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"Although falls and fall-related injuries happen more frequently with age, the good news is there are many proactive steps older adults and their families can take to prevent them," said Kathleen Cameron, senior director at NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging.
A great place to start is using NCOA’s free online Falls Free CheckUp to learn your risk and discover how to reduce it.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older. NCOA has championed this annual event since 2007 to highlight the impact of falls and empower individuals with actionable measures to mitigate their risk.
During Falls Prevention Awareness Week, community organizations and health care providers nationwide will offer workshops, screenings, and evidence-based falls prevention programs. Local organizations will use promotional resources to amplify their outreach.
NCOA’s online Falls Free CheckUp, developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asks 13 yes/no questions and produces a score showing whether a person is at normal or high risk for a fall.
The assessment delivers tailored recommendations and offers a wealth of falls prevention resources.
Participants can also opt for reminders to schedule follow-up doctor appointments and retake the checkup in six months to monitor any changes in their risk.
According to CDC, more than one-fourth of Americans age 65+ fall each year. Falls result in more than 3 million injuries, such as hip fractures, broken bones, and brain injuries, treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations.
For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org/Falls.
A movement to weaken American child labor protections at the state level began in 2022. By June 2023, Arkansas, Iowa, New Jersey and New Hampshire had enacted this kind of legislation, and lawmakers in at least another eight states had introduced similar measures.
The laws generally make it easier for kids from 14 to 17 years old to work longer and later – and in occupations that were previously off-limits for minors.
When Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her state’s new, more permissive child labor law on May 26, 2023, the Republican leader said the measure would “allow young adults to develop their skills in the workforce.”
As scholars of child labor, we find the arguments Reynolds and other like-minded politicians are using today to justify undoing child labor protections echo older justifications made decades ago.
Many conservatives and business leaders have long argued, based on a combination of ideological and economic grounds, that federal child labor rules aren’t necessary. Some object to the government determining who can’t work. Cultural conservatives say working has moral value for young people and that parents should make decisions for their children. Many conservatives also say that teens, fewer of whom are in the workforce today than in past decades, could help fill empty jobs in tight labor markets.
Opponents of child labor observe that when kids under 18 work long hours or do strenuous jobs, it can disrupt childhood development, interfere with their schooling and deprive them of the sleep they need. Expanding child labor can encourage kids to drop out of school and jeopardize young people’s health through injuries and work-related illnesses.
Long-brewing battle
Child labor protections, such as making many kinds of employment for children under 14 illegal and restricting the hours that teens under 18 can spend working, are guaranteed by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. U.S. law also does not treat 16- and 17-year-olds as adults. The federal government deems many occupations to be too hazardous for anyone under 18.
Until that law took effect, the lack of a federal standard always obstructed progress in the states toward keeping kids in school and out of mines, factories and other sometimes hazardous workplaces.
Three years after President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld it in the U.S. v. Darby Lumber ruling, which toppled a related precedent.
Challenges began during the Reagan administration
There were no significant efforts to challenge child labor laws for the next four decades. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan sought to ease federal protections to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work longer hours in fast-food and retail establishments and to pay young workers less than the minimum wage. A coalition of Democrats, labor unions, teachers, parents and child development groups blocked the proposed changes.
By the late 1980s, child labor violations were on the rise. Some industry groups tried to loosen restrictions in the 1990s, but legal changes were minimal.
A more ambitious attempt to roll back child labor laws in the early 2000s, led by a homeschooling group, ultimately failed, but conservatives continued to call for similar changes.
When former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was vying to become a 2012 Republican presidential nominee, he made headlines by calling child labor laws “truly stupid.” He suggested kids could work as janitors in schools.
Today, the Foundation for Government Accountability, a Florida-based think tank, is drafting state legislation to strip child labor protections, The Washington Post has reported. Its lobbying arm, the Opportunity Solutions Project, has been helping push these bills through state legislatures, including in Arkansas and Missouri.
