KCUR's Laura Ziegler considers the types of housing in urban, rural and suburban areas that'll need a revamp.

More than 2 million people live in the Kansas City metro, on either side of the state line. They live in urban, suburban and rural communities, and in everything from subsidized apartments to century-old farm homes.

As scientists better understand the impact of climate change, elected officials, city planners and housing advocates are working to design housing that will endure extreme weather.

Housing and community advocates warn that climate change knows no boundaries and if we dont adapt the way were renovating, rehabbing and expanding housing options, were creating unsustainable housing stock and putting our most vulnerable residents at risk.

One group, Metro KC Climate Action Coalition, has recruited 75 municipal leaders, nonprofits and utilities to collaborate on a 10-county comprehensive climate action plan. Mike Kelly, the mayor of Roeland Park, Kansas, and the cofounder of the group, says the coalition hopes to provide options.

We know one size doesnt necessarily fit all, but climate-resilient housing is empowerment, he says.

Here's how climate change is expected to challenge urban, suburban and rural housing in our area.

The urban areas

A Weather Channel analysisranks Kansas City as No. 5 among 25 metro areasthat are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The data indicates its urban landscape sees more days with higher temperatures than its suburban and rural neighbors, plus more heavy rain and flooding.

Gloria Ortiz Fisher is the director of the Westside Housing Organization, an agency that provides affordable housing in an urban neighborhood just west of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. She says several days of heavy rains have damaged roofs and windows at their properties, some of them 100 years old.

A window that has a minor crack becomes a flood in your home to the point where you have water on the floor, she says. In the roof, a small leak becomes a major repair. Water is one of the biggest (causes) of damage in a building.

She went on to say water also creates humidity, which can create ... mold.

Its like a tumbling weed, right? Fisher says. (The costs) just keep getting bigger and bigger.

Longer-lasting heat waves also exacerbate what climatologists call the urban heat island effect. Concentrations of steel and pavement absorb and radiate heat, causing temperatures in cities to be 5-10 degrees hotter than in outlying areas.

Looking down the narrow alley between two of her agencys apartment buildings, Fisher says the aging air conditioning units cant take the extra stress.

I can promise you if we have three days of 95 ... were going to get calls all day long," she says.

Extended use of an air conditioner also leads to spikes in utility bills. Already, utility bills in Missouri are up by more than 10% since 2001 an increase that putsKansas City in the top 10 metro areas nationwide in the proportion of household income spent on energy according to the Community Action Agency of Greater Kansas City.

Officials like Gary Shecter, Kansas Citys sustainability coordinator for the Office of Environmental Quality, says the poor and elderly are most at risk.

(You) find a lot of people who dont have air conditioning or have it and dont run it because they cant afford to, Shecter says. And (they live in) the oldest, most dilapidated housing where people are least able to address the issue by making repairs, energy efficiency improvements let alone renewable energy.

Another factor discouraging sustainability in Kansas City's housing market, accroding to Shecter, is the large rental market in Kansas City, particularly in the urban core. Landlords, who pay for capital improvements to their property, frequently don't see the economic return of improving energy efficiency in affordable housing units.

The suburbs

Studies indicate the impact of climate change on suburbs varies widely according to a few things: the region itself, the natural environment and the pressures of development.

As the city of Belton, Missouri, expands, so has its market for manufactured homes.

Home to Richards Gebaur Air Force Base for half a century until its closure in the late 1990s, Belton already had several manufactured home and trailer parks providing military housing. Today, developers are adding new ones for low- to moderate-income residents who want to be about 20 miles south of Kansas City.

Experts say mobile homes and trailers are among the most at risk during severe weather. While the industry has taken measures to stabilize the structures, studies show that residents are still at risk.

Steve Thibadeaux, a Belton home builder, says older units have thin windows, vinyl siding with weak tin or aluminum skirting whatever the home is standing on and sometimes thats not much.

The skirting around the base can be blown off pretty easily which allows wind to get underneath it and lift it, he says.

Significant flooding or severe storms can threaten these unsturdy foundations, which is why Thibadeaux says owners need to anchor the homes to a stable foundation with something that reaches over the roof to the other side.

But if the longer, heavier rains and more severe storms persist, he says even these mitigations will be no match for the falling trees and high winds.

Pay attention to your cities emergency sirens, he says. Dont think youre going to sit in your tub and ride it out because that tub is going in the air.

The rural areas

About 40 miles northwest of Belton, the tiny town of Linwood, Kansas, took a direct hit by a mile-wide, EF-4 tornado in May.

Scientists cant really say whether therell be an increase in tornadoes due to climate change, because tracking of tornadoes is relatively recent and is complicated by changing technology and demographic shifts.

But anecdotally, there were an unusually high number of tornadoes earlier this year, including the one in Linwood.

And it didnt just tear up the bathtub of the Duffin familys home. Dena Duffin said they came up out of the basement into daylight, their home carried right up off its foundation.

The house sat right here, and my sons room on that end. Our bedroom was in the back, and then went back to the side of the back porch and across that way, she described to KCUR earlier this year.

In the center of town, many older homes didnt have a basement. Some 20 folks showed up at the mayors house one of the few in Linwood that had one.

Throughout the month of November, KCUR is taking a hard look at how climate change is affecting (or will affect) the Kansas City metro region.

Laura Ziegler is a community engagement reporter at KCUR 89.3. You can reach her on twitter@laurazigor by email atlauraz@kcur.org.

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Kansas City Homes Will Have More Leaky Roofs And Higher Electric Bills As Climate Changes - KCUR

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The NAACP and BET Networks announced a broadcast partnership to air the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The telecast will take place from Pasadena, California and will air on BET Networks for the first time ever. The announcement was made today by NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, President of BET Networks Scott Mills and Executive Vice-President, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy Connie Orlando. The NAACP Image Awards is the preeminent event celebrating the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.

Were proud to partner with BET Networks to showcase the incredible breadth of Black excellence in television, film, music, and literature, and to bring awareness to the social justice and economic empowerment work of the NAACP, said Johnson. Through its diverse platforms, BET delivers culturally enriching and entertaining content to a wide and multigenerational audience. As we head into a critical 2020 election and Census, the collaboration with BET will be critical to reaching our shared communities.

The NAACP is vitally important, and BET Networks shares the organizations commitment to our community and social impact, added Mills. With the NAACPs half-century of history acknowledging the achievements of African Americans across entertainment and activism, this partnership allows BET to further our mission to entertain, engage and empower our viewers by delivering this cultural pillar to the communities we serve. Were thrilled to welcome the NAACP Image Awards home to BET.

Karen Boykin-Towns, NAACP National Board of Directors Vice-Chairman is the newly appointed Chairman of the NAACP Image Awards Planning Committee and will provide strategic guidance and leadership. Eris Sims, Chief of Staff will oversee all NAACP Image Awards events and activities.

We are excited that two storied organizations, NAACP and BET, are partnering to cultivate innovative approaches to our work and to deliver a transformative experience that inspires and empowers the Black community. This is a natural partnership and one which aligns with our strategic focus, said Boykin-Towns. We are confident that the NAACP Image Awards will continue to grow in both impact and legacy.

One of the most iconic annual celebrations of black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws a crowd of the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years attendees include Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Harvey, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Terry Crews, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, Chadwick Boseman, and many more.

It is our honor to partner with the NAACP as the exclusive broadcast partner of the Image Awards, one of the most influential Award Shows in the black community, said Orlando. We will celebrate and acknowledge the excellence and achievements of African-Americans in television, music, arts and give special recognition to the artists that have thrilled us and shaped the past the year in black culture. As we head into our 40th anniversary, it is only right to start off 2020 with this monumental partnership and bring the legacy of NAACP Image Awards to BET.

Nominations for the 51st NAACP Image Awards will be announced on January 9, 2020. Additional key dates are as follows:

Dec 6:

Submissions close

Dec 20:

Nominating Committee Voting Opens

Jan 03:

Nominating Committee Voting Closes

Jan 09:

Online Public Voting Opens

Feb 07:

Online Public Voting Closes

Feb 21:

Non-Televised Awards Dinner

For more information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at http://www.naacpimageawards.net.

FB: /naacpimageaward | Twitter: @naacpimageaward (#NAACPImageAwards) | IG: @naacpimageawards

About NAACP:

Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. You can read more about the NAACPs work and our six Game Changer issue areas at naacp.org.

About BET Networks:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news, and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.

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NAACP Partners With BET Networks to Broadcast the 51st NAACP Image Awards Live on February 22, 2020 From Pasadena, CA - Business Wire

There is no better symbol of traditional faith in Alabama than the sign alongside Interstate 65 in Prattville that says, Go to church or the devil will get you.

Going to church has been one of the defining regional factors about Alabama through most of its 200-year history. Alabamians were a people of faith, especially defined by practices such as saying grace before meals, attending revivals, singing hymns, teaching Sunday school and sending children to summer religious camps and Vacation Bible School.

A common Christian identity that stretches across denominations - that was a glue that held communities together, said Wayne Flynt, Auburn University historian emeritus and co-author of a bicentennial state history. The kids went to revival meetings together; there was a sort of generic gospel. When you had camp meeting revivals, everybody in a community would come. Nobody emphasized doctrine; they all emphasized the need to be born again.

Alabamas religiosity

The Pew religious landscape study in 2014 showed church attendance in Alabama at 51 percent, trailing only Utah.

About 86 percent of Alabamians identified as Christian. Evangelical Protestants such as Baptists and Pentecostals make up 49 percent. Mainline Protestants such as Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians make up 13 percent. Historically black Protestant churches make up 16 percent. Catholics make up seven percent.

About 77 percent of people in Alabama say religion is important in their lives; 13 percent say it is somewhat important.

About 82 percent of those polled say they believe in God with absolute certainty; another 12 percent say they believe in God and are fairly certain of Gods existence.

In recent years, that solid bedrock of Southern religious tradition has been eroding.

A new demographic has been emerging as a powerhouse: unaffiliated religious nones who say they do not identify with religious groups.

Its just the increased secularization of society in general, said Jonathan Bass, professor of history at Samford University.

Changing beliefs

Beliefs are changing, especially in the younger generation.

Those concerned about gay and transgender rights feel the church has been incredibly judgmental and exclusionary, Bass said. Thats turned this generation off.

In the South overall, Pew surveys show that 82 percent of people identified as Christian in 2009, but that dropped to 70 percent by 2019.

Those identifying as Protestant dropped from 64 percent to 53 percent. Those identifying as atheist rose from one percent to 3 percent during that 10-year span, while those calling themselves agnostic rose from 2 percent to 4 percent. Those who said they were nothing in particular rose from 10 percent to 16 percent. Combined, those who were unaffiliated religiously rose from 13 percent in 2009 to 23 percent in 2019 in the South. Nationwide, the trends are more dramatic: The number of unaffiliated rose from 17 percent in 2009 to 26 percent in 2019.

Exceptions to decline

While mainline Protestant denominations such as the United Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians have suffered drastic losses in membership, a decline numbering in the millions nationwide over decades and thousands per year in Alabama, some segments have shown growth.

