In Heart Land

A bad credit loan is usually the best option when you have a bad credit rating and are in urgent need of cash. Usually, the interest rate charged for this type of loan is higher compared to that of conventional loans simply because unsecured loans carry higher risk factors. These loans do not usually require any form of collateral even if the risks of lending them are higher. However, to reduce chances of running into losses, borrowers usually increase the repayment timeframe.

Most lending firms analyze a borrowers credit profile and the need for the financial aid before coming up with the best bad credit loan option and the interest rates to charge. It is advisable to always compare the different unsecured loan offers to get one that is affordable and has a low interest rate. Today, competition among lending firms has greatly affected the interest rates charged and you can be sure of getting good rates if you research carefully.

There are two types of Loans For People With Bad Credit; unsecured and secured loans. Secured loans usually come at fixed rates. This means the borrower has to make fixed payments for the amount borrowed throughout the servicing period. On the other hand, unsecured loans usually come with adjustable interest rates that fluctuate depending with the federal prime rates. It is advisable to go for loans with fixed rates since you will have a more manageable payment plan.

Lending firms use different criteria to come up with the interest rates to charge different borrowers.

• To begin, most of them will look at the type of job you have. If you have a temporary job, you will be charged higher interest rates because your risk factor is higher compared to that of a borrower who has a permanent job. Having a temporary job simply implies that you have temporary source of income.
• Lending firms will also look at why you need the loan. For example, if you are borrowing the amount to invest, you will be increasing the chances of repaying the amount and this can lead you to be given a lower interest rate. The purpose for which you are applying for the loan will either affect the rates positively or negatively.
• The value of your assets will also affect the interest rates charged. Whereas you will not necessarily have to avail any form of collateral when borrowing, lenders will always want to know of the assets you have when you are applying for a loan. If you have enough assets to cover the loan in case you fail to repay as agreed, then you can be sure of getting lower interest rates.

To get the best bad credit loan interest rates, it is important to research beforehand. Get as much information as possible about the loans available from different lenders. Being well informed is essential especially when faced with tough borrowing decisions.

New Orleans (PRWEB) January 09, 2012

GenoVive, a pioneer in DNA-based, all-natural weight management solutions, today announced the formation of a scientific advisory board (SAB) comprised of prominent, multi-disciplinary experts in the fields of health and weight management, nutrigenomics, genetics, biochemistry, clinical psychology, and food science.

The three initial SAB appointments include Dr. Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD, Dr. David Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP, and Dr. Daniel Pomp, MS, PhD, who will guide research activities and provide critical scientific input and strategic insight to GenoVive as the company continues to exploit and leverage current scientific breakthroughs to deliver a comprehensive and personalized weight management solution based on genetic science.

“We are privileged to have these three respected and prominent experts who will help guide our research and lend their specific expertise that will enable us to delve deeper in to the emerging advances of nutritional science and personalized health to bring the best possible weight management solutions to the millions of Americans who are overweight,” said Vic Castellon, founder and CEO, GenoVive LLC.

The GenoVive SAB was established to guide the company’s research activities, seeking out the most innovative and promising research projects for continuing validation of the emerging field of nutrigenomics, which is the study of the effects of foods on gene expression and the role certain genes play in weight gain. The board will also guide the translation of published science into actionable solutions and explore ways to expand its research efforts to accelerate the development of new innovative products.

“Though we once thought that everyone was metabolically the same, we now are learning that there is a great deal of variation in metabolism, much of which is explained by misspellings in our genetic code,” said Dr. Steven Zeisel, who serves as the Director of the Nutrition Research Center at the University of North Carolina. “As the director of a major academic research center that focuses on this specific research, this new science makes it possible to individualize our approach to nutrition. GenoVive is one of the first companies to use this science to improve our treatment of overweight and obesity.”

