Cleveland Leader

New Orleans Times-Picayune Newspaper Moving to 3-Day-a-Week Publication Schedule

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:27:21 +0000

The New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper, which is owned by Advance Publications Inc., will shift to a three-day-a-week print schedule beginning this fall, making it the largest metro newspaper to reduce paper publication in an era dominated by the digital consumption of information.

In addition to announcing the reduced print schedule, the paper also announced the formation of the NOLA Media Group, which will oversee the newspaper and its website, NOLA.com. This consolidation will be accompanied by staff cuts. It is not yet known how many cuts will be made, but speculation suggests that the cuts may be between 100 to 150 reporters, or a third of the staff.

According to the announcement, the Times-Picayune will be home delivered and sold in stores on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Advance Publications also announced that three major dailies that it owns in Alabama - the Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, and the Press-Register of Mobile - will also switch to the new three-day-a-week schedule and will continue to focus on electronic journalism.

Advance Publications also owns the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, the Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J., and the Oregonian in Portland, Oregon. They continue to publish dailies, for now.

C-Sections Double the Risk of Childhood Obesity

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:44:36 +0000

According to new research published on Thursday in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, babies born by caesarean section are twice as likely to be overweight in later childhood.

The study, which was led by Dr. Susanna Huh at Boston's Children's Hospital, studied 1,255 babies born in the Boston area between 1999 and 2002 and found that just under 16 percent of the children delivered by C-section were obese by the age of three, compared to just 7.5 percent born vaginally.

Researchers suggested in the study that differences in gut bacteria between newborns delivered b C-section and those born vaginally may be behind the weigh gain. Past research has shown that babies born via C-section have larger amounts of Firmicutes bacteria, which is also found in higher levels in obese adults.

The researchers also suggested that gut bacteria influences the development of obesity by increasing energy extracted from food and by stimulating cells to boost insulin resistance, inflammation and fat deposits.

Researchers took factors into consideration such as the mother's weight, the baby's size, and the length of time that they were breastfed.

One of every three American babies is now born by caesarian section, reported Consumer Reports earlier this month.

Report Claims Google's Nexus Tablet Will Launch in July

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:07:46 +0000

The Google Nexus tablet, which is being co-developed with ASUS, will reportedly ship in June with an initial volume of 600,000 units per month and will be released in July, according to Digitimes.

Digitimes also claims that Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) had originally planned to release the 7-inch tablet in May, but the design of the device didn't meet their expectations and the cost was too high. So, the product was delayed until July while minor adjustments were made.

Previous rumors suggest that the tablet will be Wi-Fi only and will feature a quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and a price tag of just $199.

Google is said to have high hopes for its own branded tablet, and expects shipments to reach between 2 and 2.5 million units in 2012. Details of Google's new tablet could be revealed at the company's annual I/O conference which begins on June 27th.

Doctors Warn Skinny Jeans Can Cause Nerve Damage

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:22:54 +0000

The skinny jeans trend favored by hipsters across the U.S. could be harmful to one's health. Doctors now warn that too tight jeans can cause nerve damage.

Signs of the condition known as meralgia paresthetica include tingling and numbness. This occurs when the nerve that runs down the front of the thigh is compressed.

Doctors are not asking people to abandon skinny jeans, but rather, they say to use common sense. If you experience signs of numbness, it's time to switch to a larger size. Numbness is a sign that your body isn't getting enough blood.

Ohio Treasure Josh Mandel Returns Campaign Donations Under Investigation

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:24:13 +0000

Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel, who is also a U.S. Senate candidate, has returned $105,000 in campaign donations that are under federal investigation.

This week, Mandel's campaign sent a letter to the Suarez Corporation Industries near Canton indicating that the money was returned to 21 employees of the direct marketing firm. According to the letter, the money was returned as a cautious measure. The letter also said that it was an appropriate move until the investigation is over.

Suarez Corp. employees have been questioned by FBI investigators about combined donations that totalled $100,000 each to Mandel and U.S. Rep James Renacci.

Suarez Corp. president Benjamin Suarez said that his firm gave investigators financial records and W-2 statements that would prove that his employees could afford to make the political contributions. Suarez also said that the investigation has disrupted the company's operations.

Bishop Lennon Says Churches to Reopen This Summer

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:05:24 +0000

After a Vatican panel ordered Bishop Richard Lennon to reopen a dozen of the 50 churches closed or merged in the Cleveland Catholic Dioceses in 2009, Lennon says that they may begin re-opening in mid-June.

Bishop Lennon says that he hopes to complete the process before August, and notes that some of the churches may need to share a pastor. The news came on the same day that parishioners from St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cleveland filed an appeal with the church office that ordered Lennon to reopen the churches, asking them to make him speed up he reopening.

Experts Say Climate Change Will Triple Heat Related Deaths in the U.S.

Julie Kent — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:54:46 +0000

During the typical summer in the United States, there are around 1,332 heat-related deaths. According to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council, that number will rise to 4,608 by the end of the century. In total, the report projects that the U.S. can expect 150,000 deaths due to excessive heat by 2100.

The report is based on research that was recently published in the journal Weather, Climate and Society which looked at the impact that hotter days and nights would have on heat related deaths.

Scientists anticipate temperatures to rise 4 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century due to human-induced climate change. That means the number of days that the temperature presents a threat to health will increase. The increased will be felt most in cities where glass and asphalt amplify the heat, and the more dense population leaves people more vulnerable. Researchers predict that 37 of 40 cities studied will see increases in heat related deaths.

Microsoft to Release Office for iOS and Android Tablets in November

Julie Kent — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:51:05 +0000

Microsoft is rumored to be releasing new Windows 8 powered tablet devices later this year, but for those of you who already own an iPad or an Android tablet, you too will be able to get a bit of Microsoft software on your devices. According to BoyGeniusReport.com, a reliable sources says that Microsoft is planning to release their full Office suite for the Apple iPad and Android tablets and is targeting November 2012 for both launches.

The source also says that the Office for iOS app could also be coming to the iPhone and iPod touch and not just the iPad as the loading screen in the app clearly says "Office for iOS" and not just iPad.

Strong Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Northeastern Japan

Leader Staff — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:40:52 +0000

A strong, magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit Japan early on Thursday and was centered about 66 miles northeast of Hachinohe at a depth of 25 miles.

According to Japan's Kyodo News agency, the earthquake shook Aomori prefecture and other areas of northeastern Japan. Fortunately, no abnormalities were reported at nearby nuclear power plants and a tsunami warning was not issued.

In March 2011, a massive magnitude 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami ravaged the northeastern coastline of Japan. 19,000 people died or went missing, and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was badly damaged.

"Hunger Games" District 12 is Now Up for Sale

Julie Kent — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:33:22 +0000

Syfy's "Hollywood Treasures" has acquired the 72-acre site in North Carolina where the hit movie "The Hunger Games" was filmed, and is auctioning it off to the highest bidder. That's right Hunger Games fans, you know have a chance to own District 12.

Hollywood Treasure's host Joe Maddalena will explain the negotiations on the show's June 5 episode, and will promote the benefits of owning the property.

In real life, District 12 is the Henry River Mill Village, an old mill town built during the 1920s which is now abandoned. Included in the sale price are all the run down houses and buildings featured in the film, including Katniss Everdeen's home and Peeta Mellark's bakery.

Maddalena estimates that the property's value is "at least $1.2 million."