Anyone seeking a divorce has a myriad of decisions to make and issues to sort out. In addition to difficult issues of parental rights, child custody and visitation, there is also the issue of property division, which can be a huge sticking point in many divorces. Property division in Illinois In Illinois, when a couple divorces, the assets are split equitably, not necessarily equally. All property and assets acquired during the marriage are considered marital assets as opposed to non-marital assets -- generally those assets acquired by one spouse prior to the marriage. ...

More than 80 percent of adults believe that it is important to put their wishes about end-of-life care in writing, according to a recent report, but only one out of four does so. A survey of 1,700 adults released in 2012 by the California HealthCare Foundation illustrated the substantial gap between attitudes and actions when it comes to end-of-life planning. While most people place a high value on dying peacefully and without pain, few take the steps necessary to ensure that their wishes are fulfilled when the time comes; about 76 percent of adults surveyed said they ...

Four years after their introduction, doubts have surfaced about the reliability of the Intoxilyzer 8000, a machine that is used to test the blood alcohol level of those accused of operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI). These doubts have led to questions of whether such machines should be able to be challenged in court. Intoxilyzer controversy In 2008, the Ohio Department of Health used federal grants to purchase 700 Intoxilyzer 8000 machines at a total cost of $6.4 million. The reason that the machines were purchased was to make alcohol breath tests uniform ...

At the conclusion of the first year of a state ban on texting behind the wheel in Pennsylvania, the House of Representatives has declared April 2013 to be "Distracted Driving Awareness Month" in the commonwealth. The resolution cites national statistics from 2011 when 3,331 people died and 387,000 were hurt in distracted-driving motor vehicle crashes. The resolution defines "distracted driving" as anything that pulls a driver's attention away concentrating primarily on the road, including cell phone usage of any kind as well as other activities like ...

Wednesday night, a fertilizer plant exploded in the small town of West, Texas, just north of Waco. According to the Waco Tribune-Herald, up to 15 people are dead, several firefighters remain missing and more than 160 people are being treated for injuries at local hospitals. Some fear that these numbers may increase as authorities begin searching the area for survivors. At approximately 6:00pm local time, firefighters received a report of a fire at a fertilizer plant operated by the West Fertilizer Company. Emergency personnel responded to the call and began evacuating ...

According to a report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 9,878 deaths attributed to alcohol-impaired-driving car accidents in 2011, which is the most recent year for which complete data is available. Of these, 407 fatalities occurred right here in Pennsylvania - which represents an alarming 32 percent of all traffic deaths throughout the entire state that year. Adding to these horrific numbers is the harsh reality that for every drunk driving fatality there are several additional non-fatal injuries attributed to intoxicated ...

The number of hours that medical interns work is legendary. As of 2003, a typical young doctor was on call for up to 36 hours at a time. As of 2011, that number was 30 hours. It's not surprising that many people have come to fear that exhausted interns may cause more medical or surgical errors. As a result, in 2011, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) passed nationwide standards limiting interns to 16-hour shifts. However, according to two recent studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine, shorter shifts may not lead to safer hospitals. ...

With healthcare costs the way they are, when you are having surgery, you would expect the surgeon to perform the operation in a nearly perfect manner. Although nobody is perfect, you certainly expect that the surgeon would not make an obvious error. However, the reality is that this is often the case. A recent article in USA Today points out that surgeons leave behind surgical items in their patients more than 12 times per day. In addition, an investigation conducted by USA Today found that although items such as clamps, forceps and other surgical items are sometimes ...

As spring arrives, countless Connecticut residents will be hitting the town's streets and sidewalks on foot to work off some of the "cabin fever" caused by a long, hard winter. With more people out and about, though, there is a higher risk of pedestrian versus car accidents, so it is a good time for a refresher on the rights and responsibilities of both walkers and motorists. Taking some basic precautions can ensure that the road is shared safely and can prevent tragic accidents like the high-profile one that devastated a Milford family in February. Rules of ...

Many states across the nation have passed laws requiring the collection DNA from those arrested for violent crimes, even before conviction for the crime. In Virginia, an individual arrested for a violent felony or for the attempt to commit such a crime must provide a saliva or tissue sample for DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) analysis. The criminal charge itself is enough to trigger the requirement. DNA samples are then stored in a DNA data bank by the state Department of Forensic Science. In some cases, the state provides the DNA samples to CODIS, which is a database of ...

Mesothelioma is a terrible disease. It is a serious cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Sadly, mesothelioma is difficult to treat and is almost always fatal. A lot of the challenge comes from the fact that mesothelioma is so hard to detect. The cancer forms in the lining of the lungs or other organs and develops slowly over time, sometimes becoming apparent only decades after the initial exposure to asbestos. Researchers have been working on new ways to diagnose mesothelioma with the hope that earlier detection could improve survival rates, or, at ...

There's no disputing that the foreclosure crisis has taken a huge toll all throughout Minnesota. Nearly everyone knows someone who lost their home during the Great Recession, or who got into serious trouble after falling behind on their mortgage. Thankfully, data suggests that the problem is getting better. A recent report from the Minnesota Homeownership Center shows that the number of Minnesota homes lost to foreclosure in 2012 was lower than at any point since the crisis began in 2006. Statewide, the number of foreclosure sales fell by 16 percent from the year before. ...

Overwhelming debt can happen to anyone and it's not a reflection on character. Especially in the current economy, a financial challenge can be the tipping point for an individual or family toward crushing debt. For example, unexpected and unplanned-for divorce, medical emergency, interruption of medical insurance coverage, job loss, breadwinner death or another similarly serious situation could send many an American into a financial abyss. If you face a financial crisis, talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney about whether bankruptcy might be the right answer for ...

