Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement by Chad Stone, Chief Economist, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:

Today's extremely disappointing employment report shows that the economy remains mired in a slump and still waiting for something to jump start a sustainable recovery. Consumer spending supported by the stimulus payments that Congress enacted earlier this year helped keep the economy growing in the second quarter, but the headwinds from still-high energy prices, a weak housing market, tight credit markets, and continuing financial market uncertainty will make it difficult to sustain economic growth as the effects of the first round of stimulus wear off.

August was the eighth straight month of job declines, with employers shedding a cumulative 605,000 jobs so far this year. The official unemployment rate jumped to 6.1 percent in August, and other indicators show even greater labor market weakness. The percentage of the population with a job (62.1 percent) is at its lowest level since the fall of 2003 - near the bottom of the last jobs slump. The Labor Department's most comprehensive alternative unemployment rate measure - which includes people who want to work but are discouraged from looking and people working part time because they can't find full-time jobs - stood at 10.7 percent in August, its highest level since June 1994. In addition, 1 in every 5 of the 9.4 million unemployed has not been able to find a job despite looking for 27 weeks or more.

Revised figures show that the economy expanded at a 3.3 percent rate in the second quarter, but all signs suggest that growth will slow markedly in the coming months. The Federal Reserve's "Beige Book," which compiles reports from regional Federal Reserve Banks, found widespread weakness in August. As today's jobs report shows, the labor market is particularly weak. Claims for unemployment insurance jumped unexpectedly this week to 444,000 and the number of people receiving unemployment benefits is the highest since November 2003.

The weak growth that is forecast for the rest of 2008 and into 2009 suggests that a well-targeted second round of fiscal stimulus would benefit the economy, as well as state governments and those individuals who are most feeling the effects of the weak economy. To be most effective, such a package should provide assistance to those who are experiencing the greatest hardship and should go where it will be spent most quickly and thus have the largest stimulus impact.

Specifically, a temporary increase in aid to state governments to help them avoid budget cuts and tax increases and a temporary increase in food stamp benefits would have a high fiscal stimulus bang-for-the-buck because they would be spent quickly. An increase in low-income home energy assistance (LIHEAP) would be well-timed to keep low-income households from cutting back on other purchases when facing high energy bills. Policymakers have enacted an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for workers exhausting their regular benefits but, given pronounced weakness in the labor market, additional assistance to unemployed workers would help unemployed workers and be very effective stimulus as well. As with the first stimulus package, the three T's - timely, targeted, and temporary - should be the guiding principles in designing an effective package.

This statement is available on the Center's web site at: http://www.cbpp.org/9-5-08ui-stmt.htm.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization and policy institute that conducts research and analysis on a range of government policies and programs. It is supported primarily by foundation grants.

SOURCE Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

BETHLEHEM, Pa., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Five hundred local leaders, philanthropists, foundations, and organizations today renewed a pledge to area children and families as groundbreaking began for major renovations, construction, and improvements at the historic, original Bethlehem campus of the 126-year-old children's charity KidsPeace.

The effort will replace and upgrade facilities for children, including two residences built a century ago and one that was previously destroyed. It will also create esthetic and traffic improvements, and provide a new entrance and driveway to increase safety for the greater neighborhood. The new home will serve about the same number of youngsters.

"This renovation is part of our ongoing commitment to quality and safety as we help children overcome very difficult problems," said KidsPeace Acting President Dr. Lorrie Henderson. "KidsPeace has a long tradition of giving the best to kids who have been through the worst. We are fortunate to have so many friends and neighbors in the Lehigh Valley who feel the same way."

KidsPeace was founded in 1882 by Bethlehem Steel President William Thurston and since then has helped save and improve the lives of more than 150,000 children experiencing severe traumas and crises such as abuse, neglect, depression and autism.

The nonprofit's board chairman Joel Newman joined with representatives from the Trexler Trust, the Century Fund, the Laros Foundation, the KidsPeace Auxiliary and leaders from major local foundations, government & industry to inaugurate the community's newest commitment to helping a new generation of children to live happier, healthier lives.

An abbreviated list of donors includes: PPL, the Harry C. Trexler Trust, the R.K. Laros Foundation, the Rider Pool Foundation, Keystone Nazareth Charitable Foundation, Empire Education Group, State of Pennsylvania, Patt, White Company, Verizon Foundation, the KidsPeace Auxiliary, Just Born, Inc., The Fowler Family, The Sacco Family, Charles Hoch Foundation, the Century Fund, David and Jill Bugby, Kurt Chaleby, Spillman-Farmer Architects, Gross, McGinley LLP, and the Blitz family.

"Through the Great Depression, two World Wars, national disasters and terror attacks, KidsPeace has been there for kids and families," said Dr. Henderson. "Today's outstanding support by the community is a pledge to our children and a pledge to ourselves that we intend to keep the Lehigh Valley a great place to raise healthy, happy kids."

KidsPeace is a 126-year-old children's charity dedicated to giving help, hope and healing to kids facing life-threatening and life-altering crises including traumas, neglect, depression, and the pressures of modern life. Founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 1882, KidsPeace was named "The Outstanding Organization" of its kind in the country by the AAPSC and was called "a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere" by the late, nationally renowned child and family expert, Dr. Lee Salk.

