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Blumenthal plans ’emergency health care hearing’ for Monday – The Hill

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Sen. Richard BlumenthalRichard BlumenthalBlumenthal plans emergency health care hearing for Monday Overnight Regulation: Interior to delay methane pollution rule | Trump nominates Dem to FCC | DeVos to redo Obama rules on for-profit schools Overnight Tech: Trump nominates Dem to FCC | Facebook pulls suspected baseball gunman's pages | Uber board member resigns after sexist comment MORE (D-Conn.) said he will hold his own emergency field hearing on health care Monday.

The Connecticut lawmakers hearing is in response to what he says is a secret strategy Senate Republicans are using to push their version of the American Health Care Act.

Its a small group of Republicans, meeting in secret [and] none of us on the Democratic side have a clue as to what theyre doing, Blumenthal told the Hartford Current.

How do we vote in the next few weeks on a bill that has not beenreduced to writing, that has been done in secret without any kind of public hearing? the senator continued.

Republicans ripped the Democratic Affordable Care Act when it was a bill in Congress, claiming the bills deliberations were done in secret.

However, top Senate Republicans claim there have been several public hearings on regarding the American Health Care Act.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellBlumenthal plans emergency health care hearing for Monday Liberal group targets potential Republican healthcare swing votes Trump probe puts spotlight on Justice's No. 3 MORE said this week there have been gazillions of hearings on this subject over the years.

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Blumenthal plans 'emergency health care hearing' for Monday - The Hill

Protesters urge Sen. Collins to vote ‘No’ on healthcare bill – WGME

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Senator Susan Collins got an earful from protesters at her Portland office Friday. (WGME)

PORTLAND (WGME) -- Senator Susan Collins got an earful from protesters at her Portland office Friday.

The group was urging Maine's senior senator to vote against the GOP healthcare bill.

This is just one of many sit-ins happening all across the country Friday.

Protesters are urging lawmakers to vote No on health care repeal.

The protesters occupied Susan Collins office, saying the republican health care plan would be catastrophic for Americans, leaving more than 23 million people without health insurance.

Senator Collins has not said how she will vote on the health care repeal bill.

Protestors hope she hears their concerns when she makes her decision.

Protesters also say the republican plan will make it harder for people with pre-existing conditions to get coverage.

CBS 13 reached out to Senator Collins office Friday. The spokesperson for the senator responded,

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Protesters urge Sen. Collins to vote 'No' on healthcare bill - WGME

Guest opinion: Dalton’s Montana health care legacy – Billings Gazette

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

For every new staff hire at the Department of Public Health and Human Services, there are key departures. In particular, DPHHS is celebrating the amazing career of an individual who leaves behind a legacy of public service to the State of Montana.

After 30 years, DPHHS Branch Manager and State Medicaid Director Mary Dalton is retiring.

We honor Marys tremendous and influential role to improve health care access for Montana residents. Simultaneously, we are saddened to lose such an amazing leader and true champion for thousands of people this agency serves.

Mary has played a major role in establishing Medicaid health policy for the state. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that pays for a broad range of medically necessary health care services for low income Montanans.

Marys work to improve health care policy is widely known and respected in many national and statewide circles. Those unfamiliar with her name no doubt are keenly aware of the programs she has worked so hard to create, implement and improve. The programs include the Childrens Health Insurance Program, Healthy Montana Kids, and the HELP Plan (Medicaid expansion).

She has recently been working on an historic program available to Montanas tribal communities that focuses on tribal-led health promotion disease prevention as DPHHS works government-to-government with Montanas tribes to address the unacceptable health disparity among Native Americans. These programs collectively help improve the health of thousands of Montana children, adults, seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Over the years, there are many who have worked diligently on health policy at DPHHS. But, through her many key positions within this agency, she has been one of the most influential voices.

Mary has logged thousands of miles and spent countless hours traveling all over the state, including regular visits to all seven Indian Reservations. During these visits, she has worked tirelessly to communicate both new information regarding DPHHS health care programs, or to listen intently to suggestions about how to improve them. She has collaborated with providers.And, to think Montana was close to losing Mary to an East coast state.

While tackling major health policy work and program oversight is where her career ends, its not where it started. She began her work as a registered nurse, which engrained in her the concept of health care and the importance of it.

Early in her career, Mary was looking for a new challenge, and had considered applying for a Medicaid director position outside Montana. Naturally, she discussed this possibility with her family. Mary states: My 11-year-old son simply said, thats fine mom (if you go), but youll have to send your check home to Montana.

Needless to say, the 11-year-old won out. The story brings a smile to Marys face. DPHHS is thankful the Daltons stayed, and Montana has certainly benefited.

Mary leaves behind a legacy that will impact generations to come. Not too shabby for the Sheridan, Montana, gal who grew up to be a nurse, and used those people-first skills so inherent in the nursing profession to have such a lasting impact.

Sheila Hogan is director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

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Guest opinion: Dalton's Montana health care legacy - Billings Gazette

Governors from both parties slam House healthcare bill, call for bipartisan Senate approach – The Hill

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

A bipartisan group of governors is calling on the Senate to adopt a bipartisan approach on healthcare while denouncing the ObamaCare repeal bill that passed the House.

Senate Republicans are currently moving forward with crafting a repeal bill that they expect will only get GOP votes, arguing that Democrats are not interested in compromise. But the governors are instead calling for an approach where both parties work together.

While we certainly agree that reforms need to be made to our nations health care system, as Governors from both sides of the political aisle, we feel that true and lasting reforms are best approached by finding common ground in a bipartisan fashion, the governors wrote in a letter to Senate leaders of both parties.

Kasich and Sandoval are particularly notable for their warning against the current Senate GOP approach, given that senators from their states, Rob PortmanRob PortmanKey GOP senators to watch on ObamaCare Governors from both parties slam House healthcare bill, call for bipartisan Senate approach Murkowski: 'I just truly do not know' if I can support GOP health bill MORE (R-Ohio) and Dean HellerDean HellerKey GOP senators to watch on ObamaCare Liberal group targets potential Republican healthcare swing votes Governors from both parties slam House healthcare bill, call for bipartisan Senate approach MORE (R-Nev.), are key votes on the bill.

Kasichs office said the governor has been in regular touch with Portman on the healthcare bill.

The governors sharply criticized the House-passed ObamaCare repeal bill.

Improvements should be based on a set of guiding principles, included below, which include controlling costs and stabilizing the market, that will positively impact the coverage and care of millions of Americans, including many who are dealing with mental illness, chronic health problems, and drug addiction, the governors write.