TK Holdings ('Takata') recently announced a massive recall of defective airbags on more than three million vehicles in use in the United States. The potentially dangerous airbags were installed as original parts in the following: - Toyota: 2001-2003 Corolla, Matrix, Tundra, Sequoia and Lexus SC 430 - Mazda: 2003-2004 Mazda 6 and 2004 RX-8 - Nissan: 2001-2003 Maxima, Infiniti FX, Infiniti QX4, Pathfinder and Sentra - Honda: 2002-2003 CR-V, 2001-2003 Civic and the 2002 Odyssey - General Motors: 2003 Pontiac Vibe All vehicles involved require inspection to confirm ...

There are many things you can do, if you are disabled, that will not in themselves cause you to lose your case. For instance, you can actually attempt to return to work-if you can't handle the work in under three months, you are still entitled to benefits. Trying to get whatever enjoyment you can from life, despite your pain and limitations, will not keep you from getting benefits. You can spend time with your family and friends, you can take a small trip from time to time, or go to the movies or a concert. Doing light housework or exercise will not hurt your case. If you ...

In honor of a month-long Diamond Extravaganza in Nashville, King Jewelers will be holding a number of exclusive diamond specials throughout April. King Jewelers, Nashville's leading local jeweler and authorized luxury brand retailer, will be running a special sale on their private collections of diamond stud earrings and classic pendants with diamond certifications from GIA (Gemological Institute of America), Forevermark, and EGL USA. Customers will be saving up to fifteen percent on stunning diamond stud earrings during this diamond jewelry sale. Each pair of diamond ...

Foresters, the international financial services organisation, are proud to announce that they have partnered up with Operation Shoebox UK - an innovative mission which supports serving soldiers by sending them shoeboxes of necessities and goodies. The idea of Operation Shoebox UK is simple - yet makes such a huge difference to the troops in Afghanistan - providing them with a shoebox full of much needed basics (such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and foot powder) to goodies (such as magazines, pens, and hot chocolate). Most importantly, it reminds them that they are ...

Mesa Commons Apartments is an affordable housing development with a strong sense of place. The idea behind it is to incorporate sustainable aspects through walkability to amenities and the implementation of "Green" technologies. This 77-unit affordable community will serve large families with incomes between 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The subject site is a 4.08 acre vacant parcel with primary access from El Cajon Boulevard and with full view from the main road. The surrounding neighborhood is single-family homes adjacent to a commercial corridor. ...

Risk management in the hospital setting is complex. Too often it is viewed as "risk elimination," resulting in complex solutions that add an increased burden on caregivers, slow the process of care, and cost more than they save. In this one-day workshop, participants will learn another way to view risk management--through the lens of Lean. By applying Lean principles, healthcare environments can better understand processes that fail and redesign them to eliminate waste and improve safety. They can make risk management something that everyone is involved in, ...

Progressive Rising Phoenix Press is pleased to announce that they have released the fourth book in the Rachel Raccoon and Sammy Skunk Series by author Jannifer Powleson. These books contain colorful photos, realistic illustrations, and entertaining characters that combine to teach children about nature. In Powleson's latest book, Rachel and Sammy Learn to Conserve, Rachel, Sammy, and their classmates help children discover that everyone's a winner when they conserve the earth's natural resources. Readers will learn all about planting trees and native plants, soil, ...

Every time you apply for a job, unless specifically directed otherwise in the advertisement, you should accompany your resume with a cover letter. The cover letter may be the first thing the hiring manager opens and it may be your sole chance to make a sufficiently good impression to net an interview. The cover letter can explain any apparent gaps or inadequacies in your resume but, more importantly, it provides you with the opportunity to sell yourself as the best candidate for the position. Your object is to convince the reader(s) of the benefits you will bring ...

Sound Physicians, a leading hospitalist organization focused on driving improvements in quality, satisfaction and financial performance of inpatient healthcare delivery, will be presenting at the American College of Physician Executives 2013 Annual Meeting. Dr. Mark Rudolph, VP of Patient Experience and Physician Development at Sound Physicians, will be leading the session entitled, "Engaging Physicians in Patient Experience Improvement." Dr. Rudolph will be discussing leadership communication strategies that foster physician alignment with patient experience ...

Introducing The Well Informed Traveler a brand-new podcast hosted by Chef Michael McDermott featuring travel, food, drink, and fashion with expert guests will launch this Friday, April 19, 2013. The podcast show, which is a form of audio broadcasting on the Internet, keeps listeners engaged, informed, and entertained with an interactive 30-minute format. The podcast team is rounded out by Executive Producer, Richard Montouri; Guest Relations and Associate Producer, Amaka Nwigwe; Social Media, Promotions and Associate Producer, T.R. (Tina) Threston, and Associate Producer, ...

InfoTech, a full-service technology company headquartered in Manhattan, announced the launch of Brazzlebox, a B2B social media site for small and home-based business owners. The initial launch in Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and Utica will soon be followed by the nationwide release and the mobile application. InfoTech engaged with Brazzlebox less than a year ago to custom develop the social media site. Brazzlebox users can instantly connect and network locally with other small and home-based business owners and use the unique system features to promote their business, ...

Radio communications can be unreliable in underground tunnels and other large, complicated structures, posing a safety hazard for emergency responders. New tests of wireless emergency safety equipment by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have defined the challenges more precisely and suggest how emergency communications might be improved. In a series of experiments conducted in New York City, an epicenter of underground tunnels and high-rise buildings, NIST researchers measured path loss, or reduced signal strength, which can occur when signals ...