Tuesday, March 19

Month: February 2015

Baton Rouge Urgent Care Centers Already Plan Extended Hours and Services After Mid City Campus Hospital Announces It Will Close Its ER on March 31
Business

Baton Rouge Urgent Care Centers Already Plan Extended Hours and Services After Mid City Campus Hospital Announces It Will Close Its ER on March 31

UPDATED 9/8/20 After hospital officials announced on Feb. 23 that the Baton Rouge General Medical Center-Mid City Campus would be closing its emergency room by March 31, the residents of Baton Rouge, LA seemed to have one collective thought: Thank goodness for urgent care centers. After the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals made the official statement regarding the hospital’s emergency room closing date, a number of regional immediate care medical centers quickly reassured Baton Rouge residents that emergency medical treatment would still be readily available, from the moment the hospital’s ER closes its doors. Local news station WAFB has reported that two LSU Urgent Care Clinic locations are already planning on extending their hours to accommodate emergency services,...
Vandals Cause a Quarter Million Dollars Worth of Damage to Milwaukee Hotel
Local

Vandals Cause a Quarter Million Dollars Worth of Damage to Milwaukee Hotel

Vandals caused over a quarter million dollars in damage at a Milwaukee hotel over the weekend, after tampering with a sprinkler system. According to the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, the incident occurred early Sunday morning at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center, which is located at 509 W. Wisconsin Ave around 1 am. Police say that they responded to the hotel after hotel employees reported a case of vandalism. Officers found that the perpetrators had tampered with the fire sprinkler system in a lower-floor public bathroom. Water from the sprinkler system seeped into the lobby and damaged drywall, wood trim, ceiling tiles, and carpeting. Carpeting is especially susceptible to ruin from water damage, but hotel carpeting can be some of the dirtiest there is to begin with -- investig...
16-Year-Old With Hearing Loss Moves Forward in Auditions for The Voice
Lifestyle

16-Year-Old With Hearing Loss Moves Forward in Auditions for The Voice

This season’s premiere of The Voice introduced yet another inspiring contestant to fans when Treeva Gibson, a 16-year-old Maryland native, was put through to the top 48 despite contending with hearing loss. Though one in four people in the U.S. above the age of 65 struggle with disabling hearing loss, it's extremely difficult for teenagers to cope with this problem -- especially while trying to perform. The singing show works by having contestants audition for famous musicians, who then act as coaches and choose singers to compete against each other. A combination of the judges’ opinions and public voting determines who stays on the show and who is kicked off after the initial auditions. The show started its eighth season Feb. 23, and will conclude in May. Gibson’s hearing loss prevents ...
Despite Frigid Temperatures, 100 Couples Said ‘I Do’ at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day
Local

Despite Frigid Temperatures, 100 Couples Said ‘I Do’ at the Empire State Building on Valentine’s Day

The bitter cold in New York City this Valentine's Day didn't stop 100 couples from tying the knot or renewing their vows at one of the most iconic locations in the city. Officials at the Empire State Building often limit the number of couples who can marry on the 86th-floor observation deck. But this year, the owners increased the number to allow 100 couples to affirm (or re-affirm) their commitments to one another. This is the 21st year that the Empire State Building has held its Valentine's Day event. The weather was especially frigid that Saturday, with high winds and low temperatures. One couple filmed by ABC News is seen standing in the howling wind while tourists mill around the deck behind them. But none of the happy couples seemed to mind the weather one bit. One eager bride w...
Research Team Finds Evidence of a Genetic Component in Cerebral Palsy Cases
World

Research Team Finds Evidence of a Genetic Component in Cerebral Palsy Cases

Biobanks are often an integral part of medical research, helping scientists store and access needed biological samples for study. As a result, research facilities around the world invest in biorepository management tools and software to ensure the integrity of their findings, which can hopefully be translated into new therapies and treatments for different medical conditions. For one international research group, this investment, combined with diligent work, seems to have paid off: recently, the team made what could be the biggest discovery about cerebral palsy in 20 years. Cerebral palsy is a condition that causes permanent physical disability, as well as epilepsy, communication problem,s and cognition problems in some cases. The disorder has long been thought to be due to a lack of ox...
Fiery Chili Peppers Could Help Burn Fat, Research Suggests
Lifestyle