According to Dr. David Katz, the basic theme of healthful, sensible eating, and sensible approaches to weight control is not up for debate, but the best variation on that theme for an individual is. “We know that genetic variants influence metabolism with important implications for weight control,” said Dr. Katz. “Basing customized weight management approaches on genetic insights is an idea whose time has come. Doing so in a manner that fully respects the fundamentals of healthful eating is responsive to the needs of those frustrated by their weight control struggles and responsible about the use of available science.”

Dr. Pomp adds, “We now know that even our voluntary exercise levels, and how people’s bodies respond to exercise in terms of fat loss and muscle gain, are significantly determined by differences in our genetic code, by variations in our DNA. Personalized nutrition and physical activity plans may be important factors in harmonizing an individual’s diet and exercise for improved health and well being.”

The GenoVive Scientific Advisory Board Members include:

– Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD – Chairman: Dr. Steven Zeisel is the Kenan Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Nutrition in the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. He served as chair of the Department of Nutrition at UNC from 1990-2005. He is currently a member of the American Society for Nutrition, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the American College of Nutrition and the Society for Pediatric Research.

Dr. Zeisel is also the Director of the UNC Nutrition Research Institute at the newly formed North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The Institute is also known as a “metabolic chamber” where researchers study foods, activity levels and genes affecting human metabolism. Their findings will help recommend customized diets and exercise plans that support the ultimate goal of individualized nutrition. The Institute’s research endeavors were recently featured in The Charlotte Observer.

He serves on the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal

editorial board and is a former member of the Annual Review of Nutrition editorial committee. Dr. Zeisel is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund’s Expert Panel on “Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective.” He serves as the principal investigator on multiple federally funded research projects that focus on human requirements for choline and the effects of this nutrient on brain development. He has authored more than 280 scientific publications.

Dr. Zeisel earned his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1975, was a resident in pediatrics at Yale University from 1975-1977, and earned his PhD in nutrition at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980.

– David L. Katz, MD, MPH, FACPM, FACP: Dr. David Katz is the founding director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center. He received his BA from Dartmouth College (1984; Magna Cum Laude); his MD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1988); and his MPH from the Yale University School of Public Health (1993). He is a board certified specialist in Preventive Medicine/Public Health, and two-time Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (1991; 2001). Katz is Director and founder of the Integrative Medicine Center at Griffin Hospital (2000) in Derby, CT, and founder and president of the non-profit Turn the Tide Foundation (http://www.turnthetidefoundation.org).

Known internationally for expertise in nutrition, weight management, and chronic disease prevention, as well as integrative care and patient-centered care models, Katz is active in patient care, research, teaching, and public health practice. He established, and formerly directed, one of the nation’s first combined residency programs in Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine; and served as Director of Medical Studies in Public Health at the Yale School of Medicine for eight years.

Katz has secured nearly $35 million in research funding. He has published over 120 scientific articles amp; textbook chapters; nearly a thousand newspaper columns; innumerable commentaries and blogs; and 12 books to date. He has consulted on obesity control and chronic disease prevention to the World Health Organization; National Cancer Institute; National Governors Association; Health Canada; the Health Ministry of Israel; the Institute of Medicine; several US Governors; the US Secretary of Health; and the FDA.

Dr. Katz serves as a reviewer of federal research grants for the NIH, the CDC, and AHRQ, as well as a number of international organizations. He is a peer reviewer for numerous leading medical journals. He is on the editorial advisory boards of The American Journal of Health Promotion; Prevention Magazine; Health; Men’s Health; Children’s Health; and Eating Well. In 2011, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the peer-reviewed journal, Childhood Obesity. He was nominated for the position of US Surgeon General in 2009 by the American College of Physicians, the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest, among others; and was the 2011 recipient of the Katharine Boucot Sturgis award from the American College of Preventive Medicine, the most prestigious award the College confers – awarded for illustrious career contributions to the field of Preventive Medicine. Also in 2011, he received the Lenna Frances Cooper Award from the American Dietetic Association for illustrious contributions to the field of nutrition. In 2012, Katz was named the first inductee into the MDPA Communicating Childhood Obesity Prevention and Policy Hall of Fame.

– Daniel Pomp, MS, PhD: Dr. Daniel Pomp is a Professor of Genetics, Nutrition, amp; Cell and Molecular Physiology in the School of Medicine and the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina. He is a member of UNC’s Nutrition and Obesity Research Center, Carolina Center for Genome Science, Center for Integrated Systems Genomics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility.

Dr. Pomp studies the genetic architecture of complex traits, with an emphasis on obesity and body weight regulation. Using polygenic mouse models and high throughput approaches integrating genomics and physiology, he identifies genes that control predisposition to obesity, including components of energy balance such as caloric intake, basal metabolism and voluntary exercise. He studies how these genes interact with each other and with nutritional and therapeutic interventions, and how these combine to regulate an individual’s change in weight, fat and muscle content. Dr. Pomp also investigates polygenic and dietary obesity as risk factors for mammary and colon cancer susceptibility.

Dr. Pomp serves on the editorial board for several journals, including Physiological Genomics, Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Advances in Genomics and Gene Expression, and Mammalian Genome. Dr. Pomp’s research has been funded by the National Institute of Health, the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture, and by a variety of sources in the biomedical and agricultural industries. He earned his PhD in Animal Genetics from North Carolina State University, a Masters in Animal Breeding from the University of Wisconsin, and a BS in Animal Science from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

About GenoVive LLC

Founded in 2008, GenoVive, a division of Genvis Bio Group, LLC, based in New Orleans, LA, represents a new approach to weight loss and sustained healthy eating. GenoVive’s geneticists and food scientists developed customized, all-natural meal and exercise programs, featuring ideal combinations of macronutrients based on individual DNA. GenoVive’s flavorful and quality meals are made without additives and preservatives and consist of six days per week of daily meals including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, beverages, and vitamin supplements. GenoVive is sold directly to the consumer at GenoVive.com and by phone with convenient home delivery. Follow GenoVive on Twitter @myGenovive, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GenoVive, and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/GenoVivednadiet.

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan 25, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
The Premier
healthcare alliance today announced new agreements for
radiopharmaceutical distribution and manufacturers have been awarded to
Cardinal Health, Inc. of Dublin, Ohio; Lantheus Medical Imaging of North
Billerica, Mass., a small business enterprise; Mallinckrodt LLC, a
Covidien company, of Hazelwood, Mo.; and Triad Isotopes of Orlando, Fla.

Effective January 1, 2012, the agreements are available to acute care
and continuum of care members of Premier.

About the Premier healthcare alliance, Malcolm Baldrige National
Quality Award recipient

Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,500 U.S.
hospitals and 80,000-plus other healthcare sites using the power of
collaboration to lead the transformation to high quality, cost-effective
care. Owned by hospitals, health systems and other providers, Premier
maintains the nation’s most comprehensive repository of clinical,
financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare
purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable
improvements in care, Premier has worked with the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom’s National Health Service North
West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.,
Premier also has an office in Washington.
http://www.premierinc.com .
Stay connected with Premier on Facebook,
Twitter
and YouTube.

SOURCE: Premier healthcare alliance

Premier healthcare alliance
Morgan Bridges, 704-816-4152

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbetts plan for improving transportation infrastructure will likely fall short, which could result in dire consequences for the states roads, bridges, transit, and the economy. Transportation Secretary Barry Schoch said Corbett is considering reworking the states wholesale and retail gasoline taxes to produce a growing revenue stream, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

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Find most exciting Twitter application on the internet just here. You can have lots and lots of fun with application and make you tweet easy. You can have access to different twitter related applications that can access twitter and get information related to your twitter account. You can optimize your twitter account by getting the Report Card for your twitter, getting the latest trends that may be beneficial to you interest, auto following the followers and more.

Gaming technology developed in Sydney received a high-class rollout Wednesday at one of the worlds biggest industry events in the prestigious Earls Court convention centre in London, England.

Were in there with the biggest and the best in the world and weve been very well-received, Deborah MacPherson, marketing manager for Techlink Entertainment, said in an interview.

