U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for March 13

WASHINGTON, March 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SATURDAY, MARCH 13: DAYLIGHT SAVING

Profile America -- Saturday, March 13th.  Daylight Saving time starts tomorrow morning at 2 a.m., when clocks should be moved forward an hour.  This is the fourth year the change occurs earlier than in the past, as part of the effort to save energy.  Daylight Saving will end on the first Sunday in November.  The idea of a seasonal time change is credited to Benjamin Franklin, and was first adopted in Europe.  Today, the change affects the entire U.S., with the exception of Hawaii and Arizona.  This is also a good time to check the batteries in various devices, especially home smoke detectors.  Each year, more than 3,400 people die in house fires around the U.S. -- many in homes where smoke alarms were not working.  You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, conducting the 2010 Census beginning April 1st.

Sources:  Chase's Calendar of Events 2010, p. 175

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 345

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look under the "Newsroom" button).  

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau