District of Columbia News

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), the world's largest Flight Attendant union, reminds the traveling public of the heroic acts of Flight Attendants to thwart the terror attempt during the final approach of Delta flight 253 into Detroit on December 25, 2009. Flight Attendants are always vigilant and focused on their work as the last line of defense as well as their responsibilities as first responders. The traveling public can fly with confidence in the care of the nation's ... read more

Events of 2010 represented the beginning of the long anticipated transition to a new era in which the 1.5 million Americans and the more than five million individuals worldwide living with the autoimmune disease lupus can look forward to an improved quality of life. Potential new treatments for lupus passed several milestones on the road toward approval, public and private investment in lupus research continued to grow, awareness of lupus received a boost from celebrity involvement, and several new ... read more

On December 17, Science Magazine recognized a promising HIV study as one of the top ten achievements of 2010. The groundbreaking research provided the first-ever proof of concept that a microbicide can effectively and safely reduce HIV transmission in women. Ninety percent of the study was funded by USAID as part of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091022/USAIDLOGO) The HIV prevention trials were conducted by the Center for the AIDS Program of Research in South Africa ... read more

This holiday season, online sales have been setting records - sales on Cyber Monday topped $1 billion for the first time ever. However, a recent study released by FairWinds Partners found that online retailers could be reaching even more customers and achieving even higher sales. The study revealed that a total of 90,320,336 visitors are diverted from 25 of the top U.S. retail websites annually as a result of typographical errors made when typing in those retailers' well-known domain names. (Logo: ... read more

Earlier this week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules dealing with the issue of "net neutrality." The following statement should be attributed to the Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP): The Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) recognizes and appreciates the FCC's efforts to develop its proposed Network Neutrality regulations. HTTP and its members are pleased that our concerns have been considered in the further development of the Commission's regulations. Many concerns and questions are to be answered in ... read more

Lighting Science Group's (OTC Bulletin Board: LSCG) high-performance PROLIFIC series LED street lights will soon line the streets of Washington, D.C. Compared with traditional high pressure sodium (HPS) street lights, the PROLIFIC LED series street lights are 50% more efficient, provide more uniform light distribution, increase light levels, and will save Washington, D.C. tens of thousands of dollars each year in energy and maintenance costs. The new light fixtures will be paid for from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) ... read more

The following is a statement issued by Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs: I congratulate the U.S. Senate on their ratification of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) with Russia. In approving the treaty today, the Senate has shown the necessary vision and leadership which will allow the United States and Russia -- which possess 95 percent of global stockpile of nuclear weapons -- to make progress in fulfilling their disarmament commitments set in this landmark agreement. I now ... read more

Today, the United States Senate ratified the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia by a vote of 71-26. The U.S.-Russia Business Council (USRBC) commends the Senate for taking this significant step forward that will help to reinforce the ongoing constructive dialogue that has led to improvements in the United States' bilateral relationship with Russia, while at the same time ensuring that U.S. national security interests are upheld. USRBC hopes to welcome approval of New START ... read more

NASA will give 100 of its Twitter followers an insider look at its planet-hunting Kepler spacecraft and the agency's Ames Research Center on Feb. 11 in Moffett Field in California. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO) For the first time, NASA's Twitter followers are being invited to Ames to learn about planetary discoveries from Kepler and the science flights of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) aircraft. The Tweeps also will get behind-the-scenes access to NASA's research center in the heart of California's ... read more

Thanks to the gift of an anonymous donor, the Disabled Veterans National Foundation (DVNF) distributed holiday gifts including $100 gift cards to disabled veterans at the Walter Reed Army Hospital on December 21, 2010. “It was touching to visit these brave young warriors who are ... read more

GEICO has raised the bar by being the first insurance company to offer online buying power via mobile devices. Mobile users now have the ability to get a quote and purchase a policy using their iPhone or Android mobile application. The new sales capability is the ... read more

Curious how a device designed to produce fuel and oxygen on Mars transformed into a source of clean energy right here on Earth? The 2010 edition of NASA's annual Spinoff publication is now available online, highlighting new innovations and notable examples of NASA technology improving everyday life on our home planet. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO) Spinoff provides an in-depth look at how the agency's initiatives in aeronautics and space exploration have resulted in beneficial commercial technologies in the fields of health and medicine, transportation, ... read more

To help small businesses owned by service-disabled Veterans and other Veteran-owned small businesses become more competitive in the marketplace, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has selected 20 mentor-protégé teams to participate in a new program. “For VA, it’s ... read more

Proposed legislation would create or extend a diverse array of federal programs necessary to help advanced biofuel producers secure financing for construction of first-of-a-kind projects. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today thanked Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Mike Castle (R-Del.) for introducing the “Oil Independence for ... read more

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) today announced support for the passage of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski's Open Internet Order pending a full and thorough review of the order once it is made public. The provisions seemingly offered by the order appear to be a notable accomplishment for the Commission and a sign of its diligent efforts over the past few years to reach a solution that ensures the continuation of an open Internet while ... read more

Intelsat S.A. today announced that its subsidiary, Intelsat Corporation (“Intelsat Corp”), intends to redeem all of the $111,833,000 aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 9¼% Senior Notes due 2014 (the “2014 Notes”) and all of the $41,000 aggregate principal amount outstanding of its 6⅞% Senior Secured ... read more

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) today released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) vote to implement a new regulatory framework to preserve open internet principles. "The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) note the significant achievement in the FCC's passing of a new Open Internet Order. Upon initial review, the FCC's regulatory plan to preserve ... read more

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor this afternoon in support of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which just passed the House by a vote of 228 to 130. Below are the Speaker's remarks. Speaker Pelosi on the COMPETES Act: "In acting to update and extend the COMPETES Act, we will spur innovation, invest in cutting-edge research, modernize manufacturing, and increase opportunity...Simply put, we will continue to 'rise above the gathering storm' - and keep America number one." "Thank you, ... read more

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today announced the election of four new members to its Board of Directors. "We are pleased to welcome four new biopharmaceutical heavyweights to join PhRMA's Board of Directors," said PhRMA President and Chief Executive Officer John J. Castellani. "As leaders of one of the most research-intensive sectors in the U.S., they bring to the table incredible insight and a keen understanding of the challenging economic, legislative and regulatory environments the industry faces ... read more

The Committee to Support U.S. Trade Laws (“CSUSTL”) commends Rep. Linda Sanchez and Rep. Walter Jones for introducing legislation last Friday to combat the evasion of U.S. trade remedy laws through custom fraud. A similar version of the bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators ... read more