IRS Revamps Eligibility Requirements for Offers in Compromise In 2011, the IRS began a "Fresh Start" initiative, offering a series of programs designed to help individual taxpayers and small businesses resolve tax debts with the IRS and avoid tax liens on their assets. As part of the Fresh Start initiative, the IRS announced in May 2012 that it was changing the eligibility requirements for the Offers in Compromise program. Taxpayers should understand what the Offer in Compromise program is and how the IRS has changed the requirements of the program. What ...

Prescription drug crimes on rise in North Carolina Federal and state government officials have been concerned with the growing number of prescription drug crimes that are happening nationwide. The increase in the use of pain medication has left many users addicted to these controlled substances, and they are engaging in sometimes violent acts in order to have access to these pills. New bills recently passed by Congress, such as the SAFE DOSES Act, have greatly increased the potential penalties that those convicted of federal drug crimes may be facing. These penalties ...

Strategic default an option for struggling homeowners The housing market in Las Vegas is slowly beginning to rebound. Each month it seems more and more people are deciding to become homeowners. When the recession hit, many homes lost a significant amount of their value. This allowed buyers to have many more affordable options when they were shopping for the right home. However, homeowners that decided to buy before the recession now find themselves in a very difficult situation. Henderson and Las Vegas had huge housing booms in the early 2000s, and many people moved ...

Shortage of water leading to disputes over use and access in Nevada Nevada's climate enables residents to enjoy outdoor activities all year long. Temperatures often exceed triple digits in the summer, but winters remain relatively mild. However, being in the middle of a desert, the Las Vegas metro area does not get a lot of rain. This means that any water sources will be heavily relied upon to provide for the entire region, making water rights that much more important. Most of Nevada's water comes from the Colorado River. Nevada is one of seven states that depend ...

A closer look at DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals This June, President Obama issued an executive order that defers the federal government's efforts to remove certain young people who came to the United States illegally as children. Currently, 1.26 million are eligible for deferment, and another half-million may become eligible in the future. What is DACA? Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, is considered by some to be the light version of the DREAM Act, which failed to pass in Congress. DACA targets young people who were brought to the ...

Financial Institutions Targeted in DOJ Money Laundering Crackdown The primary purpose of most criminal enterprises is to generate income. However, the monetary gains come with their own problems -- illicit profits cannot just be deposited in the bank. Instead, the income has to be "cleaned up" and made to look like it came from a legitimate source. This practice, commonly known as money laundering, has long been a favorite target of federal law enforcement officials. Traditionally, prosecutors have brought money laundering charges against those suspected ...

Despite signs of recovery, a long road ahead for Michigan economy Both in Michigan and around the country, the recovery from the Great Recession has been gaining steam in recent months. However, the pace of recovery has been uneven at best, and many Michigan residents remain in financial distress. In many regards, Michigan is seen as a leader in the nation's economic recovery. For instance, Michigan is outpacing most other states in terms of private sector employment growth, according to a December 2012 report released by Business Leaders for Michigan. Nevertheless, ...

Washington State bans synthetic marijuana and bath salts The Washington State Department of Health recently announced a ban on two substances that were legal up until now: synthetic marijuana and bath salts. The substances were commonly sold in tobacco and head shops as "Spice," "K-2," "Plant Food," Ivory Wave" and "White Lightening." The ban, which goes into effect no later than November 3, gives law enforcement the power to prosecute for the manufacture, distribution, sale and possession of these substances. According ...

Officials Investigating Fatal Bus Crash in Illinois The family of a young woman who died in an Illinois bus crash earlier this year has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and the bus company, the Chicago Tribune reported recently. The wrongful death case is the latest of several lawsuits filed in connection with the crash, which occurred on August 2, 2012 in Litchfield, Illinois. The double-decker Megabus, which was bound for St. Louis, was carrying 72 passengers and two drivers when it ran off the road and hit a concrete bridge support, killing one ...

Must store owners provide adequate security to New Jersey shoppers? When we run errands, we often will go to stores that we are familiar with, especially when close to home. We know where they keep the things we need, and we can then quickly return home afterward. Most of these trips happen without incident, because we know exactly what we need to do, and we feel safe when we are on their property. In New Jersey, property owners, especially those who own commercial businesses, are required to keep their property safe for those who visit. Stores need to be kept free ...

Injured in a motorcycle accident? Compensation may be available Motorcyclists know that they need to pay close attention whenever they are out on area roadways. The behavior of other motorists may make it necessary for a rider to make a quick move to avoid an accident. Sometimes, these accidents may be impossible to avoid, leaving the motorcyclist in a potentially dangerous position. Those who have been injured in motorcycle accidents may be able to receive compensation for their injuries. It will be important to learn the factors that caused the crash to happen to ...

Pet trusts can protect furry friends California law views pets as the property of the person who owns and cares for their animal companion. But pet owners know that their little friends are more than that; a pet is part of the family. While pets do not have the same rights as people, there is an ability for pet owners to provide for their beloved animals even after they are incapable of doing so themselves. Pet trusts are relatively new. In California, like other trusts, pet trusts are legally enforceable documents that give the trustee directions as to caring for ...

Defective Tires Blamed in Fatal Texas Car Crash There are a lot of reasons why car accidents happen. Sometimes, another driver makes a bad decision -- like speeding, texting or drunk driving -- that puts others on the road at risk. In other cases, though, the danger comes not from the driver, but from a problem with the vehicle itself. Automotive defects have the potential to cause serious, and even deadly, car accidents. All too often, the driver is not even aware of the defect until the vehicle malfunctions at highway speeds, causing the driver to lose control. Sadly, ...

Distracted Driving a Major Problem on Texas Roads These days, cellphones play a huge role in nearly everyone's lives. All of this connectedness and access to information has a lot of benefits. Unfortunately, it also makes it much more difficult to break away from our devices when we need to. Nowhere is this more evident than in scourge of distracted driving accidents that are plaguing Texas roads. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 20 percent of injury-causing car crashes in the United States in 2009 were caused ...

The death of contributory negligence in Maryland? A lawsuit that was filed recently because a soccer goal collapsed on a Howard County practice field could cause Maryland courts to change more than 150 years of personal injury law. If the case goes a certain way, this could mean that plaintiffs have a greater chance of recovering damages in personal injury lawsuits. Facts of lawsuit In 2008, Kyle Coleman attended soccer practice at a middle school in Fulton, Maryland. While warming up, Coleman grabbed the soccer goal's crossbar while was going after a ball. However, ...

Children are especially at risk for drowning Statistically, children in the United States are particularly vulnerable to the risk of drowning -- and children in Delaware are no exception. From 1999 through 2008, an average of more than 815 children under age 14 died each year in drowning accidents, according to data published by Safe Kids USA. And every year in that same time period, an average of over 3,700 children experienced near-drowning injuries that did not result in death. Children at highest risk The statistics compiled by Safe Kids USA indicate that children ...

Brachial plexus injuries often result in medical malpractice cases Any parent-to-be knows that when the child arrives, his or her entire life will be changing. It can be an exciting time, filled with anticipation of the arrival. Often the nine months offers just enough time to get everything ready by the time the baby is born. Each doctor's appointment allows parents the opportunity to check the baby's health and progress. When it becomes time for delivery, parents hope that everything goes exactly according to plan. However, complications may arise, and this may ...

St. Louis Car Crash Could Result In Lawsuit Against Drunk Driver In the early morning hours of September 27, a drunk driving crash on Interstate 44 in St. Louis cost one man his life. Matthew Snyders, age 44, lost control of his car around 5:30 a.m., hit the median, and came to rest stalled in the center lane. Joshua Sandar, the driver of an oncoming semi truck, swerved to avoid the immobilized car, but could not maneuver out of the way in time. Sandar struck Synders' car and another vehicle. Sandar, just 34, was killed in the crash. Snyders only suffered mild injuries, ...

Divorce and the difficulties associated with property division Divorce is a difficult and sometimes very painful process to go through. One of the things that can make it so complicated is the issue of property division. The laws of each state determine property division. Sometimes couples can agree on who will get what when looking at all the assets to divide, but many times couples will fight over assets. Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state. This means that if couples cannot agree on how to divide their assets, the court will do it for them. The judge ...

Dealing with the financial aspects of divorce Divorce is a difficult experience for any family, and the added concerns of financial changes can make things even more stressful for families in Boone County. When one household becomes two, affording everything from household expenses to childcare can suddenly seem more difficult. Tips on managing money during a divorce One thing that can help parents plan for the future and avoid unwanted surprises is to become more aware of exactly how much it costs to care for their child. Parents can review their bank accounts ...

New Ordinance Requirements Proposed in Williamsport A new ordinance proposed in Williamsport, Pennsylvania may require landlords and tenants to register with the city. Through the proposed requirement, the city hopes to increase landlords' and tenants' compliance with other landlord-tenant and real estate laws. Some worry, however, that the new proposal may place overly burdensome restrictions on some groups and be a danger in other circumstances. The Proposed Ordinance and Its Requirements The proposed ordinance is very similar to one applied in Berwick, Pennsylvania. ...

A new announcement by Business Works Group highlights recent innovative approaches for Melbourne residents to easily approach it at Camberwell suburbs for all business it solutions. Emphasis is on unique it services Melbourne based organizations look for. Large chunk of Melbourne based organizations expect flawless business it support for that they often approach support teams which offer innovative service. Trust we gained since inception two decades ago is what speaks in volumes about it support Melbourne wants through our roles. Smallest initiatives including computer ...

Exhibitors at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, one of the largest shows in the world, insist on making common exhibiting mistakes. Over 3,000 exhibitors are currently showcasing a wide range of innovative technology products at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Walk the show floor and you'll find many of the exhibitors who don't have a clue how to interact with the visitors, and what they need to be doing to maximize their time and money investment at CES. Unfortunately, many of the behemoths in the industry are some of the worst culprits. Company representatives ...

The Preiss Company is proud to announce the recent promotion of Dan Leff to Vice President of Acquisitions. In his role, Leff will be responsible for the acquisition of student apartments, managing the development of new and existing housing properties in the company's portfolio, and managing the financial underwriting for all new acquisitions. The Preiss Company formed The Acquisitions and Development Team in 2007 to include the company's key development professionals. Donna Preiss, company founder and CEO, says that The Preiss Company's aggressive growth plan required ...

Mark C. Layton, principal of Platinum Edge, Inc., will be instructing two back-to-back courses in Burbank, California in January 2013, including a Certified ScrumMaster class as well as a Certified Scrum Product Owner class. Platinum Edge's highly interactive certification classes provide in-depth understanding of the Scrum team-based approach to iterative development. The courses train participants in the full range of Scrum topics, from basic theory to organizational implementation, including practical applications, roles, and scaling. By having two classes in ...