logo
The International Code Council's 2025 Building Safety Month Concludes with High Tech and Global Trends

The International Code Council's 2025 Building Safety Month Concludes with High Tech and Global Trends

Yahoo3 days ago

Adapting to the latest building safety trends and technologies is crucial in keeping homes and communities safe
Washington, D.C., May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Code Council wraps up its 45th annual Building Safety Month campaign on a high note by spotlighting the industry's hottest topics- from groundbreaking developments in artificial intelligence to compelling global trends and more.
Week Five: Going Into Overtime, explains the importance of keeping up with new building safety trends and technologies when it comes to building safety. Learn how building safety professionals can leverage artificial intelligence to help them make quicker and more informed decisions in the field and how updating building codes can reduce utility bills and insurance premiums without impacting housing affordability. This week also details ways the Code Council is actively working with stakeholders around the world to address climate mitigation and emissions reduction.
'It's essential that we leverage new technology to advance building safety' said Code Council Board President David Spencer, CBO. 'Integrating artificial intelligence, modernizing building codes and working to address climate resilience measures will ensure that our structures are safe, affordable and better equipped for the future.'
'The American Gas Association (AGA) is once again proud to be a Foundational Sponsor of the Code Council's Building Safety Month held each May. AGA has been a leader in advancing safety codes and standards across the industry to help protect customers, communities and employees, while continuing to deliver the reliable energy Americans expect,' said Karen Harbert, AGA president and CEO. 'We have an extensive history partnering with the Code Council and our support for Building Safety Month continues to demonstrate that ongoing partnership.'
Communities across the United States are issuing proclamations declaring May 2025 as Building Safety Month. View the proclamations here or submit one here.
To participate in Building Safety Month:
Visit www.buildingsafetymonth.org/
Issue a proclamation declaring May 2025 as Building Safety Month. View the proclamations here and submit one here.
Join us on social media and help spread the word. #BuildingSafety365
Download the promotional toolkit.
Discover resources for planning Building Safety Month events.
American Gas Association is the foundation sponsor of 2025 Building Safety Month. Week five is sponsored by American Concrete Institute and NCARB. To learn about sponsorship, click here.
###
About the International Code CouncilThe International Code Council is the leading global source of model codes and standards and building safety solutions. Code Council codes, standards and solutions are used to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable communities and buildings worldwide.
CONTACT: Donna Campbell International Code Council 734-660-6518 dcampbell@iccsafe.org

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Baldwin hears from Medicaid recipients in Superior
Baldwin hears from Medicaid recipients in Superior

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Baldwin hears from Medicaid recipients in Superior

May 29—SUPERIOR — The Lake Superior Community Health Center relies on Medicaid reimbursements to fund 60% to 70% of its budget in any given year, according to CEO Lee Homan. The health care facility in East End provided space Thursday, May 29, for U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., to hear from area residents about their concerns after House Republicans advanced a budget bill May 22 that would change Medicaid. Baldwin said the bill includes cuts that could potentially kick 14 million Americans, including 228,000 Wisconsinites, off their health insurance. However, U.S. Rep Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, said "cuts" isn't the right word. It's about reforming the system that was designed to help people with disabilities, pregnant mothers and indigent people, he told the Telegram in a phone call. "We want to save the program, OK, because otherwise it's going to go broke," Tiffany said. Baldwin has a different view of the bill, which is still awaiting a vote in the Senate. "They used tricks in order to mask the cuts that they were making ... like work reporting requirements," she said. "Well, most people on Medicaid work, but these reporting requirements and having them more frequent are meant to trip you up so that you lose your eligibility even though you're eligible. There are all sorts of gimmicks, but most of it is more paperwork, more bureaucracy, and frankly more government to process that red tape." Barbara Sorensen, who has a 43-year-old son on Medicaid, told the congresswoman it takes about five weeks from receiving the first letter to recertification for Medicaid. "I can't imagine doing it twice a year, and who's going to pay for it?" Sorensen said. "It's an unfunded mandate." Her son has relied on Medicaid all of his life after being diagnosed with autism, low muscle tone and sensory integration problems, Sorensen said. She said he didn't walk until he was 34 months old but still managed to graduate from high school and has worked for the city of Ashland picking up litter since 2002. "Those people who are writing these bills don't know that they're already working," Sorensen said of many Medicaid recipients. Carla Becker said Medicaid has been instrumental in allowing her to advocate for her daughter, Willow. Adopted from foster care, Willow remains eligible for the medical portion of Forward Health, which Becker said has allowed her to get the care Willow needs to address multiple medical issues. "It seems like the amount of money being spent on something that's not health care, in my opinion, seems like waste, fraud and abuse," Becker said of the proposed reporting requirements. Brianna Pearson said her autistic son is on a children's waiver through children's long-term care, and she doesn't know what she would do if it was cut. She is also a peer support specialist with indiGO in Superior and talked about the potential impact on the people she serves. "It would not only affect their coverages," Pearson said. "It would affect the supports they get from long-term care like IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) and Inclusa, which are a lot of the consumers I work with." Baldwin said understanding Medicaid is a challenge because it goes by so many names, including BadgerCare, Katie Beckett for children, IRIS for adults and Family Care in Wisconsin, and MNCare in Minnesota. Dawn Becerra, 68, said many don't realize the "trickle down" supports provided by Medicaid. She has been caring for her mother with dementia for five years. She said without programs like Endeavors Adult Development Center in Balsam Lake, she and her husband wouldn't be able to get out together because someone has to be with her mother all the time. She said her mother's care at Endeavors is funded through the Aging and Disability Resource Center with Medicare and Medicaid funding. Baldwin noted that health care facilities in rural parts of the state have already been closing, leaving communities with little or no health care readily available. "We know that critical access hospitals that serve rural communities are on the brink," the congresswoman said. "They have very low margins. We know that skilled nursing facilities that serve out seniors, over half of which rely on Medicaid ... are on the brink." If Medicaid cuts do go through, Homan said Lake Superior Community Health Care would continue to provide care irrespective of ability to pay. But an increase in uninsured patients would have a financial impact on the organization, the CEO said. Tiffany said millions of Medicaid recipients are able-bodied adults but choose not to work. People who are in the U.S. illegally are also benefiting from the program, he argues. "There are hundreds of billions of dollars going out in Medicaid benefits to people like that — this is not how the program was originally created," he said.

Major food producer hit with lawsuit after contaminating local water supply: 'Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer ... continues'
Major food producer hit with lawsuit after contaminating local water supply: 'Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer ... continues'

Yahoo

time32 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Major food producer hit with lawsuit after contaminating local water supply: 'Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer ... continues'

A major farm has been slapped with a lawsuit for its discharge of forever chemicals in its wastewater, according to WUSA9. Perdue Farms is under investigation in Maryland for contaminating the water supplies of neighbors via its wastewater processing. Groundwater and a stream bordering the farm are allegedly affected. A class-action lawsuit against Perdue on the matter is expected to take years. In the meantime, lawyers representing the residents have sent a letter to Perdue demanding action within 90 days pending the investigation, or else they will go to a federal judge to force the limitation of sludge fertilizer use. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide grouping of chemicals that have been dubbed "forever chemicals" because of their persistence in ecosystems and bodies. They're typically used in anti-stick coating like Teflon, water-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, food packaging, and potentially in this case, sewage. Exposure to these toxic chemicals has shown links to infertility and cancer. Perdue's case is far from an isolated incident. One Alabama woman suffered multiple heart issues related to exposure to PFAS in her water. An abandoned property in South Carolina remained an ongoing source of forever chemical contamination to nearby communities. Broadly, legislation is possible. Canada has been taking legal steps to protect consumers against forever chemicals. German insurance providers are dialing back coverage of companies being subject to PFAS-related lawsuits. Conversely, the EPA recently rolled back water regulations that would protect Americans from some PFAS. Perdue said it is providing bottled water and filtration systems to 356 affected homes and is nearly finished testing the wells of 920 homes. Residents say this is still not enough, so long as its waste management hasn't changed. "Every day that goes by, people's risk of getting cancer and other health problems from PFAS-contaminated groundwater continues," said attorney Phil Federico, per WUSA9. "We've got to get them clean water now and stop this. This risk that they're being exposed to." How often do you worry about the quality of your drinking water? Never Sometimes Often Always Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.