Unfortunately, H.R. 1628, as passed by the House, does not meet these challenges, they add. It calls into question coverage for the vulnerable and fails to provide the necessary resources to ensure that no one is left out, while shifting significant costs to the states.

The governors are particularly concerned about the bill's Medicaid provisions. All of governors who signed the letter are from states that expanded Medicaid under ObamaCare, but the Republican bill in both chambers is set to end the federal funding for that expansion.

Sandoval, in particular, has said publicly he wants to keep the expansion as it is. That represents a break with Heller, the most vulnerable Senate Republican on the ballot in 2018, who said he supports a seven-year phaseout of the expansion funding.

Portman also supports the seven-year phaseout. Kasich has said he could agree to a phaseout of the funding if there is enough flexibility.

We stand ready to work with you and your colleagues to develop a proposal that is fiscally sound and provides quality, affordable coverage for our most vulnerable citizens, the letter states.

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Governors from both parties slam House healthcare bill, call for bipartisan Senate approach - The Hill

Stephen Colbert: GOP healthcare bill like new season of ‘Game of Thrones’ except ‘more people will die’ – Washington Examiner

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

"Late Show" host Stephen Colbert joked on Friday night that the Republican healthcare legislation that is in the works is so classified it is the only thing that hasn't leaked in Washington D.C., a nod to multiple leaks that have come out of the Trump administration.

"What's in it? Colbert facetiously asked during his Friday night monologue on CBS. "Who knows? All we know so far is their foolproof plan for getting it passed, 'keeping their healthcare bill secret.'"

The late night talk show host joked that the plan is so secretive and anticipated it is like the new season of "Game of Thrones," but "somehow, more people will die."

Republicans gave themselves a "self-imposed" deadline of July 4 to hold a healthcare vote, according to Politico. A deadline that is quickly approaching, leaving many questioning whether they will be able to hold on to their campaign promise of replacing Obamacare.

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Stephen Colbert: GOP healthcare bill like new season of 'Game of Thrones' except 'more people will die' - Washington Examiner

New three-in-one blood test opens door to precision medicine for prostate cancer – The Institute of Cancer Research

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Scientists have developed a three-in-one blood test that could transform treatment of advanced prostate cancer through use of precision drugs designed to target mutations in the BRCA genes.

By testing cancer DNA in the bloodstream, researchers found they could pick out which men with advanced prostate cancer were likely to benefit from treatment with exciting new drugs called PARP inhibitors.

They also used the test to analyse DNA in the blood after treatment had started, so people who were not responding could be identified and switched to alternative therapy in as little as four to eight weeks.

And finally, they used the test to monitor a patients blood throughout treatment, quickly picking up signs that the cancer was evolving genetically and might be becoming resistant to the drugs.

The researchers, at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, say their test is the first developed for a precision prostate cancer therapy targeted at specific genetic faults within tumours.

It could in future allow the PARP inhibitor olaparibto become a standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer, by targeting the drug at the men most likely to benefit, picking up early signs that it might not be working, and monitoring for the later development of resistance.

The study is published today(Monday) in the prestigious journal Cancer Discovery. It was funded by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer UK, The Movember Foundation, Cancer Research UKand the National Institute for Health Research(NIHR) via the Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre Network, and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centreat The Royal Marsden and the ICR.

The test could help to extend or save lives, by targeting treatment more effectively, while also reducing the side-effects of treatment and ensuring patients dont receive drugs that are unlikely to do them any good.

The new study is also the first to identify which genetic mutations prostate cancers use to resist treatment with olaparib. The test could potentially be adapted to monitor treatment with PARP inhibitors for other cancers.

Researchers at the ICR and The Royal Marsden collected blood samples from 49 men at The Royal Marsden with advanced prostate cancer enrolled in the TOPARP-A phase II clinical trial of olaparib.

Olaparib is good at killing cancer cells that have errors in genes that have a role in repairing damaged DNA such as BRCA1 or BRCA2. Some patients respond to the drug for years, but in other patients, the treatment either fails early, or the cancer evolves resistance.

Douglas Baker, aged 73 from Berkshire, has been receiving olaparib for prostate cancer for a year and a half. He is being treated at The Royal Marsden. He said: "Over 14 years I've had chemotherapy, radiotherapy, everything they could throw at it. It had spread to my lymph nodes and liver but since I've been on olaparib these tumours have shrunk. I took part in this trial to give something back. I've been on olaparib for 18 months now and can stay on it for as long as it works. I feel very lucky, especially as I feel well."

Find out more about the prostate cancer research undertaken at our Movember Centre of Excellence.

Learn more

Looking at the levels of cancer DNA circulating in the blood, the researchers found that patients who responded to the drug had a median drop in the levels of circulating DNA of 49.6 per cent after only eight weeks of treatment, whereas cancer DNA levels rose by a median of 2.1 per cent in patients who did not respond.

Men whose blood levels of DNA had decreased at eight weeks after treatment survived an average of 17 months, compared with only 10.1 months for men whose cancer DNA levels remained high.

The researchers also performed a detailed examination of the genetic changes that occurred in cancer DNA from patients who had stopped responding to olaparib. They found that cancer cells had acquired new genetic changes that cancelled out the original errors in DNA repair particularly in the genes BRCA2 and PALB2 that had made the cancer susceptible to olaparib in the first place.

The research puts into action the central aim of the ICRs and The Royal Marsdensresearch strategy, which is to overcome cancers adaptability, evolution and drug resistance.

Professor Johann de Bono, Regius Professor of Cancer Research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: Our study identifies, for the first time, genetic changes that allow prostate cancer cells to become resistant to the precision medicine olaparib.

From these findings, we were able to develop a powerful, three-in-one test that could in future be used to help doctors select treatment, check whether it is working and monitor the cancer in the longer term. We think it could be used to make clinical decisions about whether a PARP inhibitor is working within as little as four to eight weeks of starting therapy.

Not only could the test have a major impact on treatment of prostate cancer, but it could also be adapted to open up the possibility of precision medicine to patients with other types of cancer as well.

Professor Paul Workman, Chief Executive of the ICR, said: Blood tests for cancer promise to be truly revolutionary. They are cheap and simple to use, but most importantly, because they arent invasive, they can be employed or applied to routinely monitor patients to spot early if treatment is failing offering patients the best chance of surviving their disease.

This test is particularly exciting because it is multi-purpose, designed for use both before and after treatment, and using both the absolute amounts of cancer DNA in the bloodstream and also a readout of the specific mutations within that genetic material. We believe it can usher in a new era of precision medicine for prostate cancer.

