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Hackers Tried to Access Washington’s CCTV Cameras Before Inauguration Day

Feb 9, 2017 By Lori Martinez

CCTV camera on pole

Revelations that hackers invaded critical Washington security infrastructure just days before President Donald J. Trump was inaugurated have raised new fears that “ransomware” attackers are able to easily penetrate important security systems. However, federal and local authorities in Washington have been quick to deny that the hacking caused any damage to important systems.

The authorities have also made clear that the cyber intrusion was quickly addressed and that neither President Trump nor any inaugural attendees were put at risk.

Ransomware Increasingly Common, Dangerous Hacking Strategy

According to The Washington Post, hackers invaded more than 70 percent of the devices that store footage from closed-circuit television cameras throughout the city. CCTV cameras are a critical part of federal and local authorities strategy to monitor potential criminal or terrorist activity in public spaces across the city. Storage of the information is critical so officers can quickly review tapes and make threat assessments.

However, on Jan. 12, Metro Police Department employees realized that four video camera sites were not operating normally. When they reported their concerns to the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, Washington’s top tech official, an immediate investigation was launched and discovered that ransomware was the cause of the breakdown.

After a sweep across the entire network, the technology services staff discovered that those were not the only sites that were not working. In fact, when the review was fully completed, city officials learned that 123 of 187 network video recorders were not working.

Ransomware is an increasingly common hacking strategy that is closely related to malware. Once a system is infected with the malware, the hackers either encrypt files on the system with a password that only they know or lock out users of the system entirely. They then contact the victims and demand a ransom payment to restore access to the files or the system.

According to Washington officials, however, the city did not pay any ransom to the hackers. Instead, over a 48-hour period beginning Jan. 12 and concluding on Jan. 15, city government took each video camera site offline and restarted them with no software to remove the intrusion.

The process did result in a disruption in data collection from the video camera sites, but Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham downplayed that. In fact, Newsham told the Post that there was “no significant impact” from the hacking.

While the city may have escaped unscathed, the incident is sure to raise fears about hacking vulnerabilities if the cyber attackers were able to penetrate a police security system in a city that is heavily protected because of the presence of the President, Congress, and most of the federal government.

The hacking is believed to be a “localized” incident, according to authorities, and unrelated to hacking attacks directed by the Russian government during the 2016 presidential election campaign. In those attacks, emails belonging to the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta were illegally accessed and then dumped online, resulting in a wave of negative coverage that possibly doomed her candidacy.

Aside from ruling out foreign sources, however, Washington authorities have not identified any suspects in the ransomware incident.

Investigation Continues, Hacking Still At Fore

Public interest in a hacker sophisticated enough to bring down Washington’s CCTV system, albeit temporarily, is sure to remain high. It is expected that city officials and law enforcement will likely announce more developments in the case soon.

Be that as it may, the issue of hacking – both this incident and those during the campaign – are likely to remain at the fore. And future attacks, including ones on critical infrastructure, unfortunately, cannot be ruled out.

Image Source: Flickr

Filed Under: Business

Apple Wants a Chunk of Hollywood Business

Feb 7, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Apple headquarter with logo

When it started releasing original content, Netflix proved that people would be willing to pay for a service that offers its own television shows and films. Many other streaming services have also been moving away from showing regular content released in theaters or televisions. Though it costs more to make it, unique media can encourage people to use the streaming service. New information reveals that Apple is the latest company to start following this trend.

Apple Hopes to Increase Profit With Original Media Content

Apple got its start as a computer designer, but they now have plans to further expand their technology related products and services. The giant tech company has revealed that it has plans to create original movies and television shows that will be streamed to paying viewers. This new business strategy is intended to make more profit for Apple and increase the amount of subscribers to their streaming service.

Some approve of this project because it is a change from Apple’s most recent decisions that seemed to stagnate after the death of former CEO Steve Jobs. Though it might be a new idea for Apple, it is also apparent that the company has gotten the concept from other popular streaming services. Now that Netflix and Amazon have proved that people are willing to pay extra for original, creative media, Apple wants to also get into this new potential market.

This new undertaking is currently being led by Jimmy Iovine, the chief of the Apple Music division. Though the name implies that this service is just for streaming music, Iovine hopes to expand it to cover other types of media. Iovine told The Hollywood Reporter,

At Apple Music, what we’re trying to create is an entire cultural, pop cultural experience, and that happens to include audio and video… We’re going to do whatever hits popular culture smack on the nose. We’re going to try.

Currently the music division is a $10 a month streaming service that does not contain many videos. In the past, they have shown videos of Taylor Swift concerts and documentaries about the music industry. It seems that these music-themed videos were just the first test towards unrolling a lot of content through their streaming services.

One of the first projects will most likely be a top-secret show, which is named “Vital Signs,” that Dr. Dre has been producing for them. Not much is known about this, but it is apparently going to be a dark drama with six episodes. Apple has hinted at plans to release the entire season at one time, just like Netflix does.

The new move towards original content could help the company become more competitive in the online streaming market. They currently only have half the Apple Music subscribers that Spotify does, and the amount of people who rent their streaming movies and television shows does not even begin to compare to Netflix’s millions of subscribers. Offering unique, critically acclaimed videos could encourage more people to try out the service, and users may stick around even after viewing all the original content.

When Will Apple Users Get This Unique Content?

So far, Apple has not provided a lot of information on their exact timeline. Nothing is actually in production yet, so it is unlikely that anything will be released soon. However, Wall Street Journal reports that Apple may begin offering at least some original content by the end of 2017. These original television shows would be aired on the Apple Music streaming service which may end up being renamed to something more appropriate.

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/apple-logo-on-white-surface-90787/

Filed Under: Business

What Trump’s Nominees Said About Global Warming

Feb 7, 2017 By Lori Martinez

The effects of global warming

After three successive years with the hottest temperatures on record, the planet is already starting to see the damaging results of global warming. Unfortunately, president elect Donald Trump seems to believe that global warming is just a hoax intended to limit big companies. As the Senate starts confirmation hearings for Trump cabinet nominees, they are revealing some information about how these nominees view climate change.

Trump’s Nominees Reveal Disregard for Climate Change at Senate Hearings

Now that Trump has nominated his picks for the cabinet positions, it is time for the Senate to conduct hearings. Confirming a nomination only requires 51 votes, so it is likely that most of Trump’s nominees will become cabinet members. The confirmation process will provide some interesting information about the nominees positions on important issues.

Department of Defense nominee, James Mattis, noted that the ice shelves in the Arctic were retreating. He mentioned that the United States would need to assert its sovereignty in this area if we want to claim the new shipping lanes instead of Russia. He did not make note of any problems with the environment other than the changes in geography that could lead to territorial conflicts.

When questioned about climate change, the nominee for the head of the CIA, Mike Pompeo, chose not to address it directly. Instead, he just said:

Frankly, as the director of CIA, I would prefer today not to get into the details of climate debate.

This goes against the previous CIA director’s position, because he felt that climate change was contributing to instability in foreign countries.

Environmentalists are particularly worried about Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of Exxon Mobil, being nominated as secretary of state, and he seemed to confirm those worries in his hearing. Tillerson mentioned that he did not think it was a threat to national security because Tillerson claims that scientific research on climate change and global warming is inconclusive.

However, Tillerson did state that the nation ought to “continue in international leadership on climate change” because it was important for the United States to be involved in international agreements like the Paris Agreement.

A lot of issues with Tillerson’s nomination seem to rely on his connections to oil groups because Tillerson does not plan to avoid interacting with Exxon for more than the one year period required by law. In the hearings, Tillerson refused to answer any questions about how his company affected the public view on climate change.

Instead of worrying about the effect on the environment, Tillerson expressed concerns that international climate change agreements could put American business at a disadvantage.

Senator Jeff Sessions was also examined by the Senate for his nomination as Attorney General because the Senate was curious about how he would rule in cases that considered climate change. Sessions did acknowledge that climate change was a real occurrence, but he sidestepped the question of whether he would rule against the official Republican party position that climate change is not an issue.

Skeptics also found it worrisome that he did not address questions about how he would enforce laws related to carbon emission controls.

Future Looks Grim for the Environment and Global Warming

Most of the cabinet nominees who will have positions of power in the new government seem to feel that climate change is not a big deal. Though many admit that it happens on a small scale, quite a few do not think it is the government’s job to preserve the planet. Hopefully, the few who do believe climate change is a huge danger will help to steer the new government in the right direction.

 

Image source: pexels.com/photo/power-plants-during-day-time-173423/

Filed Under: U.S.

New Molecular Discovery Could Produce Better Dementia Drugs

Feb 7, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Molecular structure

Medical advancements have allowed many people to live much longer, but it is difficult to protect the brain in old age. Even if a senior is physically healthy, they may suffer from dementia that prevents them from thinking logically, remembering important events, or taking care of themselves. A lot of anti-aging research has focused on ways of preventing or treating forms of dementia. New research from Rutgers University provides hope for treating memory problems more successfully in the future, and improving the lives of those affected by dementia.

Scientists Discover Potential Method of Dementia Treatment

Dementia is a little understood disease that tends to happen with age. It can be a symptom of another issue like Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease, but some seniors just develop dementia without any other related conditions. It happens any time the brain starts to undergo physical changes that result in a decline in mental abilities.

A team of researchers from the Department of Genetics at Rutgers University decided to conduct a study that attempted to find the reason behind this seemingly spontaneous mental and memory decline. They used mice as test subjects because mice have brains similar to humans and age quickly enough to simulate the effects of dementia.

The researchers ended up examining the function of the CRTC1 protein in the areas of the brain that control memory. CRTC1 protein is a type of protein that controls gene expression, so it is responsible for activating and deactivating the FGF1 gene used to repair damaged brain cells and grow new cells. The scientists discovered “the longer the CRTC1 stays in the mouse brain, the stronger the memory.”

They used both fear conditioning and object location learning to train the mice’s memory, and then the researchers looked at protein level in the subject’s brains. The mice who were trained for a longer period of time had more CRTC1 activity in their brains, and they also were better able to retain the memory.

This study’s findings are confirmed by other research which shows regularly training the brain with puzzles or other cognitive tasks helps to prevent memory loss with old age. More importantly, it looks at the underlying molecular mechanism that causes this effect to occur. The study will be particularly useful to those looking for dementia cures because it shows which genes and proteins specifically affect memory retention in old age.

Results from the study have mapped the precise steps that result in CRTC1 affecting memory. It goes from brain synapses to cellular nuclei after doing memory associated tasks, and it then regulates FGF1b transcription. Now that this mechanism is better understood on a molecular level, it may be easier to create medications that target the activation of genes and proteins to stimulate memory.

The next goal in dementia treatment will be to confirm that the study findings are replicated in human patients. After that, scientists can start making medications that better stimulate memory through the proteins and genes of the human brain. Gleb Shumyatsky co-author of the study, expresses hope that “This work may provide scientists with answers and therapeutic help in the future for those going through normal aging or suffering from dementia.”

Next Steps for Dementia Researchers

Now that researchers realize the mechanisms behind age related memory loss, they may be able to create drugs to treat Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Their next goals will be to find ways to promote CRTC1 protein production without causing other health issues. The scientists probably will not be able to create a dementia cure immediately, but their research may eventually lead to a successful treatment for this serious health issue.

 

Photo by kennysarmy, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic license.

Filed Under: Science

Ancient Cone-Shaped Creature Included in Evolutionary Tree

Feb 6, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Ancient marine creature fossil

When fossils of an extinct creature are discovered, one of the first steps to understanding them is finding the modern equivalent of the animal. Still, this can be quite difficult sometimes due to lack of information about the ancient animal. Scientists were particularly baffled by a strange cone shaped creature that was first found years ago After 175 years, hyoliths have finally found a proper placement within the animal kingdom.

Strangely Shaped Marine Animal Is Finally Classified in Evolutionary Tree

For over a century, scientists were confused by the discovery of fossils that were shaped like cones. The fossils were found all throughout geographic locations and time period, and they had apparently first evolved during the Cambrian explosion. They survived for almost 250 million years before going extinct.

These fossils were not even named until 1963 because it was hard for scientists to tell if they were a unique species. or not, let alone where would they fit in the evolutionary tree. Even after they were named, the hyolith fossils’ unique shape still continued to be a source of debate. Most specimens were broken or badly preserved, so it was difficult to determine if a fossil was a hyolith or just a similarly shaped animal.

A hyolith closely resembles an ice cream cone because one end is sharply pointed and the other is gently rounded. The cone shaped creatures tend to be just a few centimeters long. They had a tough outer shell that protected most of the interior, and it was topped with a smaller shell that acted like a type of cap across the opening.

Typical fossils of hyoliths just contained their shell, without any soft tissue, so it was hard for scientists to classify them. Some scientists thought that hyoliths were a sort of squid because their cone shape looked somewhat squid-like, and others argued that hyoliths were a type of snail. The only thing that scientists were certain about was when and where the hyoliths lived.

This lack of information changed in 2017 when researchers at the University of Toronto were able to examine over 1,500 well preserved hyolith specimens from the British Columbia fossil site at Burgess Shale. They found that the hyoliths had a ring of ciliated tentacles around their top opening and two long tapered structures that extended from either side of the small tentacle ring.

The recent discoveries provided enough insight to classify hyoliths as a part of the Lophophorata group. Lophophorates include both extinct species like hederelloids and living species like brachiopods. These animals tend to be small marine creatures with a tough shell that opens to show feeding tentacles that are called “lophophores.”

Scientists now theorize that hyoliths were able to live for so long in many different locations due to this clever feeding mechanism. They could use the pair of tapered structures, named “helens” to push their body out of the sand and detritus on the ocean floor. After pointing their openings into the ocean current, the hyoliths could then use their tentacles to filter tiny bits of organic material out of the water and push the food into their shell opening.

New Understandings Benefit Scientific Community

Any new information about hyoliths and its place in the evolutionary tree helps scientists to learn more about the history of the planet. The hyoliths are now part of the Lophophorata group that are aquatic animals with a ring of tentacles in the mouth. This new classification may help scientists to understand why hyoliths went extinct and prevent their modern relations from also going extinct later on. Lophophorata play an important role in the marine ecosystem, so their presence is extremely useful.

Photo by Pseudorhina @DeviantArt

Filed Under: Science

Genetic Discovery to Help Understand Cognitive Disorders

Feb 3, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Woman suffering from cognitive disorders

The medical community has struggled for years to find cures for neurological conditions like ADHD, schizophrenia, and other brain-related disorders. Until recently, doctors thought that the best approach involved repressing neurological functions and limiting patients’ thought processes.

However, their recent discoveries have compelled them to rethink this strategy and instead consider more holistic treatments that could help patients avoid taking powerful and expensive medications. Based on the latest experiments, this new approach shows promise and could help a fair number of ADHD and schizophrenic patients.

The Newest Treatments for Neurological Disorders

As noted, doctors traditionally use dopamine-based medications to treat patients with neurological conditions like ADHD and schizophrenia. The dopamine represses brain function so that patients experience fewer episodes of mania and hallucinations. They remain calm for longer periods of time so that they can function normally in society.

However, these medications come with a host of ill side effects that many patients do not appreciate. To come up with new medicines, scientists made it a central point of their research to identify the genes or genetic markers that increased the likelihood of these diseases showing up at some point in people’s existences. Based on those genetic markers, scientists hope to create medicines that target those genes rather than brain and neurological functions.

The research involved studying more than 10,000 people who all suffered from conditions like ADHD and schizophrenia. Scientists found that many of these individuals shared the same genetic markers, making it clear that the underlying cause for the diseases stemmed from people’s genes rather than the function of their brains.

