Docuticker

Welcome to DocuTicker

Daily Updates, Weekly Newsletter. Subscribe today!

Check out the GreyGuide, a researcher's companion to finding, using and making the most of Grey Literature.

Current issue here:
http://www.docuticker.com/greyguide/

DocuTicker offers a hand-picked selection of resources, reports and publications from government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and other public interest organizations.

Visit daily for the latest updates, or subscribe to our RSS feed. DocuTicker also publishes a free weekly e-mail newsletter highlighting recent posts. Please take a moment to subscribe:

Also check out ResourceShelf, an online resource with a hand-picked selection of high-quality, free web-based resources.

Subscribe to the DocuTicker Newsletter »

It's free!

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

March 20th, 2010

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands
Source: Solar Energy Industries Association

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today released new national polling data showing that 75 percent of those surveyed support the development of solar energy plants on public lands. The poll was conducted by Gotham Research Group. Solar industry and environmental leaders, as well as Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8th) and pollster Jeff Levine joined SEIA President Rhone Resch on a call to discuss the results.
…
The survey also revealed that solar power was the top choice (38 percent) as the best use of public land. Respondents also selected solar farms and wind power (22 percent each) as the top energy sources that the government should prioritize for support, beating out natural gas (16 percent), nuclear (16 percent), oil (11 percent) and coal (4 percent).

Related documents in PDF

Posted in Energy, Government and politics | No Comments »

112,000 Jobs at Risk Without Ethanol Tax Incentive Extension

March 20th, 2010

112,000 Jobs at Risk Without Ethanol Tax Incentive Extension
Source: Renewable Fuels Association

Extending the tax incentives for ethanol, regardless of feedstock, would save 112,000 jobs from being lost. That is nearly 30% of the 400,000 jobs ethanol production helps support today. Failure to extend the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) would reduce U.S. ethanol production capacity by 38% and eliminate tens of thousands of jobs in rural communities already hemorrhaging employment opportunities, according to a new report.
…
Key consequences that could be avoided by extending tax incentives for ethanol include:

Loss of more than 112,000 jobs in all sectors of the economy.
Reduction of domestic ethanol production by 38%.
Increased reliance on imported motor fuels.
Loss of investment in and support for second-generation biofuels.
Reduction of household income by $4.2 billion (2009 dollars)

+ Full Report (PDF; 308 KB)

Posted in Energy, Government and politics, Labor, Taxation | No Comments »

Only 9 Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010 as Industry Pain Continues

March 20th, 2010

Only 9 Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010 as Industry Pain Continues
Source: Associated General Contractors of America

Construction employment continued to shrink in most American communities as 313 out of 337 metro areas lost construction jobs between January 2009 and January 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The figures underscore just how hard hit the construction industry has been nationwide, association officials noted.
…
Eau Claire, Wisconsin added the most construction jobs (500) between January 2009 and January 2010, and experienced the largest percentage increase (23 percent) Simonson noted. Other cities adding construction jobs included Ithaca, New York (9 percent, 100 jobs); Michigan City, Indiana (6 percent, 100 jobs); Waterbury, Connecticut (5 percent, 100 jobs); and Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota (5 percent, 100 jobs).

The construction economist noted that 230 metropolitan areas experienced double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment while no city experienced a double-digit increase in construction employment. Meanwhile, 18 cities nationwide lost more than 10,000 construction jobs between January 2009 and 2010.

+
Press Release
Construction News

Title: ONLY 9 OUT OF 337 METROPOLITAN AREAS ADD CONSTRUCTION JOBS BETWEEN JANUARY 2009 AND 2010 AS INDUSTRY PAIN CONTINUES

Date: March 18, 2010

Phoenix Loses Most Jobs While Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-West Virginia Experience Largest Percentage Decline, Eau Claire, Wisconsin Has Largest Increase in Construction Employment

Construction employment continued to shrink in most American communities as 313 out of 337 metro areas lost construction jobs between January 2009 and January 2010 according to a new analysis of federal employment figures released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. The figures underscore just how hard hit the construction industry has been nationwide, association officials noted.

“It’s difficult to imagine that many regions will bounce back when so many construction workers are unemployed,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Worse, with virtually every city suffering significant construction job losses, there’s nowhere to hide from what is clearly a construction depression.”

