Virginia One of 8 States to Earn 'A' Grade in Center Digital Government Ranking in 2014 State Technology Survey

Map of USA with Virginia highlighted (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I wanted to make sure you saw the press release below from the Center for Digital Government on their 2014 Digital States Survey. Virginia is one of 8 states to receive an “A”grade for how government uses technology to better serve citizens and streamline services. Speaking at today’s Commonwealth of Virginia Innovative Technology Symposium, Governor McAuliffe reiterated his commitment to a modern and innovative government, saying:

“Building a new Virginia economy means building a modern and innovative government that supports growth at the speed of business. Virginia’s A ranking in the 2014 Digital States Survey is an accomplishment for the men and women of state government, and I am eager to continue our work using new technologies to earn an A+ for how this Commonwealth serves its residents, localities and businesses.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2014 Digital States Survey Reveals Top Technology States

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – September 3, 2014 – In its comprehensive 2014 Digital States Survey, e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government evaluated the digital technology practices of all 50 states, assigning each state a grade based on quantifiable results in better serving citizens and streamlining operations.

Overall, since the last biennial survey in 2012, grades improved in 21 states, declined in 12 and stayed even in 17.  Eight states earned top grades, with Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri and Virginia moving up to A designations and Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Utah maintaining their A marks from 2012. Connecticut, rising from a C to A- and Idaho, from a D to a B, were the most improved states.

The survey evaluated states based on a set of criteria that included actions supporting state priorities and policies to improve operations or services, hard- and soft-dollar savings/benefits, progress since the last survey, innovative solutions, and effective collaboration. Those states receiving high marks demonstrated results across all criteria.

“Grades improved in 21 states, an indication that smart technology investments made by state government leaders during some very difficult financial times are paying off,” said Todd Sander, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “In states that performed the best, leaders invested in analytics and business intelligence systems to help them make smarter decisions. They also deployed citizen self-service applications that eased the impact of agency staff cuts.”

The states will be recognized at an awards ceremony on September 28^th in Nashville.

To see the full list of state grades visit http://www.govtech.com/cdg/digital-states/Digital-States-Survey-2014-Results.html. 

To see the State of the Digital States infographic go to www.govtech.com/state/State-of-the-Digital-States-2014-Survey-at-a-Glance.html.

The Center thanks Deloitte, EMC, NIC, Symantec and Verizon for underwriting the survey and for their support of states nationwide.

About the Center for Digital Government

The Center for Digital Government is a government research and advisory instituteon information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. See http://www.centerdigitalgov.com

The Center is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education. Seehttp://www.erepublic.com

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Governor McAuliffe Announces 30 New Jobs in Lunenburg County

Flag of Lunenburg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~ Global Refining Group to invest $4.2 million in catalytic convertor recycling operation ~

RICHMOND - Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today that Global Refining Group, Inc., a sister company of ABC Recycling, will invest $4.2 million to establish a catalytic convertor recycling operation in Lunenburg County. Virginia successfully competed against Connecticut and New York for the project, which will create 30 new jobs. ABC Recycling, one of the fastest growing companies in South Central Virginia, recycles vehicles, scrap metals and catalytic converters.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “This project is a great example of a spinoff company resulting from business success that will bring new jobs and investment to Lunenburg County. The rapid growth of ABC Recycling created the demand for the establishment of Global Refining Group, which will take the recycling process to the next step and become the premier East Coast location for catalytic convertor recycling. We welcome our newest corporate partner to Virginia, and celebrate 30 new jobs in a region that continues to recover economically.”

“Lunenburg County is a great fit for Global Refining Group’s new catalytic convertor recycling operation,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “In addition to its close proximity to sister company ABC Recycling, the county also offered an industrial building that has been recently retrofitted, allowing Global Refining Group to make some modifications and become operational in a shorter timeframe. We look forward to the company’s future success in Virginia.”

