Neshante' and Chloe Davis Domestic Violence Prevention Task Force

Senator Muse reports: SB 1143 will allow stakeholders from across the state to join forces to study the effectiveness of current intervention strategies and explore new strategies for 'intervention before escalation' of such violence.
Unfortunately, there have been several domestic violence incidents since the deaths of NeShante' and 2-year old Chloe, and several of these tragedies have occurred in Prince George's County. Other victims include Tareeka Jones and Jalisa Walls-Harris (March 2016) and Gladys Tordil (May 2016).
As a community, we're going to have to work hard to address the tough issues that are tearing families apart. It is my hope that SB 1143 will bring advocates and experts from across the state around the table so that together, we can figure out how to address the problem.

Join the Fort Washington Pool!

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Maryland State Highway Gives MD 210 a Failing Report Card (Not a surprise!)

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4th highest arterial volume in state and failing Level of Service (LOS)

The “Vial of Life” speaks for you when you can’t speak or don’t feel well

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If you are having a medical emergency - call 911. Having your medical information on your refrigerator will help EMS take care of you.

How your child’s love for music may be destroying their hearing

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By Jennifer Graham, March 28, 2016
The lead singer of the Australian band AC/DC says it’s auto racing, not rock music that has brought him to the brink of deafness. But Brian Johnson’s recent withdrawal from a North American tour provides a cautionary tale for anyone who likes their music loud, hearing specialists say.
The singer has been diagnosed with noise-induced hearing loss, a condition the World Health Organization says threatens up to half of the world’s teens. The WHO said last year that hearing can be damaged in as little as 15 minutes when people are exposed to loud sound, and that chronic use of headphones and earbuds put adolescents and young adults at extreme risk of future hearing loss.
For parents, whose own hearing may be compromised from AC/DC concerts back in the 1980s, this presents a challenge: How to regulate their children’s listening habits when there is no clear way to know how loud is too loud.
Related: Hearing Loss Association of America Convention, June 23-26. There's no cost to visit the Exhibit Hall to learn about cutting-edge technology and services.

What to Do If Your Home Contractor Doesn't Complete the Work (News4)

By Tisha Thompson, Ashley Brown and Steve Jones

• A Fort Washington, Maryland, woman told the News4 I-Team she felt cheated by the contractors she hired to help rebuild her home after a fire.
• Homeowners who file a claim can get up to $20,000 if MHIC finds wrongdoing by a licensed contractor, but that protection won't be there if you hired an unlicensed business.

[Video and story here]

Why Plastic Bags Are Not Recycled

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• The County will no longer accept the plastic bags/film because there is not an end market for the material after it has been collected in a single-stream recycling collection program/process. The plastic bags/film become dirty and contaminated once they are mixed with other recyclables, reducing their quality and value to manufacturers who use and purchase the plastic bags/film for making recycled products such as plastic lumber.
• The County Recycling Facility uses an automated system that sorts and bales the recyclables. Plastic bags jam and clog the machinery causing costly damages and downtime.  Also, contaminated plastic bags end up as trash when mixed with single-stream recycling and account for litter in our community and landfill.
• Recycling facility video here!

How to shop for affordable homeowners insurance

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"To find a low-cost, high-quality company, you can access Checkbook’s ratings of homeowners insurance companies for free through May 31 by" clicking here [asks for your email address to access ratings].

This Is a Big Deal!

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Meet Your New Best Friend!

Home Renovation Without Aggravation (Consumer Reports)

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Though the number of remodeling pros has declined, there are still less experienced—and less scrupulous—ones out there, according to a recent survey of 300 general contractors from around the country conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Among the shady industry practices general contractors reported are contractors using unskilled laborers to carry out their work, and winning jobs with lowball bids and then jacking up the cost later with “unforeseen problems.”
Our home renovation survey asked the crucial questions you might not know to ask, such as: How much wiggle room is there in the estimate? (Hint: more than you may think.) What are the biggest homeowner mistakes? How long do projects really take?
The answers, along with insights from other design and remodeling professionals, inform this, our home renovation survival guide. Follow our advice and you could save thousands of dollars on your renovation without compromising quality—or losing your cool.

15 Dangerous Apps Every Parent Should Know About

Message from State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks

Recently, Council Member Mary Lehman and I hosted an event to educate parents on the various phone apps our children frequently use to communicate. I am so thankful she recognized the importance of this issue and invited me to co-host this discussion.
While mobile phones have made it easier for parents to communicate with their children, they've also made it easier for online predators to reach them. We need to be informed and able to ask our children what apps they use and for what purpose.
We have a factsheet from the event that describes some of the most frequently used apps, how they work, and what every parent should be mindful of.  Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. If you do not have a Facebook, you can download the factsheet here.
Thank you,
Angela
PS: Let's make sure parents know what is happening on their children's phones. Share this information on Facebook.