Iowa and Arkansas
In our view, Iowa has the most radical new law designed to roll back child labor protections. It allows children as young as 14 to work in meat coolers and industrial laundries, and teens 15 and older can work on assembly lines around dangerous machinery.
Teens as young as 16 can now serve alcohol in Iowa restaurants, as long as two adults are present.
U.S. Labor Department officials argue that several provisions of Iowa’s new law violate national child labor standards. However, the department has not disclosed a clear strategy for combating such violations.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed her state’s Youth Hiring Act of 2023 in March. It eliminated work permits for 14- and 15-year-olds.
Previously, employers had to keep a work certificate on file that required proof of age, a description of the work and schedule – and the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Arkansas has scrapped those safeguards against child labor exploitation. We find it puzzling that supporters touted the bill as enhancing parental rights because the law removes any formal role for parents in balancing their kids’ education and employment.
Federal vs. state laws
You may wonder how states can undermine federal child labor laws. Doesn’t federal law preempt state laws?
Both federal and state laws govern the employment of minors, and all states have compulsory school attendance laws. Federal laws set a floor of regulations in youth employment that cover maximum hours, minimum ages, wages and protections from hazardous jobs.
If states pass tougher laws, as many have, the stricter standards govern workplace practices. School attendance requirements vary by state, but once someone turns 18, they’re no longer covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act’s restrictions.
Federal law, for example, does not require minors to obtain work permits or employment certificates, but most states mandate such documentation.
With the exception of New Jersey, these efforts to weaken child labor laws are being led by Republicans.
To be sure, some states are still attempting to strengthen child labor protections.
Democrats in Colorado introduced a bill that would allow injured children to sue employers for child labor violations. Gov. Jared Polis signed it into law on June 7, 2023.
Having child labor laws on the books at both the federal and state levels is only half the battle. Enforcement is another matter. Many violations in recent years have involved children who immigrated to the United States without their parents, only to wind up working long hours, sometimes in dangerous jobs, at young ages.
Construction sites?
Other states are trying to weaken protections. Ohio state lawmakers want to allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. during the school year with their parents’ permission, even though federal regulations don’t allow teens that age to work past 7 p.m.
Some states are considering legislation that directly conflicts with federal child labor standards on hazardous occupations. For example, a bill Republican Minnesota state Sen. Rich Draheim introduced would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work in or around construction sites.
Strong opposition from politicians, child advocacy groups, education associations, labor unions and the public has defeated some of these efforts.
Georgia Republicans introduced a bill that would have eliminated work permits for minors, but they withdrew it without a vote. And Republican lawmakers in South Dakota sponsored a bill to extend working hours for children 14 and under from 7 p.m. to 9 pm. It was withdrawn as well.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill in 2022 that would have let teens work longer and later. In 2023, some Wisconsin lawmakers are trying again. They want to let 14-year-olds serve alcohol.
Taking aim at federal rules
There are some national efforts to weaken – or strengthen – child labor rules as well.
Rep. Dusty Johnson, a South Dakota Republican, seeks to revise federal regulations to permit 14- and 15-year-olds to work until 9 p.m. on school nights and up to 24 hours per week during the school year. We don’t expect his bill to pass in today’s divided Congress.
There’s also a push in the House and the Senate to let 16- and 17-year-olds work in logging operations with parental supervision.
And yet there’s also support in Congress to increase penalties for child labor violations. Currently, the maximum such fine is $15,138 per child. Pending bills in the House and Senate would increase the penalty to nearly 10 times that amount if enacted.
And several Democrats have introduced measures to strengthen federal child labor restrictions, especially in agriculture.
With so many states seeking weaker child labor protections, we believe a federal-state showdown over the question of whether young people in the United States belong in the workforce is inevitable.
John A. Fliter, Associate Professor of Political Science, Kansas State University and Betsy Wood, Assistant Professor of American History, Bard College
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The new sports season is kicking off with the school year, a time to come together, support teams, and celebrate the talents and dedication of young athletes.
The cross country season starts this week, with the first race taking place beginning at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Mountain Vista Middle School.
As the cross country season gets set to start, Kelseyville High School’s team is welcoming back several upperclassmen as well as new runners preparing to start their high school careers.
Leading off the team are seniors Evan Macklin and Alayna Boyd, whose commitment, leadership and passion for the sport have made a memorable mark on the team. Their return is expected to elevate the level of competition and camaraderie on and off the field.
Over the past year, both Macklin and Boyd have continued to grow and develop and athletes, and their team’s fans are anticipating more achievements to come as they step into their final season.
From the ranks of the junior class come Alex Fordham, Ashley Hobbs and Joshua Fossa, whose experience and knowledge on the trail is expected to help guide the team’s newest members through the ups and downs of training, races and personal milestones.
The three juniors are lauded for unwavering dedication that has set the bar high for their team.
The team is welcoming a big group of first-time runners from all grade levels.
They include seniors Sienna Key, Antonio and Ivan Villa-Gomez, Gavin DuBois and Kyrston Pence; juniors Bryan Vences, Yahir Rodriquez, Austin Holmes, Jonathan Ison and Salvador Ramirez; and freshmen Aylin Aguilar and Emily Fordham.
The new runners have an entire team rallying behind them, ready to support and encourage them every step of the way.
Running isn’t just about the medals, personal records or team rankings. Running is a sport that teaches invaluable life lessons — resilience, discipline and the power of teamwork. It's about the journey, the friendships forged, and the personal growth that comes from pushing your limits.
Come out and cheer for the team sy Wednesday’s first race of the season.
Dennis Fordham is a local attorney and parent of student athletes.
Over the month of July, a total of 89 single family homes were sold through the multiple listing service, compared to 94 in June and 97 sold during the month of July last year. These include traditionally built “stick-built” houses as well as manufactured homes on land.
There were five sales of mobile homes in parks, compared to seven in June and seven sold during the same time period last year; and 29 sales of bare land (lots and acreage) sales, compared to 19 sold in June and 24 during July last year.
There are 410 “stick built” and manufactured homes on the market right now. If the rate of sales stays the same at 89 homes sold per month, there are currently 4.6 months of inventory on the market at the moment. That means that if no new homes are brought to the market for sale, in 4.6 months, all of these homes would be sold and there would be none available.
Less than 6 months of inventory is generally considered to be a “sellers’ market” while more than 6 months of inventory is often called a “buyers’ market.”
Total percentage of homes bought for all cash in July was 38% (compared to 33% for June) and 40% for July last year.
In July 2023, 34% were financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (“conventional loans”) compared to 29% for June and 32% for the same time last year and; 18% were financed by FHA (compared to 23% for June and 11% for this time last year); and 1% were financed by the VA or CalVet (compared to 4% for June and 4% for this time last year); 9% had other financing such as private loans, USDA, or seller financed notes (compared to 3% for June and 12% last year at this time).
The homes in July were selling at an average of 97% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract, but an average of 94% when compared to the original asking price when the property first came on the market.
In June it was the same at 97% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract, but 94% of the original asking price.
A year ago at this time, homes were selling at 98% of the asking price at the time the property went under contract and 97% when compared to the original asking price.
The median time on the market last month was 28 days, compared to 37 days for the previous month and 19 days for this time last year.
The median sale price of a single family home in Lake County in July was $320,000, which is slightly higher than the $318,750 for the previous month and well over the median sale price of $300,000 during this time period last year.
This would indicate that in June the higher priced homes were selling in greater numbers to bring the median sale price up compared to the previous year.
In July, 36% of homes sold had seller concessions for an average concession of $9,914; a month ago 35% of homes had seller concessions for an average concession of $9,051 and a year ago during July 27% of homes sold had an average seller concession of $9,711.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of Anatolian shepherd, Belgian malinois, border collie, boxer, Dogo Argentino, German shepherd, Great Pyrenees, pit bull and wirehaired terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
Female wirehaired terrier
This 4-year-old female wirehaired terrier has a white coat.
