National News

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. -- The mission to bring education to everyone across America took center stage last week at the Distance Education and Training Council workshop at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado. The public service announcement (PSA) entitled 'Think About It' was warmly received by over 100 schools in attendance. The 'Think About It' concept was developed by California Intercontinental University to bring awareness to the public.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Donald Bayeur owns and operates the new website, AutomotiveExpos.com. It serves as an online auto expo site where people seeking automotive insights can go to find answers, and to learn about the many different classic cars of the past and present.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- According to a recent survey taken by the Department of Education, enrollment in online educational programs is still showing a substantial increase and is having a dramatic effect on education in general. The Department of Education statistics say that in 2007 12.2 million students were enrolled in online programs with an expected increase of up to 18 million by 2012.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Enchanted Party Tales, a children's party entertainment company specializes in providing themed fairytale activities and classic storybook characters for children's parties and events. Characters such as princesses, pirates, fairies and other favorites bring a magical touch to any length children's event.

ROANOKE, Ill. -- Residents of Woodford and Marshall counties are being warned about the possibility of mine subsidence damage occurring to homes built over abandoned, underground mines. The warning is being issued by the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF) in its continuing effort to educate consumers about the risk of mine subsidence in Illinois.

LOS ALTOS, Calif. -- Luminis Consulting has developed a blog: 'Business That Cares,' that focuses on innovative ideas in business and corporate philanthropy. This blog was launched to reflect the new direction of Luminis Consulting in helping companies develop strategic philanthropy, corporate community relations and employee volunteer programs.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Having a chronic or life-threatening medical condition makes it hard for teens to cope with the already difficult realities of being a teenager. Supporting a sibling with an illness can be daunting as well. That is why Starlight Children's Foundation created Starbright World, an online social network for sick teens and their teen-aged siblings.

PONTIAC, Ill. -- The risk of mine subsidence is present for many homeowners in Livingston County, and the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF) has initiated a consumer education initiative to address the issue. Mine subsidence occurs in an abandoned mine when a mine roof or pillar collapses, causing the ground above to sink or subside.

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Marmol Hawaii Inc., Hawaii's largest tile supplier and installer of natural stone and granite, merges with Island Pool Builders, a commercial and residential swimming pool and spa construction company.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Epic Image Entertainment, Eyevox Entertainment and Paragon Design Group recently produced the book trailer 'Night of the Living Trekkies' for Quirk Books publishing. The trailer, which was released on Sept. 14 has already had more than 90,000 views on YouTube and has received raving reviews from the blogosphere.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Some homes in McLean County may be at risk for mine subsidence, according to the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF). Mine subsidence occurs in an abandoned mine when a mine roof or pillar collapses, causing the ground above to sink or subside. Homes built in close proximity to these mines are subject to foundation or structural damage, which may cost thousands of dollars to repair.

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Renaissance Surgical Arts at Newport Harbor today announced that it has met or exceeded compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, earning the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval. This is the second accreditation for Renaissance, the multispecialty ambulatory surgery center opened in August 2010 with its accreditation from IMQ.

ROSICLARE, Ill. -- In its continuing effort to educate Illinois property owners, the Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF) announced that residents of Hardin and Pope Counties should be aware of the possibility that their homes may be built over abandoned, underground mines, which would make them at risk for possible mine subsidence.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- A new home-farming trend sweeping North America is seeing chicken coops and small flocks of chickens appearing in suburban backyards. In support of this home-grown movement, Handcrafted Chicken Coops is offering affordable, portable chicken coops to backyard and urban chicken farmers.

LA MESA, Calif. -- A press conference has been announced for Noon on Saturday, Sept. 25th by LegalizeFerrets, calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to lift the ferret ban before he leaves office and asking (again) the respective Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman campaigns to address the issue.

LOVELAND, Colo. -- PixyJack Press, a Colorado independent publisher, announces an upcoming book signing with two log-home book authors, Roland Sweet and Rex A. Ewing, at the Denver Log and Timber Home Show on Oct. 2, 2010. Industry insider Roland Sweet reveals 30 steps to success in his newly released book, 'Log Home Secrets of Success: An Insider's Guide to Making Your Dream Home a Reality' (ISBN: 978-0-9773724-7-8).

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Nea Community Learning Center earned an API score of 839 following its first year in operation, making it among the top achieving schools in the Alameda Unified School District. Nea, which opened its doors in 2009 to offer innovative, community-based learning in a diverse environment, serves 346 learners in grades K-10.

