face cream linked to cases of mercury poisoning

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican health officials are recalling a face cream linked to cases of mercury poisoning in the U.S. and Mexico.

The federal Health Department warns in a statement that the Mexican-produced Aguamary Cream contains elevated mercury levels and said officials have closed a factory in northwestern Sinaloa state.

The department says it also is removing the cream from store shelves and notes that the Aguaruto Cosmetics company sells the product on websites.

A telephone number listed for Aguaruto Cosmetics rang unanswered Saturday.

Texas health officials warned in September of at least 18 cases of mercury poisoning linked to Aguamary, including two infants whose mothers used the product during pregnancy. Health officials say Mexico had one case.

power outage 9-8-11

Yuma, AZ-Power is slowly being restored to more than 5 million people who lost electricity across the southwest this afternoon.
First they said the cause was Nevada. The massive outage caused by an Arizona Public Service employee is now under investigation.
Lights (they keep saying lights, how about A/C out, and Water Off), were out for thousands of people who lived in different parts of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Colorado.
APS officials said they experienced a major glitch with one of their substations, affecting thousands in other states.
"At approximately 3:30p.m. today, the North Gila-Hassayampa 500 bolt transmission line near Yuma tripped off line resulting in a major power outage across southwest Arizona and into Southern California," Damon Grossman, an APS spokesman said.
Approximately 56,000 APS customers lost power throughout Yuma, Somerton, San Luis to Gadsen.
Imperial Irrigation District officials said about 145,000 people also lost power in the Imperial Valley.
The power outage went as far up to homes in San Diego and parts of Los Angeles.
Power is also out in parts of Los Algodones, Mexicali, San Luis Rio Colorado including Tijuana and Ensenada.
"The outage` appears to be related to a procedure an APS employee was carrying out in North Gila substation, located northeast of Yuma," Grossman said. @ What was that parts of Los Algodones, hey the place is the size of Mile Square Park, the part they are talking about is ALL OF IT !!!!!
APS officials said operating and protection protocols should have isolated the outage to the Yuma area only.
"That didn't happen, it is a focal point of investigation as of right now," Grossman said.
APS has reported that about half of customers in the Yuma are have their power restored.
They said surely but slowly they will have power restored too all their customers soon. No Watch, but back ount before 9 pm. And it was not a cool situation any way you look at it 110.

U.S., to halt some deportations

The federal government will halt deportation proceedings against many illegal immigrants and allow them to apply for work permits as it focuses on removing convicted criminals and others considered a public safety threat, the Obama administration announced Thursday.

Officials plan to review some 300,000 cases, setting aside those considered low priority, including students brought to the United States as children.

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the initiative, a response to an overwhelmed immigration courts system, will allow enforcement efforts to focus on “criminal aliens, those who pose a threat to public safety and national security, repeat immigration law violators and other individuals prioritized for removal.”

The plan drew criticism from advocates for stricter immigration control and plaudits from supporters of the stalled legislation know as the DREAM Act, which is intended to give young immigrants who go to college or serve in the military a chance at legal status.

But the White House made clear that the policy is not amnesty or a path to permanent legal status. “It simply sets their case aside,” said a Department of Homeland Security official who was not authorized to give his name. “Their case is not going to be heard in court.”

However, the plan was short on details. It’s not clear how the new review procedure would allow officials to move through the existing backlog faster. It’s also not clear if anyone not included in the current backlog can apply for work permits.

Despite the lack of clarity, the announcement prompted a variety of opinions.

“It is the right policy for an agency (Homeland Security) that has limited resources and a large number of people who are removable,” said Muzaffar Chishti, director of migration policy at the Migration Policy Institute’s office at the New York University School of Law. “Clearly, the limited resources should be used on people who pose a real threat or have criminal records.”

Chishti said the new policy is a response to an overwhelmed immigration detention system that fell behind as deportations surged after 9/11.

“We just don’t have the resources to hold a dangerous criminal alongside a garden-variety candidate for deportation,” he said.

Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that lobbies for restricted immigration, said there are more productive ways to unburden the immigration court system.

“The message is that as long as you keep your nose clean and do not commit a serious crime, then you don’t have to worry about immigration law enforcement,” she said. “That’s a pretty strong incentive to stick around. … It really is attempting to achieve by executive fiat what the Congress won’t do and the American people don’t want, and that really requires a lot of audacity.”

Some states are rebelling against another administration effort to control illegal immigration known as Secure Communities. The program requires that when state and local law enforcement send criminal suspects’ fingerprints to the FBI, the prints are run through an immigration database to determine the suspects’ immigration status. Some states have argued that the program puts them in the position of policing immigration, which they consider a federal responsibility. Immigrant advocacy groups have complained that people not yet convicted of crimes were being caught up in the system.

Napolitano said an interagency working group would review 300,000 cases of people in deportation proceedings to identify those who might qualify for relief.

Factors to be considered include an individual’s criminal history, U.S. military service, contributions to the community, and whether the person cares for someone with disabilities, a minor, or a seriously ill relative. The young and the elderly would be given consideration.

White House officials said the policy could help illegal immigrants with family members in the United States. The White House is interpreting “family” to include partners of lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Richard Socarides, a New York lawyer who was an adviser to President Bill Clinton on gay issues, said, “The new policy will end, at least for now, the deportations of gay people legally married to their same-sex American citizen partners, and it may extend to other people in same-sex partnerships.”

For those removed from deportation proceedings and allowed to stay in the United States, “this is not a jump to the front of the line or a pass to get a green card,” said Heather Boxeth, a San Diego-based criminal and immigration attorney. “They’re still sort of stuck in limbo. The only thing that happens is they are able to work lawfully in the United States.”

Christian Ramirez, an immigration specialist with the American Friends Service Committee in San Diego, said the enhanced border enforcement policy under President Barack Obama remains intact.

The Associated Press and New York Times News Service contributed to this report

New California Law Smoke and Carbon Monoxice Detectors

New Law Requires Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Homes

California residents should be aware that as of July 1, 2011, the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act of 2010 (SB 183) requires many homeowners, landlords, apartment managers, and builders to install a carbon monoxide detector, as well as a smoke detector to prevent accidental deaths. Those who don't could receive a 30-day notice to comply, or face a fine of up to $200.

Every year, carbon monoxide poisoning is responsible for 30-40 accidental deaths in our state - deaths which could have been easily prevented with the help of an electronic device which emits an alarm whenever carbon monoxide levels reach a certain level. The danger of carbon monoxide, CO, is that it is a colorless, odorless gas, which can lead to asphyxiation. Victims are often silently robbed of oxygen while they sleep, never to wake up.

In an effort to greatly reduce the likelihood of more tragic deaths by CO poisoning, the state of California is requiring certified carbon monoxide detectors to be installed in homes that use fossil fuel burning appliances, have a fireplace or an attached garage.

Carbon monoxide detectors can be purchased at most hardware stores and start at around $19.99. When choosing a device for your home, make sure to check reviews and product information online. After a quick review of available devices, it seems you get what you pay for. Smart consumers will want to do a little research before selecting a product that should last several years, and give you the peace of mind it is meant to ensure. Spending a few more dollars up front may save you a lot of headaches (or even your life) in the long run.