Washington, DC - A brand-new series of emotionally powerful ads kick off the fifth year of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Tips From Former Smokers” campaign. The new ads tell moving, personal stories of Americans suffering from smoking-related illnesses, including heart disease, tooth loss, depression, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Washington, DC - Home Maid Ravioli Company, Inc., a San Francisco, California establishment, is recalling approximately 34,200 pounds of beef ravioli products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The products contain whey, a known allergen, and pork, neither of which are declared on the product labels.  The products were also produced without the benefit of federal inspection.

Rochester, Minnesota - "Research shows laughter provides a good physical workout, generates mental relaxation, lowers blood pressure and pain, and even improves immunity. You’re 30 times more likely to laugh in good company than alone. Further, the more you laugh with others rather than at someone, the greater the health benefit." - Dr. Amit Sood.

Washington, DC - Exercises, scenarios and a "call to action" sound like a battle-stations drill aboard a ship but actually it was all part of a two-day transformational leadership training standdown held by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) at the Catering and Conference Center at Washington Navy Yard, January 21-22.

Newark, New Jersey - C. Tate George, former NBA basketball player and the CEO of purported real estate development firm The George Group, was sentenced today to 108 months in prison for his role in orchestrating a $2 million investment fraud scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman for the District of New Jersey.

Corpus Christi, Texas - An illegal alien from Mexico was sentenced Tuesday to nearly six years in federal prison following his conviction for transporting illegal aliens that resulted in the death of two vehicle occupants.