KEWANEE, Ill. -- The Illinois Mine Subsidence Insurance Fund (IMSIF) is expanding its consumer education campaign to make residents of Henry County aware of the possibility that their homes may be built over abandoned mines, which would make them at risk for possible mine subsidence. Mine subsidence occurs in an abandoned mine when a mine roof or pillar collapses, causing the ground above to sink or subside.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- DJ Jimmy Stewart Jr. and Sesene Entertainment are joining forces at a free fundraising event to support the victims of the San Bruno, CA fires. The event is scheduled for September 25 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the San Bruno Recreational Center and San Bruno City Park at 251 City Park Way.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- On September 9, 2010 at least four people were killed and many more injured when a Pacific Gas & Electric gas pipeline allegedly exploded and started a fire that destroyed a San Bruno, California neighborhood. As a result, regional businesses such as J&S Recycling are jumping into action and sponsoring a rally for San Bruno on September 25.

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- Electronic Scrip Inc. (ESI), a leading loyalty provider for over a decade, announced a joint initiative with Unified Grocers, offering its WIN Rewards Loyalty platform to all Unified members. Unified, a retailer-owned grocery distributor, serves approximately 500 retail members and supplies approximately 3,000 store locations in the western United States.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- 'Many business owners don't realize that funding is still available for equipment purchases, even if the banks are turning them down,' says Bob Skibinski, CEO of Taycor Financial. 'Unlike other equipment leasing companies, here at Taycor, we are getting deals done for our clients every day; which means you are going to get the new piece of equipment you need, and you are going to get it fast.'

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. -- A&I Books is proud to announce its sponsorship and first-time participation in the 9th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair, Sunday, September 26, 2010. A division of A&I Photographic and Digital, A&I Books is a leading printer and publisher of photography books.

SAN MARINO, Calif. -- Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation, a leader in the emerging field of targeted genetic medicine, reports the publication of a landmark paper in clinical oncology. Following up on its advanced U.S. Phase I/II clinical trials of Rexin-G in chemo-resistant metastatic pancreatic cancer (Molecular Therapy, 2010, 18: 435-441), which gained both Orphan Drug and FDA Fast Track Status, this new paper documents the molecular mechanisms-of-action of Rexin-G.

NOVI, Mich. -- The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) is sponsoring the 21st Annual Fall Detroit Camper and RV Show, October 6-10, 2010, at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi (exit I-96 at Beck Road, 1 mile east on Grand River). Over 200 new recreation vehicles will be on display including folding campers, motorhomes, travel trailers, truck campers, park models and fifth wheel travel trailers.

OWENSBORO, Ky. -- Moonlite Bar-B-Q, a household Kentuckian name, is excited to share its many successes with its loyal employees. That's why they are hosting an employee reunion on Sunday September 5. Since 1963, Moonlite Bar-B-Q has been a Kentucky tradition. In 2008, it was inducted into the Kentucky Monthly's Best Hall of Fame after having been previously voted Kentucky's best barbecue by Kentucky Living.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- PETAP LLC offers information regarding academic counseling and career assessment services through PETAP.org. These services will assist students in planning their career, choosing a school or college, and preparing for their postsecondary education.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Time and Gems, the #1 U.S. online Rolex dealer, has released the world's first two two-tone Rolex watch coated using a process called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) that transforms their appearance while making them up to 20 times more scratch resistant.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Backbone Security, the global leader in digital steganography detection tools, is pleased to announce availability of a Steganography Detection Policy (SDP) for enterprises protected by Fidelis Security Systems' flagship session-level network security solution, Fidelis XPS.

BLAINE, Wash. -- What you throw away may come back to haunt you. Original bottles were discovered by workers while excavating in an old landfill site and artist Thoma Hall embraced the opportunity to incorporate them into 'Journey of a Water Drop.' A dozen original glass bottles are among the 325 bottles in the art installation and visitors are challenged to locate them.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. -- Cognitive Behavior Associates, a group practice specializing in the delivery of Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, is pleased to announce a new treatment program for individuals suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Going Well(R).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Author Konrad Ventana today announced, through his agent, the release of two new e-books now available through Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. These new releases represent the first books of a series known to the literary cognoscenti as the Post-Lux Trilogy: 'Book 1, A Desperado's Daily Bread' (ISBN: 9780595622177); 'Book 2, The Unbearable Sadness of Zilch' (ISBN: 9781440158254); 'Book 3, Questing for Uberjoy' (ETA: 2011).

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- The latest advancements in astronomy, the availability of 3D maps of the galaxies, reveal a new structure for our universe. These maps show patterns in the distribution of the galaxies indicating a universe that is not expanding at all. The discovery was made by a small team of independent scientists, led by researcher Richard Moser

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- Athletes who heard the rumor said it couldn't be done. How could a 5-foot woman, barely weighing in at 95 pounds compete with professional weightlifting men to set a new world record? On August 14, at St. Emydius Gym in San Francisco, Dr. Thienna Ho showed them how as she set the new Guinness World Record for the heaviest sumo deadlift in one hour.