    Contact: Mark Stubis, vice president
    (800) 25-PEACE or mstubis@kidspeace.org

SOURCE KidsPeace

GRAFTON, Mass., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- In a continuing effort to provide the best wireless service for local residents in Worcester County, Verizon Wireless has activated a new cell site. The new site increases high-speed wireless data coverage and capacity along Route 30 and Old Westborough Road in Grafton and Westborough, Massachusetts, as well as the surrounding area.

Verizon Wireless has invested more than $45 billion since it was formed to increase the coverage and capacity of its national network and to add new services like BroadbandAccess and V CAST. Regionally the company has invested over $2.2 billion into its New England network, including over $100 million during the first six months of 2008. As a result of these investments, every Verizon Wireless cell site in New England provides wireless broadband connectivity.

"We've always believed that even the most advanced cell phone is only as good as the network it runs on," said director for Network Systems Performance for Verizon Wireless, Richard Enright. "We continue to aggressively invest into our wireless networks across New England to increase coverage and capacity for our customers."

BroadbandAccess offers computer users the nation's most reliable high- speed wireless mobile broadband network, operating at average upload speeds between 500 and 800 kbps, and download speeds between 600 kbps and 1.4 mbps over Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess with EV-DO Revision A network. V CAST brings video clips of TV shows, music on demand and other multimedia services to wireless phones.

Strong demand for Verizon Wireless services continued during the second quarter of 2008 as the company added 1.5 million net new customers and, for the fifteenth consecutive quarter, reported the lowest customer turnover (highest customer loyalty) rate in the wireless industry.

The company's 'nation's most reliable wireless network' reputation is based on network studies performed by real-life test men and test women throughout the country who inspired the "can you hear me now" national advertising campaign. Nationally, these test men and women drive nearly 100 specially equipped vehicles almost 1,000,000 miles annually on Interstate, U.S. and state highways as well as major roads and surface streets in high- population areas, based upon U.S. Census counts, to confirm that voice calls and data connections are successful on the first attempt and stay connected. Vehicles are equipped with computers that automatically make more than three million voice call attempts and more than 16 million data tests annually on Verizon Wireless' network and the networks of other carriers.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 68.7 million customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 70,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). For more information, go to: www.verizonwireless.com . To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia .

SOURCE Verizon Wireless

Unveiling of The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection Begins 70th Anniversary Of The Wizard Of Oz Celebration

In anticipation of the 70th anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz in 2009, Warner Bros. Consumer Products in partnership with CRYSTALLLIZED(TM) - Swarovski Elements invited the world's top shoe designers to reinterpret Dorothy's iconic ruby slippers for modern times. The designers have been granted creative license and access to unlimited CRYSTALLIZED(TM) - Swarovski Elements to re-imagine Dorothy's design with their own modern vision of the iconic Ruby Slippers.

Participating designers include: A. Testoni, Abaete, Alberta Ferretti, Betsey Johnson, Botkier, Diane von Furstenberg, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, L.A.M.B. by Gwen Stefani, Lisa Pliner, Manolo Blahnik, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Roger Vivier, Sergio Rossi, Stuart Weitzman, Tibi, Tuleh.

The Collection will be showcased at an incredible installation surrounding the famed fountain area at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's Bryant Park tents beginning September 5th.

After Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week wraps the Ruby Slipper Collection will make an appearance at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's Kids For Kids Family Carnival in New York City's Park Avenue Armory building on September 20th. Additional stops for the collection include Miami to coincide with Art Basel Miami Beach December 4-8th. Multiple public viewings are planned throughout 2009.

The complete and original The Wizard Of Oz Ruby Slipper Collection will be auctioned in fall 2009 with the proceeds benefiting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

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NEWS: Famous Designers Create Ruby Slipper Collection for 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz

FORMAT: B-roll and Soundbites

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Video, contact information and more available at: http://www.prnewswire.com/broadcast/34725/press.html

    SOUNDBITES:
    * Fern Mallis, Senior Vice President, IMG Fashion
    * Brad Globe, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products
    * Designers, Betsey Johnson & Stuart Weitzman
    * Nina Garcia (Project Runway), Lorraine Bracco (Sopranos), Gloria Reuben
      (ER), Nigel Barker (America's Next Top Model), Perrey Reeves
      (Entourage), Santino Rice

    B-ROLL INCLUDES:
    * Fashion Week kick-off party at Saks
    * Original Ruby Slippers
    * Designer's Shoes on Display at Fashion Week tents
    * Other Celebs including Chef Bobby Flay, Lindsay Price, Stephanie March

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Contact: FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL: MultiVu Media Relations, 1-800-653-5313 EXT. 3

SOURCE Warner Bros. Consumer Products

State health officials will kick off Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Week at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, in the Rotunda of the Main Capitol Building in Harrisburg.

The event will help to raise awareness about the importance of women abstaining from alcohol use during pregnancy and address fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Speakers will include Acting State Health Deputy Secretary for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Janice Kopelman and Acting Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs Director Robin Rothermel.

EVENT:

Kick off of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Week in Pennsylvania

DATE:

Monday, Sept. 8

TIME:

10:30 a.m.

LOCATION:

Rotunda

Main Capitol

Harrisburg

CONTACT: Holli Senior of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, +1-717-787-1783

/PRNewswire-USNewswire - Sept. 5/

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Health