In fact, the genetic markers influenced the function of people’s brains, giving scientists clues about how they might need to formulate medications that either repair or fulfill genetic codes that, if left alone, cause the development of these illnesses.

Their work continues, however, which means that many patients still must take dopamine-based medicines in order to function normally in life. Scientists hope that they soon can create medications that target patients’ genes rather than their brain function.

Holistic Approaches to Treating Neurological Disorders

Dopamine medications invite a host of side effects that patients generally do not appreciate. Primarily, these medicines cause people to gain weight. People may go from being slender and in shape to swollen and overweight.

Likewise, some patients develop a resistance to the medications and in turn start to exhibit the symptoms that compelled them to seek out treatment in the first place. Doctors admit that the medications come with a recognizable rate of failure. In a bid to help patients avoid taking these drugs at all, scientists are now encouraging a holistic approach to treating neurological conditions.

The holistic approach involves patients undergoing regular counseling with a therapist as well as attending group therapy. Granted, this therapy is typically always paired with a medicinal regimen that minimizes to a significant degree the worst of patients’ symptoms. The treatments also involve building a support system for each individual patient.

The support system may include the patient’s family and friends as well as coworkers or supervisors at work. Patients must be continuously monitored while they are undergoing holistic care. Early reports show that this approach may work for patients who do not suffer from the severest forms of ADHD and schizophrenia.

Neurological diseases like ADHD and schizophrenia take their toll on patients and their families. Dopamine-based medicines often make patients into veritable zombies that can function in society yet experience muted neurological functions otherwise. Rather than have patients depend on expensive medications for the rest of their lives, doctors are now encouraging holistic care and also developing medicines that target genetic markers.

Image source: here

Filed Under: Science

Mysterious Object Discovered at the Bottom of the Baltic Sea; Crashed UFO?

Jan 20, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Baltic sea coast

About five years ago, scientists noticed an unusual shape lying on the bottom of the Baltic Sea. This sea is located by the Atlantic Ocean lying near several Baltic countries. The object resembles an unidentified flying object. Divers investigating the site say that when they get near the object, all their electronic equipment turns off. Yet, the equipment works again as soon as they get away from the site.

What does the Mysterious Object Look Like?

The formation which is completely circular in shape measures about 590 feet in circumference. It rises approximately 40 feet above the surrounding seabed in a mushroom-like shape. People who have dived near the object say there are numerous cavities inside the shape. They say many of these cavities meet at 90-degree angles. The top of the object contains several small circles that appear to be made of stone. The upper layer also has a hole in its top measuring almost 10 inches in circumference. Divers have also noticed disturbances in the seabed near the object resembling a long runway.

A second anomaly lies about 219 yards away. It is described as looking like a gothic church window. Divers have not explored this site as closely. This object also has a disturbance which appears like a runway leading up to it.

What is the Abnormality on the Baltic Sea Floor?

No one knows for sure what caused this unusual shape. Each group has their own hypothesis. It is a difficult area to explore because of the frigid water. The abnormality is also hard to explore because access to it is restricted.

Divers with Ocean X specializing in finding hidden treasures in oceans around the world say that their electronic equipment cuts off whenever they near the site. A diver with the team Stefan Hogerborn said:

 “Anything electric out there, and the satellite phone as well, stopped working when we were above the object, then when we got away about 200 meters, it turned on again.”

Geologist Steve Weiner with Ocean X says that he is convinced that the mysterious object is metal, but other geologists still believe that the object is just an unusual rock formation.
Volker Bruchert, a professor at Stockholm University, the largest university in Sweden, says that he believes that the object is at least 140,000 years old. Later, Bruchert went back on what he told the Ocean X team.

The Ocean X team says that they hope to return to the site soon. They say that many suggest that they cannot provide funding for fear of what the team may discover there.

Could There be a Natural Cause?

Some scientists have suggested that the abnormality has a natural cause. They suggest that it could be an ancient meteor that crashed there thousands of years ago. Scientists believe that they have found the oldest crater created by a meteor in Greenland. They estimate that the crater there was created over two billion years ago.