DAVIS, Calif. -- California IVF: Davis Fertility Center, Inc. proudly announces a new contract with NorthBay Healthcare, a plan administrator for Western Health Advantage insurance. This contract expands infertility treatment options for NorthBay Healthcare members as well as members of other Western Health Advantage medical groups.

BOONTON, N.J. -- In 2010, telecommunications carriers worldwide are expected to generate just over $1 billion in new revenue by helping build and deploy mashups, according to a new market research study from The Insight Research Corporation. 'Mashups are all about reusability, which is a magical word in any business context,' says Robert Rosenberg.

AMARILLO, Texas -- Texas prison inmate, Eric Remerowski, is receiving much attention lately for his blog, 'Saints Inside,' where he discusses his life behind the walls and razor wire. His goal is to raise awareness about the many people with excessive sentences who have changed for the better and deserve a second chance at life.

DAVIS, Calif. -- California IVF: Davis Fertility Center, Inc., working in conjunction with Gene Security Network leads the field in bringing a new test to patients that combines the detection of single-gene genetic disorders with a 24 chromosome screening.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Time and Gems, an independent Rolex(R) retailer offering premium Rolex customizations, today announced a diamond Rolex watch giveaway valued at $7,000 as a thank-you to all new visitors of their Web site that sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. -- Event Media, Inc., producer of Bike the Coast - Taste the Coast, a new event scheduled for November 6, 2010, announces partnerships with the City of Oceanside Bicycle Committee, Main Street Oceanside and the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. These groups, along with the Oceanside Visitors Bureau, are bringing together the cycling and business communities in Oceanside to promote bicycling and offer a festival at the Oceanside Pier with food, drink, music and fun.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- SecuGen, the world's leading optical fingerprint device vendor, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the SecuGen iD-USB SC/PIV, a combined fingerprint and smart card reader that is fully FIPS 201/PIV compliant. The iD-USB SC/PIV is a ready-to-use USB device that facilitates dual-factor authentication right out of the box.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- With the addition of Dr. Wade Cook, ASE Optics significantly expands its capabilities in holography, remote sensing, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and laser vibrometry. ASE Optics provides contract optical engineering and custom lens assembly manufacturing for companies worldwide.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. -- Backbone Security is pleased to announce the release of Version 3.6 of their Steganography Application Fingerprint Database (SAFDB) which now contains more than 850 steganography applications.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- PETAP LLC offers certificate and degree training information for a variety of career fields, through the online schools and colleges directory. The online directory provides information regarding distance learning options, degrees, certificates, and other educational resources.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- COIN-OP TV celebrates six years of independent Internet TV on the video game industry. An early adopter of the online video format, COIN-OP TV launched a year before YouTube and many other popular video content Web sites.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Lion Technology Inc., a nationally renowned regulatory compliance training firm, will present its two-day Hazardous Waste in California workshop series during the month of September. These courses are designed for industry professionals who must assure compliance with California's hazardous waste regulations. Workshops will be held in San Diego on Sept. 13-14; Los Angeles on Sept. 16-17; Bakersfield on Sept. 20-21; and Oakland on Sept. 23-24, 2010.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Children Awaiting Parents, a nonprofit organization dedicated to finding adoptive families for children in foster care, is hosting its annual Family Walk on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. Supporters from across the United States are invited to register today for the 2.5 mile Family Walk event.

LA MESA, Calif. -- According to Ferrets Anonymous, legalizing pet ferrets affects hundreds of thousands of Californians, even though many citizens may be unfamiliar with the State's 77-year-old ferret ban. The California Veterinary Medical Association has long agreed that pet ferrets should be legal.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Real country by real musicians is the way to describe the new album by Scott Joss and Doug Colosio, 'A Couple of Strangers,' released by Golosio Publishing. The 13-track recording showcases many of the duo's favorite types of music, including Texas Swing, roadhouse roots, and 'good ole' cryin' in yer beer country tunes,' states John Scott G, managing partner of Golosio.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- Ascoli Publishing LLC announces the release of 'Go and See: A Journey About Getting To Lean' (ISBN: 978-1-6109500-8-4) by Robert B. Camp, BSE, MBA. Go and See makes a strong case that once a company goes 'Lean,' it fireproofs itself from most of the chaos in today's market - including competitors from countries with cheap labor. And the first step is to 'Go and See.'