TEMPLE (August 7, 2014) A work van was destroyed by fire Wednesday evening as a carpet cleaning crew was working at a Temple apartment complex.

Firefighters were sent at about 6:15 p.m. to a report of a vehicle fire at University Courtyard Apartments where the first unit on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from a van, Temple Fire and Rescue spokesman Thomas Pechal said.

A carpet cleaning company working inside an apartment noticed a malfunction in their equipment and when they went outside to check on the problem, they discovered their work van was on fire.

Pechal said heavy black smoke was billowing from the van that was parked about 20-25 feet away from apartments at 2315 South 1st Street.

No one was inside.

The manager at the complex tried to douse the blaze with a fire extinguisher but to no avail, Pechal said.

TFR investigators said the fire started due to a malfunction in the carpet-cleaning machine.

No apartments were in danger from the fire and there were no injuries but the blaze destroyed the van and cleaning machine mounted inside, Pechal said.

Fire units cleared the scene at 7:40 p.m. 

More at source: KWTX

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Forget expensive cleaning products, use a POTATO to clean your home: Expert reveals science behind foods that tackle rust, limescale and stains

• Cleaning experts from London-based Hassle.com have revealed which food items can be used as substitutes to expensive cleaning products
• Acids in coke and vinegar are found in products and react to lift stains
• Mayonnaise contains oils and proteins that diminish marks on wood
• Potatoes and baking soda tackle rust because the oxalic acid in the potato mixes with the baking soda to dissolve it 

By VICTORIA WOOLLASTON

PUBLISHED: 06:02 EST, 7 August 2014 | UPDATED: 08:43 EST, 7 August 2014

For decades, food items have been touted as substitutes to expensive household cleaning products.

And now a cleaning expert has revealed the science behind why certain foods are so useful for tackling rust, removing stains and tightening cracks in wood.

This ranges from potatoes, banana skins, brazil nuts, vinegar to mayonnaise.

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A cleaning expert has revealed which food items can be used as substitutes to expensive cleaning products, and also the science behind why they are so effective. For example, potatoes are effective at removing rust because the oxalic acid reacts with baking soda to dissolve the hydrated iron oxides

For example, Alex Depledge, chief executive of cleaning site Hassle.com told MailOnline that tomato ketchup is good for cleaning brass, copper and silver elements.

'Tarnishing mainly occurs due to sulphur compounds in the air. 

'When the ketchup is applied to the metal, the natural acid in the tomatoes reacts with the oxidising of the tarnished silver, brass or copper.'

'Potatoes and baking soda are effective at tackling rust because the oxalic acid in the potato mixes with the baking soda to help to dissolve the rust,' said Mrs Depledge.

Even the weakest levels of acid can dissolve and loosen the hydrated iron oxides found in rust. 

Read more at source: Daily UK

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Greg Terhaar surprised his interviewers when they asked him what kind of job he’s seeking.

“Working for the government, doing policy-making for disability rights on a global stage,” Terhaar replied.

Terhaar, 26, already has some experience. As someone who has Down syndrome himself, he has been to Olympia and Washington, D.C., advocating for people with disabilities, and has been a member of the Spokane Human Rights Commission.

But he has had trouble finding steady employment. He is now working at Target, doing what he says is mostly cleaning, and he is looking for a more fulfilling job – something people with developmental disabilities have a hard time finding.

The Partners for Work program, started a year ago by Spokane’s Rotary Club, aims to create job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

More at source: Spokesman

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WATERLOO | A new custodial firm has been hired to clean City Hall and other municipal buildings.

But at least one councilman is concerned the low-wage jobs send the wrong message to the community.

Ward 3 Councilman Pat Morrissey cast the lone dissenting vote when the City Council voted 5-1 Monday to approve a three-year contract with Midwest Janitorial Service, of Waterloo, to take over building cleaning.

Morrissey said he would prefer to see the city hire its own workers to provide better accountability. But he was particularly concerned the staff would be part-time, paid about $8 per hour and receive no benefits.

