The state of New York has completely redesigned its driver's license and added some 30 enhanced security features, although information on just some of the features will be made available to the public. A laser-engraved personal data and black-and-white holder's photo, a ghost image that floats in a transparent window, variable type, and UV features on both sides are among the new security measures. In an effort to curb the use of fake licenses and to support underage prevention efforts, the new license is made of a rigid polycarbonate material that makes it difficult ...

If you are in a valid Washington state same-sex registered domestic partnership or RDP and neither of you has reached age 62, mark the date June 30, 2014, on your calendar. Washington's marriage equality law that recently made same-sex marriage legal contains provisions that will automatically convert your RDP to a marriage as of that date if you take no action. RDPs in which proceedings for dissolution of the partnership (or for separation or annulment) have been filed and are pending on June 30, 2014, will not be converted to marriage on that date. Registered partners ...

The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently ruled that the victims in a drilling rig accident on a Louisiana waterway may seek "punitive" damages in their lawsuit against the company. The accident resulted in the death of one seaman and injuries to three others. Because the accident occurred on a barge on a navigable waterway (Bayou Sorrell), the matter is covered by maritime law. While the lower court agreed with the company's argument that this particular claim for damages is not available under statutory maritime law, the federal ...

If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are a member of the baby boomer generation. At the end of World War II, returning military personnel married in droves and, shortly thereafter, had many babies, creating a "baby boom." As this generation of children aged, they gained a reputation as the wealthiest and most physically fit generation of their time. Whether due to a struggling economy or the high cost of long-term medical care, the parents of baby boomers often do not have many financial resources to leave behind as they pass away. However, longevity ...

The workers' compensation system provides a crucial safety net for people hurt on the job, as anyone in Pennsylvania, who has faced a workplace injury knows. Unfortunately, recent reports indicate that Pennsylvania is among the states with the highest workers' compensation program costs resulting from physician dispensing of prescription drugs. Although this may not directly affect people who draw on workers' compensation, it could put a financial strain on the workers' compensation system, making it harder for injured workers to receive the benefits they are entitled to. Repackaging ...

As our loved ones get holder, we owe it to them to do our part to help them stay safe and healthy. In some cases, this may mean having a difficult discussion about whether your elderly friend or relative should still be driving a car. Some elderly people will be able to drive safely for their entire lives. However, for others, the physical and mental changes that come with getting older substantially increase the likelihood of a serious, or even fatal, car accident. Recognizing the warning signs Because age related changes often come on gradually, it can be hard ...

In an effort to improve consistency in the disability determination process, the Social Security Administration recently announced plans to step up its oversight of the administrative law judges who are responsible for awarding or denying disability benefits. The Social Security Disability Insurance program provides financial benefits to people who are unable to work because of a mental or physical disability. The program has increased substantially in the years since the U.S. economy took a downturn in 2008, and there are now approximately 11 million people receiving ...

Many motorists in Connecticut have experienced a situation where they narrowly avoid being in a car crash. These near-misses often provide an excellent reminder of how important it is to practice safe driving habits. While the state has taken a very aggressive approach to distracted driving, there are still opportunities to improve safety for all motorists. A recent report by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety examined traffic safety rules across the United States. Connecticut ranks in the middle of the pack, as the agency feels that the state could pass additional ...

A lengthy investigative operation, which narrowed in on sex trafficking at the recent Super Bowl, has led to the ultimate liberation of 25 child prostitutes and the detention of at least 45 individuals. The adult suspects have been arrested for purportedly exploiting young children as prostitutes in New Jersey, federal authorities indicate. According to a spokesperson from the Criminal Investigative Division of the FBI, "High-profile special events, which draw large crowds, have become lucrative opportunities for child prostitution criminal enterprises." The ...

In many cases, one spouse voluntarily leaves the home when a couple decides to divorce. However, some spouses refuse to leave the home, even though the other spouse tries to force the issue. Illinois law does allow one spouse to make the other leave in certain cases, and an appellate court ruling handed down in June 2012 helped clarify when one spouse can make the other leave their home. Illinois law about possessing the marital home There are two ways that a person can force his or her spouse to leave the marital home in Illinois. A person can file a petition for ...

The perceived social stigma attached to bankruptcy makes filing for financial protection unattractive to some. Many people worry how bankruptcy will affect their credit rating, future purchasing power and their ability to provide for their family. Bankruptcy can feel like "giving up" -- there may be feelings of personal failure, or guilt and shame when contemplating bankruptcy. But bankruptcy is not waving a white flag of surrender; it is acknowledging a tricky problem and resolving it in the best way possible. Contrary to many popular notions, bankruptcy is a ...

A recent ruling of the Massachusetts Appeals Court amends a divorce judgment to allow the mother to provide religious education to the children of the marriage. The mother had appealed the divorce judgment, arguing that the paragraph prohibiting her from providing Christian education to the children violated her constitutional rights. After affirming that the objective of child custody arrangements is to serve the best interests of the children, the court determined that no harm would result from the provision of Christian instruction to the children (in addition to ...

You hear it in the news all too frequently; another senior citizen is at the receiving end of a scam and loses his or her hard-earned lifesavings. Unfortunately, it has happened again and, this time, an Arizona man is behind elder fraud claims. The recent scam came to light early in February when the Minnesota Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit alleged consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices against a company operating in that state. Heritage Partners hosts seminars to discuss estate, living trust and probate topics, selling hundreds of attendees estate planning ...