MacPherson said any orders received for the Blast video gaming terminal, the latest Techlink innovation, will translate into work for the companys Cape Breton manufacturing centre.

A date for an introduction of the machine to the Nova Scotia marketplace has not yet been set, but the unveiling at the three-day London event allows the company to network with potential customers from around the world.

This is the first time people have been able to see the new terminals and get a feel for them, said MacPherson.

Some initial feedback from the Techlink team in London also indicates growing interest in the companys Gameplan responsible gaming technology, which was initially developed by the company for gaming machines in this province.

Two of the Blast terminals were shipped to London several weeks ago in advance of the conference, which attracts thousands of representatives of lottery and gaming organizations from around the world.

The Cape Breton-manufactured Blast terminals are in good company at the ICE Totally Gaming exhibition in the same booth as officials from Intralot, one of the worlds largest lottery suppliers.

Techlink describes Blast as a convergence-ready device, which means operators have the flexibility to deliver a wide range of multimedia and online gaming content to players.

Its open design, flexibility and online power allows operators to deliver online games, traditional casino games, VLT games and lottery games, like scratch tickets, all on one terminal, John Xidos, president and chief executive officer at Techlink, said in a news release.

This is the future of gaming.

The companys Gameplan technology provides players with personalized, real-time information about their gameplay.

This allows players to set time and money limits to monitor their account history and determine how much they are spending, winning and losing.

Techlink has been especially interested in new video lottery legislation recently introduced in Greece. The legislation legalized a maximum of 35,000 video lottery terminals, but required every VLT be equipped with card-based responsible gambling tools such as those developed by the Cape Breton company.

Earls Court is a massive convention and exhibition centre in central London that hosts major industry trade events and also serves as a venue for some of the worlds top entertainers.

(bpower@herald.ca)

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has done an excellent job taking on Connecticuts huge budget deficit and putting the state on the path to financial stability.

Malloy has been courageous and creative in parlaying a combination of budget cuts and increased revenue to dig the state out of the deep hole it had been in.

We do not believe, however, that the state should simply go wherever it legally can in search of more money. And we are uneasy on a number of levels with the prospect of Connecticut going online for more lottery and gaming dollars.

Just because a recent US Justice Department ruling allows states to benefit from online lottery and gaming revenue does not mean it is the right thing for Connecticut to do.

Online sales would cut into the lottery income taken in by brick-and-mortar ticket-sellers. That 5 percent take is important to smaller stores in particular, and the lottery also draws in customers who pick up a few other items while buying tickets.

Online lotteries and gaming would also be difficult to police for underage buyers. It is not practical to think that those under 18 — many of whom are more technologically savvy than their parents — could be effectively blocked from such websites.

But our concern is more basic than that.

Making gambling more accessible — especially to problem gamblers — is a dangerous prospect. Having to go to a store to buy lottery tickets at least requires getting out of the house — putting some time, distance and effort between impulse and purchase.

And Connecticut Lottery officials are not just talking about going online with number-drawing games, but also possibly with virtual scratch games.

Of course, whether or not Connecticut gets into Internet gaming, there will be plenty of places for gamblers to play online.

Malloys argument is that with all that money up for grabs, the state should go ahead and get what it can.

But we believe the state should hold itself to a higher standard than simply saying that if Connecticut doesnt do it, somebody else will.

Gaming execs are busy this week hosting Chinese New Year crowds and chatting it up at the ICE online gaming conference in London. But that doesnt mean there isnt time for some gaming business news. Pennsylvania Gaming Control announced huge annual returns for 2011, and with Atlantic City revenue slipping for a fifth year in a row, the countrys second and third largest gaming markets could switch places this year. And if the State of the Union didnt satisfy your appetite for tax bickering, youre in luck! Nevada upheld a ruling that casinos must pay full sales tax on comped meals, and casinos say theyll appeal the decision again.