Don't Lose Your Social Security Benefits: These Mistakes Will Cost You
Don't Lose Your Social Security Benefits: These Mistakes Will Cost You

Yahoo

time38 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Don't Lose Your Social Security Benefits: These Mistakes Will Cost You

More than 70 million Americans currently rely on Social Security benefits, and countless more expect to take advantage of the program when it's their time to retire. Knowing when the best time to start collecting benefits is important, but once you've applied and your monthly payments start being sent, not much should change, outside of the annual COLA increase, which is a good thing for you. Something you might be less familiar with is how you can actually lose your benefits if you're not careful. While people pay into the Social Security system most of their working lives, these benefits aren't guaranteed for life, and you could have them taken away in certain situations. In particular, there are four things that can get your benefits terminated or suspended. Below, we'll break down the ways you can lose your benefits and whether or not you can get them back afterward. For more, don't miss the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet. While you can still work and receive Social Security benefits, if you begin to make more than the annual income limit, your benefits may be reduced or paused completely in certain situations. The limits change depending on certain factors, like whether you're under or over the age of 62 -- the minimum retirement age. Below is an overview of the income limits imposed on specific benefits. Eligibility for SSI typically requires that you earn less than $1,971 per month from work. The limit is increased for couples, but if you exceed that limit, you may no longer be eligible for SSI. You should be notified of any benefit reduction or whether you become ineligible due to reaching the income limit. Note: For every $2 you earn from work, $1 will be reduced from your SSI payment. Working includes any job you have. You're required to promptly report changes to your monthly income and living situation. SSDI beneficiaries have more to work with when it comes to making money from work. If you get a job while receiving SSDI, you'll be able to retain your benefits for up to nine months, which the Social Security Administration calls a "work trial period." For 2024, any month you bring in over $1,110 in gross wages will count toward this nine-month trial period. Note that months don't have to be consecutive, either, but within a rolling five-year period. During these nine months, there's no limit on how much you can earn while retaining your benefits. After your work trial period, you'll enter into a 36-month "extended period of eligibility." During this time, if you exceed the EPE earnings limit, you won't qualify for your SSDI payment for that month. In 2024, the EPE limit is $1,550 per month or $2,590 for disability due to blindness. If you continue to earn over the limit after your EPE is up, your SSDI payments will cease completely, but if you can't continue to work, you can restart your benefits. In addition to an income limit, to be eligible for SSI, you need to fall under what the administration calls a "resource limit." Resources that do count toward the limit include cash, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, US savings bonds, land, life insurance, personal property, vehicles and anything else you own that could be changed to cash and used for food or shelter, the administration said. Resources that do not count include the home you live in and the land it is on, one vehicle (if you or a member of your household use it for transportation), household goods and personal effects and life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less. To be eligible, the SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. If you exceed that limit, you need to spend down your resources to be eligible. According to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 70,000 beneficiaries on average lose their benefits each year because they exceed the limit. Congress has proposed legislation that would, for example, raise the limit to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples but so far, changes have not been signed into law. Your marital status can and will affect your Social Security benefits, and that includes getting a divorce. A few things would prevent you from collecting your ex-spouse's benefits: You weren't married for 10 years or more. If you remarry, you won't be able to get benefits from your previous marriage. This can change if your current marriage ends through divorce, annulment or the death of your partner. You qualify for benefits and the amount you receive would be more than your ex-spouse's. If you go to jail or prison, your Social Security benefits can be affected. If you're incarcerated for more than 30 days, the administration may suspend your Social Security and SSI benefits. If your benefits are suspended, you can request to have them restored for the following month after you're released from jail or prison. Something to note is that even if your benefits are suspended while incarcerated, your spouse or children will continue to receive them as long as they remain eligible. While incarcerated, your SSI benefits will be suspended, but payments will resume when you're released, and you won't have to wait until the following month. Your payment amount will be determined by your release date and would only be a partial payment. If you're in jail or prison for over 12 consecutive months, the administration will terminate your SSI benefits. When you're released, you will need to reach out to the Social Security Administration and start a new application. For more, here's the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance payment schedules.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store