Professor David Cunningham, Director of Clinical Research at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: This is another important example where liquid biopsies a simple blood test as opposed to an invasive tissue biopsy can be used to direct and improve the treatment of patients with cancer.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, Deputy Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UKsaid: To greatly improve the survival chances of the 47,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, its clear that we need to move away from the current one-size-fits-all approach to much more targeted treatment methods. The results from this study and others like it are crucial as they give an important understanding of the factors that drive certain prostate cancers, or make them vulnerable to specific treatments.

However, there is still much more to understand before the potentially huge benefits of widespread precision treatment for prostate cancer will reach men in clinics across the UK. That is why Prostate Cancer UK is investing so heavily in this area, including supporting this research released today.

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New three-in-one blood test opens door to precision medicine for prostate cancer - The Institute of Cancer Research

Gene Therapy Biotech AveXis Targets SOD1 ALS – ALS Research Forum

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

A delivery for ALS? AveXis is currently using the gene therapy vector NAV AAV9, developed by REGENXBIO in Maryland, to deliver its experimental gene therapy for SMA into the spinal cord. The approach, which aims to increase levels of SMN, is beginning to show signs of benefit including motor function according to interim phase 1 results presented by Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Jerry Mendell and colleagues at the 2017 meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Boston. [Image: National Human Genome Research Institute.]

AveXis is one step closer to developing a potential gene therapy for SOD1 ALS. The gene therapy company, based in Cleveland, Ohio, announced this month it has obtained the rights to develop treatments for ALS using REGENXBIOs gene therapy delivery vehicle. The emerging vector, derived from adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9), is being increasingly utilized to deliver potential therapies into the CNS for neurological diseases.

The strategy is one of a growing number of potential gene therapies for SOD1 ALS that aims to reduce levels of misfolded SOD1 in the CNS and in the muscles by silencing the expression of the SOD1 gene (see May 2017 conference news). The approach is being developed by a research team led by Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Brian Kaspar in Ohio, who is also AveXis chief scientific officer and scientific founder (see December 2015 conference news; Thomsen et al., 2014; Foust et al., 2013).

The delivery vehicle, known as NAV AAV9, forms the basis of AveXis experimental gene therapy for the motor neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The strategy, known as AVXS-101, is currently being evaluated at the phase 1 stage at Nationwide Childrens Hospital as a treatment for Type 1 SMA, the most severe form of the disease. The approach builds on previous studies in 2009 led by Institute of Myologys Martine Barkats in France and Brian Kaspar in the United States, which found that AAV9 could cross the blood-brain barrier and therefore, could be used to potentially treat motor neuron diseases (seeDecember 2008news;Duque et al., 2009;Foust et al., 2009).

Meanwhile, Martine Barkats, in collaboration with Maria Grazia Biferi, in France is using a different approach in hopes to treat SOD1 ALS (see May 2017 conference news). The strategy, which uses a related gene therapy delivery vehicle known as AAV10, also aims to reduce motor neuron toxicity by silencing the expression of the SOD1 gene. The strategy is currently being optimized and is at the preclinical stage. The researchers are now developing a similar strategy in hopes to treat C9orf72 ALS, the most common form of the disease.

***

To learn more about gene therapy and its potential for ALS, check out our recent news feature: A New Potential Gene Therapy Delivers A Key Milestone.

References

Thomsen GM, Gowing G, Latter J, Chen M, Vit JP, Staggenborg K, Avalos P, Alkaslasi M, Ferraiuolo L, Likhite S, Kaspar BK, Svendsen CN. Delayed disease onset and extended survival in the SOD1G93A rat model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after suppression of mutant SOD1 in the motor cortex. Neurosci. 2014 Nov 19;34(47):15587-600. [PubMed].

Foust KD, Salazar DL, Likhite S, Ferraiuolo L, Ditsworth D, Ilieva H, Meyer K, Schmelzer L, Braun L, Cleveland DW, Kaspar BK. Therapeutic AAV9-mediated suppression of mutant SOD1 slows disease progression and extends survival in models of inherited ALS. Mol Ther. 2013 Dec;21(12):2148-59. [PubMed].

Duque S, Joussemet B, Riviere C, Marais T, Dubreil L, Douar AM, Fyfe J, Moullier P, Colle MA, Barkats M. Intravenous administration of self-complementary AAV9 enables transgene delivery to adult motor neurons. Mol Ther. 2009 Jul;17(7):1187-96. [PubMed].

Foust KD, Nurre E, Montgomery CL, Hernandez A, Chan CM, Kaspar BK. Intravascular AAV9 preferentially targets neonatal neurons and adult astrocytes. Nat Biotechnol. 2009 Jan;27(1):59-65 [PubMed].

WATCH: Elon Musk Gives Behind the Scenes Look Inside Falcon Factory – Futurism

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

In Brief Elon Musk gives behind the scenes look at SpaceX's Falcon rocket factory in a video posted to Twitter and Instagram on Saturday.

On Saturday, Elon Musk posted a video on Twitter giving us abehind the scenes look at the inner workings of SpaceX.The videofeaturesshots of people working on both the inside and outside of multiple rockets at the Falcon Factory in Hawthorne, California. It also features some gorgeous frames of the technology, which Musks intends will help democratize space travel.

An earlier tweet gave us an update on Musks plan to make humanity a a space-bearing civilization and a multi-planetary species by colonizing Mars. Although it providesinsight into his logic and initial ideas, Musk did revealon Twitter that there are Major changes to the plan coming soon.

Musks SpaceX company is one of many currentlydeveloping the next generation of rockets. Thus far, these models appear primed to be cheaper alternatives totraditional space travel. One company,Blue Origin, similarly to Musk, isworking on reusable rockets and another company,Rocket Lab(whorecently had a successful launch), are aiming to create unprecedentedly cheap rocketscapable of makingfrequent trips to space.

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WATCH: Elon Musk Gives Behind the Scenes Look Inside Falcon Factory - Futurism

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Self-Driving Cars Will Save Lives – Futurism – Futurism

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

In BriefIn a recent tweet, astrophysicist and popular sciencecommunicator Neil deGrasse Tyson claimed that car accidents will bethe leading cause of death in a world free of diseases and aging.The clearest way to combat this is the adoption of self-drivingcars. Leading Cause of Death

Atthe most basic level, the leading cause of death amongst humans is our frailty. We get sick. We age. Inevitably, we die. While that sounds grim,its simply the nature of our biology right now, but it may not be for long.

Right now, scientists worldwide are working tireless to keep death at bay. Theyre developing treatmentsthat could potentially cureall diseases and even stop aging itself, which many now consider a disease itself and not an inevitable fact of life.