Pennsylvania Threatening to Overtake AC as Dominant East Coast Gaming Market

Pennsylvania casinos raked over $3 billion in gaming revenue in 2011, state regulators announced last week. The 22 percent increase over 2010s total means Pennsylvania is threatening to surpass Atlantic City as the second-largest gaming market in the US Atlantic City collected $3.3 billion in 2011, dropping 6.9 percent in its fifth straight year of decline.

Pennsylvania opened its first slots-only casino in 2006 and legalized table games in early 2010. It took several months for casinos to roll out the new games, and table game revenue almost doubled from 2010 to 2011, contributing $619 million. Slots brought in $2.4 billion, a six percent yearly increase. The state has 10 operational casinos and two smaller projects in the works. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board also has the legal authorization to license one more casino and one new casino in Philadelphia.

In contrast to Pennsylvanias growing market, the last several years have been a constant stream of bad news for Atlantic City. The rapid expansion of East Coast casino gambling has cannibalized the seaside New Jersey towns gaming and resort markets. The loss of many Pennsylvania gamblers has been a major contributing factor, as has the expansion of gaming in New York and Delaware.

In December, Atlantic City recorded its first year-over-year monthly revenue increase in 40 months, but it wasnt nearly enough to make the year a win. With Ohio close to opening its first commercial casino, Maryland about to open its second, and New York debating legalizing table games, Atlantic Citys future doesnt look bright. New Jersey is hoping that the opening of Atlantic Citys 12th casino, the much-delayed Revel project, will boost revenue in the next year.

Maybe listening to La Guardia Performing Arts High School sing from Ragtime about Atlantic Citys heyday will make the boardwalk feel a little better. Reading these articles from CBS News and the Huffington Post probably wont.

Nevada Rules Casinos Must Pay Tax on Comped Meals; Casinos Fight Back

They say two things are certain in life: Taxes, and companies fighting taxes. (Well just ignore the messy death thing for now). On Monday, the Nevada Tax Commission ruled that casinos owe the state sales tax on the retail price of all of the meals they comp. In a 6-1 decision, the commission rejected an appeal by Boyd Gaming Corp., which had requested a $21 million refund of the sales tax the company paid between 2000 and 2008. Boyds is only the first case to be heard. Many other casinos have submitted similar appeals requesting refunds that $225 million. Caesars Entertainments appeal will be heard next.

In 2008, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that the Sparks Nugget did not have to pay taxes on comped meals unless the meal was for consideration. Boyd and other casinos stopped paying that tax and were then denied refunds after submitting applications. The Tax Commission sent deficiency notices in 2010 but has not collected.

Boyds attorney argued that comped meals should not be taxable because no money changes hands, but Deputy Attorney General Blake Doerr, representing the tax department, countered that the transfer of money isnt a requirement of a sale. Doerr argued that there is a consideration in the meals in question because patrons must gamble to be eligible for comps, and casinos determine how much customers earn in meals using full retail price. Employees who receive meals as part of a contract are also bargained for, he said. The employee agrees to work and the employer agrees to provide meals.

Commissioner Robert Johnson, representing Las Vegas, cast the only vote disagreeing with the decision previously made by Administrative Law Judge Dena Smith. Boyd said the company would appeal the ruling to the Nevada Supreme Court. After the hearing, Tax Commissioner David Turner said he expected the case to end up there.

The Las Vegas Sun covers the decision and Boyds response.

Follow PokerNews on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news.

_{*Photo courtesy of DenofVice.com}

Follow Elissa Harwood on

And so the war on general computing continues. Were you looking forward to ARM laptops and maybe even desktops now that Windows 8 will also be released for ARM? I personally was, because Id much rather have a thin, but fast and economical machine than a beastly Intel PC. Sadly, it turns out that all our fears regarding UEFIs Secure Boot feature were justified: Microsoft prohibits OEMs from allowing you to install anything other than Windows 8 on ARM devices (the Software Freedom Law Center has more).

I had honestly hoped that I was wrong with my concerns over Secure Boot. Really, I hoped so hard. Sadly, tis not to be true. It turns out Microsoft has been lying to us all this time (shocker, right?), and despite their sugared words, theyre definitely going to force OEMs into not allowing anything but Windows to be installed on ARM devices.

In response to the initial concerns over Secure Boots potential anti-alternative operating system nature, Microsoft stated it would not force OEMs into anything. OEMs have the ability to customize their firmware to meet the needs of their customers by customizing the level of certificate and policy management on their platform, Redmond promised, Microsoft does not mandate or control the settings on PC firmware that control or enable secured boot from any operating system other than Windows.

Well, dip me in white chocolate and call me Lorelai, but the company has amended its Windows Hardware Certification Requirements, stating that OEMs are not allowed to disable Secure Boot on ARM machines, or even offer the option for users to turn it off (emphasis mine).

21 December 2011 | JDavis

Mercedes-Benz launches hybrid offensive with the worlds most economical luxury vehicle.

• E300 BlueTEC HYBRID: 4.2 l of diesel/100 km
• E400 HYBRID: combined fuel economy of 27 mpg (estimated)
• More torque and performance without compromising on passenger or luggage space
• Modular hybrid concept using lithium-ion batteries
• Sophisticated driving experience with stop/start function, regenerative braking, boost effect and pure electric driving

Mercedes-Benz is opening a new chapter in its core segment while at the same time setting new standards for luxury sedans. The E300 BlueTEC HYBRID (European model) impresses with new record values when it comes to efficiency. It boasts exemplary consumption levels (4.2 l/100 km1) as well as impressive performance: the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID combines a 4-cylinder diesel engine developing 201 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque with an electric motor producing 27 hp and 184 lb-ft. The E300 BlueTEC HYBRID is the most economical luxury vehicle in the world.

Available in the US during the 2nd half of 2012, the 2013 E400 HYBRID features a direct-injection V6 gasoline engine producing 302 hp and 273 lb-ft supplemented by an additional 27 hp and 184 lb-ft from the electric motor. The estimated consumption figures are: 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 27 mpg combined.

With these two E-Class models we are now continuing our comprehensive hybrid offensive. The modular technology opens up a quick way for us to complement other model series with hybrid models, explains Professor Dr. Thomas Weber, Daimler Board Member for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. With a clear focus on the different requirements of global markets, we are able to offer precisely the models which our customers want. The E-Class hybrids provide a clear reduction in consumption as well as a very impressive driving experience: they represent hybrid motoring at the premium level.

The new models do not require their passengers to compromise when it comes to space, however, whether in terms of the interior or the luggage compartment. There are also additional benefits to the intelligent modular hybrid concept, which builds upon the Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID that debuted in 2009: no changes to the vehicle body are required, the hybrid module is both flexible and modular, thus allowing its use in other model series, and in addition to diesel and gasoline powertrains there will also be right-hand drive variants. Meanwhile, the extra cost involved is only moderate. The new hybrid models will celebrate their world premiere at the Detroit Auto Show (January 14-22, 2012) and will appear on the market over the course of the year. The 2013 E400 HYBRID goes on-sale in the US during the 2nd half of 2012 followed by other countries such as Japan and China, while the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID is initially planned to be launched in Europe.

Highlights of the E400 HYBRID at a glance:

• Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid configuration: no changes to the body of the E-Class are necessary
• No compromises in terms of passenger or luggage space, safety and comfort
• Significant increase in comfort with stop/start operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
• Estimated fuel consumption: 27 mpg (combined)
• Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E400 HYBRID by some 27 hp and 184 lb-ft thanks to the electric motor
• Sophisticated hybrid driving experience (stop/start function, regenerative braking, boost effect and pure electric driving)

Highlights of the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID (European model) at a glance:

• Compact, intelligent and modular hybrid concept: no changes to the body of the E-Class are necessary
• Also available as a Wagon (in Europe)
• Space, safety and comfort remain unchanged
• Significant increase in comfort with stop/start operation; noiseless start, complete climatic comfort
• Top marks for consumption in the luxury-class business vehicle segment: 4.2 litres/100 km, 109 g CO2/km
• Part of the intelligent downsizing strategy of Mercedes-Benz: increase in the engine output of the E300 BlueTEC HYBRID with 150 kW +20 kW electric motor/500 Nm + 250 Nm, compared with the E250 CDI (150 kW/500 Nm), positioning it at the same level as the E300 CDI (170 kW/540 Nm)
• Fuel savings of around 15 percent compared with the E250 CDI (european model)
• Sophisticated hybrid driving experience (stop/start function, regenerative braking, boost effect, and pure electric driving)

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — Border security is not just about keeping illegal immigrants from crossing our border – its about keeping our citizens safe and our communities free from dangerous drugs and violent transnational gangs, said Lt. Governor David Dewhurst earlier on Friday while issuing Interim Charges to the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security and Senate Criminal Justice committees.

As lawmakers, our first priority is ensuring the physical safety of all 25 million people who call Texas home, said Lt. Governor Dewhurst. 

We also want to provide a safe and efficient transportation system for our rapidly growing population, so Texans can spend less time on the road, less on fuel, and more time with their families, said Dewhurst.

Lt. Governor Dewhurst tasked Senate committees with the following:

Transportation and Homeland Security Committee 

• Examine the impact of border violence and illegal trafficking on the Texas economy, including the infringement on Texas property rights.  Make recommendations for enhancing border security and maximizing federal resources targeted for this purpose.
•  Analyze the financial and personnel situation at 911 or emergency call centers across the state.  Determine if call centers can be run more efficiently and effectively.  The committee shall consider the oversight of local and county officials in their findings and recommendations.
•  Study the appropriate role of Texas state military forces in enhancing the safety of all Texans, and make recommendations for improving the coordination, accountability, and effectiveness of all components of our state military forces, including the national, state, and air guards.  Identify limitations on the forces providing border security and other operations, and make recommendations for better coordination with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. (Joint Charge with the Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee)
•  Examine the anticipated impacts of the Panama Canal expansion on Texas cargo and shipping industry, intermodal facilities, roadways, and ports.  Examine the implementation of the Houston Ship Channel Security District and determine if additional security districts are needed for other ports.
•  Analyze both near-term and long-term planning process documents for Metropolitan Planning Organizations and evaluate the impact of the current plans on congestion mitigation, specifically the states 100 most-congested roadway segments.
•  Study current state statutes and agency rules regulating oversize and overweight vehicles.  Evaluate the public safety benefit of enforcing these regulations and effectiveness in preventing roadway damage, including the cost of repair and maintenance to infrastructure associated with overweight vehicles.  Provide recommendations that balance economic productivity, public safety, and protection and maintenance of roadways.  Provide recommendations on the need for additional weights and measures training for law enforcement in this state.
•  Study the potential for toll collection and enforcement tools to pursue toll scofflaws for Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and local toll project entities.
•  Examine the need for additional natural gas fueling infrastructure to efficiently utilize Texas vast domestic reserves of natural gas.  Also, examine the future requirements for public and private electric vehicle charging stations and the impact of the increased usage of alternative-fueled vehicles.  Include geographic balance in the evaluation of alternative-fuel infrastructure.  Assess the impact that increasing numbers of electric vehicles will have on the states electric grid.
•  Review and make recommendations regarding best practices for traffic-flow management to meet future statewide transportation needs.  This study should consider a full range of options, including implementing employee flex time at all state agencies, park amp; ride, telecommuting, and rail.
•  Study and make recommendations regarding the methods of financing for capital investment in the states transportation system.  Examine ways to prevent further wear on our roadways and reduce congestion in the system.  Consider the long-term impact of the accumulation of debt for transportation projects, as well as the total cost of vehicle ownership as a result of varying levels of congestion and road maintenance.  Educate and inform the public regarding the seriousness of the transportation challenges to better engage the public in forming a solution. (Joint Charge with Senate Finance Committee)
• Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Transportation amp; Homeland Security, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:

o   Implementation of the Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations, statutory changes specified in TxDOTs sunset legislation and TxDOTs modernization efforts, including the use of public and private engineering services and the implementation and use of business performance measures;

o   Implementation of Proposition 12 funding provided by the fiscal year 2012-2013 Appropriations Act, including an assessment of the impact of this funding on the states Top 50 list of congested roadway segments and the funding needed to advance each regions priorities in fiscal year 2014-2015;

o   Progress of the Texas Department of Public Safetys Driver License Division efforts to enhance driver license processing, including technology and staff improvements, establishment of mega centers, additional mobile offices, and increased number of temporary visitor document processing staff.

Criminal Justice Committee

• Review statutes and regulations relating to money laundering to enhance state, federal, and local efforts to combat money laundering and enforce administrative and criminal actions against perpetrators of money laundering.
•  Study and evaluate the long-term stability of the Crime Victims Compensation Fund (CVC) including: the original statutory purpose of the fund; the definition of crime victim; the current funding streams; the current ability to pay claims; and impact of the fund on victim organizations supported by the fund.  Make recommendations to increase collection rates for effective and efficient use of the fund and resources.
•  Study the law governing the Texas bail bond industry and determine local practices for the pretrial release of the accused.  Determine the financial impact of various pretrial release options for the accused, and the financial impact on counties for the failure to release pretrial.
•  Evaluate existing comprehensive diversion and treatment systems within the state, including mental health treatment, to determine cost effectiveness, reductions in correctional populations, impact on healthcare systems, and the overall number of people treated effectively.  Examine federal, state and local collaborations and make recommendations for best practices to maximize effective use of funding and resources.
•  Study the use of administrative segregation in TDCJ, including issues related to: the frequency and justification of its use; the process and classification system which determines an inmate’s placement; the impact on prisoners’ mental health and recidivism rates; the process of reviewing placement and inmates’ transition into both the general prison population and the general public; options for alternative confinement arrangements; and the potential for the expansion of the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative  (SVORI) or similar programming in order to improve inmates’ transition from solitary confinement to the general public.
•  Assess the current trends in prescription drug abuse including crimes and arrests, abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medication in the prison population, impact on probation violations and recidivism, and incidences of law enforcement as the first responders to prescription drug overdose emergencies.  Identify strategies for law enforcement and criminal justice systems to work with education and health care professionals to use all means, including technology, to identify abuses, and increase education and prevention.  Make recommendations to enhance drug abuse prevention and intervention programs.

Conduct a comprehensive review of school discipline practices.  Specifically, review and make recommendations on:

o   The effectiveness of Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP) and Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEP) in reducing students involvement in further disciplinary infractions and in promoting positive educational achievement;

o   Disproportionate school discipline referrals, including suspension, expulsion and Class C misdemeanor citations;

o   The issue of Zero Tolerance in secondary education school discipline, their use of alternative education campuses, and the barriers they create toward graduation. Also include the role that specialized school police departments play in these systems.  Consider the impact on the juvenile justice system and the adult prison system;

o   The number of students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) referred to juvenile or municipal courts, suspended, expelled, and placed in Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (DAEP).  Examine data-sharing practices between DFPS, TEA, and local education agencies and make recommendations to increase communication between schools and DFPS to increase educational outcomes for children in foster care;

o   Evidence-based models used for addressing juvenile delinquency prevention that are targeted to non-adjudicated, but at-risk youth, in the school disciplinary system. (Joint with Senate Committee Education Committee)

• Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following:

o   Implementation of and transition to the new Texas Juvenile Justice Department.  Examine the consolidation of the probation and parole functions, and make recommendations to enhance the integration of the two agencies and promote successful outcomes for youths, victims, and taxpayers;

o   Overall care of female inmates;

o   Implementation of SB 1616 and SB 1636, relating to the testing of evidence;

o   Implementation of SB 321, relating to an employees lawful transportation and storage of certain firearms or ammunition while on property owned or controlled by the employees employer;

o   Implementation of legislation relating to human trafficking in coordination with the  Joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking.