Of Human Interest: News lite

YELLOWSTONE CALDERA VOLCANO SLOWS

The Yellowstone caldera, an active volcano that has exploded with alarming force over the past 16 million years or so, appears to be slowing its activity, two University of Utah geologists report. For the past 2 million years, the Yellowstone caldera has erupted fairly regularly, about every 600,000 years, with the last eruption about 600,000 years ago.

The research, by geologists Michael Perkins and Barbara Nash, indicates the caldera may not be ready to blow quite yet, however. Perkins and Nash found Yellowstone's volcanic eruptions have become less frequent and the magma temperature associated with eruptions has been lower.

In addition, the rate at which the North American tectonic plate is moving over the Yellowstone hotspot appears to have slowed.

The Yellowstone hotspot is named for the plateau volcanic field in what is now Yellowstone National Park. The hotspot is a magma source deep within Earth's mantle whose heat surges up to the surface, driving the famous thermal features of the park, its hot springs, geysers, mud pots and fumaroles. It also makes Yellowstone one of the most active earthquake zones in the world.

(Thanks to Dan Whipple, UPI Environment News)

ASSESS HEART RISK BEGINNING AT 20

New recommendations from the American Heart Association say doctors should begin assessing people's risk factors for heart disease, including blood pressure and cholesterol levels, beginning at age 20. The new guidelines for the prevention of heart attack and stroke take into consideration heart disease actually begins in teenage years, says Dr. Thomas Pearson, chairman of the AHA panel that made the new recommendations.

"Twenty percent of people find out they have heart disease by dropping dead" so the goal of the guidelines is to prevent a first heart attack or stroke, said Pearson, who also serves as chairman of the department of community and preventive medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York.

"This doesn't imply that one would be placed on drugs" in their 20s, he said. However, medication may be appropriate for people at that age with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, he said. The recommendations advise doctors to measure their patients' blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and pulse at least every two years beginning at age 20. Cholesterol levels and blood-sugar levels should be measured every five years.

(Thanks to Steve Mitchell, UPI Medical Correspondent, in Washington)

RHODE ISLAND WOMAN WINS 'HOMETOWN HERO' AWARD

Michelle Skoorka Burgess, 35, of Newport, R.I., has been selected from more than 500 entries from across the country as the national "Hometown Hero" contest winner.

The contest was sponsored by Ace Hardware Corp. and it asked people to nominate a "hometown hero" -- an individual who contributes a great deal of time and energy to making a difference in the lives of others.

"Michelle's dedication to our community and local organizations is both heart-warming and inspiring," said Leonora Bananto of Portsmouth, R.I., who nominated Skoorka Burgess. "Whether she is making personal donations, raising money for community charities, or organizing local philanthropic events, she truly exemplifies the qualities of a hometown hero."

Skoorka Burgess regularly donates blood, gives her hair to the "Locks of Love" program and is donating her kidney to an ailing co-worker. In addition, she is involved with numerous charities, including Special Olympics, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and a local animal shelter. As the grand prize winner, Skoorka Burgess will receive from Ace $5,000 to donate to local charities.

MORE KIDS INSURED UNDER HHS PROGRAM

The Department of Health and Human Services says from the 1997 start of the State Children's Health Insurance Program through 2001, 2.1 million children in America who did not have health insurance got coverage. SCHIP is a joint federal-state government program that provides health insurance coverage at very low cost to low-income families.

HHS says in 2001, 10.8 percent of American children did not have health coverage, down from 13.9 percent in 1997. Since the program began, every state has implemented some type of SCHIP program, either through private insurance or through state Medicaid programs.

"Still, we know we must do more," says HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "Since President Bush took office, we have given governors more flexibility to use SCHIP to expand coverage in their states. We've also asked Congress to give states more time to use unspent SCHIP funds..."

According to state figures, about 4.6 million children received health coverage through SCHIP at some point in fiscal year 2001.