Fiery Chili Peppers Could Help Burn Fat, Research Suggests

Need a way to turn up the heat and burn more calories? Consider adding more hot chili peppers to your diet. University of Wyoming researchers believe that capsaicin -- the fiery component that gives peppers their heat -- can potentially override a high-fat diet. As Medical Daily reports, the researchers added 0.01% of capsaicin to lab mice that were on high-fat diets, and found that the weight of the mice plateaued in those carrying the TRPV1 protein, despite the fatty diet. The researchers believe that capsaicin converts fat-storing white cells into fat-burning brown cells through the process of thermogenics, which is what happens during exercise. Once it's been activated, brown fat can burn up to 300 calories in 24 hours. Studies have also shown that brown fat can also help the body c...
How This Loophole Could Help Drivers Skip DUI Checkpoints
Lifestyle

How This Loophole Could Help Drivers Skip DUI Checkpoints

It's common knowledge that law enforcement officials sometimes set up DUI checkpoints, particularly on popular party holidays like New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day. Usually located on major routes, these checkpoints allow officers to stop each car that goes by and check for any suspicious behavior that could indicate DUI. What many drivers don't know, however, is that there is a loophole that could keep them from being charged. Driving under the influence in most of the United States means operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08% or higher. At a DUI checkpoint, officers generally check for the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, or any other obvious indicator that a person may be driving drunk. A new campaign by Fair DUI Flyer seeks to educate drivers...
Could You Handle Living in a Tiny Home?
Lifestyle

Could You Handle Living in a Tiny Home?

As housing costs and rents in cities like New York and San Francisco continue their upward trend, more people are looking to downsize and reduce spending. The growing movement of people building and living in tiny houses has influenced developers in larger cities to consider building tiny apartments for single tenants. In New York, the city had to waive current zoning laws that require apartments to be at least 400 square feet to allow the construction of My Micro NY, the first apartment complex of its kind. Featuring studio apartments between 260 and 360 square feet, My Micro NY offers amenities such as large windows, storage units, and common living spaces. Units will have nine foot ceilings, kitchenettes, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms. Rents will be set between $2,000 and $3,0...
Proper Landscaping Offers Numerous Environmental Benefits, Experts Say
Lifestyle

Proper Landscaping Offers Numerous Environmental Benefits, Experts Say

Xeriscaping, also known as drought tolerant landscaping, is gaining ground in states such as California and Arizona, especially as water bills have residents looking for relief. Landscapers in those areas are working hard to demonstrate that xeriscaping, while focusing on less thirsty plants, needn’t be dull or dry itself. When some people think of desert landscaping, “they picture in their minds rock, gravel and cactus,” Melanie Mackenzie, a landscape designer, told a reporter for the Visalia Times-Delta at the recent Spring Fest Home and Patio Show. “And that’s just not it.” Mackenzie, along with numerous other exhibitors at the California show, are part of the growing movement demonstrating that xeriscaping can include lush vegetation and flowers, as well as prickly cacti. The messag...
Wendy’s Plans to Roll Out Mobile Payment in All North American Locations by 2016
Business

Wendy’s Plans to Roll Out Mobile Payment in All North American Locations by 2016

Last year, Taco Bell and Starbucks both made waves by introducing mobile apps. This year, Wendy's will jump on the bandwagon by installing mobile-friendly point of sale terminals at over 2,600 locations. The new payment system will complement the existing Wendy's mobile rewards program and open up the possibility of mobile ordering in the future. Wendy's hopes that the new system will provide customers with more ways to order and pay for their food. Eventually, the line should be cut out altogether, and customers will be able to make an order, track it and pay for it from their phones. Right now, the new system is in operation at 957 locations, all the locations operated directly by the company. Mobile ordering is already available at seven locations in Columbus, OH, and service should b...