So what happens when we accomplishall that weve set out to do? American astrophysicist and famous science personality Neil deGrasse Tyson thinks well still have one more hurdle to overcome, and he shared it via a recent tweet.

Tysons point is backed up by a number of studies on car fatalities and the development of autonomous vehicles. In the United States alone, roughtly 30,000 to 40,000 people die from car crashesevery year, and an estimated94 percent of those are due to human error. Additionally, some six million drivers admitted to bumping other cars on purpose, according to a report by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

Autonomous vehicle manufacturers agree that self-driving systems would make the roads safer by eliminating human error. While these manufacturers have yet to achieve true Level 5 autonomy, recent developments in driverless vehicle systems arent too far off the mark.

Most notable among these is, of course, Tesla. At a time when the rest of the world wasnt too keen on investing in autonomous technology, Tesla and CEO Elon Musk vigorously pursued the tech. Now, the company has developed its ownAutopilot self-driving software, which the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports has already reduced Tesla accidents by 40 percent.

Ride-hailing company Uber, in partnership with Volvo, has also been busy testing and rolling out its own autonomous vehicles. The company was the first to introduce self-driving taxis, it was responsible for test driving the worlds first autonomous truck, and it has plans for an autonomous flying car.

Other industry giants from both the tech and car manufacturing sectors arealso developing autonomous technology. Most recently, Apple confirmed that theyve been working on an autonomous system that could improve self-driving vehicles, possibly for use in their own line of cars.

General Motors recently deliveredthe worlds first mass-produced self-driving cars, while others, such asVolkswagen and Ford, are moving from the concept stages to production. And then theres theever-growing number of startupsalso in the self-driving game.

Given all these efforts, autonomous vehicles are poised to be a major part of transportation in the near future. Public adoption may be slow at first, but once the tech is embraced, well be able to check another threat to humanity off the list.

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Neil deGrasse Tyson: Self-Driving Cars Will Save Lives - Futurism - Futurism

New members of Vatican pro-life academy have defended abortion and contraception – Catholic Herald Online

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Avraham Steinberg, a new member of the Pontifical Academy for Life (Wikimedia)

Avraham Steinberg has approved of abortion in some cases, while Fr Maurizio Chiodi says contraception may be permissible

Two more newmembers of the Pontifical Academy for Life hold controversial positions on bioethics.

Rabbi Professor Avraham Steinberg, one of 45 ordinary members of the Pontifical Council for Life appointed this week, has argued for the permissibility of ending a pregnancy in some cases.

Steinberg told Australias Radio National in 2008 that an embryo has no human status before 40 days. After 40 days it has a certain status of a human being, not a full status.

As a result, Steinberg says, Abortion is not permissible by Jewish law, but if the situation of the mother is in a psychological upset to a degree that it may cause her serious trouble, then abortion may be permissible despite the fact that for the foetuss sake, we would not allow it.

So case by case, occasionally abortion might be permissible, something which is probably unheard-of in the Catholic point of view.

When asked about eugenics, Steinberg says he approves of genetic screening for disability, so that parents can avoid the birth of a Tay-Sachs child or of a cystic fibrosis child and so on. He explains that this might be looked at as a form of eugenics, but that is not a forbidden eugenics if you think about it carefully, because what we want is that people would be happy and able and not suffering, but once they are born, they have equal rights and one must support them.

Steinberg also supports stem-cell research involving the destruction of embryos, something forbidden by Church teaching, on the grounds that the embryo at a few days old is not a human being in any sense. So therefore the destruction of it is not murder in any sense. Asked when the embryo becomes a human being, Steinberg replies that it must be 40 days old.

Elsewhere in the interview, Steinberg contrasts the Jewish and Catholic ways of approaching ethics, saying: In the Catholic approach there are a lot of dogmas that are strict, and they cant be changed, and they cant be modified. Whereas in Judaism, in general, there are no absolute values except for values that have to do with the belief.

Another rabbi appointed to the academy, Fernando Szlajen, has said that the prohibition on abortion is absolute, and that the commandment Thou shalt not kill means we should protect human beings from the moment of conception.

Another new member, Fr Maurizio Chiodi, has questioned Church teaching onartificial contraception. According the newspaper LAvvenire, which reviewed a book to which Fr Chiodi contributed, he believes that the use of artificial birth control techniques can be moral. The newspaper quotes FrChiodias saying that the moral norm on responsible procreation can not coincide with the biological observance of natural methods. LAvvenire also say that for Fr Chiodi, It is not the method itself that determines the morality, but the conscience of the spouses, their sense of responsibility, their genuine willingness to open themselves to life.

Pope Paul VIs encyclical Humanae Vitae said that artificial contraception is never lawful, even for the gravest reasonsit is a serious error to think that a whole married life of otherwise normal relations can justify sexual intercourse which is deliberately contraceptive and so intrinsically wrong.

This reaffirmed the teaching of the Church, also expressed in Pius XIs Casti Connubii, that contraception is intrinsically vicious and that the Divine Majesty regards with greatest detestation this horrible crime and at times has punished it with death.

Fr Chiodi wrotein 2008 that Humanae Vitaemust be interpreted with conscience and discernment.

Steinberg and Fr Chiodi arenot the only new members of the academy whose appointment diverges from previous expectations. Oxford Professor Nigel Biggar, an Anglican clergyman who has also joined the academy, has said he only opposes abortion after about 18 weeks.

The academy no longer requires members to sign a statement promising their allegiance to the Churchs teaching. Pope Francis hasremovednearly 100 members of the academy, including John Finnis, Luke Gormally, Josef Seifert and Wolfgang Waldstein, while 17 have been added.

The membership term is five years, but it can be renewed.

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New members of Vatican pro-life academy have defended abortion and contraception - Catholic Herald Online

‘Ladakh’s eco-system is collapsing’ – The Sunday Guardian

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council is on a mission to clear illegal structures near the world famous Pangong Lake, after environmentalists raised an alarm that the fragile eco-system surrounding it is on the verge of collapse.

The minister for Ladakh affairs, Chhering Dorjey, along with Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) LAHDC, Sonam Dawa visited many villages near the Pangong Lake in May to oversee the removal of encroachments. Dawa told the media that they would clear all encroachments from the villages of Fobrang Yurgo Maan, Merak and Spangmik along the Pangong Lake, which passes through these hamlets.Government of India recently declared the Pangong Lake as a cold desert sanctuary and the Jammu and Kashmir High Court has also asked for the removal of all structures alongside the lake.