When he was campaigning for office last fall, Morrissey said constituents told him the city need to do more to create higher-wage jobs in the community.

"Waterloo needs to be a leader in bringing good ... 

More at source: WCF Courier

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About 70 janitorial workers from the Fort Belvoir military base have gone on strike, prompting both a local union and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Dist. 8) to seek action on their behalf.

The workers are employed at the military base through a contract held by contractors Brown & Pipkins/Acsential of Atlanta, Ga. They allege that Brown & Pipkins refuses to bargain a contract in good faith with their union, 32BJ SEIU. Workers began striking on Tuesday morning, and remained in negotiations as of Thursday afternoon, according to Brown & Pipkins.

“Nobody wants to strike, but these men and women are willing to do what’s necessary to support their families,” said 32BJ SEIU Vice President and Capital Area Director, Jaime Contreras.

More at source: Fairfax Times

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FORT WORTH undefined Dozens of African-American parents stormed the Fort Worth school district offices Tuesday claiming that their children were not paid for janitorial work they performed at schools under a contract with a local minister.

Kyev Tatum, minister at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, said the school district has violated its contract with him to provide a program encouraging inner-city youth to become productive citizens. He said that under an agreement with the school district, about 100 youngsters mopped floors, wiped windows and performed other custodial duties over a 15-day period.

“We refuse to embrace the history of this district of treating people of color this way,” Tatum said after a meeting of more than 70 parents at district offices on University Drive.

“We are being demonized for creating something that is helping our kids get better,” Tatum said.

School district officials said Tatum was told not to implement the program after a May 26 meeting with several district officials, including former Superintendent Walter Dansby, who resigned June 2. On May 27, the district sent Tatum an email explaining that the district could not support the program, district officials said.

More at source: The Star Telegram

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Janitors for Fort Belvoir will strike Tuesday morning if the Atlanta-based federal contractor they work for refuses to come to the table to renegotiate the terms of their contract.

Nearly 70 janitors work at the Army installation in Fairfax County under a federal contract held by Brown & Pipkins, doing business as Ascential. The contract is set to expire in August. On July 25, the workers authorized their union’s bargaining committee to call a strike against the company in response to charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board that allege Ascential has refused to bargain a contract in good faith with the union.

According to a spokeswoman from the Service Employees International Union, that strike is scheduled for 7 a.m. Tuesday.

More at source: Biz Journals

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DAKAR, Senegal undefined The deadly Ebola virus outbreak sweeping West Africa would likely expand farther because it's killing key medical professionals who are treating patients sick with the disease, health experts say.

"This outbreak is not showing any signs of slowing down," said Unni Krishnan, a doctor with the British relief agency Plan International, which is active throughout West Africa. "It is gaining more speed in some locations and killing even more people and now is affecting even more countries. It is all quite worrying."

The Ebola outbreak that started in February has spread across Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, killing more than 670 people and infecting more than 1,200 others, including two American doctors and prominent African specialists.

"We need more money, more materials, because we are talking about countries which already have some of the weakest health systems and a lack of resources," Krishnan said. "They were already stretched to their limits. With this Ebola outbreak, their health systems have been crippled, making it hard for them to contain the spread."

More at source: USA Today

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Don't let dirty windows obscure your view of nature in full spring glory. Whether you do the job yourself or hire an experienced pro, few home investments are as immediately satisfying as clean, sparkling windows.

Here are expert DIY tips that my research team gathered from top-rated window cleaners:

Start with the right supplies. If your windows are standard glass, not leaded or stained, and they aren't tinted, you should be able to safely use commonly available window-cleaning products.

But you can always just clean with hot, soapy water and rinse with water and a small amount of vinegar to improve shine. Or, you can try these options:

• Combine a cup of rubbing alcohol, a cup of water and a tablespoon of vinegar.

• For glass that's cloudy, try straight ammonia. (Don't combine vinegar and ammonia, as they cancel each other out.)

Good wipe-down materials include paper or microfiber cloths and newspapers. Avoid plain, cotton towels, which will leave behind lint.

More at source: Southern.com

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