Today's News

Prerecorded commercial telemarketing calls to consumers will be prohibited beginning this month unless the telemarketer gets a written approval from consumers who want to receive the calls.

The new requirement regarding robocalls is part of amendments to the Federal Trade Commission’s Telemarketing Sales Rule that were announced a year ago. After Sept. 1, sellers and telemarketers who transmit prerecorded messages to consumers who have not agreed in writing to accept such messages will face penalties of up to $16,000 per call.

The H1N1 virus, sometimes referred to as swine flu, reached Kentucky several weeks ago.

The disease, so far, is a “not any more dangerous than regular seasonal flu,” Department for Public Health Commissioner William Hacker, M.D., said Wednesday in a telephone briefing.

“… but still that’s a concern because seasonal flu can be quite serious. I’m concerned, but I’m not alarmed.”

On June 11, the World Health Organization announced the first pandemic in 41 years. The causative agent? The Novel A H1N1 Influenza virus, also known as the swine flu. This virus has quickly spread worldwide as countries from across the globe are preparing to protect their population from a potential devastating illness. Since the media has stated that the H1N1 Influenza is predicted to cause more than normal flu-related deaths, the cause for pandemic concern is legitimate.