Leh and the Pangong Lake are witnessing unprecedented tourist flow this summer, adding to the worries of conservationists. The huge tourist flow is attributed to the Aamir Khan blockbuster Three Idiots, the climax of which was shot in the backdrop of this famous lake. After the release of the film, the inflow of tourists in Ladakh multiplied and the Pangong 125 km long water body came under severe threat. A lot of illegal structures and restaurants have been erected around Pangong Lake and most of them have been named Ranchos Caf. In the peak summer months, thousands of youths from across the country visit Ladakh, bringing the desert region to its breaking point. The government should regulate tourism in the Ladakh region, otherwise all its beauty would be destroyed, said Noor Jahan, an artist from Leh.

Chhering Dorjey told The Sunday Guardian that they are taking all the steps to divert the tourist rush to other new destinations in Ladakh.

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'Ladakh's eco-system is collapsing' - The Sunday Guardian

‘Medical Devices Park is not just a manufacturing unit, it’s an ecosystem’ – The New Indian Express

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Minister KT Rama Rao at the inauguration of Medical Devices Park in Sangareddy on Saturday| express photo

HYDERABAD:Pitched as Indias largest, Telanganas Medical Devices Park located on Hyderabads outskirts will not just be limited to manufacturing medical devices but aim at creating an ecosystem where support will be provided for innovation, research & development, and incubation facilities to support entrepreneurship.Inaugurated by Industries minister KT Rama Rao on Saturday, the Medical Devices Park is coming up on 250 acres at Sultanpur village in Patancheru mandal.

On the first day itself, 50 acres of land was allotted to 14 industries. There is a scope for expanding the Park by another 200 acres. Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao said that Hyderabad is Pharmaceutical capital of India, worlds vaccine production capital and also has the Genome Valley, and is recognised as a prominent medical tourism destination across Africa and other emerging nations.

As part of this life sciences spectrum, it is imperative that we also start looking at more innovation, more manufacturing and more opportunities. When we started interacting with large number of manufacturers, players in the ecosystem, we realised it is important to lay foundation for an ecosystem and not just for manufacturing unit. Medical Devices Park is not just a manufacturing facility. What we have here is an ecosystem, Rama Rao said. He added that over 75 percent of the medical devices in India are imported and rest is manufactured in India.

Irrigation minister T Harish Rao, who was also present at the inaugural event, said at times, when they attend inauguration of nursing homes, they are told that devices such as scanning machines have been brought in from Australia, London or the USA.

As the Park has come up in Hyderabad, imports will come down, he said. He urged industrialists pto employ locals for semi-skilled and unskilled jobs. If training is required, government is ready to provide it. Please indicate the number of people you need, the kind of skills you want, he said.Rama Rao said MoUs will be inked with internationally renowned Medical Devices Parks in China and Korea.

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'Medical Devices Park is not just a manufacturing unit, it's an ecosystem' - The New Indian Express

A Little Spotlight on Africa’s Tech Ecosystem – TechRasa (press release) (blog)

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

What do you know about the African tech and startup ecosystem? Read this article to learn more about the tech events and initiatives which support Africas entrepreneurs.

Africa has one of the fastest growing mobile network infrastructures in the world. West Africa alone is the home of 175 million subscribers according to GSMAs report. From an estimated population of 372 million in West Africa, Nigeria has an estimated population of around 191 million in 2017. This has made Nigeria to be considered the stronghold of the region and one of the most important markets in Africa. Because of this, there are many Nigerian tech entrepreneurs whom are helping to organize a tech event named Techplus, to attract the global players of this industry to the country. Techplus is considered as the largest tech event in Africa this year and it is to be held between the 4th and 8th of July 2017 in Nigeria.

Some of Africas tech hubs include ccHub (Lagos, Nigeria), Jozihub (Johannesburg, South Africa), iHub (Nairobi, Kenya), iSpaces (Accra, Ghana) and Outbox (Kampala, Uganda). AfriLabs, a prominent network of tech hubs,has also announced and welcomed 11 new hubs into its pan-African network structure, which are: nHub(Nigeria),inCUBE8(Malawi), iBridge (Nigeria),Lumumba Labs(Democratic Republic of Congo),Wenak Labs(Chad),Sote Hub(Kenya),The Innovation Village Kampala(Uganda),The Tech Village(Zimbabwe),BitHub(Kenya),dLab(Tanzania),Startpreneurs(Nigeria), as TechCrunch reported.The African tech startups raised funding in excess of 129 million US dollars in 2016, according to data compile by Disrupt Africa.

There are many programs which are greatly reforming the tech ecosystem in Africa. Andela is one of these programs which is backed by the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg and is now operating in three African countries. The aim of this establishment is to create world class developers in the tech industry. Also, we can mention Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology in Ghana (MEST) which is a non-profit post-graduate training and mentoring school for startups. They have now extended their branches to Nigeria and South Africa.

Regarding the programs which promote tech in Africa, we can mention Microsofts 4Afrika initiative and also Demo Africa which aims to connect African startups to the global ecosystem. Demo Africa is taking place between 16th and 17th of November, 2017 in Johannesburg and is affiliated with LIONS@frica.

Talking about successful African tech companies, we can mention Jumia which is an e-commerce business started in Nigeria and is now operating in Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco and Uganda. Another success story of Nigeria is Konga which is an e-commerce company founded in 2012.

In view of all these, Africa can proudly stand as one of the fastest growing tech markets in the world, with extraordinary talented youth who have the hunger to build and exploit tech opportunities and innovations.

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A Little Spotlight on Africa's Tech Ecosystem - TechRasa (press release) (blog)

Richard A. Bendis: Innovation ecosystem vital to state – CapitalGazette.com

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Robust private-sector investment and prudent regulation from policymakers have helped establish Maryland as a cradle of innovation and a leader in the U.S. innovation economy. Few states can match Maryland's highly skilled workforce, market access and technology-centered policy incentives, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranked Maryland No. 1 in the country for entrepreneurship and innovation.

But continued leadership of the region and the ability of the region to continue to reap the economic and jobs benefits of innovation is not a given. It requires constant cultivation and smart action from our elected officials.

Maryland is home to more than 800 life sciences companies, 70 federal labs and 16 colleges and universities, including National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, Johns Hopkins University, the University System of Maryland and companies like MedImmune and GlaxoSmithKline. About 6 percent of Maryland's gross domestic product $17.6 billion is generated by the life sciences, and the biotechnology industry in Maryland alone employs about 34,000.

During the most recent legislative session in Maryland, the General Assembly considered a piece of onerous drug pricing legislation that threatened the biopharmaceutical ecosystem in the state while also potentially impeding access to care for Maryland patients.

In the name of "transparency," the legislation which would have been the most hostile to industry in the country imposed complex bureaucratic reporting requirements that disregarded the extraordinary development requirements and complex distribution channels for innovative drugs and therapies.

Had the legislation passed, the impact would have been threefold: obstructing patient access to care by undermining competition, delaying and minimizing drug product availability as a result of onerous and fruitless reporting requirements and halting investment in the Maryland innovation economy.

On top of that, the legislation would have done nothing to address the price consumers actually pay for medicine.

Twenty-first century challenges such as the rising costs of health care need serious, 21st century solutions, and all Marylanders have a stake in the outcome. The life sciences industries in Maryland support policy solutions that put patients first, that promote patient access to treatments, and that look at all drivers of health care costs. These are priorities that impact all Marylanders.

Maryland has taken some steps to accelerate and protect the growth of biotechnology and health industry sectors. The Life Sciences Advisory Board of which I, alongside other leaders in the biohealth community, am a part was created in 2007 by the Maryland legislature to assist in maintaining the state's preeminence in the life sciences industry. The LSAB's BioHealth Acceleration Initiative has a goal of growing the Maryland biohealth industry into a globally recognized top three U.S. innovation hub by 2023.

Maryland's ability to achieve this status, as well as the ability of the life-sciences and other industries to thrive, innovate and contribute to the local economy partly depends on a policy framework and business environment that encourage investment.

As Maryland lawmakers consider their future priorities, they will be making a choice about Maryland's future health, innovation and business environment. The continued good health of Maryland physical and fiscal will require policymakers to make choices that protect the innovation economy and to reject policies that could stymie Maryland's continued growth.

Onerous regulation such as the recent drug price transparency regulation will not only hamper patient access to treatment, but also runs the risk of losing biopharmaceutical investment that could move to states with less hostile business environments.

We urge policymakers to do the right thing for Maryland patients and business and reject such onerous regulation.

Richard A. Bendis is president and CEO of Rockville-based BioHealth Innovation, a public-private partnership focused on accelerating the growth of the innovation economy in America. Contact him at rbendis@biohealthinnovation.org.

Humanity’s next Stage of Evolution Could Be the Cyborg – Futurism

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

In Brief As medical advancements in robotics, implants, and other assisting technologies continue, will we, as humans, eventually evolve into a species of cyborgs? What would this mean for society as we know it? The Next Evolution

Cyborgs: humans who have been merged with machines; a hybrid of sorts. What was once the subject of far-out science fiction has now entered reality as a medical tool. From implants to robotics, there is a whole host of emerging technologies that aim to treat health conditions and aid those suffering from different disabilities by turning people into, technically, cyborgs.

It might seem to be going too far to use the term cyborg when discussing, for instance, new versions of prosthetic limbs. However, carbon fiber and titanium prostheses are now commonplace, and most artificial limbs are fully functional. For example, in the video below, you can see the dexterity and capabilities of one prosthetic arm. Since this video was created, prostheses have advanced even further, with researchers going so far as to create robotic hands that can be controlled with ones brain and they have a sense of touch.

Artificial limb technologies like the blades used by Paralympians are even so advanced that some have started to discuss whether or not they are more capable than organic limbs. But artificial limbs arent the only advancements in so-called cyborg tech. One Swedish company is implanting its employees with microchips to allow them to do things like access doors with the wave of a hand instead of with a key. Elon Musk thinks that his neural lace could actually make human beings smarter. Many are experimenting with the many possibilities of merging humankind with machines.

The authors of a recent paper in Science Robotics discussed the potential issues with the future of such technologies:

There needs to be a debate on the future evolution of technologies as the pace of robotics and AI is accelerating. It seems certain that future assistive technologies will not only compensate for human disability but also drive human capacities beyond our innate physiological levels. The associated transformative influence will bring on broad social, political, and economic issues.

Once we officially cross that line, once the technologies that we create to assist those with difficulties and disabilities begin to advance human capabilities beyond what is biologically possible, we will have a teeming variety of moral and practical issues to deal with. Many believe that this will be humanitys next step in evolution. Indeed, ifwe are ever going to colonize Mars and expand our reign in the Solar System, that might be a necessary evolution. Whatever moral and ethical quandariesmay exist, it might not be possible for us to take such large strides without becoming cyborgs.

So, more likely than not, the day will come and we will cross that line. Will cyborg humans have the same rights and be bound by the same laws as biologically ordinary citizens? Will cyborgs be vulnerable to hacking and manipulation? Will warfare forever change with the possible advancement of military exoskeletons? The list goes on and on. And so, while we might not all be walking around as half-machines just yet, it might be a good idea to plan ahead.

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Humanity's next Stage of Evolution Could Be the Cyborg - Futurism

Cyborg Justino expected to face Megan Anderson at UFC 214 – Sporting News

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

The UFC has penciled in a womens featherweight title bout between Cris Cyborg Justino and Megan Anderson as the co-main event of UFC 214, set for July 29 in Anaheim, MMA Fighting reports.

A formal announcement is expected to be forthcoming.

Germaine de Randamie beat Holly Holm in February to become the inaugural champ of the womens featherweight division, but she refuses to fight Justino, citing Cyborgs drug testing history.

Justino (17-1, 1 NC) was suspended by USADA but later granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Spironolactone, a physician-prescribed diuretic, and she was sanctioned by neither the anti-doping organization nor the UFC.

Nevertheless, de Randamies manager Brian Butler told MMA Fighting last month, the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater.

Justinos fight against Anderson will be her first at 145 pounds, a more natural weight for her than the 135 pounds at which bantamweights fight. She has had some scary incidents while cutting weight before fights.

Anderson (8-2) appears to be the UFCs third choice for Cyborgs next opponent. Per the MMA Fighting report, the Cat Zingano came after de Randamie on the promotion's wish list, but Zingano is dealing with undisclosed health issues and would not have been ready by July 29.

Cyborg and Anderson, the current Invicta champ, have been lobbying for a fight against each other.

Cris and I are the top featherweights in the world, the Australian said.

Justino, who is from Brazil, added, I am very excited about this fight, and I called out this fight a long time, because I think shes a 145-pounder. This fight was supposed to happen a long time ago, and then no happen because her manager talked to the UFC and thought she needed more time, needed more fights. But they think this is the real fight. This is the real fight for the belt at 145.

The light heavyweight title bout, arematch between Daniel Cormier vs. Jon Jones 2, is slated to headline the UFC 214 card at Honda Center.

Cyborg Justino expected to face Megan Anderson at UFC 214 - Sporting News

Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for women’s featherweight title in the works for UFC 214 – FOXSports.com

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

It appears the UFC is ready to move forward with the womens featherweight division.