Panter, Panter & Sampedro, P.A. is proud to announce that Mitchell Panter, co-founder of Panter, Panter, & Sampedro, P.A., was once again presented with the annual AV Preeminent award, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards, by the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings. Less than 14% of America's lawyers qualify for this prestigious recognition. "It's really an honor to receive this recognition once again," says Mr. Panter. "Our firm aims to inspire trust in our clients, as well as results. This peer review rating ...

Are you looking for the latest in furnishings for a living room that requires the wow factor? Have you decided on a colour scheme but need to be guided in the right direction? These top five tips for decorating a contemporary room could be just the springboard you're looking for: 1. Restore Original Features Restoring the original features of room can bring a delightful contrast with complementary contemporary furniture and furnishings. Old meets new not only brings your home up to date but it doesn't strip the history out of it, leaving the interior interesting and ...

On the heels of the release of Layrs 4.0 and the announcement the app has surpassed the 1 million download marker - Artware, Inc. announced today that their flagship app will be featured in the 3rd Annual Instagramers Academy Mobile Photography Workshop in Barcelona, Spain during this week's World Mobile conference. Instagramers Academia, founded in 2011 by Phil Gonzalez, is a world-wide community dedicated to championing the art of mobile digital photography through apps. On Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 7:30 pm CET, the Barcelona chapter of the organization will ...

The work boots, advertised as Brahma Boots "The Name To Trust," have failed to live up to their purpose of providing an affordable, durable boot. Sold by Wal-Mart stores in Florida and throughout the United States for $25, the boots appeared to be an affordable, durable work boot. The marketing materials for these boots note: - A steel toe - Leather materials - Goodyear welt - Oil-resistant soleplate - Electric shock-resistant sole and heel For many who purchased the Wal-Mart Brahma Boot, however, the shoe was less than what it appeared. Instead of withstanding ...

Artware, Inc. announced today that their popular multilayer photo editing app, Layrs - has reached and surpassed 1 million downloads in the six months since the app's launch in July, 2013. This news comes at the same time as a substantial update to the app which improves the app's multilayering abilities and adds to the editing toolbox and filter selection. Layrs [Photo & Video -- FREE], is the first truly multilayer photo editing application for the iPhone that allows users to edit mobile photos with the same results as if they were editing on a computer, using ...

Lakewood-based HomeSphere Inc.'s BRI Builder Rebate Program has been named a residential Top Product for 2014 by Constructech magazine, which honors technology solutions that have demonstrated the greatest innovations for the homebuilding market. "Technology is redefining the industry," said HomeSphere President and COO Glenn Renner. "We are honored to be among this elite group of companies fostering the evolution of residential building." Constructech named a dozen winners to this year's list. Products, including HomeSphere BRI, were chosen based ...

Almost half of large hospitals interviewed indicated that they will be making a new EMR purchase by 2016, but only 22 percent of those buying decisions may still be up for grabs. This and other key findings were released in the latest KLAS report, entitled Acute Care EMR 2014: The Next Buying Wave. Of the providers considering a change, 34 percent have already selected a vendor and another 44 percent are strongly leaning toward a specific vendor. "Where the last round of EMR purchases was fueled by meaningful use requirements and enticing reimbursements, this ...

Optimize Business Solutions, an award winning NJ-based provider of cost-effective website and ecommerce design, mobile strategy, and online marketing announced that they have expanded their online marketing and search engine optimization services to include local online search offerings for all business verticals. Optimize's new local online marketing services allows all businesses, whether they have a website or not, to actively participate and compete in online and mobile search. The result is that local businesses will have a presence in today's most popular research ...

One of the downsides to living in Tampa, Fla., is that the water in the area is naturally hard, or high in mineral content. Unfortunately, this hard water typically leads to buildings and homes needing to be re-piped at some point or another. Luckily, The Pampering Plumber has an experienced team of plumbers in Tampa who have the re-piping skills to bring your plumbing back to what it should be. In older homes with galvanized pipes and in homes with particularly hard water, pipes can wear down and deteriorate over time thanks to rusting or use. Rust and minerals build ...

Everybody gets the same 24 hours in a day, time is fairly distributed amongst everyone and depending on how they use this 24 hours everyone can decide how much they live happily or productive lives. If you take a look at this mobile time usage analysis service that allows an individual to optimize their time. 'Naksso' is a free application that is available in Appstore and most basic time analysis services are available for free. Premium services like specific analysis or additional functions are available after purchasing a $4.99 advanced version. After installing ...

February 2014 marks the launch of a new social network platform that makes organizing information remarkably easier. ChAtTacks.com, so named because it allows users to "tack" information from web chats, first person conversations, Internet browsing sessions, etc. under different organizational headings, heralds the end of sticky notes, notebooks, Word docs filled with lines of email addresses, and hand held digital planners. Instead of using these obsolete methods to gather information, you can gather it using ChAtTacks, and access it from any PC or mobile ...

This partnership will take the Benefits Industry into the age of mobile marketing technology and social media strategies. Benefit Provisions will capitalize on the expertise of their team that produced over $200M in private-branded discount health and lifestyle benefits, as well as $600M in insurance premium for its insurance carrier partners. These partners included some of the largest insurance companies in the nation, such as AIG, United States Life, Aflac, United HealthCare and Humana. Benefit Provisions is privately held and is headquartered in Altamonte Springs, ...