Good for you

limajulija/FLCKR

Who says investigative journalism is dead?

Chicago Tribune published an investigation in April that uncovered how the city of Crestwood, IL knowingly drew from a contaminated well for the city’s water supply for years.

The story sparked an EPA investigation and calls for health studies on the use of well water.

Just another reason we should be paying attention to where we get our water.

Vilseskogen/Flickr

‘Tis the season for green beans!  Or so says the June issue of Bon Appetit.  Alma Albert of Bon Appetit writes that green or string beans (they are one in the same) are a good source of vitamins A, C, and K along with potassium and iron.

Albert has these tips for how to buy green beans at the market:

• go for beans that have “full, even color”
• “beans should snap when broken in half; the insides should be crisp and juicy”
• avoid bulging beans which usually mean pods are too mature to be crisp and tender

Another interesting tidbit: green beans come in all colors (green, yellow, purple) but for the most part they all taste the same.  So mix it up!

alasam/Flickr

Check out Julie Deadorff’s “5 alternative uses for lemons” that don’t include making lemonade.

My favorite is lemon as hangover cure. And since you asked, the New Yorker published a piece last year about how different cultures and regions tackle the hangover. It’s quite the anthropological study.

WBEZ Blog says the AP is reporting that a school in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood has forbidden students from shaking hands in reaction to the recent swine flu outbreak.

Still, no cases of swine flu have been reported yet in Chicago.  But it sounds like the flue strain has made it to northern Indiana.

Here’s where we stand as of Tuesday morning, complements of the New York Times:

New York- 28 confirmed cases, 17 suspected cases
California- 13 confirmed cases, 2 suspected cases
Texas- 6 confirmed cases
Kansas- 2 confirmed cases
Michigan- 1 suspected case
Ohio- 1 confirmed case
New Jersey- 5 suspected cases

and now

Indiana- 1 confirmed case

The White House has formally declared a “public health emergency” at a press briefing today as news sites exploded with reports of a swine flu epidemic outbreak whose roots are currently being traced to Mexico.

Dr. Richard Besser of the Centers for Disease Control explained that there were 20 confirmed cases of swine flu at the time of the press briefing, adding that all U.S. cases of the flu were already in recovery.

Besser went on to explain the steps individual communities can take to prevent infection.

Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease.  If you’re sick, it’s very important that people stay at home.  If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn’t go to school.  And if you’re ill, you shouldn’t get on an airplane or another public transport to travel.  Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact.

Besser also cited the CDC Web site as a good source for up-to-date information on the status swine flu in the U.S.

The AP has reported that 86 deaths are being attributed to the virus in Mexico and that confirmed cases have also sprung up in France, Israel, Canada, and New Zealand.

According to the CDC Web site, swine flu is a respiratory disease common among pigs.  Swine flue does not normally infect humans.

beatles.com

Here’s one more reason to walk (not drive) to the corner store.

Multiple news sources are reporting on new efforts being taken to make streets safer for pedestrians and stricter for drivers.

WBEZ is reporting that starting today, Chicago Police will be going undercover as pedestrians to catch non-yielding drivers in the act.  WBEZ quotes a police spokesperson as saying that drivers could be fined $50 to $500 for  failing to yield to pedestrians.

The Chicago Tribune’s story also reported on state legislation that could further the pedestrian cause.  The Tribune’s Jon Hilkevitch wrote,

Meanwhile, legislation pending before the state Senate would go even further, strengthening the Illinois vehicle code by requiring drivers to not only yield—but stop—when pedestrians are in crosswalks.

Advocates of the measure, which was proposed by the Active Transportation Alliance, say the law requiring drivers to yield is too vague. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have “must stop” laws.

Violators would face a minimum $150 fine in Illinois.

Looks like a good time to be taking to the crosswalks.

NASA/JPL/UCSD/JSC

The Environmental Protection Agency announced its findings yesterday that greenhouse gases are, in fact, harmful to public health.  The EPA announcement linked greenhouse gas emissions to climate change and climate change to … Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.daylife.com/photo/02aU3L4cVYd4Y

On today’s Morning Edition, NPR’s Jon Hamilton reported on the progress of a federal proposal (outlined in this press release) introduced lat month to restrict bisphenol A (BPA) use as a plastic additive. Read the rest of this entry »