Long considered the best 145-pound fighter on the planet, Cris Cyborg Justino is expected to meet current Invicta FC featherweight champion Megan Anderson at UFC 214 in Anaheim on July 29.

Sources close to the matchup confirmed the fight is in the works when speaking to FOX Sports late Friday following an initial report from MMAFighting.com.

UFC officials have not announced the matchup as of yet.

If the fight becomes official, it would be the second ever womens featherweight fight in the UFC after Germaine de Randamie was crowned champion back in February with a very close decision win over Holly Holm. Unfortunately after the win, de Randamie was nursing a hand injury while also refusing to face Cyborg after accusing the former Strikeforce champion of performance-enhancing drug use.

Germaine and her team have talked, and the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater, de Randamies manager Brian Butler said to FOX Sports in May. Even after so much scrutiny has been put on Cyborg, she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules.

Cyborg had previously tested positive for steroids in 2011 and faced a year suspension for the infraction. More recently, Cyborg was exonerated for a positive drug test after she was granted a retroactive therapeutic use exemption by USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) for legitimate medical use of a banned substance.

Still, de Randamie refused to accept the fight so it appears the UFC is ready to move forward with the division by crowning a new champion.

Cyborg (17-1, 1 NC) has been a terror during her reign as the best womens featherweight in the world. Shes only fought twice in the UFC both contests taking place at 140 pounds and shes earned two straight TKO victories in those bouts.

As for Anderson (8-2) shes looking to make her UFC debut after amassing an impressive record in Invicta FC, including four straight wins, including a title fight victory over Charmaine Tweet in January to become champion.

Now it looks like the UFC is nearly ready to pull the trigger on the matchup that will see Cyborg face Anderson in a featherweight title match in July.

UFC 214 will be headlined by light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier taking on Jon Jones in a grudge match for the ages and assuming Cyborg vs. Anderson is signed, sealed and delivered, it would serve as the co-main event on the card.

Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

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Cris Cyborg vs. Megan Anderson for women's featherweight title in the works for UFC 214 - FOXSports.com

Aussie Megan Anderson is set to fight Cris ‘Cyborg’ Justino for 145 … – Perth Now

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

AUSTRALIA may soon have a UFC champion and were not talking about Robert Whittaker.

Invicta FC champion Megan Anderson looks set to be given a shot at Brazilian knockout artist Cris Cyborg Justino for the 145-pound title at UFC 214 on July 29 in Anaheim, California.

Thats according to a report in http://www.mma fighting.com, which says the title fight will be made more complicated by the fact that the current holder of the belt is Germaine de Randamie.

The Dutch-born fighter, however, has been inactive and is nursing an injured hand since she became the inaugural champion in February by defeating Holly Holm via a controversial decision.

De Randamie has also made it clear, through her manager, that she has no plans of fighting Cyborg.

Germaine and her team have talked, and the position is that she will not fight Cyborg because Cyborg is a known and proven cheater, manager Brian Butler said in late May.

Even after so much scrutiny has been put on Cyborg, she still managed to pop for something and will always be a person of suspicion who is trying to beat the system rather than just conforming to the rules.

For that reason, Germaine and her team dont believe that Cyborg should be allowed to compete in the UFC at all. If that is the only fight the UFC wants, then Germaine is willing to wait and see if the UFC will strip her belt before making her next move.

Thats exactly what the UFC appears to be about to do, with Andersons fight set to be officially announced in the coming days.

Cris and I are the top featherweights in the world, Anderson said. It should have been us, but it wasnt. Its fine, but lets do it now.

The 27-year-old Anderson (8-2) took over Invicta FCs 145-pound division after Cyborg left for UFC and having beaten Charmaine Tweet in January to become the interim champion.

Anderson has won her last four fights in a row. She was booked to defend the Invicta title against Helena Kolesnyk at Invicta FC 24 on July 15 last week, but that fight is expected to be canceled.

She is a very big featherweight (four inches taller than Cyborg) and would be a formidable opponent for Cyborg, who is widely considered the best fighter in womens MMA today.

Since March, Anderson and Cyborg have been pushing to fight each other in the UFC via social media and the press.

I am very excited about this fight, and I called out this fight a long time, because I think shes a 145-pounder, Cyborg said. This fight was supposed to happen a long time ago, and then no happen because her manager talked to the UFC and thought she needed more time, needed more fights. But they think this is the real fight. This is the real fight for the belt at 145.

UFC 214 will take place at the Honda Center and will feature a main event clash between current UFC light heavyweight holder Daniel Cormier and former divisional champ Jon Jones.

Originally published as The Aussie who may become our first UFC champion

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Aussie Megan Anderson is set to fight Cris 'Cyborg' Justino for 145 ... - Perth Now

The Jersey Shore | Travel Channel

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

Going down to the Jersey Shore is a popular summer tradition with mid-Atlantic residents from New York, Philadelphia and, of course, New Jersey. Busy city dwellers trade a subway for a beach cruiser and embrace a vacation of boogie-boarding, beachcombing and cruising the boardwalk. While basic hotel accommodations are available all along the Shore, most visitors choose to get comfortable in a rented house, ranging from simple condos to beachfront mansions. Here's our selection of the best Jersey Shore beach towns, from north to south.

Spring Lake Spring Lake is one of the more refined spots on the Jersey Shore with stately homes, quiet beaches and a non-commercial boardwalk. And then there's the namesake lake situated in the middle of town, lined with weeping willows and quiet nooks, perfect for a serene evening stroll. The Breakers Hotel has undergone some name changes and lots of renovations since it first opened in the late 1800s. With its wraparound porch, it is a majestic presence on the beach and the only beachside hotel in town. Spring Lake is just 60 miles from downtown New York and is accessible by train from the city, making it a popular day-trip or quick weekend getaway for New Yorkers.

Island Beach State Park Island Beach State Park is a protected barrier island in the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. This 10-mile stretch of unspoiled beach is far removed from the frantic pace and nonstop activity at nearby Seaside Heights. Little has changed here since the Native Americans and early explorers enjoyed the shore hundreds of years ago. The beach's rolling dunes and dense forests are home to red foxes, osprey and a variety of shore birds. Unlike other NJ beaches that charge per person, here you pay a flat fee for your vehicle. Plan to arrive early on weekends and summer holidays as staff closes the beach to new guests once the parking lot is full.

