On PR Newswire: Panama Canal Expanded, Safest Cities for Driving, Flint Health Impact

With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire for Journalists. Here are some of this week’s most newsworthy releases you might have missed. Members of the media can register for PR Newswire for Journalists at prnmedia.prnewswire.com.  Customize your profile to get the news releases you want before they make headlines. It’s free and takes only a few moments to sign up.

Source: PRNewsFoto/Panama Canal Authority

Game Changer! Inauguration of Expanded Panama Canal Ushers in New Era of Global Trade

The Expanded Panama Canal is now officially open for business. During the June 26 official inauguration ceremony, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Panama Canal Administrator and CEO Jorge L. Quijano spoke to a crowd of more than 25,000 jubilant Panamanians, canal employees, heads of state and dignitaries from around the world, canal customers, shipping and trade executives, and nearly 1,000 journalists. This is the first expansion of the waterway since its original construction. See the full release to learn more about the improvements made to the canal.

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Following an Additional Child Fatality, IKEA Recalls 29 Million MALM and Other Models of Chests and Dressers Due to Serious Tip-Over Hazard; Consumers Urged to Anchor Chests and Dressers or Return for Refund

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said on June 28 that consumers should immediately stop using any recalled IKEA chest and dresser that is not properly anchored to the wall and place it into an area that children cannot access. The recalled chests and dressers pose a serious tip-over and entrapment hazard that can result in death or injuries to children. Contact IKEA for a choice between two options: refund or a free wall-anchoring repair kit. Consumers are entitled to a full refund for chests and dressers manufactured between January 2002 and June 2016. Consumers with chests and dressers manufactured prior to January 2002 will be eligible for a partial store credit. See the full release to learn more about the recall.

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Source: PRNewsFoto/Allstate

Allstate Reveals the Safest Cities for Drivers as July Fourth, the Deadliest Day on the Road, Looms

For the first time ever, Brownsville, Texas is the safest-driving city on Allstate’s 12th annual America’s Best Drivers Report. The report serves as an important safe-driving reminder as motorists prepare to hit the roads for the July Fourth holiday – which the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found is the deadliest day of the year on average for drivers. Based on Allstate Insurance Co. claims data, the 2016 report measures vehicle collision frequency in America’s 200 largest cities to determine which cities have the safest drivers. The average driver in Brownsville experiences an auto collision every 14.6 years, which is 31.4% less often than the national average of every 10 years. See the full release to learn about the report.

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CDC investigation: Blood lead levels higher after switch to Flint River water

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released on June 24 the results of its investigation into the potential health impact that lead contamination in the Flint, Mich. water supply had on the blood lead levels of local children. The findings indicate that when the source of the water supply was switched to the Flint River, without appropriate corrosion control measures, young children who drank the water had blood lead levels (BLLs) that were significantly higher than when the source of water was the Detroit water system. After the switch back to the Detroit water system, the percentage of children under 6 years with elevated blood lead levels returned to levels seen before the water switch took place. See the full release to learn more about lead contamination of the Flint River.

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Source: PRNewsFoto/Bankrate, Inc.

Arlington, Va. is Best City to Retire

Arlington, Va. is the best city to retire, according to a new Bankrate.com report. The rest of the top five are: Franklin, Tenn.; West Des Moines, Iowa; Sarasota, Fla. and Scottsdale, Ariz. The study included nine categories: cost of living; climate; healthcare cost and quality; taxes; crime; well-being; walkability; and cultural vitality. A wealth of cultural opportunities, a strong sense of well-being among seniors and great healthcare are the main reasons for Arlington’s #1 ranking. A high cost of living is the main drawback. See the full release to see a complete list of cities.

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Larry Grady is online content manager at PR Newswire for Journalists.  He has worked in business media for nearly 30 years and enjoys reality TV and daydreaming about travel and wine.