ABC Recycling in Kenbridge, VA opened its doors for business in 2006 with three employees, growing quickly to become North America's largest processor of catalytic converters. With such rapidly expanding business the company was in dire need of opening a facility that would take converter recycling to the next level. Global Refining Group will revolutionize the way converters are processed. The goals for the new company will include a fast expansion plan, with the hopes that yet another company will develop as rapidly as ABC Recycling.

“Global Refining Group has chosen Kenbridge VA as its new home,” said Robert Szafranski, Chief Executive Officer, Global Refining Group. “Though other locations were considered, it was the hard work and diligence of Lunenburg County, the Town of Kenbridge, the Tobacco Commission, the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, and the Governor that made this decision possible. The support that these offices have offered our company shows their interest lies not only in the growth of our company but the community as a whole. For this we thank them and look forward to a successful start in Lunenburg County.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Lunenburg County, the Town of Kenbridge, and Virginia’s Growth Alliance to secure the project for Virginia. Governor McAuliffe approved a $100,000 grant from the Governor’s Opportunity Fund to assist Lunenburg County with the project. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission approved $145,000 in Tobacco Region Opportunity Funds for the project. The company may be eligible to receive benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Through its Virginia Jobs Investment Program, the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity will provide funding and services to support the company’s employee training activities.

“The Town of Kenbridge is proud,” said Emory Hodges, Mayor, “that Global Refining Group, Inc. has chosen our town as the location of its facility.  In joining with Lunenburg County, the Town Council feels that we have worked together to bring another business to our area that will benefit all of our community and its citizens. We have watched ABC Recycling, sister company to Global, grow and become a vibrant part of our business community and we look forward to the same success for this new company.” 

“Our Board of Supervisors has enjoyed working with ABC Recycling since they opened in Kenbridge in 2006,” said Edward Pennington, Chairman of the Lunenburg County Board of Supervisors. “As successful businessmen, we are delighted that Mr. Szafranski and his partners have chosen our community to continue their expanding operations.  We foresee the addition of other associated companies and more job creation as a result of Global Refining Group, Inc. locating in Lunenburg. Our community appreciates the efforts of the state agencies, the VGA, the Tobacco Commission and the Governor’s office to make this announcement possible.”

“I am very pleased that the Tobacco Commission was able to provide a performance incentive to help Global Refining Group, Inc. make the decision to locate in Lunenburg County”, said Delegate Tommy Wright, member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “Their investment of $4.2 million and the creation of 30 good-paying jobs is a very important boost to this rural community’s economy. I wish them great success.” 

“I commend ABC Recycling and now Global Refining Group, Inc. for seeing an opportunity to not only create jobs, but also to reclaim from our waste stream valuable metals that in the past have been lost into landfills,” said Senator Frank Ruff, member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.

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Gloucester, VA School Board Questions, Non-Classroom Staff (9 of 10)

Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D.

About the Yankee Institute for Public Policy

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Inc. is a nonpartisan educational and research organization
founded more than two decades ago. Today, the Yankee Institute’s mission is to “promote
economic opportunity through lower taxes and new ideas for better government in Connecticut.”


Question 9: Non-Classroom Staff;

How is the time and load of non-classroom certified staff (psychologists, social
workers, counselors, speech therapists, etc.) monitored? How is the time of full time staff with reduced loads (department chairman, supervising teachers, etc.)
monitored?

Background: There is usually no documentation of how such staffs use
their time. How many students does a psychologist test per day? What are the
number of students a speech therapist sees each day? What do department
chairs and supervising teachers do with their released time? These questions
demand answers.

Proposed Solution: It is essential to document how these staffers spend
their days. Such staff members are very reluctant to provide such information,
but it is incumbent on the administration and board to require it. Policies and
guidelines must be developed for this purpose. There are associations for each,
and they can be helpful in providing such guidelines. Comparing what other
similar districts do or require can also be useful.

This is part 9 of our 10 part series investigating and stopping fraud in our school system.

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Gloucester, VA Teacher Student Loads - (Part 8 of 10)

Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D.