She is in kennel No. 2a, ID No. LCAC-A-5760.
Female wirehaired terrier puppy
This 5-month-old female wirehaired terrier has a white coat.
She is in kennel No. 2b, ID No. LCAC-A-5765.
Male Great Pyrenees
This 1 and a half year old male Great Pyrenees has a white coat.
He is in kennel No. 3, ID No. LCAC-A-5469.
‘Roasie’
“Roasie” is a 2-year-old female pit bull terrier with a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-5434.
Male terrier puppy
This 3-month-old male terrier has a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 8a, ID No. LCAC-A-5803.
Male terrier puppy
This 3-month-old male terrier has a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 8b, ID No. LCAC-A-5804.
Male border collie
This 1-year-old male border collie has a black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 9, ID No. LCAC-A-5643.
‘Zeta’
“Zeta” is a 1-year-old female pit bull terrier with a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 16, ID No. LCAC-A-5427.
This 3-year-old female Dogo Argentino has a short white coat.
She is in kennel No. 18, ID No. LCAC-A-5729.
Male pit bull
This 1-year-old male pit bull has a short brindle coat.
He is in kennel No. 21, ID No. LCAC-A-5616.
Male shepherd
This 2-year-old male shepherd has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 22, ID No. LCAC-A-5423.
Male pit bull terrier
This 1-year-old male pit bull terrier has a short tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-5628.
Male shepherd
This 1 and a half year old male shepherd has a short tricolor coat.
He is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-5424.
Female German shepherd
This 7-year-old female German shepherd has a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 30, ID No. LCAC-A-5629.
Male German shepherd puppy
This 2-month-old male German shepherd puppy has a black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 31a, ID No. LCAC-A-5784.
‘Chikis’
“Chikis” is a 5-year-old female boxer with a short brown coat.
She is in kennel No. 32, ID No. LCAC-A-3672.
‘Nana’
“Nana” is a 2-year-old female shepherd mix with a short yellow coat.
She is in kennel No. 33, ID No. LCAC-A-5277.
‘Dory’
“Dory” is a 1-year-old female German shepherd-Belgian malinois with a black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 34, ID No. LCAC-A-5323.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — In 2023, what can help you save money, kickstart a reading habit, learn a professional skill, and provide you with language-learning software — all without any cost to you? A library card, of course.
Without even leaving the comfort of your own home, a free library card can unlock a whole new world of fun and useful resources.
With a library card, patrons can do all the following:
• Ditch paid audiobook services and use free eAudiobooks, mp3 players, or books on CD. Readers can also access eBooks — or physical books — for free.
• Avoid rising prices by accessing the library’s apps, physical DVDs, and Wi-Fi hotspots for free.
• Feed their manga habits without breaking the bank. And why not learn Japanese, while they’re at it?
• Brush up on their Spanish, learn English, or explore a variety of other languages.
• Take a class on Skillshare.
• Access the New York Times digitally without paying for a subscription.
• Join a book club, creative club, garden club, etc., in person or via Zoom.
• Take virtual arts and crafts classes at the beginner to advanced level.
• Borrow a Chromebook.
The possibilities are endless. The California State Library has recorded that 21 million Californians have library cards. From seniors to homeschooling families, the library offers premium, free resources to everyone.
All you need is a Lake County Library card, and library cards are easier to get than ever before. Residents can visit their local library branch, can call their local branch over the phone, or can visit the library website and apply online.
The address of the library website is http://library.lakecountyca.gov.
Visit your local branch during September and take advantage of the array of free resources available.
Lakeport Library
1425 N. High St.
Lakeport, CA 95453
707-263-8817
Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Redbud Library (Clearlake)
14785 Burns Valley Road
Clearlake, CA 95422
707-994-5115
Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Middletown Library
21256 Washington St.
Middletown, CA 95461
707- 987-3674
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Upper Lake Library
310 Second St.
Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2049
Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the Lake County Library Website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov.