Dr. Richard Webby, member of the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team, responsible for each year’s vaccine composition recommendation, says “get the flu shot now”  
 
MEMPHIS, TENN. – As coronavirus cases surge across the nation heading into the winter season, Dr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team, encourages all Americans to use October to get this year’s newly reformulated flu vaccine to receive full protection. 
 
“Taking roughly two weeks to build up immunity in your body, it is important to get the flu vaccine by the end of October to have full protection before influenza season arrives,” said Dr. Richard Webby, a member of the Infectious Diseases Department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the World Health Organization’s Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team. “It is the most effective tool we have to stave off the influenza virus. We can all help save lives by getting the flu shot now in order for it to provide maximum immunity.”
 
The World Health Organization Influenza Vaccine Composition Advisory Team members, released recommendations earlier this year on the composition of the flu vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere.  The recommendations are used to guide national vaccine regulatory agencies and pharmaceutical companies to develop, produce and license influenza vaccines.
 
“To avoid what could be a volatile dual influenza and COVID-19 season this fall and winter in the United States, now is the time to get the flu shot,” Webby said. “The absolute best way for the public to prepare against this unique and unpredictable scenario is to protect themselves now and not to wait for influenza activity to start before getting the flu shot.”
 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people receive a flu shot by the end of October. Given it takes approximately two weeks for the influenza vaccine to build up enough antibodies to offer the shots full protections against the influenza virus, people shouldn’t wait until the flu starts spreading in their community. 
 
“The more people who get the flu shot will result in less severe influenza in our communities, resulting in less of an impact on our medical facilities and greater protection for the entire population,” Webby said. “Let’s not wait for a spike in flu cases to take action.  The bottom line is the flu shot is still the most valuable and life-saving public health tool in preventing and spreading the flu while protecting our most vulnerable family, friends, and neighbors.”  
 

 
Dr. Webby is a leading, expert voice on the importance of getting the flu-shot with guest pieces in CNN, Newsweek, & FOX News. A world-renowned virologist, he is an often-sought-after source for on-the-record commentary by national, international and local media for expert advice and analysis on the spread of influenza and other contagious viruses. 
 

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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. St. Jude is ranked the No. 1 pediatric cancer hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing and food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. To learn more, visit stjude.org or follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch.
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nearly six teen drivers are involved in a fatal car crash every day in the United States.  Inexperience combined with driver distraction increases the risk for error, making motor vehicle crashes the leading cause of death for young drivers in the nation.  To reduce teen distracted driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) has partnered with Impact Teen Drivers (ITD) to teach positive habits and behaviors to our most vulnerable drivers through education and enforcement.
 
Ten percent of all drivers ages 15 to 19 who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash, and 100 percent of those crashes were preventable.  Based on miles driven, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety discovered that teens are involved in three times as many fatal crashes as all other drivers.  To combat this alarming trend, the message of the ITD program is simple:  keep both hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, and mind focused on driving.
 
“Teen drivers are the most at risk of driving distracted.  They are more likely than any other demographic to be involved in traffic crashes where distracted driving is a factor,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.  “Sadly, many of these crashes will result in injuries and deaths.  We hope to help eliminate these preventable deadly crashes.”
 
The CHP and ITD will conduct virtual classes at schools and community events throughout California during the pandemic to help change the behavior of teen drivers.  The yearlong Teen Distracted Drivers Education and Enforcement X grant provides for an education component as well as enforcement operations to be conducted statewide through September 30, 2021. 
 
“In California we lose the equivalent of eight, large school buses filled with teens each year to car crashes.  Impact Teen Drivers, CHP, and the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) partner to offer free in-person and online training for parents and teens—together, we can stop the #1 killer of teens,” said Dr. Kelly Browning, Executive Director of ITD.
 
For free safe driving resources in English or Spanish, please visit www.ImpactTeenDrivers.org.
 
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

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Dr. Glenn Mollette 
 
Halloween is typically a relaxed day for America's kids to fill their coffers with candy. Children and adults often don their favorite wacky attire for a day of comic relief. 
 
America needs a day of some kind of relief and maybe Halloween will provide some insanity or terror relief. Because nothing about Halloween is as scary as what America and the world has been experiencing. 
 
We have buried over 220,000 Americans from Covid-19. Over eight million have been sick. Nursing homes and Intensive Care Units have become horror wards. The projections for more sickness and death scare most Americans. We are afraid to go to church, out to eat, and to the grocery store. The airplane, hotel and restaurant industries are in peril as many have already closed or are on the verge of closing. Over 12 Million Americans are now unemployed and many in financial devastation because of Covid-19. 
 
 Congress continues to haggle over what and how much the government can further indebt our nation to keep us afloat for the present. With an approximate 28 trillion-dollar deficit and growing when will America file for bankruptcy? What will it take to keep Social Security and Medicare going? More taxes for a broader range of Americans and increased payroll taxes are on the near horizon, most Americans fear. It's more than a little scary. 
 
