WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2018 – Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett today announced that USDA is investing $501 million in 60 projects to help improve health care infrastructure (PDF, 170 KB) and services in rural communities nationwide.
“Creating strong and healthy communities is foundational to increasing prosperity in rural America,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural leaders to improve quality of life and economic development through modern and accessible health care.”
Hazlett made today’s announcement as part of USDA’s commemoration of National Rural Health Day, which is held annually on the third Thursday of November to focus on the specific health care issues facing rural communities. The Department is investing in 60 projects through the Community Facilities direct loan program. These investments will expand access to health care for approximately 2 million people in 34 states.
USDA is investing in health care projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Hazlett’s funding announcement complements the finalization of a partnership between USDA and the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to identify issues causing financial strain on rural hospitals, which are an important part of the rural health care system. NRHA and the Department will work together to identify management and financial indicators that impact rural hospital operations. This technical assistance will help rural hospitals continue to operate and provide critical health care services to serve rural communities.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2018-north-america-rental-car-satisfaction-study
According to Michael Taylor, Travel Practice Lead at J.D. Power: “Rental car companies are doing a lot of things right when it comes to customer satisfaction, with some brands making significant gains this year,” and “Lower prices continue to have a positive effect, but we’re also seeing increased satisfaction with the vehicles themselves, the reservation process and mobile apps. This suggests that efforts to streamline the rental process with technology are paying off, but study findings also show that positive interactions with rental car company staff can have a positive effect on customer satisfaction.”
Following are some of the key findings of the 2018 study:
Record-high rental car customer satisfaction: Overall rental car satisfaction improves by 4 index points to 830 in 2018, the highest level recorded in the 23-year history of the study. The performance improvement is driven by increases in satisfaction in three factors: reservation, rental car and cost & fees.
Satisfaction higher among app users: Overall satisfaction among customers who use a brand’smobile app is 58 points higher than among those who do not. Currently, just 30% of customers say they use a rental car mobile app. Rental car apps are used most frequently for making reservations (47%); getting information (42%); and check-in (40%).
Staff interactions still matter: Although mobile app usage is associated with higher levels of overall satisfaction, staff interactions still matter. Positive staff touch points in the reservation and return processes are associated with the highest levels of overall rental car customer satisfaction.
Enterprise ranks highest in overall customer satisfaction for a fifth consecutive year, with a score of 862. Hertz (848), which has improved by 26 points from 2017, ranks second. National (846) ranks third.
The 2018 North America Rental Car Satisfaction Study is based on responses gathered from September 2017 through August 2018, from 12,068 business and leisure travelers who rented a vehicle at an airport location from August 2017 through August 2018.
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2018-north-america-airport-satisfaction-study
According to a new study, children who experience back pain are more likely to experience anxiety and depression as adults. Back pain is often musculoskeletal in nature, and the study says childhood pain leads to school absence, and unhealthy behaviors like drinking and smoking at an early age.
Noted chiropractor Dr. Bradford Butler says our increasingly sedentary lifestyles are leading to back problems at early ages. He suggests preventative care like exercise, sound nutrition and chiropractic adjustments to head off more serious problems down the road.
About Bradford Butler
Bradford Butler, a chiropractor and author of The Blueprint for Back Pain Relief: The Essential Guide to Nonsurgical Solutions (www.drbradfordbutler.com), is owner and director of Oakland Spine and Physical Therapy, which has three locations in northern New Jersey. Dr. Butler, a graduate of the New York Chiropractic College, has twice been named one of America’s top chiropractors by Consumer Research Council of America and his offices have received the exclusive NJ TopDoc Award for eight consecutive years.
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UNWILL
Premieres New Album
Can't Kill Me
via The Noise
Can't Kill Me
Out on November 16th, 2018
"Weighing in at nine unfiltered hard-hitting tracks, the band's latest
is a loud, in-your-face onslaught that could very easily be the soundtrack to shows
like Sons Of Anarchy or its newest installment Mayans M.C." - The Noise
rock and roll, while it's overall a bit more relaxed and willing
to take the listener on a melodic journey..." - Substream Magazine
Previously Featured on Alternative Press, Loudwire,
PureGrainAudio, and more
November 15, 2018 - Rochester, NY - Rock and roll trio Unwill is thrilled to share their brand new album, Can't Kill Me, streaming now exclusively via The Noise. A growling collection of straight rock songs, Can't Kill Me is the band's sophomore record and will be available this Friday, November 16th, 2018.For more information, please visit: www.unwillband.com.
On the new album, the band shares: "This noise is our journey through spirit and ego hung out to dry. It tried to pull us into the dark but we pulled each other out. This is just raw rock 'n' roll aiming to shine some light in our magical world."
Formed in Rochester in 2015, Unwill signed with Entertainment One shortly after. Since then, Unwill has shared the stage with letlive., Vanna, He Is Legend, Norma Jean, and Ghost Key, as well as performing at select dates of the 2016 Vans Warped Tour.
They released their debut album Past Life in 2017, which garnered praise from Loudwire, New Noise Magazine, and PureGrainAudio, amongst others. Now Unwill is back and preparing to self-release their sophomore record, Can't Kill Me, on November 16th, 2018.
Unwill is Roc Tracy (vocals), Ethan James (guitar), and Jeffrey Jean (bass).
For more information:
Website: www.unwillband.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/unwillband
Twitter: www.twitter.com/unwillband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/unwillband
Youtube: www.youtube.com/unwillband
Can't Kill Me Track Listing:
1. Keep It Gold
2. Big Dog
3. Getaway
4. Fault
5. The Circus
6. Intention
7. Slaves
8. Say What?
9. I'll Be Damned