Most notable in Alabama is an evangelical megachurch, The Church of the Highlands. Founded in 2001, it quickly grew into the largest church in the state. It has 18 branches and reported an average of 48,434 worshippers weekly statewide, according to its 2018 annual report. That includes 3,656 a week at the new Huntsville West campus, and 2,404 at a new Fultondale campus. New branches keeping opening, meeting on Sundays in schools, and as they grow new campuses are built.

Some critics say the Church of the Highlands is stealing sheep from established denominations by offering high-energy worship services that are like Christian rock concerts, with uplifting lifestyle sermons delivered by a charismatic pastor who caters to youth.

Others say its providing a road map for the future of faith.

I love it because as an introvert I don't have to make lots of small talk with people if I don't want to, said Laruen Harrison, 28, who worships at the McCalla branch of the Church of the Highlands. I've attended small churches before and always felt kind of forced to socialize. At COTH I don't have to worry about that. At the same time, you can join small groups to meet people in a comfortable setting of a handful of people.

Roots of faith

Southern religion has come a long way from its roots to the current megachurch movement.

Before the Civil War, there were 1,875 churches in Alabama, according to Alabama: The History of a Deep South State, bicentennial edition.

An emphasis on personal salvation has been a hallmark of Alabama since the brush arbor revivals, when preachers rode horses and mules and wagons, preaching the gospel, said historian Leah Rawls Atkins, co-author of the bicentennial history.

By 1870, there were 2,095, for a state population of less than a million. Methodists had the largest number of churches, followed by Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics. There were two synagogues in Alabama in 1870.

Baptists surged past Methodists by 1890. Alabama had 559,171 church members, 46.2 percent Baptists and 43.4 percent Methodist, out of the states 1.5 million population.

Alabama was overwhelmingly Protestant and conservative. In every mining community and mill town that emerged, churches soon followed. Every town square of any size had multiple churches that offered hubs of social activity and spiritual guidance. The churchgoers, often economically challenged, aspired to the heavenly rewards within their reach rather than unattainable material wealth.

Life for many revolved around homecomings, dinners on the grounds, baptisms, weddings, funerals, revivals, hymn singing and choir practice. People wanted a preacher to baptize them, marry them and bury them. Church was an essential part of their lives from the cradle to the grave.

Small rural towns across the state typically had either a Baptist church, a Methodist church, or both.

I dont think theres any question that Alabama is probably less religious than it was 80 years ago, Atkins said. There are probably a lot of reasons. Urbanization has hurt. But there are megachurches in the cities now. On the evangelical side, megachurches such as the Church of the Highlands are very much part of the dynamics.

By 1906, Alabama had 824,200 church members, including 397,178 black church members, out of a total population of 2 million. Baptists had increased to 53 percent of the total; Methodists made up 31 percent. Catholics rose to third place, with six percent, although they were concentrated in Birmingham, Montgomery and Mobile.

Black church ascends

Black Baptists and Methodists found more than spiritual comfort in their churches. It was most religious among African-Americans, in the profound way you feel you have no power, so you put your complete faith in God, Flynt said.

After the Civil War, free blacks found power in having their own churches, places where new leaders could emerge and where they could find refuge and comfort from injustice and persecution. It was the one institution they controlled, that reached out to them in a time of trouble, that was a source of power, Flynt said.

By the 1950s, pastors such as the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth in Birmingham and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Montgomery turned their religious leadership into political leverage as they fought segregation and racial injustice in Alabama.

Pentecostal fervor spreads

Pentecostalism, sparked by meetings led by Louisiana native and son of former slaves William J. Seymour from 1906-1915 at the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, spawned new denominations that quickly spread across Alabama and the South, attracting both blacks and whites attracted to an emotional worship movement that emphasized speaking in tongues as a sign of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In church, everyone was equal in the eyes of God. Faith offered individuals power even in poverty. They could choose their own beliefs about the details of salvation and the anticipation of the end times. They could mobilize politically in their own ways.

Alabamas first renowned megachurch was Cathedral of the Cross, formerly known as Huffman Assembly of God, which grew so quickly in the 1970s that it built an 8,000-seat building in Center Point in the 1980s. It was led by a charismatic pastor, the Rev. Dan Ronsisvalle, but stumbled into financial problems. Pentecostalism had spread far and wide in the South in just a century.

Alabamas Pentecostal roots trace to May 8, 1907, when traveling Evangelist Mack M. Pinson received the baptism of the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues. He set up a revival tent and began preaching in North Birmingham, after crossing paths with former Methodist preacher G.B. Cashwell of North Carolina, who read about the events at the Apostolic Faith Mission on Azusa Street in 1906 and traveled to Los Angeles to see for himself. Cashwell preached in Birminghams Southside in 1907 and encouraged Pinson to set up his tent in the north side.

Pinson spread Pentecostalism throughout Alabama and Tennessee, and was an active participant in the fourth General Assembly of the Church of God in 1910 in Cleveland, Tenn. That became one of the nations largest Pentecostal denominations.

In 1914, Pinson was a key leader in the formation of the General Council of the Assemblies of God in Hot Springs, Arkansas, which became the largest Pentecostal denomination.

Pentecostalism tapped into the theological needs of Alabamas working poor, and was popular among blacks and whites. They believed it gave them access to a font of supernatural power, pouring directly from the Holy Spirit. Pentecostal worship was integrated from its beginnings. Though white and black denominations grew out of the movement, it was easy for worshippers to cross back and forth. Women preachers were also widely accepted in Pentecostalism, more so than in other evangelical churches.

