While the recent catastrophic events in the U.S. financial markets will most certainly dramatically affect CEO compensation reported in the coming year, The Conference Board says in a new report that changes are already underway.

The report says that almost all industries show a reallocation of compensation toward stock and away from total cash compensation and stock options.

But while cash may be losing share, the median CEO still earns more of it, the report says. Median cash compensation increased in more than two thirds of the industries studied (as did total compensation overall). The largest median gainer in cash compensation is insurance (up by 34.39 percent to $1,227,371). The only notable negative is construction, an outlier showing a 22.36 percent decrease.

Ho, Ho, Holy @!*%, My identity’s been stolen

Santa and his elves aren’t the only ones busy these days – so are thieves targeting your identification, warns the Identity Theft Resource Center, which describes itself as a non-profit organization established to support victims of identity theft in resolving their cases.

Crowds and distracted shoppers are ripe for identity theft and stolen credit cards. The ITRC suggests that those seeking end-of-year bargains or even those simply returning items to retailers leave their Social Security card at home.

It also says only carry the credit cards needed for that day so that if you’re a victim of a pickpocket or fewer cards will be lost.

The ITRC says it gets more complaints about ID theft at this time of year than at any other time.

Fresno State wins state funding to enhance nurse practitioner program

California State University, Fresno has gotten state funding to enhance nurse practitioner and physician assistant training programs.

Fresno State received a $155,194 award from the $1.5 million announced by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s Song-Brown Program. Fresno State will use the award to enhance psychiatric mental health training in its nurse practitioner program.

“The funds will be used to develop psychiatric curriculum and clinical rotations for all our nurse practitioner students,” says Michael Russler, chairman of the nursing department at Fresno State. “Mental health complaints are very common in family practice. It is estimated that one in five patients see their primary care providers for a psychiatric disorder.”