HITTING THE ROAD THIS WINTER? “TREAD” SAFELY! 

Learn the Importance of Upgrading Your All-Season Tires For Winter Tires And How It Will Keep You Safe On The Road 

 Kirk Langley is a regional vice president with Discount Tire covering the Minnesota region. Kirk Langley is a regional vice president with Discount Tire covering the Minnesota region.

Having worked his way up over the course of 18 years in the tire industry, Kirk is today one of Discount Tire’s leading experts on tire safety.

INVEST IN QUALITY: Prior to the winter season, consider replacing all four tires with quality winter tires. Winter tires are designed to maintain more traction and gripping capabilities in temperatures 45 degrees or below. 

CHECK YOUR TREAD: Tread depth determines a vehicle’s safe stopping distance. You can check it by sticking a penny upside-down in a tread groove – it’s time to replace if Lincoln’s head is visible. 

ROTATE YOUR TIRES: To increase tread life, rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or earlier if irregular wear develops. 

PROPER AIR PRESSURE: As the outside temperature drops, so does tire inflation pressure. For every 10 degrees drop in ambient temperature, your tires lose 1 PSI and can trigger your TPMS alarm.  Consider keeping a tire pressure gauge in your vehicle so you always have one on hand to check.

For more information, please visit: www.discounttire.com 

GUEST:

Gene Goldman, CFA – Chief Investment Officer and Director of Research, Cetera Investment Management 

Gene Goldman is responsible for the strategic direction and continued growth of the firm’s research offerings. His role includes setting the vision for superior capabilities and enabling the delivery of objective investment advice. He provides day-to-day oversight of Cetera Investment Management, with a focus on providing unbiased research about the economy and financial markets, asset allocation strategies, mutual funds, and other investment-related topics. Mr. Goldman also helps oversee the investment committee and their commitment to delivering thought leadership on the economy, financial markets and investment strategies, as well as implementation and practice recommendations for advisors.  Mr. Goldman received his Bachelor of Science in engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA, and his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from Northeastern University in Boston. 

About Dr. Phyllis C. Zee: 

Dr. Phyllis C. Zee is the Benjamin and Virginia T. Boshes Professor in Neurology and Director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois, where she is also Associate Director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology. 

A fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, and a member of the American Neurological Association, Dr. Zee has served on numerous national and international committees, NIH scientific review panels, and advisory boards. She is President of the Sleep Research Society, past Chair of the NIH Sleep Disorders Research Advisory Board, and a Deputy Editor for the journal SLEEP. Dr. Zee is the recipient of the 2011 American Academy of Neurology Sleep Science Award. 

Call in #: 312-280-7675  

Backup: 312-540-5400 

Producer: Dan Jacobs cell: 516-524-2746 

SUBJECT DISCUSSED: NEW SURVEY UNCOVERS HOW INSOMNIA/SLEEPING DIFFICULTIES AFFECT QUALITY OF LIFE 

Veterans Day Tie-in:   In a recent John Hopkins study over 74% of veterans reported having insomnia, a figure that’s even higher in veterans diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

GUEST: Phyllis C. Zee, MD, Ph.D., Chief of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University 

Background:  A new survey entitled “How America Sleeps and Wakes” has uncovered that 90% of patients with insomnia or sleeping difficulties agreed that “having a good night’s sleep” means having a “good day” the next morning.1 The survey, recently presented at the 2019 World Sleep Congress, explores the impact of insomnia or sleeping difficulties on individual performance, interpersonal relationships and psychosocial behavior. The data also shows that next-day functioning is of high importance to people with insomnia or sleeping difficulties, yet most do not wake ready. 

• Approximately two-thirds of patients rated “waking up refreshed and ready to start the day” and “being able to function normally throughout the day” as “very important” in managing their insomnia or sleeping difficulties (63% and 64%, respectively).1 
• When they wake up the next day after not having a good night’s sleep, 67% of patients reported feeling tired or fatigued, and only 7% reported feeling “ready to start their day.”1 
• Approximately 93% of patients who experienced sleepiness or grogginess in the morning reported having these difficulties at least two to three times per week.1 

The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll, on behalf of Eisai Inc., between February 14 and March 8, 2019, among over 1000 adults. 

