This segment provides the viewer / reader with news they might have missed and focuses on key issues related to current and past events. These articles are provided courtesy of our many contributing sources. We ask that you enjoy these stories and continue your support of beenetworknews.com, our contributing sources and publishers.

SOURCE:  Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

With Senate Democrats’ Cooperation, Congress Can Pass Anti-Zika Efforts

By U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell

Sen. Leader Mitch McConnell. Photo Courtesy: United States Senate.

Like many Kentuckians, I am concerned about the growing threat of Zika virus in this country. As we head deeper into the summer, infected mosquito’s are expected to transmit and spread the virus throughout the southern United States, including potentially Kentucky.

Anyone can contract this mosquito-borne illness, but it is especially troubling for expectant mothers and their babies.

That’s why it’s shocking that Senate Democrats blocked Congress from passing legislation that would have marshalled immediate federal funds to fight the Zika virus. They blocked anti-Zika funds and prevention efforts not once but twice. It’s unbelievable, but true.

As Senate Majority Leader, I led the Senate to pass legislation in May providing $1.1 billion in funds to combat Zika. The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Senate Democrats unanimously voted yes.

House and Senate negotiators met and produced legislation that met the full funding level passed by the Senate. But when it came time for a vote on the final, House-passed measure to help send the legislation to the president’s desk, Democrats balked. They voted against legislation dedicating the same $1.1 billion in federal funds that they had previously supported. They voted against legislation focusing on public health resources and mosquito control. And they voted against legislation providing funding resources to develop a vaccine.

Thousands of people in Latin America and the Caribbean have already been diagnosed with the Zika virus. Hundreds of Americans also suffer from the virus, most of them due to recent travel to affected areas, but the number of cases in the U.S. continues to grow and we could potentially see an outbreak in this country.

It’s been shown that pregnant women who contract Zika can give birth to children suffering from serious brain defects like microcephaly, causing their babies to have unusually small heads and brains. This condition lasts a lifetime. Everyone, especially pregnant women, wants to see our country do all it can to stop the spread of this fearful virus.

That’s why it’s so irresponsible of Senate Democrats to continue to block the passage of $1.1 billion in federal funds that would immediately go toward disease prevention, mosquito control efforts, and the search for a vaccine.

Until they decide to take responsible action and approve new Zika funds, I urge the Administration in the interim to aggressively use funds already available to strengthen our defense against the virus. As of July 2016, hundreds of millions of dollars in funds available immediately to prepare for and combat Zika were seemingly unspent.

Democrats continue to make a lot of excuses for their vote, but it seems apparent they’re answering to the beck and call of a third-party interest group—Planned Parenthood. The commonsense bill that Senate Republicans proposed does not prohibit funding or deny access for birth control. In fact, it would expand access to women’s health care through Medicaid, community health centers, public health departments, and hospitals rather than earmarking those resources to one controversial interest group.

Republicans believe Zika is a crisis and one that demands immediate action. Democrats believe it’s something to play politics over. Kentuckians, especially pregnant mothers, are rightfully appalled.

As soon as the Senate reconvenes, Democrats will have a third opportunity to vote to advance legislation funding a response to the Zika crisis. The Senate Majority stands ready to vote yes with them and to send the measure to the president’s desk. Congress must not fail the American people in this very real public health crisis.

Flag Officer Assignments

SOURCE:  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson announced the following assignments:

Rear Adm. (lower half) Jeffrey R. Trussler will be assigned as director, Future Plans, N3/N5, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, District of Columbia.  Trussler is currently serving as commander, Undersea Warfighting Development Center, Groton, Connecticut.

Capt. Stephanie T. Keck, selected for promotion to rear-admiral (lower half), will be assigned as deputy director, Operations and Intelligence Integration, Joint Improvised-Threat Defeat Agency, Washington, District of Columbia.  Keck is currently serving as strategic studies group fellow, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Newport, Rhode Island.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF FOX 5 DC TO SPEAK AT POWER NETWORKING LUNCHEON FOR WOMEN IN THE WASHINGTON DC AREA

SOURCE:  BLACKNEWS.COM

Terri Toliver, Executive Producer at Fox 5 DC . Photo Courtesy: Blacknews.com

Washington, DC — Carolyn E. Howell, Founder and CEO of Fun Company Events and Director of Sterling Women of Washington DC is inviting all women entrepreneurs and professionals in the DC area to an amazing event in August. On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, she will present Terri Tolliver as guest speaker at her power networking luncheon. The luncheon will take place on Wednesday from 11am to 2pm at Clyde’s Restaurant Gallery Place, 707 “7th” Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Terri Tolliver is a dynamic, never say never, talented producer with years of diverse experience in news, documentary, long and short features, and celebrity profiles. This native Washingtonian has worked in a top ten news markets for her entire career, working every job from assignment editor, writer, special investigations producer, to now… Executive Producer.

Her first assignment as a special projects producer, working at Fox 5 DC was to produce a half hour documentary on the AIDS pandemic in Africa. It was a topic her team tackled before it became the “cause de jour.” She traveled to 4 countries in 16 days with former anchor, Tracey Neale and came back with stories that changed lives, hers included. They received 2 Emmy Awards, a Murrow, a Presidential commendation from Bill Clinton, and a $5,000 award from the World Health Organization to start a non-profit and build a school for girls on the Masai reserve in Kenya. That’s right, it’s a goal they reached before Oprah! Not bad for her first producing gig ever.

Terri went on to add 13 more regional Emmy’s to her collection as well as 2 National Emmy’s. She produced stories on everything from hand washing temperatures in restaurants to underground lap dance clubs to pigeon racing. She’s done just about everything. Including posing as a stripper to bust a local illegal club owner who set up shop in a residential neighborhood.