Others suggest that the shape was caused by an underground volcano. Numerous rock samples collected near the site are hardened lava like one would find around a volcano. Ocean volcanoes are not unusual as the earth’s plate move around. Some of the rocks collected near the site are called balancing rocks that may have slid into the ocean after a volcano.

Conclusion

Scientists still do not understand what they have found on the Baltic Sea floor. The main abnormality is a large circular shape with a mushroom-shaped top. A second abnormality lies nearby that is described as looking like a Gothic window. The team with Ocean X believes that the mysterious object may be a crashed UFO. Others argue that it is simply an ancient meteor or the result of an underwater volcano. The team with Ocean X hopes to return to the site soon.

Image Source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Science

Genetic Immune Disorder Discovered in AIDS Research

Jan 19, 2017 By Lori Martinez

genes seen under the microscope

Researchers stumbled upon the genetic immune disorder while studying AIDS.

An international team of researchers working at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases which is part of the Bethesda, Maryland, based National Institutes of Health have discovered a new genetic immune disorder. This disease causes people to be more likely to develop Epstein—Barr virus also called human herpesvirus 4. In some cases the researchers also found that the person may develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma causing cells in the lymphatic system to grow abnormally large and quickly. They found that when people received treatment destroying CD70 or CD27 genes doctors should boost the immune system.

What Are the Effects of this New Genetic Immune Disorder?

Researchers at the National Institute of Health studied two sets of siblings that were not related to each other. The siblings were chosen because they had uncontrolled infections caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. In each case, the children had one sibling also showing symptoms. There were just four children in the study all together. The Epstein-Barr virus is one of eight viruses in the herpes family. It is more commonly known as infectious mononucleosis.

Once a person is infected with Epstein-Barr virus symptoms normally do not show up for four to six weeks. Younger children often experience more flu-like symptoms while teens tend to develop a rash, fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.

In the case of the siblings studied at the National Institute of Health, the T cells showed less ability to fight infections. Most people have several different types of T cells. The majority of T cells are designed to remove pathogens from the body. They are considered part of the adaptive immune cells. A few T cells are called gamma delta T cells. They have an inverted T cell shape and are designed to deliver antigens to other T cells. These T cells are part of the innate immune system designed to keep infections from attacking the body.

The researchers also found that the siblings had poor activation of B cells also called s B lymphocytes. These cells are a specialized white blood cell that is designed to produce antibodies in the body. They are located in the lymphatic system.
The researchers further examined the children finding that the children had two mutated copies of the CD70 genes. Examination of the parents showed that all had normal CD70 genes. Yet, in order to have developed symptoms, each sibling had to have received a flawed gene from each parent. CD70 genes normally binds with CD27 genes to produce T cells that are essential for fighting diseases.

In each case, the children went on to develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This disease causes the body to feel fatigue, sweat at night, and lose weight. Doctors already knew that more than half the cases of Hodgkin’s disease are caused by Epstein-Barr virus. The disease is normally treated with a variety of treatments including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cells transplants.

In the case of the siblings, doctors treated the children with antibody infusions producing disease-fighting antibodies that the children’s bodies were not creating naturally.

The doctors say that this study proves the importance of building antibodies in patients where CD70 and CD27 genes may be destroyed. The unique chain formed by the two chains is essential to protecting people from further diseases.

Conclusion

Researchers at the National Institute of Health have discovered that the bond formed by CD70 and CD27 is essential in helping the body develop disease fighting antibodies. If treatment is given that destroys these genes, then the person needs to receive antibody infusions helping the body fight off diseases. The research was conducted on two sets of siblings where each sibling received mutated recessive CD70 genes from each parent. The children caught Epstein-Barr virus which developed into Hodgkin’s disease because the body was not producing enough T cells.

Image Source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Health

Detroit Homes Succumbing to Massive Sinkhole

Jan 11, 2017 By Lori Martinez

sinkhole

This is not the first sinkhole to plague the town.

