Daily Business Report-Feb. 28, 2020
California’s anti-smoking campaign has paid off. (Photo by Petr Kratochvil via PublicDomainPictures.net)
California’s aggressive campaign
against smoking pays off in numbers
by Dan Morain | CALmatters
California has the third-lowest rate of new lung-cancer cases of any state, 42.3 cases per 100,000 residents. It’s a testament to California’s decades-long campaign against smoking.
California’s rate is above Utah’s 27.1 cases per 100,000 people but far below the national average of 59.6 per 100,000 residents. It’s less than half the rate of the state with the highest lung-cancer rate, tobacco-growing Kentucky’s 92.6. The worst five states all are in the South.
In a puzzling contradiction, California screened patients at a lower rate than any state other than Nevada, Kaiser Health News’ California Healthline reports. And nearly a quarter of people with lung cancer received no treatment.
California Healthline’s Mark Kreidler said experts cite several reasons: California’s income inequality, cultural and linguistic diversity, and inconsistency of health care access by region.
A final reason: “a financial reluctance by many medical professionals to treat poor people, who smoke at higher rates than those of the general population.”
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California bill would require occupational
licenses for porn actors, strippers, cam girls
by Christian Britschgi | Reason
Inter-union drama appears to be marring the introduction of a bill that would require porn stars to get business licenses.
On Tuesday, Assemblymembers Lorena Gonzalez (D–San Diego) and Christina Garcia (D–Bell Gardens) introduced Assembly Bill (A.B.) 2389. The bill would require adult entertainers and video performers, including webcam performers, to obtain a business license and complete a state-mandated training course before being allowed to ply their trade.
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Heatwave exposure linked to
increased risk of preterm birth
SDSU NewsCenter
More than just causing discomfort, regional heatwaves have been associated with a number of health risks, particularly for children and the elderly.
A new study by researchers at San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego identified another important at-risk group: people who are pregnant and their unborn infants. The study, published Feb. 11, 2020 in Environment International, found that exposure to heatwaves during the week before birth was strongly linked to an increased risk of preterm delivery — the hotter the temperature or the longer the heatwave, the greater the risk. In particular, longer duration heatwaves were associated with the highest risk of a preterm birth.
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Eat less, live longer
If you want to reduce levels of inflammation throughout your body, delay the onset of age-related diseases and live longer—eat less food.
That’s the conclusion of a new study by scientists from the U.S. and China that provides the most detailed report to date of the cellular effects of a calorie-restricted diet in rats. While the benefits of caloric restriction have long been known, the new results show how this restriction can protect against aging in cellular pathways, as detailed in Cell on February 27, 2020.
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MiraCosta College to host Tech Talk
March 11 on Oceanside campus
MiraCosta College will host TECH Talk on March 11, a free event presented by the MiraCosta College Computer Studies and Information Technology Department. Students, faculty, community members, and industry leaders are invited to learn about MiraCosta College’s Cybersecurity and IT degrees and certificates, Point Loma Nazarene University’s CIT bachelor’s degree, and network with industry professionals and corporate recruiters representing, cybersecurity, programming, and digital media.
The event will be held on the Oceanside campus, 1 Barnard Drive, in the Administration Building, Room 1068, from 5–7 p.m. Click here to register online.
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Higgs Fletcher & Mack’s Craig Higgs to be added
to Bar Foundation’s Distinguished Lawyer Memorial
The San Diego County Bar Foundation will honor the legacy of former Higgs Fletcher & Mack Partner Craig Higgs when he is added to the organization’s Distinguished Lawyer Memorial at a reception on May 20.
The Distinguished Lawyer Memorial gives “special and permanent recognition to deceased lawyers and judges of the San Diego County Bar who demonstrated superior legal skills and high ethical standards. Throughout careers of significant length, honorees have also demonstrated a long track record of community and charitable work.” Recognition in the Distinguished Lawyer Memorial induction is permanent, and plaques honoring each inductee are located in the Hall of Justice.
“Craig Higgs was a pillar of San Diego’s legal community, leaving behind a legacy of not only unparalleled skill and ability as a lawyer, but also one of incredible kindness and generosity,” said Steven Cologne, HFM’s Managing Partner. “For years to come, Craig’s imprint will be felt by the Firm and San Diego’s legal community, and we will continue to practice law and serve our community in a way that honors his vision and ideals.”
All honorees will be inducted into the Distinguished Lawyer Memorial at an event at the San Diego Public Library in the evening of May 20. For more information, visit the San Diego County Bar Foundation at www.sdcbf.org.
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Cubic signs pact with U.S. Special
Operations Command
Cubic Corporation announced that its Cubic Mission Solutions business division signed a cooperative research and development agreement with Special Operations Forces Acquisition, Technology and Logistics to work on research and development for cutting-edge airborne payload technologies for use within the Department of Defense. The effort will primarily be performed by ISR Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cubic Corporation.
Cubic says it delivers a low risk, robust Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) ISR platform with a highly expeditionary footprint to satisfy and enhance any ISR mission. Cubic’s ISR-ONE offers a blend of high capability and performance, delivered within a Group III UAS platform.
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Former police chief appointed director
of law enforcement relations for ecoATM
ecoATM LLC announced the appointment of Jim Smith as director of Law enforcement relations for California and the Southwest for ecoATM.
Following a decorated 39-year career in law enforcement, the retired chief of police of the Monterey Park Police Department in California will now serve as the liaison between ecoATM and the many law enforcement agencies it works closely with to uphold strict, extensive security standards and practices.
Smith served as chief of police for the Monterey Park Police Department from September 2009 until his retirement in February 2020, where he forged relationships with law enforcement officials across the state of California, and with Federal partners such as the Drug Enforcement Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Smith is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Police Executive Research Forum, FBI National Academy Associates, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association, California Police Chiefs Association, California Peace Officers Association, and ASIS International.
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Milton Goss joins Power Digital Marketing
as chief financial officer
Power Digital Marketing Inc., announceds the hiring of Milton Goss as chief financial officer. Goss is a seasoned financial and business development leader bringing more than 20 years of experience in finance, team building and product management to Power Digital. He previously worked for ProSites, a digital marketing services firm serving community-based professionals as CFO.
Goss brings invaluable expertise in leading both domestic and international teams through several add-on acquisitions, reporting transitions, and business systems upgrades. His strengths include financial planning and modeling, business development and strategy execution. His experience includes the ability to lead a finance staff located in multiple geographic locations and a vast knowledge base in business development due to direct experience in all aspects of bringing products to market, working in product development and marketing.
Goss earned his bachelor’s of science and engineering in chemical engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA with honors in finance and marketing from Boston University.