On November 11, 2019, Phyllis C. Zee, MD, PhD, Chief of Sleep Medicine, Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, and a “How America Sleeps and Wakes” survey advisor, will share the findings of the survey with your viewers, which also demonstrate that household cohabitants are negatively impacted in unexpected ways.

• More than eight in 10 cohabitants (85%) agreed that they themselves are more likely to have a good day when the person with insomnia or sleeping difficulties in the home has a good night’s sleep.1  
• Over half of cohabitants (53%) whose relatives experienced morning sleepiness or grogginess rated these difficulties as very or somewhat bothersome for themselves.1 

• When their partner or relative does not have a good night’s sleep, a quarter of cohabitants (26%) reported feeling tired or fatigued themselves.

Thomas C. Corbridge, M.D., is a medical expert for GSK and pulmonologist in Chicago, Illinois

Thomas C. Corbridge, M.D., is a medical expert for GSK and pulmonologist in Chicago, Illinois, affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He is also an adjunct professor of pulmonary and critical care at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and has been in practice for almost 30 years.

LIVING WITH COPD DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN A LIFE OF BREATHLESSNESS. 

Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD affects nearly every aspect of daily life. Yet, nearly half of the 27 million living with the condition wait years before receiving a proper diagnosis and managing symptoms.  

 The symptoms – feelings of breathlessness or shortness of breath – can worsen over time and potentially lead to hospitalization and even death. In fact, COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability. Nine out of 10 people with COPD admit they are not completely open with their doctor when discussing their symptoms. Even more concerning, one in four patients hospitalized for a COPD flare-up to die within a year.  

While many people with COPD accept breathlessness and difficulties completing daily activities as part of normal aging, these can be a sign of COPD disease progression and should be discussed with a physician. So, what should people living with COPD do? There is a need to speak openly about the impact that COPD symptoms have on day-to-day life. 

 Visit www.COPD.com for additional information about COPD, which includes information and resources that patients and their loved ones can use to better manage COPD. 

Michelle McLellan, Senior Product Management Executive at Bank of America   

Nearly 80 percent of homes in the U.S. are at least 20 years old according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. And some much older than that. Aging homes means many homeowners either want to bring their homes up to date, or they need to replace well-worn parts of their homes.  

They’re taking remodeling into their own hands to make their home fit their lifestyle. Whether it’s fashion or home design, we’ve all made trendy choices that make us look back and cringe. Wood paneling may have been on-trend in the 70s, but today it makes a room look dull and dated. And, if you still have a Tuscan-inspired kitchen, it’s overdue for a refresh. After all, reviving your space can help you feel more at home in a place you’ve already grown fond of. And while we see so many design ideas we’d like to try, we don’t get much information when it comes to paying for all these fun changes. For the big items, a trusty credit card isn’t necessarily a financially savvy choice. There are other ways to finance your home renovations, like a home equity line of credit (HELOC), but they can be a bit intimidating until you uncover the mystery). 

Relevant research from the 2018 Houzz & Home Study: Role of Secured Financing in U.S. Home Improvement in Collaboration with Bank of America: 

• Homeowners choose to finance the big projects – A typical homeowner using secured (e.g. home equity line of credit, cash-out refinance) financing spent $32,000 on 2017 renovations, three times more than a renovator paying with cash ($13,000). 
• Home equity lines of credit provide flexibility – Those surveyed said they were motivated to use a HELOC by its ease of use (39%), low cost (38%), quick funds (30%) and tax deductions (29%). 

James W. “Bill” Oxford, The National Commander

Vietnam War veteran James W. “Bill” Oxford was elected national commander of the nearly 2 million-member American Legion on August 29, 2019, in Indianapolis, during the organization’s 101st national convention. He has been a member of the nation’s largest veterans’ organization since 1986.

A native of Lenoir, N.C., Oxford is a paid-up-for- life member and past commander of Post 29 in Lenoir. He served as department (state) commander of the North Carolina American Legion from 2010 to 2011. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, Oxford was an aviation electronics technician for the A-6 Intruder and served in Vietnam during his initial enlistment. After being discharged as a sergeant in 1970, Oxford joined the North Carolina National Guard.  He subsequently attended officer’s candidate school and transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve, where he ultimately retired as a colonel after more than 34 years of military service.

An active volunteer with several organizations, Oxford is a member of Masonic lodge-York and Scottish Rite. His theme as national commander of The American Legion is “a foundation for the future,” as the organization enters its second century of service.

 About the American League: www.legion.org

The American Legion was founded one hundred years ago by World War I veterans concerned about their wounded comrades and the sacrifices that were made to defend freedom and although you are nonpartisan you strongly believe that all of our elected officials should ensure that veterans, members of our military and their families feel the gratitude of a nation that truly appreciates and values their service and sacrifice.

The Nation’s Largest Veterans Organization Looks to its Second Century as America’s Most Influential Voice for Veterans. Of course, I am referring to the American Legion with about two million members and nearly 13,000 posts worldwide, whose members are involved in community-based support of veterans, service members and their families. The American Legion is strongly committed to helping veterans and military families with its outreach programs and lobbying efforts, as a new generation of returning veterans reintegrate into the community.

In the aftermath of another Election day, Bill Oxford is hoping that Americans will pause to remember just who it is that makes it possible to freely choose our elected officials. By that you mean Bill?

“It is fitting that Veteran’s Day is just a few days after Americans traditionally go to the polls,” Oxford said. “It is, after all, the veteran who protects our freedom and ensures that our constitutional republic is protected from tyrannical regimes and terrorists who hate our way of life. 

Congress and the White House still have some unfinished business that we would like to see them address expeditiously.”

Among issues that The American Legion hopes people will focus on:

• Congress still has not passed the Pay Our Coast Guard Act. When the federal government shut down earlier this year, the Coast Guard was the only military branch to experience an interruption in their payroll.  During that period, The American Legion provided more than one million dollars in grants to junior-ranking Coast Guard members who had children at home. Unlike the other military branches, the Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Legislation in Congress would ensure that Coast Guard funds are appropriated in advance, like the military branches in the DoD, and that members of Coast Guard would be paid on time in the unfortunate event of future government shutdowns.
• The American Legion Family is playing a vital role in helping communities recover from the devastation caused by recent hurricanes and other natural disasters. Families inside and outside The American Legion desperately need assistance. The American Legion has many assistance programs but public unity and attention are essential in this rebuilding effort.
• Thousands of veterans struggle daily to overcome the hardships inflicted by traumatic brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other signature wounds of war.

The American Legion strongly believes that the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has problems, is a system worth saving and must be strengthened. Treatment for veterans is the cost of not only war but of maintaining a strong defense during peacetime. America has an obligation to treat these veterans in the health care system that was built specifically to address their unique needs. “Choice” has an important role, but it should not be funded in a manner that will diminish the VA system. The American Legion will work closely with the VA to ensure smooth implementation of the VA Mission Act

• The Harry W Colmery “Forever” GI Bill has many improved benefits that eligible veterans may not be aware of. The American Legion played a crucial role in the crafting of this and earlier versions of this landmark legislation.
• Reforming the VA health care system is not just a task, but a continuing process that will only improve if Americans hold their elected officials accountable and demand that veterans be treated with the dignity and respect that they have earned.

The best way for employers to thank a veteran is to hire one. By providing jobs, employers can help eliminate veteran homelessness.

To maintain a strong volunteer military, America should provide a high quality of life for military members and their families, and the training, technology, and weapons needed to prevail against any enemy.

Veterans are a vital part of communities across the nation.  American Legion programs such as Operation Comfort Warriors, Boys State, Boys Nation, American Legion Baseball, Oratorical Scholarship contests, blood donations and the National Emergency Fund benefit and touch countless lives.

The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans’ service organization, with about two million members and nearly 13,000 posts worldwide, whose members are involved in community-based support of veterans, service members, and their families. The American Legion is strongly committed to helping veterans and military families with its outreach programs and lobbying efforts, as a new generation of returning veterans reintegrate into the community.

Where can my listeners find more information about The American Legion?   www.legion.org