Sinkholes might not be as deadly or terrifying as tornadoes, but these natural disasters can cause a huge amount of devastation. Yet another community near Detroit was disturbed by an unexpected sinkhole over the holidays. County officials estimate that the community of Fraser will need to spend millions of dollars to fix the area. In the wake of the disaster, many are starting to wonder if past corruption scandals may be responsible for the damage.

Sinkhole Damages Dozens of Homes

On Christmas Eve, a 100 foot wide and 300-foot long sinkhole appeared in the Fraser suburb right outside of Detroit. The new sinkhole is even bigger than the 2004 sinkhole that affected an area near Fraser, and the damage is extreme. At least 22 homes have been evacuated along 15 miles and Eberlein roads, and entire stretches of the roads have also been closed as a precautionary measure.

A local state of emergency has been declared in the area, and police officers are patrolling evacuated homes to protect them from looting. Hopefully, only three of the homes will need to be entirely rebuilt, but many others will require significant repairs. Fraser officials say that most residents will be back home within two weeks unless the sinkhole continues to expand.

Unfortunately, the sinkhole comes at a time of transition as Macomb County Drain Commissioner Anthony Marrocco lost his re-election bid to Candice Miller. There have been many accusations that Morocco is not bothering to find solutions to the sinkhole because he will be out of his office in one week. The mayor of Fraser praised Miller’s prompt response to the situation, saying

“she and her team have hit the ground running even though they don’t take office until the end of the week.”

Despite the confusion over who will be in charge of repairs, residents are hopeful about the future of their homes. Congressman Sander Levin has offered aid to the residents who are still homeless, and sinkhole stabilization efforts and home repairs are already underway. Residents will be updated on repair efforts at a 6 p.m. Fraser City Hall meeting on January 9th.

The incident may have some connection to the previous 2004 sinkhole that occurred along the same major roadway. It seems to have been caused by issues with the giant sewer transmission line that runs beneath the road. Both sinkholes happened along the 15 Mile Road that is located above a lengthy, 12-foot wide sewer pipe.

The Macomb Interceptor sewage line was previously in national news after a corruption scandal revealed that former Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick was stealing money from the repair fund to fix the 2004 sinkhole. Many worry that the dangerously unstable underground area was further damaged during the corrupt and inept repairs.

The question of who will pay for the repairs is causing many residents to worry. A federal judge ruled that the communities who used the sewage line were responsible for repairs for the 2004 sinkhole, and each resident had to pay about 20$ a year in fees to fix it. Now citizens in the area are worried that they will have to pay more money towards fixing the damages.

Fraser Residents Face an Uncertain Future

The sinkhole may have been caused by government corruption or an improperly built sewage line, but most of the suburb residents are not too focused on the cause right now. They just want to be able to move back into their homes and quit living like refugees. Hopefully, most of these displaced residents will be back home by the end of January, but the political and economic consequences of the sinkhole may linger for years.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: National News

Traffic Accidents at a New Low in States Where Marijuana is Legal

Jan 11, 2017 By Lori Martinez

traffic accident visible in the rear view mirror

Traffic accidents have decreased in levels in states where medical marijuana is legal.

Since it was first made illegal in 1937, critics of marijuana have warned that it may make users suffer from poor judgment. One of the biggest concerns that are brought up in modern times is driving under the influence of cannabis. Many worried that legalizing marijuana would result in far more traffic deaths, but it turns out that marijuana users tend to be much more responsible in states with legalized marijuana.

Traffic Accidents Reduced After Marijuana Is Legalized

In the past few decades, 28 states have made it legal to use marijuana for medical purposes. The drug greatly reduces pain and anxiety, so it has a variety of medical uses for those with depression, cancer, arthritis, anxiety disorders, or anorexia. Since marijuana causes slower reflexes, many were concerned that legal medical marijuana could cause an increase in traffic accidents.

The American Journal of Public Health recently published a study lead by Julian Santaella-Tenorio to determine how traffic data is affected by newly legalized medical marijuana. Traffic fatalities from 1985 to 2014 were examined in association with marijuana legalization laws in various areas. Santaella-Tenorio reports that he was somewhat surprised to see the results.

Instead of having an increase in traffic fatalities, the study concluded that there was an average of 11 percent fewer fatalities in states after medical marijuana was legalized. The number of traffic fatalities was particularly high among the 25 to 44 year old demographic that makes the majority of registered medical marijuana users. The drop in traffic fatalities was an immediate reduction that occurred as soon as medical marijuana was legalized.

Santaella-Tenorio’s findings have been confirmed in other previous studies. A 2013 review from the Journal of Law and Economics examined multiple studies and found an overall drop in traffic fatalities of 8 to 11 percent in the year after a state started allowing medical marijuana use. This review also mentioned that alcohol purchases declined once medical marijuana was allowed.

Researchers are still not certain of the precise cause for the association between lowered traffic fatalities and marijuana legalization. Some theorize that access to marijuana prevents patients from dulling their pain with alcohol, and people may be less likely to drive drunk when they are peacefully enjoying marijuana at home. It is also possible that people can self-assess impairment after using marijuana instead of alcohol, so there are fewer people accidentally driving while impaired.

Another potential cause for the drop in fatalities is an increased police presence. Drivers are more likely to be cautious when police are driving nearby, and police tend to patrol more right after a state decriminalizes marijuana. The decrease in fatalities may therefore just be due to dangerous drivers being removed from the road before they can hurt anyone.

Though all of this research is reassuring, there are still some issues with drivers possibly using marijuana. A test for marijuana only reveals whether or not a person has used it in the past few months, so police have difficulty determining whether or not a driver has recently consumed marijuana. This makes it difficult to remove any dangerous drivers from the road.

The Future of Legal Marijuana

There is a growing trend towards decriminalization of marijuana. Many states allow users to consume marijuana for medical purposes, and some allow it for recreational purposes. The increasing legalization of this drug allows more studies to examine the drug’s effects, and the increase in studies further promotes legalization. As research shows that marijuana legalization does not result in health issues, mental problems, or societal turmoil, it will most likely become legal in more areas.

Image Source: Pixabay

Filed Under: U.S.

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ANZ Sells UDC Finance to HNA China

ANZ Sells UDC Finance to HNA China

Feb 7, 2017 By Benjamin Teh

Apple Wants a Chunk of Hollywood Business

Apple Wants a Chunk of Hollywood Business

Feb 7, 2017 By Lori Martinez

Younger Americans Start Embracing the Value of Paid Financial Advice

Younger Americans Start Embracing the Value of Paid Financial Advice

Feb 7, 2017 By Charles Balch

Twitter Has Just Sold Its Developer Platform to Google

Twitter Has Just Sold Its Developer Platform to Google

Feb 6, 2017 By Charles Balch

9 National Parks Harbor Ticks with Lyme Disease

9 National Parks Harbor Ticks with Lyme Disease

Feb 1, 2017 By Charles Balch

British American Tobacco to Merge with Reynolds Cigarettes

British American Tobacco to Merge with Reynolds Cigarettes

Jan 31, 2017 By Charles Balch

Trump’s Business Deals in South East Asia May Cause a Conflict of Interest

Trump’s Business Deals in South East Asia May Cause a Conflict of Interest

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

Tesla Finds Itself in Awkward Position of Alligned Interest with Trump Administration

Tesla Finds Itself in Awkward Position of Alligned Interest with Trump Administration

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

How to Protect Your Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

How to Protect Your Mental Health as an Entrepreneur

Jan 30, 2017 By Charles Balch

Brexit Sparks Anxiety in the Hearts of the Irish

Brexit Sparks Anxiety in the Hearts of the Irish

Jan 27, 2017 By Charles Balch

Small Businesses Struggle to Add More Jobs, According to New Study

Small Businesses Struggle to Add More Jobs, According to New Study

Jan 27, 2017 By Charles Balch

Healthcare Stocks Threatened by the Trump Effect

Healthcare Stocks Threatened by the Trump Effect

Jan 20, 2017 By Charles Balch

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