Megachurch models

Pentecostalism influenced a major shift in emphasis to up-tempo praise music and lifestyle-oriented sermons that began to dominate the religious landscape.

Megachurches following that model abound, with giant campuses that cater to the needs of families, offering childcare for toddlers, programs for youth and coffee for adults on the way to services.

The Church of the Highlands, founded by Pastor Chris Hodges in 2001, quickly became the largest church in the state, with myriad branches from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa to Auburn, and Huntsville to Montgomery to Mobile, streaming video of Hodges preaching into the services.

Hodges came out of a Pentecostal tradition, although he does not speak in tongues during the seeker-oriented services, which are designed to attract the unchurched and make them feel at home.

Finding spiritual home

Finding a spiritual home is what people go to church to find, Flynt said. They want to find community, a place of belonging and support, he said.

Its a rootless, amorphous society, where roots are hard to put down, Flynt said. People move about, theyre hurt, theyre lonely; theyre looking for somebody to love them and take care of them.

For the modernized churches of 2019, there is an emphasis on luring people to worship with trendy music and messages, as opposed to scaring them with talk of the devil.

Practice and ritual and doctrine are not important to millennials, Flynt said. Its a sense of community, of belonging someplace when youre moving from here to there. If youre lonely, theres no better way to find a sense of community than through church.

Church of the Highlands emphasizes Serve Days, volunteer efforts that focus on helping the community. Ministry is important to a sense of community, Flynt said.

For Alabamas religious identity to move forward, and continue to thrive, churches will have to adapt to the changing culture.

Culture is a process, said Bass, the Samford historian. For a culture to survive, it has to adapt to new traditions. There are ways the church can adapt to new cultural traditions and still minister to people.

Original post:

Losing our religion? Faith is part of identity in the South, but its changing - AL.com

(WBNG) Tis the season to start holiday shopping. With Thanksgiving days away, Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday will be here before we know it.

If youre looking to beat the crowds and are shopping online this year, there are some tips you should know.

Make sure the websites youre using are legit.

At the top of your web browser where you search for websites, theres a lock at that top part. As long as theres a closed lock there that means its secured. And thats most websites like Amazon, Bestbuy.com, Walmart.com, said lead technician at 607 Tech Solutions Mathew Jachimowicz.

Besides looking for the lock, you can look at the link in your browser.

When youre going on a website make sure it says https which means secure so its a secure website, you know its valid and its not a fake website, said Broome County Sheriffs Office deputy Robert Stapleton.

Another tip to keep your information safe is to stay away from public WiFi.

Because it could be hacked, just a better idea using your own, said Stapleton.

Once your cart is full and youre ready to checkout, make sure youre using a credit card instead of your debit.

Just in case it gets stolen, the number is backed by the credit bureau, you have that logo on the front of your card. But you want to monitor your credit cards and your credit report, to make sure theres no unauthorized transactions, said Stapleton.

Using something like PayPal so companies, when you do buy something, they wont see your account number or your credit card info at all, said Jachimowicz.

Its also important to keep your packages safe once they arrive at your doorstep.

Around the holiday times we do see an increase in larcenies of packages on peoples front porches, so change that shipping address. Have it sent to work or a friends house or a relatives house that you know might be home, said Stapleton.

The Broome County Sheriffs Office says home security cameras can help steer porch pirates away from your home, and if you run into that situation, you can share your video with local law enforcement.

Read the original:
Holiday shopping tips to keep your information and gifts safe this season - WBNG-TV

Samples of Silestone, a countertop material made of quartz. Cutting the material releases dangerous silica dust that can damage people's lungs if the exposure to the dust is not properly controlled. Catie Dull/NPR hide caption

Samples of Silestone, a countertop material made of quartz. Cutting the material releases dangerous silica dust that can damage people's lungs if the exposure to the dust is not properly controlled.

Ublester Rodriguez could not have anticipated that his life would be profoundly changed by kitchen and bathroom countertops.

He says that he grew up poor, in a small Mexican town, and came to the United States when he was 14. He spoke no English, but he immediately got a job.

"In the beginning I was working in a Chinese restaurant, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It was all day, so I never had time to go to school," he recalls. "I was a dishwasher."

He labored in restaurant kitchens for about eight years. But he wanted Sundays off to go to church and play soccer. So when his brother-in-law offered to help him get a new job, he jumped at the chance.

That's how he ended up in a workshop that cuts and polishes slabs of an artificial stone to make kitchen and bathroom countertops.

"It was something totally different for me," says Rodriguez.

Back then, in 2000, the material he was cutting was also something totally different for the American countertop industry. The stuff looked a lot like natural granite. In reality, it was made in a factory, from bits of quartz bound together by a resin.

This kind of engineered stone, often marketed as simply "quartz," is now one of the most popular options for kitchen and bathrooms.

Health concerns emerge

The trouble is, workers have gotten sick, and even died, after cutting this engineered stone and breathing in its dangerous dust, public health officials say.

Overseas, some are even calling for a ban on selling engineered quartz for countertops.

Rodriguez, 42, is the first person known to have fallen ill in the U.S. His lungs are so damaged that he is on oxygen about six hours a day. Doctors expect that he will need a lung transplant.

And so far, physicians have identified at least 18 more countertop workers with silicosis in this country. They worry that more cases are out there, and more people are at risk, given that the countertop fabrication industry in the U.S. has around 100,000 workers.

"In the beginning I was angry, but I was angry with me," says Rodriguez, who sued his employer for allegedly causing his illness.

"When I moved from the restaurant to this company, I was getting more money. Because of that change, I ruined my life," he says. "Then I just realized that it wasn't just me. It was the whole company that they don't protect their employees."

The shop where Rodriguez worked is run by Cosentino, a major player in the countertop industry.

"We are extremely committed to safety and continuously strive to improve our operations," a company spokesperson told NPR. "We hope your article raises awareness in the industry to follow a proper safety culture."

Silestone comes to America

Cosentino, headquartered in Spain, started selling engineered quartz in Europe in 1990, under the brand name Silestone. In 1997, the company formed a subsidiary called Cosentino North America, to bring Silestone to a new market.

The same year that Rodriguez started working with Silestone, the material made its debut at a trade show in Chicago, according to a newspaper account that described "flamenco and tap dancers stomping out rhythms on the quartz surface which was utterly unaffected."

Silestone's durability and resistance to stains thrilled kitchen designers. It was featured in Time and Good Housekeeping.

The business grew rapidly. As Cosentino executive Brandon Calvo explained in a promotional video, "When we were awarded the national account for Home Depot, I don't think we knew what we were in for. I don't think we knew how big it was."

In 2005, Cosentino ran an advertisement during the Super Bowl, featuring basketball star Dennis Rodman soaking in a bubble bath surrounded by bathroom countertops made of Silestone.

Cosentino wasn't the only company offering the new miracle countertop. Competitors were selling similar materials under such brand names as Caesarstone, Zodiaq and Cambria. Over time, more and more companies started producing slabs of engineered quartz.

Thousands of workers such as Rodriguez toiled in countertop fabrication shops across the country, cutting that raw material into just the right size to fit in customers' kitchens.

In addition to importing slabs of Silestone from Spain and selling them to countertop-making shops, Cosentino also operated its own network of shops, which came to be called Stone Systems. With a dozen locations, Stone Systems bills itself as "the largest network of commonly owned stone fabrication shops" in North America.

Rodriguez worked at Stone Systems of Houston, previously known as Silestone of Houston.

"From 2000 to 2004, we were a small, really small company," says Rodriguez, who cut and polished countertops in a room with about a dozen other workers.

The dangers of dry cutting

During those early days, according to pretrial depositions from Rodriguez and company executives, cutting was done dry. That means no spray of water on the cutting blades to keep dust from flying into the air.

The company later changed this practice. But for years, Rodriguez did a variety of jobs to process the slabs, surrounded by dust from his own cutting and that of his co-workers.

"We see dust everywhere. Even on the floor, in our hair, in all our bodies, I mean everywhere," recalls Rodriguez.

Dust from cut stone is potentially dangerous if it contains the mineral silica, which can cause a lung disease called silicosis. The lungs become inflamed and develop scars. There's no cure, and the disease is progressive. People with silicosis slowly suffocate.

That's been known for a long time; silicosis is one of the oldest known occupational hazards. In the 1930s, the Department of Labor even made a workplace safety film called Stop Silicosis, which emphasized that silicosis could be prevented by controlling dust with water sprays and vacuum systems.

Rodriguez, who grew up on a farm and worked in restaurant kitchens, didn't know any of that. He also didn't know that because Silestone is made mostly of quartz, it contains a lot of silica. It can be as much as 90% crystalline silica about twice as much as natural granite.

According to Rodriguez, his bosses didn't explain what he was cutting, or the danger.

"The first time I heard 'silica' was when my doctor told me that I had it," he testified, explaining that safety training available at work had focused on how to avoid injuries like being cut, rather than anything related to lung disease.

"They don't tell us anything about the product," he told NPR. "Nothing."

A lack of testing

What's more, internal company documents produced during the lawsuit show that in 2002, a couple of years after Rodriguez started working there, a safety consultant noted that the facility hadn't been evaluated for employee exposures to silica and recommended doing an assessment. But a firm hired to help the company run a safety program didn't do any testing of the dust in the air, and a document refers to concerns about the cost of lab tests.

"Neither Cosentino nor Stone Systems can make a public statement regarding any legal proceeding or the documents associated therein. So far, any document that has been part of a legal proceeding has been effectively addressed and resolved in that proceeding," a company spokesperson told NPR. The lawsuit was settled confidentially in 2016, with no admission of liability.

Rodriguez worked at the Houston shop for years. During that time, he got married and started a family. He stopped playing soccer, though, because he found it too exhausting.

"I was just thinking, 'Oh, maybe I'm getting older, that's why I'm getting tired so easily,' " he says.

Then he developed a persistent cough. In 2010, his wife insisted that he go to the doctor, who took X-rays.

"And he said, 'Look, uh, your lungs are looking really, really bad. My report came back that you have silicosis,' " remembers Rodriguez. "I had never heard that word before. Never."

Rodriguez had always been healthy he wasn't a smoker and had been athletic. And now, at just 33 years old, he learned that the silicosis would get worse, and could kill him.

A colored X-ray shows the lungs of a patient with silicosis, which is caused by inhaling silica dust particles. Scarred tissue and inflammation are represented by orange. SPL/Science Source hide caption

A colored X-ray shows the lungs of a patient with silicosis, which is caused by inhaling silica dust particles. Scarred tissue and inflammation are represented by orange.

"I remember that I went to the church. And I told God, 'Look, I don't know if I can handle it myself.' I started crying," says Rodriguez. "For me, it was something devastating."

He told his bosses about his diagnosis. They transferred him to another position, an office job, since he had to be away from the silica.

Warning signs

Around that time, managers put up a sign in the Houston fabrication shop that warned workers of the danger of silica, according to testimony in the lawsuit brought by Rodriguez, who was represented by Dallas-based attorney Chris Panatier.

Yet in 2009, a year earlier, the company had tested the workplace air for the first time, according to a document produced by the company during the lawsuit. Those tests revealed silica exposure levels above the legal limit in three of seven workers who wore monitoring devices to assess the air quality around them.

In addition, "results exceeded the 50% advisory action level for three additional measured employees," according to the document, which noted that results at or above this level "indicate the statistical potential for overexposure on other days, and the need for corrective action."

In 2011, another round of air tests found basically the same result: three of seven monitored workers above the permissible exposure limit, according to information revealed in the depositions.

This was so even though all of the processes, the cutting and grinding, were using water to keep down the dust.

NPR requested an interview with Roberto Contreras, the first CEO of Cosentino North America, to ask about the early days of the engineered stone industry in the U.S., the Rodriguez silicosis case, and how the industry's view of silica changed over time.

"I really have no comments on this topic," replied Contreras in a written message. "I can only tell you I am not aware of any early case of Silicosis in a Stone Systems shop. Also, as far as I know, all Stone System shops work with equipment that cuts with water, they do not dry grind or cut anything; totally minimizing Silicosis."

In 2015, Contreras gave a deposition in Rodriguez's lawsuit. He said then, under oath, that he did not recall when he learned that silica can cause lung damage and other health impacts.

"I cannot tell you the exact time, but it was sometime in the mid 2000s," Contreras testified. He noted that he had personally worked in a fabrication shop without getting sick. "Later we went into wet grinding. And so I didn't I didn't think there was an issue."

Travis Dupre, the current vice president of sales for Stone Systems, testified in a deposition that he learned of the dangers of silica through word of mouth in the industry, around late 2003 or early 2004, when the Houston shop had moved to a new facility and instituted wet processes.

"We felt like we were doing what was reasonable. We had switched everything to wet grinding. We had moved into a facility with better ventilation. We'd enforced no dry cutting. We felt like we were taking the reasonable steps," Dupre testified.

Referring to the sign put up in 2010 with a warning about silica, Dupre testified, "we should have put the sign up earlier."

Relying on respirators

Rodriguez testified that early on, workers had been given simple face masks to ward off dust, but sometimes these weren't available, so workers reused old ones or even would use something like "a piece of towel."

Then they were given respirators. In 2002, a safety consultant started a formal respirator program, and Rodriguez was fit-tested for a respirator with replaceable filters that seals to the face and provides more protection, according to documents and testimony.

But government regulations say that relying on respirators should only be used as a last resort, if silica dust in the environment can't be adequately controlled with other measures such as vacuums or water.

That's because it is hard to properly and reliably wear a respirator day after day for years while doing manual labor. It's much more protective, safety experts say, to remove silica from the surrounding environment.

The Houston shop wasn't the only one in Cosentino's Stone Systems network that had issues with silica. Its countertop-cutting facilities in other states were being cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for exposing workers to this hazard.

In March 2013, for example, OSHA received a complaint about conditions at Stone Systems of New England, in Rhode Island. The inspector's report noted that wet grinding and cutting techniques were used, but "there has been no testing done to validate effectiveness of the wet methods to control the dust."

This video, obtained through a public records request, shows the inspection of a Stone Systems shop in Colorado in 2011. Documents show elevated levels of silica were found. The company made changes, like improved housekeeping. A follow-up inspection in 2013 showed the air quality had improved and was within acceptable limits.

Don't see the video above? Click here

OSHA did that testing, which showed that one worker there was exposed to airborne silica levels approximately 4.6 times the permissible limit. Another worker was exposed to 17.5 times the limit. At that higher level of exposure, the respirator being worn wouldn't offer enough protection, according to OSHA documents describing the violation.

What's more, not all workers had been properly fit-tested for respirators, and some wearing respirators had facial hair, which interferes with the seal to the face, according to the citation.

When asked about these OSHA citations in Rhode Island, as well as other OSHA citations from 2011 related to silica exposure in its shops in Minnesota and Colorado, a spokesperson for Cosentino replied that "all OSHA citations mentioned in your questions were minor citations and the penalties were significantly reduced. In addition, all of them were fully abated and resolved."

In 2014, Rodriguez and his illness came to the attention of occupational health specialists who had been on the lookout for cases in this industry.

Overseas cases

They had just written a blog post about engineered quartz workers coming down with silicosis overseas in Israel and Spain, where this material was first made and sold for years before it came to the U.S.

"Healthcare providers who suspect that their patients' health problems may be caused by working with quartz-containing materials are encouraged to report their concern to their state health department," they urged.

Two months later, the Texas Department of State Health Services learned about Rodriguez. Officials contacted the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and asked it to evaluate the hazards in the shop where he had worked.

Researchers visited in April 2015, saying that they were doing so because "to our knowledge, this was the first reported case in North America of silicosis from occupational exposure to quartz surfacing materials" and that state officials had "asked us to evaluate employees' exposures to airborne crystalline silica at the facility where the person with silicosis worked," according to their report.

"Although the company used wet methods to control dust, we found overexposures to respirable crystalline silica," the report states. "Exposures were highest for employees using pneumatic wet grinders with diamond cup wheels. We recommended the company use engineering controls to decrease exposures."

In confidential interviews with NIOSH, some employees said they cleaned or swept up dust without using wet methods a bad idea, as it can send invisible silica swirling up into the air.

Also, some workers "reported not having received training on the hazards of crystalline silica related to their work at the facility," according to the NIOSH report.

Cosentino agreed to let NIOSH researchers run additional tests in the Houston shop and in Stone Systems of Minnesota, to study how silica can be controlled while cutting stone and engineered quartz countertops.

"By doing so, Stone Systems has been leading the trial and implementation of safety measures to benefit all industry participants for the benefit of all employees that work in this business," the company told NPR in a written statement.

Chaolong Qi, a NIOSH researcher, says he has found that cutting or grinding engineered stone made of quartz releases higher amounts of silica than natural stone.

Even though the hand-held grinders used by workers delivered a spray of dust-dampening water, says Qi, "sometimes the water might not be wetting the surface effectively. So they get a little bit of dust coming out, always."

This grinder uses water, but dust plumes are still noticeable. Researchers have found ways to add more water while grinding that, in studies, further reduce silica dust to acceptable levels.

Don't see the video above? Click here

Those little puffs of dust likely weren't a problem when countertop fabricators were working exclusively with natural stone, he says, "because natural stone has much less silica content. Now, they work more and more with engineered stone, which has much higher silica content, up to like 90% plus. That becomes an issue."

"Traditionally they felt that the wet operation is sufficient, but it looks like it's not," says Qi. He has been evaluating additional engineering controls like having certain processes done in an isolated booth equipped with special air-handling equipment.

"There will be ways to reduce exposure below the OSHA standard," he says. "I can definitely say it's a solvable problem."

Cosentino executives allowed an NPR reporter to tour one of its facilities, Stone Systems of New Jersey.

Next to workers finishing countertops with water-fed, hand-held tools, there were dust removal systems devices that suck dust toward curtains of flowing water. Dupre said they were installed a couple of years ago.

Reduced silica levels

Posted on the wall of the employee break room were the results of silica testing done last December. Workers' names were listed next to their exposure level. All of the silica levels were low less than half of what the government allows.

Dupre said results like this are the goal of Stone Systems for every location around the country. And that the company complies with OSHA regulations.

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How New Cases Of Lung Damage Emerged In The US Countertop Industry : Shots - Health News - NPR

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

An apartment complex by the Westgate Mall got a major upgrade with the addition of 44 luxury apartments and a clubhouse filled with amenities.

The Mills at Lehigh, 2080 Westgate Dr. in West Bethlehem, were built on excess land owned by Lehigh Plaza Apartments. The project received preliminary and final approval from the Bethlehem Planning Commission in April 2017. Now, the mix of one-and-two bedroom apartments are available to rent with prices starting at $1,275 a month.

All of the apartments include 9-foot ceilings, private balconies, LED lighting, fine wood grain cabinetry and quartz countertops. Some of the one bedroom units come with a den. Amenities include a fitness center, resident lounge, outdoor BBQ kitchen area and entertaining space.

Bethlehem has experienced incredible growth into a hotspot for industry and culture, Nick Hollenbeck, director of sales and marketing for Sterling Properties, said in a news release. The Lehigh Valley has become a hub of dining, nightlife, entertainment and arts. The area has also established itself as a regional leader in the business and health care sectors. The evolution of Bethlehem has made it into one of northeast Pennsylvanias most desired live/work/play destinations. The Mills at Lehigh will go a long way towards filling the mounting demand for luxury homes in a city that registered high population growth.

The project was developed by Sterling Properties and Kriegman and Smith. Leasing is underway and developers are offering new residents one month free rent.

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Courtesy Mills at Lehigh | Don Pearse

Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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Mills at Lehigh latest luxury apartments to hit Bethlehem. Check them out. (PHOTOS) - lehighvalleylive.com

A man was sentenced to 26 months in prison Wednesday for slamming his baby daughter's headon a countertop, resulting in a fractured skull.

A court in the U.K. heard that31-year-old Lucy Bearman woke up one day to her babys unusual cries and noticed a lump on her head. She then noticed her husband, 29-year-old Robin Bearman, crying. When confronted, Robin said he accidentally caught her head with a cupboard door. The baby was rushed to a nearby hospital and an examination revealed that she had a fractured skull. This happened in 2017. The age of the baby was not known.

Recalling the incident, Lucy said, My thoughts were that it was not a massively obvious lump. I would have driven her to hospital, my initial feeling was that calling 999 was a massive overreaction to what was in front of me. Initially I had a sense of confusion about what had happened. He acted it out. For months he acted it out, over and over again every time he was asked what had happened.

A few months later, Robin admitted to slamming her to a countertop out of frustration while feeding her and soon after the pair split. The man was sentenced to imprisonment Wednesday and banned from seeing Lucy and her children for the next five years. The exact date of the incident was not known.

Meanwhile, speaking after the hearing, Lucy said, I wanted nothing more for my girls than a safe and loving father. The day it happened things had never been better. We were a happy family. I still don't know why it happened and why he told me those lies. He destroyed everything.

I think the judge was really fair. I always said whatever happens with the sentence will be the right thing, she added.

Representational image of a baby. Photo: Creative Commons

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Baby Suffers Fractured Skull After 'Frustrated' Father Slams Girl's Head Against Countertop While Feeding Her - International Business Times

The moment the current owner of the three-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath bungalow at 8102 Winchester Ave. in Margate first laid eyes on it, he realized he had stumbled on a bit of a gema modern mid-century seashore home complete with a wrap-around front porch in a highly desirable corner location that had retained its original character.

It was the genuine article, and I fell in love with it, the Philadelphia resident says of the house where he and his wife spent their first summer together as a married couple and have been vacationing with their growing family, which now includes three small children, ever since.

But the gem he first discovered seven years ago is one he has now transformed into a polished jewel by fully renovating the eat-in kitchen, adding contemporary stainless steel appliances, including a microwave and self-cleaning oven, new cabinets and butcher block countertops and a center island,as well as completely remodeling the bathrooms (one of which is a powder roomlocated just off the kitchen).

Thegreat resort house that has resulted in on one handvery practical, utilitarian and easy to maintain, as the owner describes it, and on the other provides a cozy, warm and loving type of environment whose spacious lanai and open, brightly lit interior harkens back to the days when families used to spend time together.

Its appeal is further enhanced by the setting at the corner of Winchester and N. Haverford Ave. that offers both the privacy afforded by a front lawn with a buffer of attractive ornamental trees and shrubs and the convenience of being in the heart of Margate, within an easy walk of the beach, the library and nearby restaurants and stores, including Casels Marketplace just a couple of blocks away.

The ambiance of the exterior is also graced by a wooden pergola and stucco exterior that make you feel like youre in California, notes Todd Gordon, listing agent for BHHS Fox & Roach, who points out that it has an additional advantage for retirees of being all on one level (which is somewhat unusual for downbeach properties).

Rounding out the picture is an attached one-car garage that also contains a washer and dryer, an outside shower, central air conditioning, and natural gas heating, and ample room for parking on both the driveway and adjoining streets.

If that sounds like it might be the kind of resort home youre looking for, theres an open house taking place today (Sunday) between 11.am and 1 p.m. Or you can schedule a private showing by calling Todd Gordon at either (609) 487-7234 or his cell number (609) 553-5098, or emailing him at Todd@HartmanHomeTeam.com.

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A Fully Remodeled Vacation Bungalow That Retains the Warmth of Yesteryear - Press of Atlantic City

AURORA, Colo.

Curious just how far your dollar goes in Aurora?

We've rounded up the latest places for rent via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to finding apartment rentals in Aurora if you're on a budget of up to $2,000/month.

Take a peek at what rentals the city has to offer, below. (Note: Prices and availability are subject to change.)

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline and its partners, including this website, a commission on clicks and transactions.

Listed at $1,905/month, this 1,144-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment is located at 2602 S. Anaheim St.

In the unit, you can anticipate a walk-in closet and carpeted floors. Building amenities include a swimming pool and garage parking. For those with furry friends in tow, this property is pet-friendly.

(Take a look at the complete listing here.)

Next, there's this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom apartment over at 3452 S. Biscay Way. It's also listed for $1,905/month for its 1,151 square feet.

Amenities offered in the building include a swimming pool and garage parking. In the unit, expect to find quartz countertops. Pet owners, take heed: This property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Look out for a $100 pet deposit.

(See the complete listing here.)

Here's a 1,266-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at 6855 S. Langdale St. that's going for $1,940/month.

The unit has hardwood flooring, a walk-in closet and a dishwasher. When it comes to building amenities, expect secured entry and garage parking. Good news for pet lovers: The rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly.

(Take a look at the full listing here.)

Listed at $1,950/month, this 900-square-foot three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 1367 Mobile St.

Amenities offered in the building include outdoor space. The unit also includes a dishwasher. Animals are not welcome. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee.

According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address isn't very walkable, is fairly bikeable and has some transit options.

(See the complete listing here.)

Working with a tight budget? Here are the cheapest rentals recently listed in Aurora.

This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, if youre in the real estate business learn how to do local real estate advertising in your ZIP codes.

Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

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Apartments for rent in Aurora: What will $2,000 get you? - 9News.com KUSA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) urges everyone to be safe this holiday season. A few safety tips will go a long way toward making sure your holiday is safe and fun.

ACEP Logo. (PRNewsFoto/American College of Emergency Physicians) (PRNewsfoto/ACEP)

"Preparation, organization and common sense are the most important ingredients in the recipe for a safe and fun Thanksgiving," said William Jaquis, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. "Do your part to make sure you can spend the holiday with friends and loved ones instead of the emergency department. But, rest assured that an emergency physician will be there for you anytime an emergency occurs, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, even on holidays."

Practice safe cooking techniques. Watch temperature levels, read instructions, make sure ovens are functioning properly. Unsafe handling or undercooking food can lead to illness, such as salmonella. Thaw turkey properly before cooking at a minimum of 325 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid health issues. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discourages thawing turkey by leaving it on the countertop, which can cause bacteria growth. If thawing by leaving the turkey in the refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every five pounds of weight. The US Department of Agriculture says that leftovers are good for three to four days, if refrigerated. Make sure you wash your hands, cook on a clean surface and avoid cross-contamination with raw meats or other food that requires safe handling.

Supervise children in the kitchen. Accidents happen when kids can grab sharp knives or touch hot pots on the stove. Every day 300 children are treated in emergency departments for burn-related injuries, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. Burns and scalds remain the number one cause of unintentional injury in children ages 0-5.

Don't leave food cooking unattended, home fires often start in the kitchen. Take your time to avoid slips or falls and reduce the number of safety hazards in crowded areas. Don't leave candles burning if you are not in the room and don't light candles near open windows.

Celebrate responsibly. Enjoy the festivities in moderation. Overeating can cause stomach issues or more serious health problems for patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes. If alcohol is being served, please do not drink and drive. Thanksgiving is one of the heaviest traffic days of the year. If weather is bad, allow plenty of travel time. Make sure your vehicle has an up-to-date safety kit. And, try to stay calm.

More information about holiday safety is available at http://www.emergencyphysicians.org.

http://www.emergencyphysicians.org @EmergencyDocs

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)is the national medical society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research, public education and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its 40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million Americans they treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit http://www.acep.org .

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SOURCE American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

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Thanksgiving Do's and Don'ts from Emergency Physicians - Yahoo Finance