Long Beach Island Long Beach Island, or LBI as it's known to the regulars, has 18 miles of fine silky sand and some of the best breaks along the Shore. With its boozy nightlife and busy beach scene, Beach Haven is popular with the young crowd spending weekends at the Shore. Ship Bottom is a popular family spot with a playground and calm bay beach away from the ocean's currents at 15th Street. Surfing is permitted at 19 spots along some of the area's best beaches, including Barnegat Light, Harvey Cedars, Surf City and Ship Bottom. Whether you're a diehard surfer or just watch from the beach, you'll want to check out the original Ron Jonshop in Ship Bottom. The first Ron Jon surf shop opened here in 1961, and today this 4-story surfing emporium sells everything from boards to board shorts for those who just want to look the part.

Ocean City Known as the America's Greatest Family Resort, Ocean City is often voted the best beach in New Jersey. There are 8 miles of shore for swimming, boogie-boarding and sandcastles. A wooden boardwalk lines 2-1/2 miles of these beaches, entertaining visitors with rides, mini-golf, carnival games and a water park. A spin on the Ferris wheel followed by some free fudge samples is the pinnacle of nightlife in this dry town, making it a popular spot for families who appreciate old-fashioned fun. The boardwalk scene is even more festive on Thursday nights in July and August with free entertainment including musicians, magicians and karaoke.

Stone Harbor/AvalonTogether, the neighboring towns of Stone Harbor and Avalon form 7 Mile Beach, a wide stretch of shore known for its cool ocean breezes. Bring a kite to the beach in Avalon and watch it soar over the dunes or simply lounge on the sand. Then head to Stone Harbor for the shopping along 96th Street and Third Avenue where surf shops selling the season's best flip-flops sit next to boutiques peddling art, jewelry and quirky souvenirs. No visit is complete without some homemade ice cream from Springer's, which has been scooping the Shore's best for over 8 decades. If you need a break from the beach, head inland to the Wetlands Institute for a kayak tour through the marshland and possible turtle-sightings.

Wildwood Wildwood occupies a unique spot in pop-culture history as the center of Doo Wop in the 1950s and 1960s with colorful motels, bright diners and flashy neon signs. Young people flocked to nightclubs like the Rainbow Club where Chubby Checker first introduced the world to the Twist in 1960. Today, the Doo Wop Preservation League works hard to preserve the space-age architecture and keeps the kitschy spirit alive with historic tours. Today's beach scene may be different from the beach blanket bingo days of old. The twisting and turning is more likely to be experienced at one of the boardwalk's 6 bone-rattling roller coasters or 3 water parks. However, with free admission and a busy boardwalk scene, countless families and groups of friends still stake their spot in the sand amidst a sea of colorful umbrellas.

Cape May You know you've arrived when you reach the mile marker "0" on the Garden State Parkway. As the farthest point south on the Shore, Cape May is the crown jewel of the region with gorgeous beaches and a quaint town center filled with gingerbread Victorians and colorful bed and breakfasts. Bring your binoculars to the beach to spy the playful dolphins jumping in the wake. Just before sundown, head to Sunset Beach to catch the daily lowering of the US flag accompanied by Taps. Then head to town for a cocktail at the hip Brown Room at the stately Congress Hall hotel. Other dinner choices range from the casual seaside ambience at the Lobster House to formal dining at Union Park or the Ebbitt Room. After dinner, peruse the shops in Washington Square, climb aboard a trolley for a slow tour of town or learn about the area's long-term residents on a spooky ghost tour.

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The Jersey Shore | Travel Channel

Water quality good at most Massachusetts beaches; Issues remain at some urban spots – Wicked Local Newton

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Danzig

THE ISSUE: Although water quality is generally good at Massachusetts beaches, issues remain in some areas.

THE IMPACT: An average of 4.9 percent of samples from marine beaches and 3.8 percent of samples from freshwater beaches test positive for elevated bacteria levels.

Rain can put a damper on summer fun in a variety of ways.

Not only does heavy rain keep people indoors, but it also can overflow sewer systems and carry garbage to the coast, sometimes causing a temporary spike in unsafe bacteria levels at beaches.

Theres filthy, bacteria-laden storm water, which typically gets to the beach after running into storm drains in the road, said Bruce Berman, a spokesman for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. When you think about rain, it washes everything in the streets into storm drains.

Water quality in Massachusetts beaches is generally good, Berman said, but some issues remain, particularly around urban beaches.

The vast majority of the time, issues are minimal.

Last summer, state and local agencies collected a total of 15,604 water samples from 586 marine beach sites and 594 freshwater beach sites. About 3.5 percent of samples from ocean beaches and 3 percent of freshwater samples tested positive for elevated bacteria levels, compared to historic averages of 4.9 percent and 3.8 percent respectively. Last years drought, according the public health officials, was likely a factor in lower bacteria levels.

Click on the markers to find out more about the beaches at which bacteria tested high enough to close a beach to swimmers during the 2016 summer season. Blue markers are at beaches that were closed for one day, yellow markers are at beaches that were closed for two days, orange markers are at beaches closed for three days, pink markers are at beaches closed for four or five days, and red markers are at beaches that were closed for 10 or more days.

Wicked Local Graphic/Caitlyn Kelleher

Overall, Massachusetts beaches have excellent water quality, said Dr. Marc A. Nascarella, chief toxicologist and director of the Department of Public Healths Environmental Toxicology Program.

A challenge for beaches, particularly those in urban areas, is old sewer infrastructure, which can cause underground sewer pipes to leak into stormwater pipes when theres heavy rain.

Rainfall is the most significant driver of bacteria exceedances in Massachusetts, Nascarella said.

Last summer, there were 160 no swimming postings at marine beaches, with beaches in Boston, Lynn and Quincy being closed the most often. Most closures were due to high bacteria levels, but rip currents, shark sightings and other factors also caused some postings.

At inland, freshwater beaches there were 114 postings in 2016, with beaches in Brimfield, Templeton and West Tisbury reporting the highest number of high-bacteria samples. In addition to bacteria, algae blooms often caused by fertilizer runoff caused closures at freshwater beaches.

Overall, Massachusetts has 529 public marine and 549 freshwater public beaches.

Human fecal matter can enter beach water in a variety of ways, including sewage treatment system failures, combined sewer overflows, discharge of sewage by boats, re-suspension of sediments, and rainfall and resulting surface runoff, Nascarella said.

Exposure to high concentrations of fecal bacteria can cause symptoms including gastrointestinal sickness, cold symptoms and skin rashes.

Berman said neglecting infrastructure decades ago caused water quality problems, and investing in repairs is a main part of the solution.

Thirty years ago, Boston Harbor was a national disgrace, he said. Our waste washed up on shore from Cape Cod to Cape Ann. Today, were talking about elevated bacteria on handful of beaches that we need to address. We have a lot of progress to be proud of. We just have to finish the job.