Even during these stressful times, mental illness is a hard subject for many to discuss openly. The Make It OK campaign works to reduce the stigma of mental illness and increase understanding about it.

Make It OK encourages us to start conversations based on facts.

Fact 1: Mental illness is common. One out of every five adults will experience a mental illness during life. Persons of all ages, races and income levels are diagnosed.

Fact 2: Most mental illnesses can be treated effectively with medication, therapy, diet, exercise and support. Mental illness, like any disease, is a medical condition not a character flaw. It can neither be fixed through will power nor can the ill person just snap out of it.

Fact 3: Stigma can keep people from seeking help and can derail progress toward healing. Stigma a psychological effect of ignorance, prejudice and cruelty is a form of social shaming, such as the use of negative slang when describing mental illness, categorizing all mentally ill persons as the same, avoiding the mentally ill and discriminating against them.

Make It OK offers these tips for supporting persons with mental illness:

Stop the silence. Its okay to talk about it. Show kindness. Listen. Keep in contact with ill persons. Dont ignore the disease. Offer to help.

As an example of these tips, think about if someone you know has cancer. You ask how theyre doing today and whether you can give them a ride to an appointment or babysit their children while they go to the clinic. Why dont we do that with persons suffering from mental illness?

Its been said that mental illness is the no casserole disease. When someone has surgery, friends bring a casserole. Not so with mental illness. Ironically, persons suffering from mental illness may have trouble coping with daily tasks and appreciate help.

There are resources to help you learn more about mental illness and help you follow through with your good intentions, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Federation of Families for Childrens Mental Health and the Make It OK website.

The Dallas County Health Navigation program can also assist you in connecting to mental health treatment, support groups and health insurance. Call them at 515-993-3750.

Ann Cochran is the health navigation coordinator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.

More:
Make It OK helps us face mental illness, overcome stigma - theperrynews.com

Tamannaah is a famous actress in Tollywood. She works in Tamil and Telugu films and she has also worked in Hindi films and is famous for her acting skills. She started her acting career as a child artist with a Bollywood film. She is very famous in South Indian film industry. Tamannaah has maintained herself very well and has a sexy and hot figure. She works hard to maintain her body. She is a great dancer too and loves to dance.

Tamannaah is successful in achieving a well-toned body and it is just because of her dedication and hard work towards fitness. She believes that to remain fit is important and for that exercise is a must. She says that to stay healthy and fit you should drink a lot of water to keep your body hydrated. She says that fitness is just like brushing your teeth.

Through fitness, she dazzles with a perfectly toned figure. She said that I dont resist eating because it is a natural stimulation. Incase I consume extra calories, I work out more rigorously at the gym. She loves homemade food. She spends most of the time in the gym by doing weights, abs, crunches, cardio and a series of freehand exercises.

Check out amazing pictures of Tamannaah and stay tuned to IWMbuzz.com

View original post here:
Revealed: Tamannaah Bhatias Workout Regime and Diet Secrets - IWMBuzz

Sometimes your life can change radically in a heartbeat. Literally, one beat of your heart.

That happened to me a week ago or so. To be totally accurate, it was on a Friday. Friday the 13th to be exact. How ironic.

That change in a heart beat gave me a wake up call, and I want to share that wake up with everyone I know, including you.

I was on a one week trip to Florida. We were doing the usual things - staying with friends, meeting up with other friends, going out on a boat ride, catching a Twins game (which turned out to be the last Twins spring training game in Ft. Myers, as the rest were cancelled), swimming in the pool, eating, consuming some adult beverages, etc.

I didn't feel the best the whole week. I was having some discomfort off and on. Kind of a tight chest, full feeling, not a lot of pep or energy, pain in the back that came and went. My belt felt tight. I was a little short of breath from time to time. And I had some heartburn after I ate and burped a lot.

I thought it could be gall bladder, appendicitis or bad indigestion.

So I called back to UHD in Blue Earth and made an appointment with my physician, Dr. Bobby Karp. It was for Friday, the 13th, later in the afternoon, after we would get home.

Thursday night I had some bad discomfort and did not sleep well. Friday morning we went to the airport early, flew back to Sioux Falls, arriving by 11:30 a.m., had lunch and headed home.

By 4 p.m. I was in the UHD Clinic waiting room. As you are probably aware, one of the first things that happens during a clinic appointment is they check your blood pressure. Mine was sky high.That led to some blood tests and an EKG.

Dr. Karp then gave me some news. You are having a heart attack, he said. You mean, I had a heart attack, I questioned. No, he answered, you are having a heart attack right now.

Let me tell you, even if you are not having a heart attack, being told by your doc that you are having one will definitely give you one.

Dr. Karp then said I was going to be sent to a cardiac unit and I had my choice of Sioux Falls, Mankato, the Twin Cities or Rochester. I chose Mankato. I asked when I needed to go. He said now, right now, the helicopter has been ordered and will be here in 18 minutes.

Now, I asked? Helicopter, I asked? Really, do I need a helicopter, I again asked? Yes, he said. Speed is of the essence.

From there it was a wheelchair ride to the UHD new emergency room to be hooked up to IVs and get ready for the copter ride. The irony of this also was pretty hard to ignore. Only a week before I had written in this very space how wonderful UHD's new emergency department was, but how I hoped never to have to use it.

I can now attest from personal experience, that it is very nice and has a competent and speedy staff.

The helicopter, Mayo Three, left the UHD roof and 18 minutes later landed on the Mayo Clinic Mankato roof. I was on a gurney and seconds later was in the door, down the hall and being lifted onto a table in the Cath-Lab procedure room. A cardiologist and full surgical team immediately went to work on me, putting a stent into a vein in my heart.

I was awake for the whole thing. By 7:30 p.m. I was in a recovery room, by 8:30 p.m. in ICU.

This change in my life was pretty darn fast. Now it is a low sodium diet, exercise, and taking a bunch of pills every day. That too, drips with irony. I have bragged for years about not having to take any drugs, not even one, and now I have a bunch to swallow each day.

So here is the wake up call I wish to share with you all - especially the men.

If you don't feel well, get yourself to a doctor. Even if you are not sure if you feel bad enough to go to the doctor, go anyway.

I never thought I was having a heart attack. I never had that hug your chest kind of gripping pain, or severe pain in my arm. (In fact, I was not in much pain in the ER, the helicopter or the procedure room.)

Yet, I did know something was not right with me on that trip. I should have gone to a doctor in Florida, but I didn't.

Some of my friends and family have called me a D.A., and I don't mean a district attorney. The D stands for a word that means stupid and the A stands for a word that means donkey. And then they add that I am a very lucky D.A. and, I have to agree with them.

Dr. Karp agrees as well. When he learned I had had symptoms for a week, he asked me, slightly sarcastically, did I never even think about coming into the ER. I said, well, I was in Florida. He said he was pretty sure there are ERs in Florida, too.

He's right. I should have gone in. I was a D.A. Don't you be one, too. Don't feel right? Get it checked out.

Original post:
My Friday the 13th experience - faribaultcountyregister.com | News, Sports, Information on the Blue Earth region - Faribault County Register

Image Credit: iStock

In the wake of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic by World Health Organisation, we as a community need to do all we can by following instructions that have been put in place to protect us and our loved ones while looking after our mental health and well-being and maintaining a positive outlook in the midst of social distancing.

This is not something we have experienced before so it can take some time for the brain to accept and adjust to the new situation we all face globally as a community, said Dr Khawla Ahmed Al Mir, Consultant Psychiatrist at Rashid Hospital.

- Dr Khawla Ahmed Al Mir, Consultant Psychiatrist at Rashid Hospital, DHA

The first thing I would say is to stay informed by trusted and official sources. Get advice and information from official sources and limit the consumption of information, particularly as there can be information overload. You can restrict consumption of information to certain times in the day and ensure you browse official sites before scrolling through your socials.

Those who suffer from anxiety and panic disorders in particular might witness flare-ups and the best way to avoid it is to minimise information overload and stick to official sources of information at specific times during the day. Keeping a daily routine or a habit journal and filling it with a specific schedule will help bring calm, as the power of routines is often underestimated.

It is the one fundamental thing I would like to emphasise. At such times, falling into unhealthy patterns of behaviour is easy and that will make you feel worse not better. Therefore, it is important to build a routine that works for you and your family. Kids also thrive in a structured environment. It doesnt need to be very specific but a broadly structured environment will help you and your family.

Build a routine that works for you and stick to it as much as possible, additionally develop a habit journal and focus on activities that you enjoy or create goals that will make you achieve a sense of fulfilment.

Do not underestimate the power of exercise, says Dr Mir. Make sure you do some home workouts to avoid slacking on your daily dose of exercise. Make sure your children get some form of exercise at home and making it fun helps the family unwind together. There have been several studies that have proven the positive power of exercise on both mental and physical well-being.

This could be a time to read more books, spend more time with your family, learn a new language, or garden. Its the time to reflect and then weave the things you want to do into your daily routine.

Look for ideas of exercises you can do at home

Seek credible information at specific times of the day

Reflect on activities that you enjoy and put them into your routine

Those working from home should make a routine that supports their work

In your spare time, things you can do at home: reading, cooking (learning a new dish or baking), playing board games with the family, cooking with children, enjoying your favourite radio or TV programmes and distance learning any language or skill

Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals and stay away from the temptation to eat junk food or excessive eating. Home exercising will also motivate you to follow a healthier diet.

Stay virtually connected with friends and family. Stay in touch with your loved ones all over the world and build that into your routine

Use technology such as helpful apps learning apps, home workout apps and mindfulness apps

Originally posted here:
The power of routine in a time of information overload - Gulf News

Dr. Richard Ruhling taught Health Science at Loma Linda University, a community featured in a National Geographic cover story on longevity. "They were trying to find out the secret as to why so many people in my town were living well into their 80's, 90's and even 100 years of age," says Ruhling.

In Dr. Ruhling's new book Health, Happiness & Destiny he shares the secrets of how just about anyone can live an extra 10 years. "I'm 78 years old," says Ruhling, "and I am in better health now than when I was 35! How do I do it? Diet, exercise and faith and staying away from the leading cause of deathPRESCRIPTION DRUGS and Medical Care"

"Funny thing," adds Ruhling, "The Center for Disease Control doesn't even mention medical care in their list of top 10 causes of death! I reveal the truth in my book because so many people don't know what they don't know about prescription drugs"

The Journal of American Medical Assoc. reported 106,000 deaths in hospitals from Adverse Drug Reactions (April 1998). But most people don't die in hospitals. 199,000 died outside the hospital from prescription drugs, reported in the Western Journal of Medicine, (June 2000). Together, they represent 305,000 deaths. From 1998 to 2005, deaths from ADRs increased 2.7 fold. (Archives of Internal Medicine (Sept. 2005).

"Ads on TV promoting new drugs actually cause more use and, you guessed it, more people dying from Adverse Drug Reactions," says Ruhling, "In fact we've had a 2.7 fold increase from TV drug ads since 2007.

Ruhling was board-certified in Internal Medicine and had a Cardiology Fellowship before teaching Health Science at Loma Linda University, a community featured in National Geographic as the only 'Blue Zone' for health in N. America for a preponderance of people living beyond national averages. (Nov, 2005).

"In this essential book, Dr. Ruhling demonstrates how eating right and avoiding bad habits, combined with a strong faith in a higher power, can form the foundation for a healthier lifestyle"

John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press

Ruhling decries the CDC disinformation because when people don't see drugs as a leading cause of death and they think they may die from heart disease, they are more inclined to take drugs for diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol and they are at higher risk for doing so.

According to Ruhling, medical care is not healthcare; it's the diagnosis and treatment of diseaseit's disease care and has an inverse relationship to health. The more one sees the doctor and takes prescription drugs, the worse one's health becomes. He says we should remember Hippocrates"Let your food be your medicine" His book shows how this is possible, affirming Pritikin's findings that a low fat, low cholesterol diet helps reverse most chronic conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes as a growing number of physicians are discovering.

The book has received high praise from many doctors and top reviewers:

"Everyone, young, old, fit or unfit, will benefit greatly from reading this eye-opening book by Richard Ruhling, MD, providing powerful pointers on the important part we play in achieving total mind and body health" Susan Keefe, Midwest Book Review, 5-stars

"This is a splendid book by a man who obviously cares about the radiant life! Accompanying the physical health guidance is the liberal use of scriptural references that provide thoughtful moments of reflection. Highly recommended" Grady Harp, MD, Top 100 Hall of Fame Amazon Reviewer

"A very enjoyable read with a few "aha" moments I wanted more. I found the section on healthcare to be very interesting" Dr. Josh Powell

Health, Happiness & Destiny Come from Wise Choices, is published by Total Health Pub, ISBN 1700465600, 2019 paperback, $6.49, Kindle: $2.99 199 pages, available in fine bookstores everywhere and on Amazon. "Buy it and treat yourself to a meal for your mind," concludes Ruhling.

About Richard Ruhling MD. Author Richard Ruhling earned both his MD and Masters in Public Health from Loma Linda University, followed by a cardiology fellowship and residency in Internal Medicine. He has taught Health Science at Loma Linda University and has become well known for his total health approach for a better life. He has published fifteen books on health issues and religious themes - his WHITE HORSE SERIES and in this new book in that series he combines his advice on health with spiritual thought and the result is richly impressive 'food for thought' and guide for a healthy happy life. Here's Dr. Ruhling with a special message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf5B9MAbleg

Media Contact: For a review copy of Health, Happiness & Destiny Come from Wise Choices or to arrange an interview with Dr. Ruhling, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Communications Book Marketing at scottlorenz@westwindcos.com or by phone at 734-667-2090. Follow Lorenz on twitter @abookpublicist

Read more from the original source:
What's The #1 Leading Cause of Death? New Book 'Health, Happiness & Destiny' Exposes The Truth- Prescription Drugs - NewsReleaseWire.com

Ann Coulter revealed details of how she was banned and subsequently unbanned from Fox News Channel in a Wednesday-aired interview on SiriusXMs Breitbart News Daily with host Alex Marlow.

Marlow drew on a recently published New Yorker column referencing Coulters recollection of a conversation she had with President Donald Trump regarding the aforementioned banning.

There was a great anecdote in there where you were banned from Fox and then Trump got you unbanned instantly, said Marlow. That was pretty funny.

LISTEN:

Coulter noticed the anecdote as shared by Anntensity, a fan profile on Twitter dedicated to her.

Coulter replied:

I saw that. It was tweeted on Anntensity, a fantastic Ann fan Twitter site. And only as a point of pride I would like to point out that technically it was during the transition I was telling I was begging the president to hire Kris Kobach at HHS. He said, Murdoch is calling me every day, Im only saying this because its out now, anyway Murdochs calling me every day, and I said, Yeah, he opposed you during the campaign and got me banned from Fox when I supported you. Look, Im giving up my career to get you in the White House. Please, just hire Kris Kobach, and he said, Oh, wait. Youre not allowed on Fox? Want me to call Murdoch?And as a point of pride, Id like to say that I said, No. No, Mr. President-elect. All I care about is that you hire Kris Kobach. Were trying to save the country, here.

Coulter then revealed, It was later when I found out it wasnt Murdoch, at all. It was always Hannity. Turns out it wasnt Murdoch, at all. So I guess he called Hannity.

[Former] Goldman Sachs employees have served Trump so well, mused Coulter sarcastically. Its great that Gary Cohn leaked that thing this week about how Trump ordered him to crush some merger because CNN has been bad to him. Yeah, that was fantastic. It was great that you brought in Gary Cohn. Who wouldve thought that hed be a traitor, Mr. President?

It looks really, really bad, said Coulter of claims that Trump directed former White House economic adviser Gary Cohn to block a merger between AT&T and Time Warner: It may not be against the law, but that looks bad if true.

Who did that [allegation] come from? added Coulter, speculating that Cohn shared the aforementioned allegation with the New Yorker. Just the most loyal person you will ever find: Gary Cohn from Goldman Sachs. Another great hire by Jared, she quipped.

President Kushner, joked Coulter along with other members of Trumps family had brought in all the Never Trumpers, and the RNC; the precise people he was running against in order to win the nomination.

Breitbart News Daily broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot 125 weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

Follow Robert Kraychik onTwitter.

.

Continued here:

Ann Coulter Tells True Story of Being Banned from Fox News

The White House press briefing room this week implemented a temporary seating chart to accommodate the Center for Disease Control and Preventionss social distancing guidelines, but Donald Trumps staff still managed to carve out space for One America News Network, the far-right network known for its pro-Trump content. And on Thursday, that networks correspondent, Chanel Rion used her hard-hitting journalistic chops to ask the president whether he considers the term Chinese food racist, and rant against the left-wing media that consistently [sides] with foreign state propaganda just to oppose Trump.

No summary can do Rions question justice, so here she is in her own words:

Do you consider the term Chinese food racist, because its food that originated from China? And on that note, major left-wing media even in this room have teamed up with Chinese Communist Party narratives, and they are claiming you are racist.

Is it alarming that major media players, just to oppose you, are consistently siding with foreign state propaganda, Islamic radicals and Latin gangs and cartels? And they work right here out of the White House with you and your team!

Trump takes question from far-right OAN personality who asks if term Chinese food is racist, mocking those who take offense to him calling COVID-19 a Chinese virus.

She claims the media is using Chinese communist party narratives.

Trump responds by basheing the press. pic.twitter.com/LknQJ9iQX1

Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 19, 2020

Trump, of course, used that remarkable setup to complain about the dishonest media (blah blah blah, weve heard this tune before). As he finished, Rion replied, More than dishonest! Theyre siding with state propaganda!

Members of the press were largely unimpressed with Rions superb contribution to journalistic inquiry. Below is a sample of tweets:

To put a finer point on it the woman from OAN teed up that rant by comparing this to Chinese food. Until today I thought nothing surprised me anymore and Im speechless. https://t.co/7yXMByJ9Ql

Elise Labott (@EliseLabott) March 19, 2020

OAN is not a news organization. Theyre a media arm of the Trump administration and the Trump campaign. Not complicated.

Isaac Saul (@Ike_Saul) March 19, 2020

The OAN personality who asked this question is the same OAN personality who traveled with @RudyGiuliani to Europe and peddled Ukraine conspiracy theories.

Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) March 19, 2020

Were in a pandemic and Trump is bashing the corrupt and fake news after a sympathetic OAN reporter asserts that left-wing news media in the room are pushing Chinese communist party narratives. These briefings are increasingly useless.

Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) March 19, 2020

OAN is not journalism; its propaganda. The fact they have White House credentials is an insult, and this incredibly offensive question illustrated why. https://t.co/tRLStHKG2a

Kristen M. Clark (@ByKristenMClark) March 19, 2020

OAN is not legitimate news. Its a Trump administration PR arm.

Jeaa (@jeannathomas) March 19, 2020

Trump and OAN turning this Covid-19 press conference into a PSA against journalism is nauseating.

Hal Rudnick (@halrudnick) March 19, 2020

OAN. Thank you, you treat me very nicely, says Trump as she alleges U.S. reporters are teaming up with the Chinese Community Party to smear the president or something, I stopped paying attention.

Jay Willis (@jaywillis) March 19, 2020

Chanel is the idiot who just asked the question for OAN at the White House presser https://t.co/zRbYYAbA7f

Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 19, 2020

OAN lady could ask him about the moon landing and hed start with many people are saying it didnt happen

superchunk (@superchunk) March 19, 2020

A reporter from OAN at this Trump presser is asking a question using rightwing talking points, and you can literally see other journalists in the shot barely keeping themselves from rolling their eyes.

Charlotte Clymer (@cmclymer) March 19, 2020

What is an OAN and how did this idiot get a press credential? pic.twitter.com/dTiuHui8So

Jamie OGrady (@JamieOGrady) March 19, 2020

this OAN woman is an Uncle Tom

David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) March 19, 2020

OANs questions during the presser are embarrassing even by conservative standards

johnknefel (@johnknefel) March 19, 2020

OAN goes full Q in the briefing room

Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) March 19, 2020

But it wasnt all bad. At least Ann Coulter liked her:

LOVE the question from the cute OAN gal!

Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) March 19, 2020

then let us make a small request. AlterNets journalists work tirelessly to counter the traditional corporate media narrative. Were here seven days a week, 365 days a year. And were proud to say that weve been bringing you the real, unfiltered news for 20 yearslonger than any other progressive news site on the Internet.

Its through the generosity of our supporters that were able to share with you all the underreported news you need to know. Independent journalism is increasingly imperiled; ads alone cant pay our bills. AlterNet counts on readers like you to support our coverage. Did you enjoy content from David Cay Johnston, Common Dreams, Raw Story and Robert Reich? Opinion from Salon and Jim Hightower? Analysis by The Conversation? Then join the hundreds of readers who have supported AlterNet this year.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure AlterNet remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to AlterNet, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

See the rest here:

OAN correspondent goes full Q in the briefing room tells Trump the media has teamed up with foreign state propaganda - AlterNet

Chick-fil-A welcomed hundreds of new customers during its grand opening Thursday.

The fast food chain began serving hungry, new customers bright and early at 6:30 a.m. through its drive-thru window only, due to statewide health department restrictions in relation to the coronavirus.

Joe Bell, spokesman for Cafaro Co., the malls parent company, said the opening marks one of 18 restaurants and eateries at the Ohio Valley Mall that will continue to serve food via carry-out or delivery.

Chick-fil-A Business Manager Hannah Yount said more than 350 people had driven through the drive-thru before noon on the opening day.

We have been pretty steady all day so far. Its been a great turnout, she said.

Employees were busy working in the midst of a lunch rush, she said.

Were cranking through it, she added.

The eatery is famous for serving a variety of chicken entrees including breakfast, lunch and dinner options and has stores across the country.

The Intelligencer/ Wheeling News-Register

As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread across the country, local organizations are reaching out to make sure Weirton residents dont go without.

Numerous local organizations and churches are pulling together to ensure our citizens have food, Mayor Harold Miller said on Thursday.

According to information provided by the mayor, the Weirton Christian Center and Table of Hope will be distributing take-home meals on select days, while food banks will be available through the Salvation Army, Community Bread Basket, Family Resource Center and First United Methodist Church.

The Weirton Christian Center, located at 117 Ivy St., will be providing take-home meals for children between 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those interested are asked to go to the back of the building for the meal.

Table of Hope, located at 3301 West St., will provide take-out meals between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Brooke County Commission, Tuesday, discussed local response to the COVID-19 coronavirus and voiced support for the proposed development of a statistical port district in the area.

Mike Bolen, administrator of the countys health department, told the commissioners, Were in the prevention stage right now and we want to keep it that way as much as possible. We want to keep it from spreading.

He said medical researchers are still learning about the disease and health officials are updating public guidelines as they know more.

Were doing the things we know work for now. Social distancing works, Bolen said.

If you look at the state of West Virginia, were not spring chickens, he said, noting the state has a high percentage of senior citizens.

Public health officials have said the disease presents the greatest risk to the elderly and people with chronic health conditions.

If we dont do anything, we have a very vulnerable population and we could overtax our healthcare system and emergency responders very quickly, Bolen said.

On Thursday the Randolph County Commission unanimously denied the City of Elkins request to annex three properties by minor boundary adjustment.

During Thursdays commission meeting, officials said the request was denied due to legislative changes in West Virginia code 8-6-5(d), as was recommended by Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Michael Parker.

Prior to voting, Randolph County Commissioner Mark Scott stated, There are some concerns that the city has about us taking an action on this plan, and weve sought the advice of our prosecutor. He came back to us and said subsequent to the request that was made on Feb. 6, the state legislature made a change to the law, which says that in order for a minor boundary adjustment to be done by a city, they have to get the approval of 100% of the stakeholders that are involved in that annexation.

With the three that were presented to us, that means that they would have to go to the property owners of all three of those properties, get their approval and then apply for us to approve the annexation, Scott said.

Davis & Elkins College pre-service teachers gained classroom experience and helped Elkins Middle School students learn more about digital citizenship in connection with social media.

Over a two-day period in February, 22 D&E students instructed courses for all sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at Elkins Middle School. Digital citizenship focuses on teaching respect, responsibility, social etiquette and how the misuse of social media can lead to problems with the law, school and the workplace. The project coordinates with the curriculum in D&Es EDUC 120 Education Technology course taught by D&E instructor of education Danielle Riggins.

Vincent Kitch has been hired as the new director of Arts and Cultural Development, according to a release from the city of Morgantown.

Kitch was selected out of a pool of 112 candidates. With more than 20 years of experience in government-based arts administration, Kitch has served as the director of cultural services for the city of Fort Collins, Colorado, and as the cultural arts manager for the city of Carlsbad, California. Kitch holds a Master of Music from Illinois State University and has certification from the Harvard University Senior Executives in State and Local Government Executive Education Program.

I am excited to have Vincent join the citys team and to become a leader within the community for arts and cultural affairs, said Morgantown Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli. His experience in municipal arts administration and management will be a great addition to the areas existing arts groups.

Kitch currently resides in Fort Collins, Colorado, and will be relocating to Morgantown in the coming weeks. His expected start date is April 6.

It was business as usual in the Berkeley County Council chambers Thursday morning as council members approved the airport ordinance and provided updates on the ever-changing coronavirus pandemic.

What was an ongoing matter beginning in the latter half of 2019, the council discussed and ultimately unanimously adopted an updated Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority runway protection zone ordinance.

The ordinance protects both the airport and community to ensure proper space is allowed around the runway, as well as prohibits the height of structures built near the runway.

Heather Williams, planning director, had previously provided council members with packets of the original ordinance adopted in 2004 and updates to the ordinance that were discussed by the planning commission over the last few weeks.

Williams also provided maps and overlays showcasing the zone boundary surrounding the airport runway and added the materials would be available to the public on the countys website in the near future.

When he took the position of chief of police for the Martinsburg Police Department in 2015, Maury Richards said he wanted to tackle the citys drug problem and make downtown a safe place to be. A goal that he has accomplished, Richards is now resigning from the position.

In October 2015, Richards took the oath of office surrounded by family, friends and supporters after recently moving to his Martinsburg home.

The 24-year veteran of the Chicago police force was selected from 39 applicants from across the country, including two members of the Martinsburg police force. He replaced Kevin Miller as chief of police.

Beginning in 2006, Richards served as the lieutenant of police for Chicagos 4th District, which is South Chicago. As watch commander, he performed the function of captain, supervising 120 officers and directing all district operations and personnel.

Once in office, Richards tackled these issues head on. He also has been a proponent of prevention and treatment, as well as incarceration in some cases.

During his tenure at MPD, the department has had success with its Drug House Ordinance, Operation Spring Cleaning and the Martinsburg Initiative.

With thousands of bills sent out to addresses throughout the county, Public Service Stormwater District officials offered an update on the controversial stormwater management fee approved and implemented in the latter half of 2019.

Greg Rhoe, president of the Stormwater Management Board, offered councilmembers and the community an update on the continuing status of the recently implemented stormwater management fee Thursday, a fee that has seen its fair share of backlash since it was approved last year.

The implementation of the fee had a lot of moving parts because of the expanded customer base that we ended up billing those that the sewer or water district did not previously have information on, Rhoe said. We have billed about 38,000 clients; roughly 22,000 on water and sewer and roughly 15,700 non-water and non-sewer customers comes out to a gross billing of $1,540,000, but that doesnt show collectability. We anticipate receiving roughly $1.3 million back, which is right around where we need to be according to MS4 guidelines.

The Beckley Area Foundation has established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which will provide resources to local nonprofit organizations working to provide aid to those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Donations to CERF will support emergency needs identified by our nonprofit partners in human services, health, housing and education, and will make grants to nonprofits providing aid to impacted individuals and families in Raleigh County.

CERF is designed to complement the work of local public health, nonprofit and government entities and to expand local capacity to support individuals and families experiencing hardship because of the outbreak and related closures and disruptions.

Foundation leaders will be closely monitoring how the coronavirus impacts the community and will deploy financial resources to best meet evolving needs.

Individuals, corporations, donor advisors and private foundations are encouraged to join BAF in these efforts by making a gift to CERF. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be used to support local nonprofit organizations.

While restaurants and facilities like gyms in West Virginia and Ohio have been ordered to close, other establishments continue to assess the best way to do business amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For the Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley ReStore in Vienna, that means not doing business at all right now.

ReStore Director Ben Bradley said they had been monitoring the situation and decided to close Wednesday based on the latest guidance from Habitat for Humanity International. Hes hoping it will only last for the 15-day period recently discussed by President Donald Trump but said its too early to set a date to reopen again.

Its just so difficult to plan from one day to the next when the information is changing so rapidly, Bradley said.

The decision was made after weighing factors that include the health and safety of employees and the community, as well as the economic health of those groups, Bradley said. ReStores 12 employees will be paid through the current pay period, which ends a week from today, he said. After that, the situation will be re-evaluated.

Donations will not be accepted during the closure, but Bradley said theyll need them once the ReStore is able to reopen.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

The Wood County Board of Education held its first virtual meeting Thursday, receiving an update on the pandemic which made the remote meeting necessary.

Board members joined Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook on a video call Thursday evening to discuss COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, which in recent weeks has shut down schools, businesses and social gatherings throughout the United States and worldwide.

West Virginia was the last state to have a confirmed case of coronavirus, which led to more strict regulations including shutting down public schools and limiting gatherings to no more than 10 people.

Thursdays meeting was broadcast through Wood County Schools new Innovate site at http://www.wcsinnovate.com and the MicrosoftTeams app.

We thought it was important to touch base with the board, said board President Rick Olcott. More than 45 people, including the five board members and Hosaflook, joined Thursdays online meeting.

Hosaflook updated the school board on actions taken since last weeks announcement by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice to shut down schools statewide. Hosaflook said the districts priority has been to ensure students are fed and educated during the shutdown.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Airport Manager Glen Kelly says the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport has yet to see any negative impact from the COVID-19 situation.

The practice of sanitizing all primary contact surfaces started in January when the virus became more widespread around the world, Kelly said.

Uniforms also are washed on site so employees dont have to take them home.

Weve been very diligent on trying to stay ahead of the curve, he said.

The airport is still operating with its usual staff and under regular protocols.

Fuel sales are still up from previous years and have not been affected. Fuel sales and rentals are a majority of the revenue for the airport.

(We are) very happy the fuel sales are still there, Kelly said.

Contour Airlines is continuing to offer flights. Kelly said they are still seeing traffic from commercial flights.

The airline was running at the same capacity but Monday they started to see a market decrease on outbound enplanements.

Parkersburg News and Sentinel

Despite a likely pending spike in coronavirus claims and the collapse of the stock market, the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency remains in good financial health, members of the PEIA Finance Board were advised Thursday.

PEIA financial officers are projecting a spike in costs for COVID-19 testing and medical care for PEIA insurees likely will be offset by a drop-off in elective procedures during the pandemic.

We will see spiked utilization of services with the pandemic, but we also will see a decline in elective services, Jason Haught, PEIAs chief financial officer, told the board.

Not only do we think members are going to stay away from health-care providers for elective procedures, some facilities are completely disallowing elective procedures.

Meanwhile, through January, PEIA was on track to finish the 2019-20 budget year with a $264.5 million balance, as medical and pharmaceutical claims have come in below estimates so far, Haught said.

Charleston Gazette-Mail

More here:

Across the State - WV News

CHARLESTON Gov. Jim Justice in a public address Saturday warned that the state could end up in the same situation as New York City if directives to prevent the spread of the coronavirus known as COVID-19 are not followed.

Justice said he would not shut down the entire state now, and asked instead for all residents to bear down and buckle up to follow directives to stay home when possible, wash hands thoroughly and often and keep hands away from the face.

An additional four cases of COVID-19 disease were confirmed in the stateSaturday, bringing the total to 12. Marshall County had its first two cases Saturday, and Kanawha County and Mercer County had one additional case each.

There are now two cases each in Jefferson, Marshall, Mercer, Kanawha and Tucker counties and one each in Jackson and Monongalia, according to the state Department of Health and Human Resources.

As of Saturday evening, 397 state residents had been tested for COVID-19, with 385 negatives and one test pending at the state lab. The 397 total includes tests from the states public health lab, commercial labs and hospitals, according to the DHHR.

Also Saturday, the West Virginia Supreme Court's administrative branch, which oversees the state's circuit court system, released a statement saying one of the positive cases in Kanawha County involved a court worker, who has been hospitalized.

In his public address, the governor sounded a note of urgency.

I hate to alarm you in any way, shape or form or fashion," Justice said, "but weve got to move and weve got to move right now to save additional lives. If you look at where New York is today, think about where New York was roughly 10 days ago.

Justice compared the number of coronavirus infections in New York City to the number in West Virginia and said, as a percentage of the total population, the state today is in about the same situation as New York City was 10 days ago.

There was a wave coming, a potential wave that could be absolutely so destructive its unbelievable. Youre seeing it in New York. Youre seeing it tonight. Youre seeing panic. Youre seeing a situation where there could very well be thousands die, the governor said. Think where we could end up 10 days from today.

Justice was joined by Dr. Clay Marsh, vice president and dean of WVU Health Sciences, who praised the aggressive preventive actions that West Virginia has taken.

New York City did not, and now theyre underwater. And we know with information from China, which weve learned from, that once were underwater, it takes about two weeks to recover in any way, Marsh said. We have a real opportunity, but that opportunity is time-limited.

Justice said West Virginians have the power to stop the spread of the disease.

This terrible monster has got to have the ability to jump from person to person, and if it doesnt it dies, and it dies very quickly. And as we stay apart and the numbers flatten out, then our health-care systems can take care of us and can take care of each and every one of us in a way that keeps us somewhat safe, Justice said. The numbers dont skyrocket.

According to Justice, about 60% of state residents are doing what they need to do to slow the spread of COVID-19, but 40% have failed to recognize the danger faced in a state with a comparatively large population at higher risk of severe complications from the virus, including the elderly and people with chronic health conditions.

Justice also took time to praise the individuals who are doing their part, including seniors who are staying home, grocery store workers who staying on the job,health-care workers who are risking their own health to take care of others, as well as the West Virginia National Guard, school systems and counties that are feeding 200,000 kids who are not in schools.

The governor renewed his promise that the federal and state governments will step up to make businesses and citizens as whole as they can be economically.

Staff Writer JoAnn Snoderly can be reached at 304-626-1445, by email at jsnoderly@theet.com or on Twitter at @JoAnnSnoderly.

Excerpt from:

'Bear down and buckle up': Governor urges West Virginians to take action against COVID-19 - WV News

We must look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

As a seasoned executive in the consumer packaged goods market for more than twenty years, Ive had the opportunity to watch first-hand the remarkable evolution of major consumer trends tied to healthier lifestyles.

Consumers have transformed the retail landscape at large, as almost every category in your favorite grocery store now has a beautiful organic section carved out for those with natural preferences.

Our Gen Z children, the future buyers of this country, are eager to uncover where and how the products they consume are sourced, asking for Meatless Mondays, and making conscious choices about what goes in and on their bodies.

More celebrities are jumping on the vegetarian or flexitarian bandwagon I challenge you to open Instagram and not see a post about plant-based products or the plastic waste produced by traditional alternatives.

This growing trend is great news for our health, for the environment, and for the emerging businesses that are launching innovative new products daily to improve our well-being.

The question I ask is this: What about the less buzzy, but arguably most significant market categories such as feminine care? I said it; stay with me. Even if you are a male reading this, you have a Mother, Sister, Aunt, Wife or Daughter ... and we all share the same planet.

My cousin and I founded TOP the organic project (TOP) because, when we went looking for organic and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products for our daughters, we realized there were few options.

For decades, the feminine care category has operated with a complete lack of transparency as companies are not required to list their ingredients nor test their impact on womens health.

There have also been significant (and largely ignored) environmental and social impact issues that have gone completely unaddressed by the masses.

Every year, more than 20 billion period products end up in landfills, in the United States alone. Mainly composed of plastic materials and by-products, period product waste has a measurably negative impact on the environment, derailing global sustainability efforts, as each plastic tampon and pad takes thousands of years to decompose.

As a mom-owned social impact company on a mission to make sustainable, organic period products accessible for all, we recently launched a plant-based applicator tampon, the PLANTICATOR a high-performing alternative to the traditional, plastic-based tampons that dominate 90 percent of the market today.

Image credit: TOP the organic project

Benefits include a reduction in the use of fossil fuel resources, faster decomposition and an overall decrease in toxins; as well as eliminating BPA a hormone disruptor with documented health risks for women and girls altogether.

With the bioplastics market predicted to skyrocket from $6B to $19B+ by 2026, TOP aims to transform the period landscape with options that are better for you and the planet, similar to the evolution we're seeing with plant-based food and drink.

We recently visited the flagship store of one of the country's largest retailers, near their corporate office. It was a beautiful store with every aisle curated to meet all of your mainstream grocery needs with plenty of natural and organic alternatives. The store had both a sports bar and a wine bar we have indeed come a long way since the grocers of our past.

We were in awe of this modern shopping experience until we reached the feminine care cove at the back of the store. It looked like an aisle from the late 1980s, at best. When we asked the buyer why it looked so dated versus the rest of the store, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said, There just hasnt been much innovation in that category.

Our primary mission is to give every woman a choice to be proud of in the feminine care space, through innovation and a long overdue makeover for the feminine care aisles at grocery stores nationwide. Its our responsibility as global citizens to look at all categories where we can offer plant-based and sustainably sourced choices for intentional consumers who are paving the way for a brighter future. There has never been a time where we need to be more collectively conscious of the products we consume, and acknowledge their impacts on our long-term health.

Published Mar 17, 2020 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 12pm GMT / 1pm CET

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The Continued Evolution of Plant-Based Products and the Ones We're Not Hearing About - Sustainable Brands