| Small SUVs improve in crash tests |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Four small sport utility vehicles have earned top scores in front, side and rear crash tests.
They are the 2009 Ford Escape, 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan, 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander and the 2008 Nissan Rogue.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that all those vehicles have side air bags and are equipped with a stability control feature that guards against rollovers.
Marks for the Escape also apply to the Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute, and hybrid versions of the Escape and Mariner, which share the same underpinnings.
The 2008 Jeep Wrangler, which was tested without optional side air bags, received the Institute's lowest score of poor in the side test. Chrysler LLC says the Wrangler "meets or exceeds" all federal safety standards."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 12:07am EST August 20, 2008
| States push laws to require paid sick days |
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- A number of states are looking at making paid sick days a standard benefit that comes with a job. Some 46 million U.S. workers lack them, but with federal legislation stalled, lawmakers in a dozen states could take matters into their own hands.
The federal bill being discussed would give those who work 30 or more hours a week seven days of paid sick leave per year. Part-time workers would be given a pro-rated amount of paid leave.
Advocates say the goal is make workplaces safer and more healthy, especially for those who handle food or work with children for a living.
Businesses, especially smaller companies, say if this becomes standard it'll become harder to provide a more flexible array of benefits, especially in leaner economic times.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 3:20am EST August 20, 2008
| Calif. says green cars need more noise pollution |
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Electric and hybrid vehicles may be better for the environment, but the California Legislature says they're bad for the blind.
It has passed a bill to ensure that the vehicles make enough noise to be heard by visually impaired people about to cross a street.
The measure would establish a committee to study the issue and recommend ways the vehicles could make more noise.
The state Department of Motor Vehicles says more than 300,000 of the vehicles are on state roads. Officials say they don't keep statistics on pedestrian accidents involving those vehicles.
The bill has been sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has not taken a position.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 9:02pm EST August 19, 2008
| San Francisco mayor signs drugstore tobacco ban |
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that bans the sale of tobacco in pharmacies.
Newsom says the city is the first in the U.S. to take this step.
The measure prohibits tobacco sales in drug stores of all sizes, but pharmacies located inside of "big box" or grocery stores are exempt.
Starting October 1st, a store that violates the ban is subject to administrative penalties. Businesses also can be criminally cited and face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000.
Newsom says pharmacies should be places where people go to get better, "not where people go to get cancer."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 10:41pm EST August 19, 2008
| FDA reports new deaths with diabetes drug Byetta |
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators are working on a stronger label for a widely used diabetes drug after deaths continue to be reported despite earlier warnings.
The Food and Drug Administration says it has received six new reports of patients developing a dangerous form of pancreatitis while taking Byetta (BY'-yet-uh). Two of the patients have died and four are recovering
The drug is marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly. The two companies say the cases are "very rare." They add that diabetes patients are already at an increased risk of pancreatitis.
The FDA announcement updates an October alert about 30 reports of Byetta patients developing the ailment. Regulators stress patients should stop taking the drug immediately if they develop signs of pancreatitis, including nausea and abdominal pain.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Posted: 3:47pm EST August 18, 2008
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