About the Yankee Institute for Public Policy

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Inc. is a nonpartisan educational and research organization
founded more than two decades ago. Today, the Yankee Institute’s mission is to “promote
economic opportunity through lower taxes and new ideas for better government in Connecticut.”

Question 8: Teachers’ Student Loads:

What are the number of students each teacher has during each period of the
day, and the total number of students each teacher has during the course of the
day? How many aides are there to augment teacher loads and assignments?

Background: Staff allocation/assignment is the source of much school district
waste. In addition, there has been a proliferation of school aides added
to school resources, yet their numbers are not used to indicate student-teacher
ratios.

Proposed Solution: A list of teacher assignments and teacher loads by
period (augmented by aides) and by subject should be provided as part of every
budget presentation. The list then needs to be forensically examined to
determine where there is possible waste and mismanagement. School
Corruption: Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust provides a number of
examples of how these human resources are mismanaged.

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Gloucester, VA School Board, Federal and State Grants (Part 4)

Armand A. Fusco, Ed.D.

About the Yankee Institute for Public Policy

The Yankee Institute for Public Policy, Inc. is a nonpartisan educational and research organization
founded more than two decades ago. Today, the Yankee Institute’s mission is to “promote
economic opportunity through lower taxes and new ideas for better government in Connecticut.”


Question 4: Federal and State Grants 

How are grants being managed in the school district? Who is responsible for
monitoring the grants for proper implementation? How is the monitoring actually
done?

Background: Grants are another common and significant source of
corrupt acts. There are two types of grants: entitlement (specific dollar amounts
allocated to a district for specific reasons) and competitive (schools are not
required to apply for such grants). All too often, districts do not take advantage
of the latter because they involve extra effort and work -- a poor excuse
considering the additional resources such grants could provide.

It is extremely important to note that grant monies cannot be used to
replace previously budgeted dollars. The monies must be used as an add-on to
the budget. One common grant abuse is that schools use funds to supplant
the budget (replace previous budgeted dollars) -- a corrupt act. What must
also be reviewed very carefully is to see who has received any of the monies.

Since grants usually do not involve local dollars (some do require
matching funds or resources), local oversight is shoddy at best. State and
federal education bureaucrats are responsible for monitoring the grants, but
are too often ineffective in uncovering mismanagement and fraud. This is why
grants dollars are abused so easily.  

Proposed Solution: During each budget presentation, a list of all grants
that were available to the school district should be listed, as well as the dollar
amounts involved. Next to each should be indicated whether the grant was
applied for and whether it was approved (with dollar amounts). If some were
not applied for, the reason should be given. The State Department of Education
will also have a list of all such grants (unless they are foundation grants).

Approved grants are public documents and must be forensically
examined to determine whether they are and have been used for the purpose
intended. If funds have not been spent according to the grant application, the
reasons must be given.

Any citizen can sue the district (as a person) if federal grant dollars have
been misused and receive a third of the recovered amount. School Corruption:
Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust gives the citation of the unanimous
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on this issue.

This is part 4 in our 10 part series on avoiding school corruption.  It's time to ask a lot of questions.

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Oreos Are Found to Be as Addictive as Cocaine

English: Double Stuf Oreos, by Nabisco. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dr. Mercola

When you eat refined processed sugars, they trigger production of your brain's natural opioids -- a key ingredient in the addiction process. Your brain essentially becomes addicted to stimulating the release of its own opioids as it would to morphine or heroin.

This addictive nature of sugar and processed food has again been confirmed by a psychology professor and a team of students at the College of Connecticut,1, 2who showed that Oreo cookies are just as addictive as cocaine or morphine.

The study, which was designed to investigate the potential addictiveness of high-fat/high-sugar foods, also found that eating Oreos activated more neurons in the rat brain’s pleasure center than exposure to illicit drugs did. According to professor Schroeder:

“Our research supports the theory that high-fat/ high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do. It may explain why some people can’t resist these foods despite the fact that they know they are bad for them.”

The idea for the study originated with neuroscience major Jamie Honohan, who wanted to know how the high prevalence of junk foods in low-income neighborhoods might contribute to the obesity epidemic.

Indeed, it’s quite revealing to note that, in contrast to third-world countries, in the US the poorest people have the highest obesity rates. This seeming contradiction is, I believe, a clear indication that the problem stems from the diet itself.

Something in the cheapest and most readily available foods is creating metabolic havoc, and that’s exactly what researchers keep finding. As reported by Connecticut college:

“...Oreos activated significantly more neurons than cocaine or morphine. 'This correlated well with our behavioral results and lends support to the hypothesis that high-fat/ high sugar foods can be thought of as addictive,' said Schroeder.

And that could be a problem for the general public, says Honohan. ‘Even though we associate significant health hazards in taking drugs like cocaine and morphine, high-fat/ high-sugar foods may present even more of a danger because of their accessibility and affordability,’ she said.”

Please note that I do not agree with the comment that everything that is considered high-fat is bad for you. Oreo cookies and virtually every other processed snack are bad because they use highly processed omega-6 vegetable oils, the wrong type of fat. However it is possible to make a healthy high-fat snack using oils like coconut oil.

Processed Foods Are DESIGNED to Be Addictive

Indeed, scientific research into the addictive nature of certain foods, combined with shocking “insider” exposés,3 tells us that Americans are not necessarily lacking in self control when it comes to their food consumption. Rather, food companies have perfected food concoctions that are addictive. And they know it.

Most people blindly believe that food companies will do the right thing; that they would never produce food that might be toxic or harmful. This, we’ve learned is not the case.

The food industry is well aware of its role in creating obesity, and they’re not ignorant as to the reason why Americans can’t seem to get enough junk food. They even insist on selling foods to the American market with ingredients that have been banned for health reasons in other countries...

Most processed foods are actually created to be addictive—whether we’re talking about cookies or pasta sauce—through the masterful use of addictive ingredients like salt, fat, sugar and a wide variety of proprietary flavorings.

In a previous New York Times article,4 investigative reporter Michael Moss wrote about the extraordinary science behind taste and junk food addiction, and how multinational food companies struggle to maintain their “stomach shares” in the face of mounting evidence that their foods are driving the health crisis.

In it he mentions a 1999 meeting between 11 CEOs in charge of America’s largest food companies, including Kraft, Nabisco, General Mills, Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola and Mars, where their role in the increasingly poor health of Americans was addressed head-on. Moss writes in part:

“James Behnke, a 55-year-old executive at Pillsbury... was engaged in conversation with a group of food-science experts who were painting an increasingly grim picture of the public’s ability to cope with the industry’s formulations —

From the body’s fragile controls on overeating to the hidden power of some processed foods to make people feel hungrier still. It was time, he and a handful of others felt, to warn the C.E.O.’s that their companies may have gone too far in creating and marketing products that posed the greatest health concerns.“

SHOCKING! EU Approves Health Claim for Fructose

With everything we now know about the metabolic disaster that is fructose, it’s absolutely SHOCKING to learn that the European Union has approved a health claim for fructose,5 slated to take effect as of 2014. Many of my readers are scattered through the EU nations, and for you, understanding the ramifications of this label is crucial.

As of 2014, food manufacturers that replace at least 30 percent of the glucose and/or sucrose content in their food with fructose will be allowed to put a health claim on their product, stating that it has a positive effect on carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

There’s no doubt in my mind that such a health claim will promote an avalanche of chronic disease, as food manufacturers start switching from the lesser to the greater of two evils... As reported by Ingredients Network:6

“[F]ood and beverage manufacturers can expect a healthy upward surge in sales for products with fructose from the 2nd of January 2014 when the European Union’s fructose health claim comes into effect. ...[T]he fructose declaration promises to be truly ground breaking for food and beverage manufacturers. Manufacturers who substitute at least 30 percent of glucose or sucrose with fructose can now claim that

‘Consumption of foods containing fructose leads to a lower blood glucose rise compared to foods containing sucrose or glucose.’ ...fructose’s ability to emphasize fruity flavors also makes the news particularly favorable for manufacturers of beverages, fruit preparations, fruit flavored ice-cream, yogurts and more.

Since the EU’s game-changing step, validating fructose benefits, the industry’s attention has focused with increased urgency on the opportunities presented by incorporating non-GMO crystalline fructose into different food and beverages products...”

Why Fructose Is Worse for You Than Other Sugars

One of the primary problems with refined fructose is that it is isocaloric but not isometabolic. What this means is that while you can have the same amount of calories from fructose or any other nutrient, including glucose, the metabolic effect will be entirely different despite the identical calorie count.

While it is true that refined fructose creates a lower glycemic response immediately after eating it, compared to sucrose or glucose, to say that it is therefore healthier for you is a gross and seriously misleading claim that wholly ignores its overall metabolic consequences.

In short, the fact that refined fructose produces a lower immediate glycemic response is completely irrelevant, because the overall metabolic effects are far more destructive. In my view, this label is dangerous, and may set the EU up for an out-of-control spiral of chronic disease.

Refined fructose actually affects your body in ways similar to alcohol, hence the rise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—and, again, addiction. Fructose and ethanol both have immediate, narcotic effects associated with their dopaminergic properties. In the same way that alcohol can lead to the downward spiral of compulsive overconsumption, fructose tends to generate an insatiable and intense sensation of pleasurable sweetness, often driving us to consume far more than our body can handle; even while it damages multiple organ systems.

The EU Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies even spells out the consequences in their Opinion paper,7 while still agreeing with the proposed health claim for fructose:

“The Panel considers that in order to bear the claim, glucose or sucrose should be replaced by fructose in sugar sweetened foods or beverages. The target population is individuals who wish to reduce their post-prandial glycaemic responses. The Panel notes that high intakes of fructose may lead to metabolic complications such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and increased visceral adiposity.“ [Emphasis mine]

What You Need to Know About Fructose versus Glucose Metabolism

Again, while refined fructose creates a lower glycemic response in the short term, compared to other sugars, in the long term, it causes greater metabolic havoc than sugar. This has been repeatedly demonstrated in scientific studies. One of the most recent ones, published in the journal Nature,8 again concluded that while refined fructose and glucose have the same caloric value, they are metabolized differently, and fructose causes more harm of the two. Below is a summary of the main differences between glucose and fructose metabolism, which explains why I keep repeating that fructose is by far the worst type of sugar there is:

With fructose, 100 percent of the metabolic burden rests on your liver. But with glucose, your liver has to break down only 20 percent	When you eat 120 calories of glucose, less than one calorie is stored as fat. 120 calories of fructose results in 40 calories being stored as fat. Consuming fructose is essentially consuming fat!
Every cell in your body, including your brain, utilizes glucose. Therefore, much of it is "burned up" immediately after you consume it. By contrast, fructose is turned into free fatty acids (FFAs), VLDL (the damaging form of cholesterol), and triglycerides, which get stored as fat	The metabolism of fructose by your liver creates a long list of waste products and toxins, including a large amount of uric acid, which drives up blood pressure and causes gout
The fatty acids created during fructose metabolism accumulate as fat, both in your liver and skeletal muscle tissues, causing insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin resistance progresses to metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes	Glucose suppresses the hunger hormone ghrelin and stimulates leptin, which suppresses your appetite. Fructose has no effect on ghrelin and interferes with your brain's communication with leptin, resulting in overeating
Fructose is the most lipophilic carbohydrate. In other words, fructose converts to activated glycerol (g-3-p), which is directly used to turn FFAs into triglycerides. The more g-3-p you have, the more fat you store. Glucose does not do this	In addition to fructose's dopamine modulating activity, there appears to be afructose-opiate connection. While both glucose and fructose are capable of creating pain killing effects, researchers have found that fructose is more potent than glucose in accomplishing these effects, suggesting it may be more addictive

 http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/10/30/oreos-fructose-consumption.aspx  Visit Mercola for more information and videos on this topic.

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