderCare working with parents to reimburse them for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages due to staying home with their children. We've been doing everything possible to prevent the further spread of this."
Three children have been hospitalized, treated and released as a result of the outbreak, the story added.
$1.2 million in OSHA fines for chemical company
ST. LOUIS, MO — G.S. Robins & Co. has been cited by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for alleged willful, repeat and serious violations of federal workplace safety standards for numerous violations relating to the handling of hazardous chemicals, according to an article from the PRNewswire.
OSHA began the investigation after learning that eight employees had been admitted to several local hospitals after being contaminated with an unknown powder that turned out to be para-nitroaniline (PNA), a poison that causes methemoglobinemia, resulting in the reduction of the blood's ability to transport oxygen, the story stated.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Donald G. Shalhoub said: "There are means available to safely handle deadly chemicals such as this, and those means were ignored. Those who ignore safe practices and OSHA regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their employees and their families, and this cannot be tolerated."
As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued 21 willful citations relating to eight instances of failing to provide employees with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for transferring PNA; four instances of failing to provide training on the use of PPE and on working with hazardous chemicals; three instances of failing to provide PPE training and training on specific PNA-transfer procedures; and five instances of failing to fit-test employees using respirators, the story noted.
According to the story, OSHA also issued a repeat citation for failing to provide an eyewash/shower in corrosive chemicals areas, and an additional 16 serious citations for hazards associated with the transfer of PNA and other workplace practices.
G.S. Robins & Co. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), the story added.
OSHA began the investigation after learning that eight employees had been admitted to several local hospitals after being contaminated with an unknown powder that turned out to be para-nitroaniline (PNA), a poison that causes methemoglobinemia, resulting in the reduction of the blood's ability to transport oxygen, the story stated.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Donald G. Shalhoub said: "There are means available to safely handle deadly chemicals such as this, and those means were ignored. Those who ignore safe practices and OSHA regulations are inviting tragedy into the lives of their employees and their families, and this cannot be tolerated."
As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued 21 willful citations relating to eight instances of failing to provide employees with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) for transferring PNA; four instances of failing to provide training on the use of PPE and on working with hazardous chemicals; three instances of failing to provide PPE training and training on specific PNA-transfer procedures; and five instances of failing to fit-test employees using respirators, the story noted.
According to the story, OSHA also issued a repeat citation for failing to provide an eyewash/shower in corrosive chemicals areas, and an additional 16 serious citations for hazards associated with the transfer of PNA and other workplace practices.
G.S. Robins & Co. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA's area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC), the story added.
Custodian gets jail time for stealing credit cards
SHERWOOD, OR — A former contract custodian at Sherwood City Hall was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree burglary and identity theft, according to The Oregonian.
Christine Foos was charged for stealing and using credit cards belonging to Sherwood Planning Manager Julia Hajduk and Associate Planner Michelle Miller in October 2007, the story stated.
Foos, who used the cards to purchase a variety of items worth hundreds of dollars at area stores, was photographed by security cameras leaving City Hall after the cards were stolen, and again at a Safeway store in Portland where she tried to use the credit cards to buy gift cards, the story noted.
Foos fled to San Diego and was arrested by a fugitive task force on warrants alleging burglary and probation violations, the story added.
According to court records, Christine Foos was on probation for robbery at the time the infractions occurred.
Christine Foos was charged for stealing and using credit cards belonging to Sherwood Planning Manager Julia Hajduk and Associate Planner Michelle Miller in October 2007, the story stated.
Foos, who used the cards to purchase a variety of items worth hundreds of dollars at area stores, was photographed by security cameras leaving City Hall after the cards were stolen, and again at a Safeway store in Portland where she tried to use the credit cards to buy gift cards, the story noted.
Foos fled to San Diego and was arrested by a fugitive task force on warrants alleging burglary and probation violations, the story added.
According to court records, Christine Foos was on probation for robbery at the time the infractions occurred.
Ex-Mt. Vernon school official gets prison term in bribe case
WHITE PLAINS, NY — The former head of purchasing for Mount Vernon City School District was sentenced to upwards of seven years in prison for bribing companies in exchange for district contracts, according to The Journal News.
Arthur Rose was convicted of accepting a $3,500 bribe in 2005 to set up a $1.1 million no-bid contract with Ricoh Americas Corp. for 73 digital copiers, products and services, and for taking a $10,000 bribe in 2006 from Tri-State Supply Co. after promising its owner he would provide him business with the district, the story stated.
According to prosecutors, the alleged bribes were considered "donations" to Rose's spiritual group, Upon This Rock Ministries, and Rose sent invoices to the companies for ministry-sponsored events that were never held, including a $1,000-a-plate "gala."
Not accepting the argument from Rose's attorney that he was tricked and manipulated by representatives of big businesses, a jury convicted Rose of two felony counts of third-degree bribe receiving, three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and one misdemeanor count of receiving unlawful gratuities, the story noted.
District Attorney Janet DiFiore said: "While a state prison sentence should serve to hold Mr. Rose accountable for his direct actions, his contribution to the continuing erosion of the public's confidence in government, in addition to the actual monetary loss, will take far longer to reconcile."
Rose, who has a prior grand larceny conviction in Manhattan from 2004, is appealing the charges against him, the story added.
Arthur Rose was convicted of accepting a $3,500 bribe in 2005 to set up a $1.1 million no-bid contract with Ricoh Americas Corp. for 73 digital copiers, products and services, and for taking a $10,000 bribe in 2006 from Tri-State Supply Co. after promising its owner he would provide him business with the district, the story stated.
According to prosecutors, the alleged bribes were considered "donations" to Rose's spiritual group, Upon This Rock Ministries, and Rose sent invoices to the companies for ministry-sponsored events that were never held, including a $1,000-a-plate "gala."
Not accepting the argument from Rose's attorney that he was tricked and manipulated by representatives of big businesses, a jury convicted Rose of two felony counts of third-degree bribe receiving, three misdemeanor counts of official misconduct and one misdemeanor count of receiving unlawful gratuities, the story noted.
District Attorney Janet DiFiore said: "While a state prison sentence should serve to hold Mr. Rose accountable for his direct actions, his contribution to the continuing erosion of the public's confidence in government, in addition to the actual monetary loss, will take far longer to reconcile."
Rose, who has a prior grand larceny conviction in Manhattan from 2004, is appealing the charges against him, the story added.
Costly meth lab cleanups on the rise
CHATTANOOGA, TN — The increase in the number of methamphetamine drug labs being discovered in hotels and motels is adding to the cleaning duties of housekeeping crews and remediators alike, according to an Associated Press story hosted by Google.com.
Hotels and motels are an attractive alternative for drug makers seeking to avoid a police raid on their own homes. However, the dangerous contaminants can lurk on countertops, carpets and bathtubs, and chemical odors that might provide a warning to the toxic conditions that exist can be effectively masked by tobacco smoke and other scents, the story stated.
Joe Mazzuca, operations manager at Meth Lab Cleanup Co., said: "I have tested pricey hotel rooms in Idaho and Utah and discovered contaminants where no one previously suspected a meth lab had been. Seventy percent of the work Meth Lab Cleanup Co. does are properties that were never busted."
Meth lab cleanups cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on how long the lab was in use, the story noted.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration records show that states reported finding evidence of drug-making in 1,789 motel and hotel rooms in the past five years, the story added.
According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, methamphetamine labs can be set up in less than four hours inside a hotel or motel room.
Hotels and motels are an attractive alternative for drug makers seeking to avoid a police raid on their own homes. However, the dangerous contaminants can lurk on countertops, carpets and bathtubs, and chemical odors that might provide a warning to the toxic conditions that exist can be effectively masked by tobacco smoke and other scents, the story stated.
Joe Mazzuca, operations manager at Meth Lab Cleanup Co., said: "I have tested pricey hotel rooms in Idaho and Utah and discovered contaminants where no one previously suspected a meth lab had been. Seventy percent of the work Meth Lab Cleanup Co. does are properties that were never busted."
Meth lab cleanups cost anywhere from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on how long the lab was in use, the story noted.
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration records show that states reported finding evidence of drug-making in 1,789 motel and hotel rooms in the past five years, the story added.
According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association, methamphetamine labs can be set up in less than four hours inside a hotel or motel room.
LEED-certified Border Patrol station
EL PASO, TX — The new station in Northeast El Paso is the first U.S. Border Patrol station to be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified, according to the El Paso Times.
About 80 percent of all construction materials are certified recyclable and the station will be 50 percent more energy efficient than a building using standard construction methods, the story stated.
Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge Salvador Zamora said: "This is not only a building, this is a second home for many of us; we are happy that we're getting a new home in a beautiful location."
Additional energy saving elements to the building are: Skylights in certain station areas and sensor lights in every room, solar panels to generate roughly 12 percent of yearly energy usage and materials purchased no farther than 300 miles from the construction site, the story noted.
The land was provided free of charge to the agency by the U.S. Department of Defense, and the $15.6 million construction contract for the 54,000 square-foot building was awarded to Banes General Contractors, the story added.
According to the story, the building, which will house 350 agents on 45 acres, is about two to three months away from completion.
About 80 percent of all construction materials are certified recyclable and the station will be 50 percent more energy efficient than a building using standard construction methods, the story stated.
Assistant Patrol Agent in Charge Salvador Zamora said: "This is not only a building, this is a second home for many of us; we are happy that we're getting a new home in a beautiful location."
Additional energy saving elements to the building are: Skylights in certain station areas and sensor lights in every room, solar panels to generate roughly 12 percent of yearly energy usage and materials purchased no farther than 300 miles from the construction site, the story noted.
The land was provided free of charge to the agency by the U.S. Department of Defense, and the $15.6 million construction contract for the 54,000 square-foot building was awarded to Banes General Contractors, the story added.
According to the story, the building, which will house 350 agents on 45 acres, is about two to three months away from completion.
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