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Breastfeeding is now a civil right in Seattle Apr 10th 2012, 01:05 By Isolde Raftery, msnbc.com It is now illegal for Seattle businesses to ask nursing mothers to stop, cover up or leave the premises, KING 5 News reported. The Seattle City Council unanimously approved a measure Monday that makes breastfeeding a civil right. Although Washington state had enacted a similar measure in 2009, advocates said this measure would allow the city’s Office for Civil Rights to enforce the law. Seattle weighs law to make breastfeeding a civil right "The bottom line is, it's a health issue for our community," Councilmember Bruce Harrell said, according to King 5 News. Harrell sponsored the bill. "It's very clear the benefits of breastfeeding. What we want to do is move the needle in terms of community acceptance of breastfeeding by having our local civil office of rights enforcing the law." Harrell argued that breastfeeding could reduce infant mortality rates among minorities. In Seattle, American Indian and African Americans have infant mortality rates two times higher than other groups, according to the city's human services department. Other states have also given protections to breastfeeding moms. In New York, infants may accompany their mothers to a corrections facility if they are 1-year-old or younger. Virginian mothers may breastfeed on any land owned by the state. In Maryland, breastfeeding equipment is exempt from sales tax. More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: US shatters record for warmest March Two held on $9 million bail in Tulsa rampage Teens ignore risks to tan for prom Missing mom 'would never leave those kids' Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook 2 Philadelphia firefighters die in massive warehouse blaze Apr 10th 2012, 00:56 By Sevil Omer, msnbc.com Two Philadelphia firefighters who were battling a five-alarm blaze at an abandoned warehouse Monday died when an adjacent store they were inspecting collapsed, trapping and burying the men, authorities said. The firefighters were identified as Robert Neary, a 38-year veteran with department, and Daniel Sweeney, 25. Both were assigned to Ladder 10, NBC10Philadelphia reported. Two other firefighters, Francis Cheney and Pat Nally, were injured and taken to a hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not life-threatening, according to NBC10Philadelphia.com. Read NBC10Philadelphia.com's complete coverage of the fatal fire The fire was reported about 3:30 a.m. at an abandoned factory in the city’s Kensington section. The collapse happened before 6 a.m., about half an hour after firefighters had gained control of the massive blaze, according to the Associated Press.   Neary and Sweeney were killed while inspecting an extension of the fire at an adjacent furniture store. The building’s rear wall collapsed, burying the firefighters in debris, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers told NBC10Phildelphia.com. Follow @msnbc_us "There were bricks, heavy timber, all kinds of other debris were on top of them,” Deputy Fire Commissioner Ernest F. Hargett Jr. told NBC10Philadelphia.com. “The roof actually came in as well … a lot of it had to be moved by hand and it's a hard and tedious job.” Neighbors told NBC10Philadelphia.com that the warehouse had been abandoned for decades, and had been once used to manufacture ladies' hosiery. Messages of support and condolences from across the nation poured onto the fire station's Facebook page on Monday. “Bobby Neary was an Awesome Guy! I'm heartbroken,” Pat Wixted Straubb wrote on the Facebook page, adding “My heart also goes out to the family of Dan Sweeney! May they Rest in Peace! Bobby I know You will continue to always watch over Your Men!!” Brian Clyne posted: “Rip Brothers. Winnipeg Canada.” Another wrote: “We lost two heroes today.” More content from msnbc.com and NBC News: Prosecutor: No grand jury for Trayvon Martin case US shatters record for warmest March Two held on $9 million bail in Tulsa rampage Republican senator calls Obama 'stupid' Teens ignore risks to tan for prom Follow US News on msnbc.com on Twitter and Facebook

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