Simonson noted that Phoenix, Arizona again lost more construction jobs (27,600) than any other city in America. Steubenville, Ohio and Weirton, West Virginia, experienced the largest percentage decline in construction employment (44 percent, 1,600 jobs), followed by Grand Junction, Colorado (34 percent, 3,400 jobs); Las Vegas, Nevada (32 percent, 24,500 jobs); Napa, California (32 percent, 1,100 jobs); and Santa Cruz, California (31 percent, 1,100 jobs.)

Eau Claire, Wisconsin added the most construction jobs (500) between January 2009 and January 2010, and experienced the largest percentage increase (23 percent) Simonson noted. Other cities adding construction jobs included Ithaca, New York (9 percent, 100 jobs); Michigan City, Indiana (6 percent, 100 jobs); Waterbury, Connecticut (5 percent, 100 jobs); and Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota (5 percent, 100 jobs).

The construction economist noted that 230 metropolitan areas experienced double-digit percentage decreases in construction employment while no city experienced a double-digit increase in construction employment. Meanwhile, 18 cities nationwide lost more than 10,000 construction jobs between January 2009 and 2010.

Simonson said the figures underscore the need for new investments in infrastructure as well as new tax incentives designed to stimulate private sector demand. “If we can’t find a way to keep what’s left of the industry working, construction job losses are only going to get worse.”

+ Construction employment by state and by ranking (PDF; 114 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Housing and real estate, Labor | No Comments »

Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power – Requiring Up to 16,500 New IRS Agents

March 20th, 2010

Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power – Requiring Up to 16,500 New IRS Agents
Source:

Today, Rep. Dave Camp and Ways and Means Republicans released a new report detailing how the Democrats’ health care bill vastly expands the responsibilities of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and strengthens the heavy hand of the IRS in dealing with taxpayers.
…
Highlights of report, which is entitled “The Wrong Prescription: Democrats’ Health Overhaul Dangerously Expands IRS Authority,” include:

IRS agents verify if you have “acceptable” health care coverage;
IRS has the authority to fine you up to $2,250 or 2 percent of your income (whichever is greater) for failure to prove that you have purchased “minimum essential coverage;”
IRS can confiscate your tax refund;
IRS audits are likely to increase;
IRS will need up to $10 billion to administer the new health care program this decade;
IRS may need to hire as many as 16,500 additional auditors, agents and other employees to investigate and collect billions in new taxes from Americans; and
Nearly half of all these new individual mandate taxes will be paid by Americans earning less than 300 percent of poverty ($66,150 for a family of four.)

The Republicans noted that despite all these new mandates on Americans, the Democrats prohibit the IRS from imposing these same taxes and penalties on illegal immigrants.

+ Full Report (PDF; 84 KB)

Posted in Government and politics, Health and healthcare, Political process | No Comments »

Census Bureau Reports Business Investment Held Steady at $1.38 Trillion in 2008

March 20th, 2010

Census Bureau Reports Business Investment Held Steady at $1.38 Trillion in 2008
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

U.S. businesses spent $1.38 trillion on new and used structures and equipment in 2008, of which $1.29 trillion, or 93.7 percent, was spent on new structures and equipment, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. These figures were nearly the same in 2007.

These findings come from the Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (ACES), which measures capital investment in new and used structures and equipment by nonfarm businesses. The data for 2008, as in all years ending in “3” or “8,” provide additional information for companies with employees by types of structures and equipment (i.e., machinery, furniture and computers).

Expenditures for new and used structures totaled $565.2 billion in 2008, an annual increase of $40.0 billion, or 7.6 percent. Of that total, $525.8 billion or 93.0 percent was spent on new structures. Spending on new and used equipment totaled $809.9 billion, 94.2 percent of which was for new equipment. In 2008, total equipment spending was down $19.6 billion from 2007.

Posted in Business and economics | No Comments »

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources

March 20th, 2010

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA administrator Jane Lubchenco today outlined specific steps the agency has taken and will take to assure that NOAA has an effective and fair enforcement program to protect fisheries and other marine resources that sustain the jobs and economic vibrancy of America’s coastal communities, in response to a January review of the Commerce Department Inspector General.

The review of NOAA’s law enforcement program was requested by Dr. Lubchenco soon after she was named to head NOAA in 2009.
…
The report details several actions already taken by NOAA, including:

Transferring oversight of the Asset Forfeiture Fund, which holds fines imposed by NOAA, from NOAA’s Fisheries Service to the NOAA comptroller.
Freezing the hiring of criminal investigators until a work force analysis is completed and approved by Dr. Lubchenco that will address the appropriate mix of criminal investigators and civil enforcement officers.
Requiring high-level review of all proposed charges for alleged violations and of all settlements by the general counsel.
Filing a rule today to place the burden of justifying a particular civil penalty or permit sanction on NOAA rather than the respondent in cases before administrative law judges.

The report also outlines a number of specific actions that the agency intends to take, including:

Developing a new penalty policy, including a revision of the penalty and permit sanction schedules.
Reviewing and revising NOAA law enforcement and general counsel operations manuals.
Developing a communications plan to provide greater outreach to fishermen and fishing communities, and other fisheries stakeholders.

+ Full Report (PDF: 4.4 MB)
+ Appendices (PDF; 16 MB)

Posted in Environment, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

UK: Managing offenders on short custodial sentences

March 20th, 2010

Managing offenders on short custodial sentences
Source: National Audit Office, UK

from Press Release:
More could be done to rehabilitate prisoners serving short sentences and reduce their risk of re-offending, according to a National Audit Office report today. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS), responsible for managing such prisoners, has little information on the quality, cost or effectiveness of its rehabilitation activities.

More than 60,000 prisoners serve sentences of under 12 months each year at a cost to NOMS of around £300 million. These prisoners present a significant challenge to NOMS: they tend to have more previous convictions than other offenders, with an average of 16 previous convictions each and, as a group, they also have a high level of homelessness, joblessness and drug and alcohol problems. NOMS is successfully keeping the vast majority of short-sentenced prisoners safe and well – a notable achievement in a time of prison overcrowding – but is currently struggling to manage this group effectively, in part because most spend six weeks or less in prison.

Although short-sentenced prisoners are kept secure, safe and well, the provision of daytime activity for them is generally inadequate to meet HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ standards for a healthy prison. This is partly because of overcrowding and constraints of physical space, which mean that there are not enough activity spaces for all prisoners. Despite the cycle of re-offending and NOMS’ target to reduce this, the NAO found that one half of short-sentenced prisoners are not involved in work or courses and spend almost all day in their cells. Prisons offer a range of courses and other activities to reduce re-offending; but waiting lists are too long and, with the exception of drug services, prisons often do not match prisoners with appropriate assistance.

Only a small proportion of prison budgets is spent on activity intended to reduce re-offending by prisoners on short sentences, despite the fact that 60 per cent of such prisoners are reconvicted within a year of release, at an estimated economic and social cost of £7 billion to £10 billion a year. The NAO argues that NOMS could achieve greater value for money by improving prisons’ work with these offenders.

+ Direct links to Executive Summary and Full Report from this page (PDF; 68 KB and 286 KB)

Posted in Crime, Europe, Legal and law enforcement, Social and cultural issues, United Kingdom | No Comments »

U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2009

March 20th, 2010

U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2009
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis

The U.S. current-account deficit–the combined balances on trade in goods and services, income, and net unilateral current transfers–increased to $115.6 billion (preliminary) in the fourth quarter of 2009 from $102.3 billion (revised) in the third quarter. The increase was more than accounted for by an increase in the deficit on goods and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in the surplus on income. A decrease in net unilateral current transfers to foreigners and an increase in the surplus on services were partly offsetting.

+ Full release and tables (PDF; 58 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, International Relations | No Comments »

Expanding Caseload Fuels Judiciary Request for Resources in 2011

March 20th, 2010

Expanding Caseload Fuels Judiciary Request for Resources in 2011
Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

Submitting the smallest funding increase requested in more than 20 years, representatives of the federal Judiciary today asked a House subcommittee to adequately fund the courts in the coming year so they can cope with anticipated increases in case filings.

“Our workload is increasing, nearly across the board, and if Congress approves the President’s requests for the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice, and bankruptcy filings remain high, our workload will continue to grow,” Judge Julia Gibbons, chair of the Judicial Conference Budget Committee, told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.

As a result, Judge Gibbons said, the Judiciary is requesting a 6.8 percent funding increase for fiscal year 2011.

“In order to handle a growing workload and sustain a fair and expeditious delivery of justice, the federal courts must have the resources needed to do their work,” she said. “We do not have programs that we can cut in response to a budget shortfall.”

Judge Gibbons appeared with Administrative Office Director James C. Duff before the Subcommittee.

“The President’s budget increases spending on border and immigration enforcement efforts, particularly along the Southwest border, as well as spending for prosecuting financial fraud and drug offenses,” said Judge Gibbons. “This influx of crime fighting resources will result in more criminal cases in our district courts, more work for our probation and pretrial services officers, and increased caseload in our defender services program, which provides assigned counsel to eligible defendants.”

She noted that additional courts of appeals cases could be seen as the DOJ adds immigration judges and staff to clear the backlog of cases in the immigration courts.

+ Judge Julia S. Gibbons Testimony (PDF; 62 KB)
+ Director James C. Duff Testimony (PDF; 65 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

2009 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Fell 23.3 Percent from 2008

March 20th, 2010

2009 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Fell 23.3 Percent from 2008
Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics

Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico decreased by 23.3 percent in 2009 compared to 2008, dropping to $637 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The 23.3 percent decline in trade was the largest year-to-year decline for the 15 years covered by these data. NAFTA went into effect in 1994 (Table 1).

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), reported that the value of trade by surface transportation with Canada and Mexico decreased by 31.1 percent during the first six months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. It decreased by 14.9 percent in the final six months of the year but increased by 10.5 percent in December compared to December 2008. For 2009 data by month, see the BTS December 2009 North American Surface Freight press release.

Total North American surface transportation imports decreased by 26.5 percent in 2009 from 2008, and exports decreased by 19.2 percent during the same period (Table 2).

In 2009, 86.6 percent of U.S. merchandise trade by value with Canada and Mexico moved on land. Total North American surface transportation trade value in 2009 increased 0.5 percent compared to 2004, and was up 27.0 percent compared to 1999, a period of 10 years (Table 3).

Posted in Business and economics, Canada, International Relations, Mexico | No Comments »

New From the GAO

March 19th, 2010

New GAO Reports and Testimonies (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
19 March 2010
+ Reports
1. Joint Strike Fighter: Additional Costs and Delays Risk Not Meeting Warfighter Requirements on Time
2. Information Security: IRS Needs to Continue to Address Significant Weaknesses
–
+ Testimonies
1. Freedom of Information Act: Requirements and Implementation Continue to Evolve, by Valerie C. Melvin, director, information management and human capital issues, before the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
2. U.S. Postal Service: Financial Crisis Demands Aggressive Action, by Phillip Herr, director, physical infrastructure issues, before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Senate Committee on Appropriation

Posted in GAO, Government and politics | No Comments »

NEW REPORT: Advancing the Economic Security of Unmarried Women

March 19th, 2010

Advancing the Economic Security of Unmarried Women
Source: Center for American Progress

In America today nearly half of women are unmarried—a transformational societal change from 1960 when only one-third of women were unmarried. And today virtually every woman will spend at least part of her adult life as the sole supporter of herself or her family. With so many women living on their own, it is crucial that lawmakers take seriously unmarried women’s economic security needs.

Unfortunately, the economic circumstances of unmarried women are troubling. They face greater economic insecurity compared to the general population or their married counterparts by almost any measure. They must confront disproportionate unemployment, poverty, and lack of health insurance, as well as other hardships. Despite being just under half of the female population, they represent 63 percent of unemployed women, 60 percent of women without health insurance, and three-quarters of women in poverty.

Each of the new laws and proposed policy changes described in this report has its place in an agenda that improve unmarried women’s economic conditions. Together, this legislation would make significant progress.

Congress doesn’t need to wait to get started on this agenda, either. The top four policy proposals described in this report that are likely to move through Congress quickly and would have a significant impact on the economic security of unmarried women are:

The health care system overhaul currently pending in Congress, which would fill a major gap in public policy by greatly expanding the availability and affordability of health insurance.
A proposed reauthorization and expansion of the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which provides subsidies for child care to low-income families.
The expected reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act, which Congress can use to focus on the workforce development needs of single women. Bills such as the Pathways Advancing Career Training Act and the Women WIN Jobs Act would target opportunities for job training and good jobs to women.
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which the Senate is expected to consider this year and the House passed in January 2009. Women continue to face gender-based pay discrimination, and this bill would strengthen legal protections against wage discrimination.

+ Executive Summary (PDF; 349 KB)
+ Full Report (PDF; 910 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Children and families, Gender and sexuality, Labor, Poverty, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »

Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years

March 19th, 2010

Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years
Source: Pew Center on the States
From press release:

For the first time in nearly 40 years, the number of state prisoners in the United States has declined, according to Prison Count 2010, a new survey by the Pew Center on the States.

As of January 1, 2010, there were 1,403,091 persons under the jurisdiction of state prison authorities, 5,739 (0.4 percent) less than on December 31, 2008. This marks the first year-to-year drop in the nation’s state prison population since 1972.

While the overall state prison population dropped, the Pew survey revealed great variation among the states. The population declined in 27 states, with some posting substantial reductions. At the same time, the number of prisoners continued to grow in the other 23 states, several with significant increases.

Posted in Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

Oil Addiction: Gas Price Spikes Threaten Americans’ Wallets

March 19th, 2010

Oil Addiction: Gas Price Spikes Threaten Americans’ Wallets
Source: Natural Resources Defense Council

As many energy experts are predicting that gas prices will rise nationally to more than $3 per gallon this spring, a new study shows the heavy toll these spikes would have on Americans’ wallets. The economic white paper, “Ranking States Oil Vulnerability: Assessing the Continued Threat of Gas Price Spikes,” examines the impact of a gas price spike similar to the summer of 2008 in states across the country.

The data reveals that drivers in all states are dependent on oil for their transportation needs, but some states are more vulnerable to oil price increases than others. Drivers in the most vulnerable states will be particularly hard hit in the event of another spike in the price of gasoline, which is one of the economic risks Americans face due to the country’s dependence on oil.
…
Even without an oil price shock, there is a major gulf between the nation’s 10 most vulnerable states and the 10 least vulnerable. The 10 most vulnerable states are (from most to least): Mississippi, Montana, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, Maine, Georgia and Idaho. The 10 least vulnerable states are (from most to least): Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Colorado, New Hampshire, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut (least vulnerable).

+ Full Report (PDF: 224 KB)

Posted in Business and economics, Consumer issues, Energy | No Comments »

The Economic Benefits of Immigrant Authorization in California

March 19th, 2010

The Economic Benefits of Immigrant Authorization in California
Source: Economic Policy Institute

A new study co-authored by EPI board member Manuel Pastor shows substantial economic benefits of authorizing workers who are currently undocumented.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.1 MB)

Posted in Business and economics, Government and politics, Immigration, Labor, Legal and law enforcement | No Comments »

NTSB Says Northwest Pilots’ Distraction Led to Overflight of Minneapolis, Notes ATC Shortcomings; Issues Recommendations on ATC Procedures

March 19th, 2010

NTSB Says Northwest Pilots’ Distraction Led to Overflight of Minneapolis, Notes ATC Shortcomings; Issues Recommendations on ATC Procedures
Source: National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board has determined that Northwest Airlines flight 188 overflew its destination airport of Minneapolis by more than 100 miles and failed to maintain radio communications because the pilots became distracted by a conversation unrelated to the operation of the aircraft. The NTSB’s accident brief, released today, also note air traffic control shortcomings during the event, and the Board issued two safety recommendations to address those shortcomings.

On October 21, 2009, Northwest Airlines flight 188, an Airbus A320 (N374NW) operating as a scheduled flight between San Diego and Minneapolis, did not communicate with air traffic control for approximately one hour 17 minutes. While in this NORDO (no radio communications) state, it flew past its intended destination at a cruise altitude of 37,000 feet. The crew subsequently re-established radio communications and landed without further incident. There were no injuries.

The NTSB said that the pilots continued to fly through several air traffic control sectors without replying to any radio commands. The investigation found that the pilots had become engaged in a conversation dealing with the process by which pilots request flight schedules and during the conversation each was using his personal laptop computer, contrary to company policy. The pilots were not aware of the repeated attempts by air traffic controllers’ and the airline to contact them until a flight attendant used the intercom to inquire about the progress of the flight.

The NTSB also found that the lack of national requirements for recording ATC instructions when using automated flight tracking systems, such as directing an aircraft to switch frequencies or to indicate that an aircraft has checked in on an assigned frequency, was a factor in the controllers delay in performing necessary actions and notifications required by lost communications procedures. In addition, because NORDO events of a short duration are not uncommon, the Safety Board found that controllers and managers may have become complacent in completing necessary NORDO actions and required notifications in a timely manner.

As a result of deficiencies in ATC communications procedures revealed in this investigation and an accident involving a Pilatus PC-12/45 that crashed in Butte, Montana on March 22, 2009, the Safety Board is making recommendations to the FAA to address the following issues:

The lack of standard procedures for identifying flight crew-ATC communications in ATC facilities that use automated flight tracking systems.
The lack of standard phraseology for identifying the emergency nature of emergency ATC radio transmissions.

+ Probable cause finding
+ Safety Recommendation letter (PDF; 139 KB)
+ Safety Recommendation A-10-30 (PDF: 659 KB)

Posted in Air travel, Government and politics, Safety, Transportation and travel | No Comments »

US Department of Labor releases report on youth summer jobs initiative

March 19th, 2010

US Department of Labor releases report on youth summer jobs initiative
Source: U.S. Department of Labor

A report released today by the U.S. Department of Labor found that the 2009 Recovery Act Summer Youth Employment Initiative was largely successful in connecting young workers with employment experiences. Overall, 317,000 young people took part in the initiative.
…
The report was developed by Mathematica Policy Research and funded by the Department of Labor. Titled “Reinvesting in America’s Youth: Lessons from the 2009 Recovery Act Summer Youth Employment Initiative,” it analyzes monthly performance data submitted to the department’s Employment and Training Administration by states and looks closely at the experiences of 20 select local areas.

Among the report’s findings:

Youths were placed in summer jobs, with almost 13 percent of enrollees placed in work experiences outside summer months. Sixty-three percent of participants were in school, largely ages 18 or younger.
Nationwide, local areas reported that nearly 75 percent of youths achieved a measurable increase in their work readiness skills while participating.
Available data show a completion rate for summer work of greater than 82 percent.
Employers interviewed for this study were overwhelmingly positive about the initiative. They reported that the experience of mentoring a new employee was worth the effort and almost unanimously agreed that they would participate again if given the opportunity.
Many youths were enthusiastic about being able to help their families in tough economic times. They also reported that, in the absence of their summer jobs, they would be competing with more experienced adult workers for jobs or doing nothing productive over their summer breaks.

+ Full Report

Posted in Children and families, Government and politics, Labor, Social and cultural issues | No Comments »

U.S. Bobcat Proposal Fails to Receive International Support

March 19th, 2010

U.S. Bobcat Proposal Fails to Receive International Support
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The proposal to remove the bobcat (Lynx rufus) from the list of species of wildlife regulated in the international trade was rejected by the Parties reviewing proposals today at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP15) to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The United States introduced the proposal to remove the bobcat from Appendix II listing, which regulates their international trade.

The parties participated in considerable debate and there were divergent points of view on the proposal, including a strong showing of support by Canada which shares management of Lynx rufus with the U.S. Opposition to the proposal focused on issues concerning the possible impact to illegal trade of other listed spotted cats due to their similarity of appearance. The final vote in the Committee was 53 in support, 46 opposed and 15 abstentions. The final decision will be made by the plenary session of the CoP15 on the final day of the conference. Typically, that vote follows the recommendation of the Committee.

+ U.S.CITES.gov: Bobcat

Posted in Environment, Government and politics, International Relations, Legal and law enforcement, Veterinary Medicine/Animal Welfare | No Comments »

Welcome to DocuTicker

Poll: 3 out of 4 Americans Approve of Solar Energy Development on Public Lands

112,000 Jobs at Risk Without Ethanol Tax Incentive Extension

Only 9 Out of 337 Metropolitan Areas Add Construction Jobs Between January 2009 and 2010 as Industry Pain Continues

Democrats’ Health Care Bill Contains Massive Expansion of IRS’s Power – Requiring Up to 16,500 New IRS Agents

Census Bureau Reports Business Investment Held Steady at $1.38 Trillion in 2008

NOAA Takes Steps to Assure Fair and Effective Enforcement, Protect Resources

U.S. International Transactions: Fourth Quarter and Year 2009

Expanding Caseload Fuels Judiciary Request for Resources in 2011

2009 Surface Trade with Canada and Mexico Fell 23.3 Percent from 2008

New From the GAO

Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years

Oil Addiction: Gas Price Spikes Threaten Americans’ Wallets

The Economic Benefits of Immigrant Authorization in California

NTSB Says Northwest Pilots’ Distraction Led to Overflight of Minneapolis, Notes ATC Shortcomings; Issues Recommendations on ATC Procedures

U.S. Bobcat Proposal Fails to Receive International Support

Pages

Archives

Categories

Meta