Thursday, November 14, 2019

Arby’s franchise issues ultimatum to parents: Control children or be asked to leave

A  night out at a restaurant should be enjoyable to all, but for some, the  sounds of unruly children running around causing chaos may be too much.  An Arby’s location in Elk River, Minnesota, issued an ultimatum to  parents whose children may run amok in the fast-food restaurant, but it  was short-lived. In a sign posted on the door to the business, parents are warned, “Notice:  Only well-behaved children who can keep their food on their trays and  their bottoms on their seats are welcome. If you can’t do this you will  be asked to leave. Thanks.” Some customers stated they felt a  little uneasy about the sign and policy, even feeling reluctant to go  in. However, the store did remove the sign and said in a statement “We  recognize the language on this sign was insensitive. We removed it  quickly, and have disciplined the manager and team working at the  restaurant. It does not reflect our company values and the  family-friendly environment we aim to provide in all of our  restaurants.” (KARE)

Las Vegas votes to make it a crime to sleep on city sidewalks

In  an attempt to get homeless people off city streets, the Las Vegas City  Council has passed an ordinance that makes it a crime to camp or sleep  on a city sidewalk. Supporters of the ordinance, which passed 5-2, say  it’s an attempt to push the more than 6,500 homeless people and families  in southern Nevada into homeless shelters while also protecting the  health and safety of the community. The city council said Las Vegas has  committed $16 million to the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center, which  provides housing and a range of other services to address chronic  homelessness. “The city believes the ordinance will be a benefit to  the homeless population, while at the same time protecting the health  and safety of the entire community,” the Mayor said on Twitter.  “The city has always demonstrated compassion for the needs of the  growing homeless population, understanding the public safety of everyone  is a top priority.” (Fox News)

Tennessee’s infant mortality rate is on the decline for the first time in three years

According  to new data released by the Tennessee Department of Health, the data  shows there were 38 fewer infant deaths in the state in 2018 compared  with the year prior. The deputy commissioner for population health said  infant mortality is a critical indicator of overall population health.  Although the numbers are improving, he said the mortality rate for black  infants continues to be nearly twice as high as that of white babies.  Tennessee’s current infant mortality rate still exceeds the national  rate of 5.8 deaths per 1,000 live births. Many new mothers and families  remain unaware of the hazards of placing a baby to sleep on its stomach.  Each year, around 20% of infant deaths are due to unsafe sleeping  conditions. Many  factors contribute to a healthy birth and first year of life. Lack of  access to early prenatal care, tobacco use, and even the ongoing opioid  epidemic have all factored into the state’s infant death numbers. (Public News Service)

Millions of Americans say they won’t be taking a vacation this winter, mostly because they can’t afford it

A  new study by WalletHub revealed that 33 million Americans (roughly 13  percent of adults) won’t be hitting the slopes or beaches these next few  months due to the hefty price. And while cost may be a major factor,  roughly 24 million Americans say they aren’t traveling this season  solely because they don’t feel like it. Another 20 million indicated  they are trying to save money while 9 million Americans say they are  saving vacation days.  And while a number of Americans are holding off on travel these next  couple months, experts at Wallethub say the number of people traveling  has in fact increased from last year. (Fox Business News)

Cholesterol and heart attacks on the decline due to health advancements

Cholesterol  levels are dropping nationwide and patients are having fewer heart  attacks, thanks to new treatment methods and more cholesterol-lowering  drugs, a new study has found. Average levels of “bad cholesterol”  dipped 21 points and the risk of heart attack and stroke is down by 15  to 20 percent in more than 32,000 patients observed between 2005 and  2016, according to a report published in the Journal of the  American College of Cardiology by researchers at the University of  Alabama. New guidelines adopted by the American Heart Association and  the American College of Cardiology have led physicians to take a wider, “risk-based” approach to treatment that takes into account factors aside from “bad cholesterol”,  including age, blood pressure and diabetes. The researchers found that  the use of statins (the class of drugs used to treat high cholesterol)  lead to a lower risk of heart attack or stroke in patients who would  historically not have been prescribed the drugs. (New York Post)

Pilot arrested for being naked gets $300K wrongful arrest settlement

A  United Airlines pilot who was busted for being naked in his hotel room  overlooking Denver International Airport got a $300,000 wrongful arrest  settlement from the city, a report said. The man was arrested in  September 2018 inside the Westin after airport employees reported seeing  the pilot touching himself through the 10th-floor hotel window. His  attorney said it’s not against the law to be naked inside a Denver hotel  room. He also claimed that his client had no clue he could be seen from  the outside, the report said. A judge dismissed the charges in March.  He was suspended for six months, but is now back flying. He explained  how the arrest had complicated his daily routine. But despite the  hardships, he’s celebrating his legal win. (KDVR)

Coast-to-Coast 5G Network Slated to Launch in December

A  year after Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobile revealed initial steps  toward 5G wireless broadband in select cities nationally, rival T-Mobile  announced its own grand vision to light up 5G in 5,000 municipalities  nationally with a key catch. T-Mobile is initiating 5G service on  December 6th, with plans to tap into Sprint’s 5G services next year as  the companies seek approval for a $23 billion merger. T-Mobile plans to  provide free service to 10 million households in the United States who  qualify based on their income, as well as to police, firefighters and  other emergency responders in the United States over the coming 10  years. And the company plans to offer a $15-a-month prepaid plan, half  that cost of its lowest-price plan today. (GovTech)

Missing for 30 Years, a Rare Deer Species Is Rediscovered in Vietnam

In  southern Vietnam, an unusual house cat-sized deer relative has escaped  the efforts of wildlife biologists. While local lore suggested it was  still around, attempts to find one alive had failed—and even a dead  specimen hadn’t been seen in 30 years. The borderline-apocryphal silver  back chevrotain (or Vietnam mouse-deer) has been spotted in the wild.  But due to the prevalence of snare hunting in the area, the paper’s  authors are being tight lipped as to where. But the sighting is  important for one big reason: a live specimen has never been spotted.  The cameras were set up in November 2017. After that, the team  waited…and waited. That April, they retrieved the cameras and there it  was—the silver-back chevrotain, with 72 “events” in all.  Despite the sightings, the team still doesn’t know much about the small  deer. For instance, the population number is unknown, and this study  only offers proof that it’s alive in one part of its historic range. (Popular Mechanics)

Thursday Oozes In With:

• International Girls Day
• International Selfie Day (Diabetes Foundation)
• Loosen Up, Lighten Up Day
• National American Teddy Bear Day
• International Tempranillo Day (2nd Thursday)
• Milad un Nabi (Shia)
• National Pickle Day
• National Spicy Guacamole Day
• Operating Room Nurse Day
• Spirit of NSA (National Speakers Association) Day
• World Diabetes Day