UKIAH
Mendocino College announces new Physical Therapist Assistant Program starting in Spring 2020.
“As the primary higher education institution provider in the region, we are thrilled to offer this critical program to our communities”, stated President/Superintendent Dr. Arturo Reyes.
The application period for the program will be open from August 15 until October 15, 2019 and 24 students will be admitted into the program. Admission to the program will be based on the results of a random, computer generated lottery system. All qualified applicants will be included in the lottery.
The Mendocino College PTA Program is four semesters in length and includes both general education and program specific requirements.
According to Program Director Sara Bogner, “After 20 years as a PT, I still think I hit the jackpot when I choose a career in physical therapy. As a PT I have had the opportunity to work in many different settings with a wide variety of patients.”
For more information about the Mendocino College Physical Therapist Assistant Program and accreditation status, visit www.mendocino.edu/PTA or contact the Program Director, Sara Bogner, PT, MS PT at: sbogner@mendocino.edu
—Submitted
SACRAMENTO
Soda tax once more
Health groups are renewing a push for legislation imposing a two-cent-per-ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks, and say they may go to the ballot if that fail. It will fail if past is prologue.
The coalition includes the California Medical Association, the California Dental Association, the American Heart Association American Diabetes Association, and others.
Several bills to regulate soda and sugary drinks failed this year, as they did in past years. A final bill to place California-only warning labels on soda stalled in the Assembly Health Committee earlier this month.
Money matters: The L.A. Times reported the soda industry donated campaign money to 14 of 15 Assembly Health Committee members, $51,000 in all.
Initiative promoters believe turnout will be huge in November 2020, as Californians show their disdain for President Trump. Whether people would vote for a soda tax is another question. The beverage industry would spend huge sums to defeat such a measure.
More money matters: In 2018, the American Beverage Association anted up $8.5 million for an initiative that would have made it more difficult for local governments to raise taxes.
The soda industry dropped that measure when the Legislature capitulated by approving legislation prohibiting local governments from passing new soda taxes.
—CALmatters
WASHINGTON, DC
Rep. Huffman Helps Introduce bill to strengthen wireless networks to withstand wildfires and disasters
Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA) joined Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) in introducing the Wireless Infrastructure Resiliency during Emergencies and Disasters (WIRED) Act, legislation to allow states to require wireless companies to deploy resilient infrastructure in order for cellphone networks to better withstand disasters.
Currently, states do not have the explicit authority to require companies to deploy wireless infrastructure that is resilient to natural disasters. This legislation clarifies that states have this authority when setting “terms and conditions” for companies operating in any state in order to best prepare for geographically specific disasters.
The FCC reported in 2018 that 81% of the 27 million 9-1-1 calls made in 2018 were on wireless devices. Yet, according to the California Office of Emergency Services, 341 cell sites were offline during the 2017 October Wildfires and 489 cell sites were offline during the Camp and Woolsey fires, preventing wireless users in those areas from being able to call 9-1-1, receive an emergency alert, or use their cell phones to find the safest evacuation route.
—Submitted