On top of Covid-19, job loss, business failures and increasing poverty Americans are masked fatigued. Children are tired of being home from school. Adults miss the comaraderie and social dynamics of their workmates. Working at home first felt good and welcomed but has become old for many Americans. The thought of this going on for another six months or even a year or longer is more than scary - it's terrifying. 
 
On top of all this we have a major election in front of us. Americans are terrified about the election. We are frightened about who will be elected. Trump being reelected terrifies millions while millions are terrified Joe Biden will be elected. We are horrified of what may come as the result of this election and what either of the candidates may bring to America the next four years.
 
We are further scared by each other. The hostility of Americans toward people with different views is out of hand. Hurting people, cursing people, destroying property are not hallmark qualities of a civilized society. We have sadly stopped being civil in America. Rude and crude are no longer shy in this nation. Pushing, shoving and outright fighting with people is becoming too normal. This is not what the average American wants and is disdained by most of us. Let's face it, people who act this way scare most Americans.
 
It's Halloween time in America and there is plenty of fright to go around. The best treat we can give our country is treating each other the way we would like to be treated. 

Click here for -> Books By Glenn Mollette , Read his latest book Uncommon Sense
Music by Glenn Mollette through iTunes and all music dealers
  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – If you lost your home or sustained other losses because of wildfires in Lassen or Tulare counties Aug. 14-Sept. 26, 2020, you may be eligible for assistance from FEMA. This applies to survivors of the Sheep Fire and W-5 Cold Springs Fire in Lassen County and Tulare County’s SQF Complex, which includes the Castle Fire and Shotgun Fire.

FEMA gives eligible survivors financial awards to help them pay for such needs as rent, home repair or replacement; medical, dental or funeral costs and other serious disaster-related expenses.
Insurance is generally the best source of funds to recover from a disaster. If you have insurance that covers all or part of your wildfire losses, file your claim immediately before applying for disaster assistance. Get the process started as quickly as possible. The faster you file your insurance claim, the faster you can move ahead with your recovery. If your insurance doesn’t cover all your serious disaster-related expenses, you may be eligible for FEMA assistance to help fill the gap.
Take photographs or video of the damage and keep all receipts related to clearing smoke, home repair or other disaster-related needs.
The only way to determine whether you are eligible for FEMA assistance is to apply. You can do that in three ways: online at www.disasterassistance.gov, by downloading and using the FEMA app on your smartphone or tablet, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585) between 7 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. PDT. The helpline has specialists who speak many different languages. If you use a relay service such as a videophone, Innocaption or CapTel, provide FEMA the specific number assigned to that service when you register. Deadline to register is Nov. 23.
You may also call the helpline for answers to your questions about FEMA assistance and to discuss letters that FEMA may send you.
To apply for assistance, be prepared with the following information:

• Social Security Number
• Insurance policy information
• Address of the damaged primary dwelling
• A description of disaster-caused damage and losses
• Current mailing address
• Current telephone number
• Total household annual income
• Routing and account number of your checking or savings account (for direct transfer to your bank account)

After registering, create your own personal account at the disasterassistance.gov website or with the FEMA app on your smartphone or tablet. You can use your account to check the status of your application, view messages from FEMA, update your personal information, and upload important documents.
If you are unable to upload your documents, mail them to FEMA at P.O. Box 10055, Hyattsville MD 20782-8055 or fax them to 800-827-8112.
Inspections
Before FEMA can determine eligibility for home replacement or repair, the applicant’s property must be inspected. During COVID-19, FEMA inspections are being conducted by phone. These remote inspections are comparable to traditional, in-person inspections and can expedite recovery assistance for eligible applicants. For security purposes, the inspector will verify your identity by asking a series of qualifying questions and then provide you with the first four digits of your application to complete the verification.
If you reported that you cannot safely live in your home, a FEMA inspector will contact you by phone and ask about the type and extent of damage sustained. Survivors with minimal damage who can live in their homes will not automatically be scheduled for a home inspection when applying to FEMA, but they may request an inspection.
Home inspections do not impact the types of assistance that may be available for other disaster-related expenses such as for childcare, transportation, medical, dental, funeral, moving and storage assistance and other serious wildfire-related expenses.
U.S. Small Business Administration
Following a disaster SBA makes disaster loans available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations. Many survivors use SBA disaster loans to help fund their recovery. SBA has established a Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center to help homeowners and renters. Customer service representatives are available to assist business owners and individuals, to answer questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process and help each person complete their electronic loan application.
Virtual Business Recovery Center and Virtual Disaster Loan Outreach Center
For customer service:
Mondays – Sundays
5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT
FOCWAssistance@sba.gov
(800) 659-2955
For the latest information on wildfire recovery, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4558 and follow the FEMA Region 9 Twitter account at https://twitter.com/femaregion9 .
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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).
FEMA’s mission: Helping people before, during, and after disasters.
The U.S. Small Business Administration is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property.
For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955. TTY users may also call 800-877-8339. Applicants may also email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov or visit SBA at SBA.gov/disaster.

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 29 attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in support of the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages in the case Philip Morris USA v. FDA. Tobacco continues to be the deadliest product sold in the United States and one of the most addictive. In the amicus brief, the coalition argues that the FDA has a significant interest in informing the public of the potential health consequences of smoking and is not prevented from requiring graphic warnings by the First Amendment.    
“As tobacco companies work to entice a new generation of smokers, the FDA must work to inform Americans of the consequences of using tobacco products,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Smoking cigarettes is a deadly choice, particularly in the midst of a respiratory pandemic. That’s why we’re standing with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general in support of the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages.” 
Smoking is the number one preventable killer in the United States, with over 480,000 Americans dying from tobacco-related diseases every year. This is more than the number of people who die from alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murder, and suicides – combined. Over forty years of experience has shown that small, obscurely placed, and text-only warning labels on cigarette packs simply do not work. More than 40 million Americans continue to smoke today.
On March 18, 2020, the FDA issued a final rule requiring that new graphic warnings be placed on cigarette packages and cigarette advertisements to increase the public’s awareness of the serious health consequences of cigarette smoking. The warnings are necessary to counteract the effect that decades of deception by the cigarette manufacturers have had on the public. The warnings will permit consumers to make an informed choice rather than a choice made without considering relevant information. 
In the amicus brief, the bipartisan coalition urges the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to uphold the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings, arguing that:

• The FDA has a substantial interest in reinforcing consumers’ understanding of the dangers of smoking; and
• The warning labels are consistent with the First Amendment because they serve the public interest of disclosing beneficial consumer information and counteract decades of deceptive behavior by the tobacco industry.  

Attorney General Becerra joined a similar brief in support of the FDA’s ability to require graphic warnings on cigarette packages in July 2020.
Attorney General Becerra joins the attorneys general of Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and the District of Columbia in filing the amicus brief. 
A copy of the amicus brief can be found here.

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Cybercrime is a massive global industry, reaching $3.5 billion in damages from reported incidents in 2019. Safety.com consulted the 2019 FBI Internet Crime Report to uncover the states most affected by cybercrime. The report provides statistics for every state regarding the number of victims, number of cybercriminals, total losses, and total earnings by cybercriminals.

States are ranked by total monetary losses as a result of cybercrime.Social engineering, or manipulating people into divulging confidential data, is one of the leading forms of information theft that causes financial damages. Perpetrators might call and pretend to be from a tech support team from the victim’s bank, for example. People are vulnerable to these social attacks the same way they’re liable to fall for other phishing attacks online, in which victims are tricked into handing over highly personal information such as Social Security numbers, account numbers, or passwords.
Phishing attacks could come in the form of an email or text that looks like it is from a reputable company or site asking you to click on a link to change your password or offer you free merchandise.These attacks can easily catch victims off guard—from unsuspecting retirees to top-level employees at major companies.
Using security software on devices including computers, tablets, and smartphones is recommended by the Federal Trade Commission, as is using multi-factor authentication for accounts when offered. And for those who think they have fallen victim to cybercrime, it is important to report it to the proper agencies, such as the FBI‘s Internet Crime Complaint Center. Being aware of the threat is the first step to defend against cybercriminals. Read on to find out how much cybercriminals steal in every state.
Data visualization
States most affected by cybercrime heatmap (Preview)

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Teen drivers can face challenges with every new experience.  During National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 18-24, 2020, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) joins the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to encourage parents and guardians to discuss driver safety with their young drivers.
 
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, ahead of any type of injury, disease, or violence.  According to preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, 255 people in California were killed last year in crashes involving drivers aged 15-19.  
 
“Teen drivers do not have the experience needed when confronted with new challenges on the road.  This can create a potential danger to themselves and others,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “Through open communication and by setting an example with their own good driving habits, parents and guardians can help keep their young drivers safe.” 
 
Discussions about safe driving include avoiding distractions such as cell phones, using seat belts, obeying speed limits, not driving impaired, and limiting the number of passengers.  Parents and guardians must be aware that their own driving behavior and following the same rules is as important as any conversation they may have with their teen.
 
The CHP provides education to help keep teen drivers alive in its Start Smart course, offered by all CHP offices free of charge.  Participating in Start Smart will help parents and guardians learn how to effectively discuss the importance of driving safely with their young drivers.  Start Smart also teaches driver responsibility, the Graduated Driver License program, and collision-avoidance techniques.  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Start Smartclasses are being held online.  Contact your local CHP Area office for information on how to enroll.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.