California Death-Spiral Lawsuit Against Health Insurer Blue Shield The phrase "death spiral" has sobering implications in any context. In the health-insurance world, it refers to the events set off when an insurer closes an existing insurance policy to new enrollees, then raises rates on those remaining in the policy to a largely unaffordable level. Those remaining insureds are usually forced to jump to new, more expensive policies with lower coverage levels, or to become uninsured. California Death-Spiral Prohibition In 1993, reportedly in reaction to ...

Florida Trails Far Behind in Passing Adequate Distracted Driving Laws When motorists or passengers suffer injuries in a car accident or tractor-trailer wreck, a personal injury lawyer's most important role is to assess the circumstances of the crash to identify all potentially liable parties. Whether the accident was primarily caused by reckless behavior, intoxication or driver distraction, a review of witness accounts, police reports and other evidence can unearth negligence to justify full compensation for injury victims. Unfortunately, Florida has lagged behind ...

Prenuptial Agreements: Gaining a Financial Picture Before Marriage Everyone has their own financial personality. Your spending and saving habits may differ greatly from friends and family. According to a 2011 study from Utah State University, married couples who disagree about money issues once a week are twice as likely to divorce than couples who have money conflicts less than once a month. Experts explain that money disagreements encompass a variety of issues that reach beyond financial matters. These contested discussions involve issues of control, freedom and ...

Texas Is Rethinking Its Tough Prostitution Laws After ten years of crowded prisons and increased incarceration costs, the state of Texas is reconsidering its 2001 decision to send those charged with prostitution to prison after multiple convictions. Instead, the state may pursue sentencing that provides treatment, not jail time. Current Texas Prostitution Laws Include Prison Time In 2001, Texas legislators voted to send people convicted of prostitution with three or more convictions to state prison or jail. The law was passed in an effort to reduce prostitution ...

The proposed law could be a boon for law enforcement, but it could also threaten personal privacy and civil liberties. New Jersey's DNA Database The New Jersey DNA Database was established in 1994 and originally required samples to be taken from persons found guilty of, adjudicated delinquent for, or found not guilty by reason of insanity, for certain violent crimes, such as murder, kidnapping, and sex offenses. The databased was then expanded in 2003 to cover persons convicted of any crime of the first, second, third, or fourth degree. The Proposed DNA Sampling ...

The amendment would modify Article I of the state constitution, which currently guarantees a right to bail for all criminal defendants, except those charged with capital offenses "when the proof is evident or presumption great." Under the proposed change, judges would be able to deny bail to defendants who pose a flight risk or who've been accused of violent crimes--particularly those with a prior record of criminal violence. In support of his bail reform proposal, Governor Christie has cited statistics from a 2007 study that found that a third of all defendants ...

Currently there is approximately $1 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. With the floundering economy, many have found themselves struggling to pay back that debt. An increasing number of Americans are looking to bankruptcy for relief. Unfortunately, student loan debt cannot be wiped out in bankruptcy unless payment would be an undue hardship to the borrower. More traditional forms of debt such as medical bills, credit card debt and unsecured loans, can be wiped out or discharged in bankruptcy. Many frustrated borrowers throw up their hands after a while and simply ...

Express Oil Change & Service Center understands that when the price of gas goes up it can be harder to spend any other money on maintaining your car. High gas prices eat up disposable income and people save money where they can. But your car service and repairs are not someplace to cut corners. Instead, look to regular car maintenance to help control your gasoline usage. The mechanics at Express Oil Change want drivers to remember that if you need car repairs or an oil change, your car may be burning more fuel that necessary and driving up your gas expenditures. ...

McCart Insurance, a leading Georgia health insurance provider, reminds Georgians that health insurance prices are fixed by law, not created by providers. Georgia state law sets insurance prices, so you should pick your insurance broker because of their customer service, not because of the prices of their plans--after all, you won't find a better or worse deal in the state. While Georgia health insurance plans differ in benefits, the prices for comparable plans are the same. No matter whether you opt to go with a broker or purchase directly from the insurance company, ...

The Atlanta caterers of A Legendary Event know that hosting a beautifully catered holiday party at a fantastic venue offers a fun and elegant time to gather with colleagues, friends and family, as well as create memories that will be talked about for years to come. The best way to create these wonderful memories is to throw the kind of unforgettable event that Atlanta's A Legendary Event is known for. With over 15 years in the Atlanta special event industry, A Legendary Event has lived up to the promise of its name by providing spectacular events including a dinner attended ...

Core Assets has announced Minister for Children and Families, Edward Timpson MP, has officially launched a new and innovative research centre at the University of Oxford that sets out to improve the lives of children and young people in foster care. The Rees Centre for Research in Fostering and Education, based in the Department of Education, is thought to be the only dedicated research centre in the world to examine how policy makers and agencies can improve educational outcomes for children and young people in foster care. The Rees Centre will involve carers, fostered ...

British Airways has launched a new online deposit payments service for customers booking their holiday package on ba.com. Customers who book 'Flight+Hotel' or 'Flight+Car' holidays are able to pay a deposit from as little as GBP150 per booking when they book and the remaining balance ten weeks before departure. Claire Bentley, managing director, British Airways Holidays commented: "Following customer feedback we are delighted to be able to introduce this new function on ba.com which will really assist holidaymakers and allow them to take advantage of all the benefits ...

This winter, Eurostar is forging an exciting partnership with the international high-speed train service, "TGV Lyria" to launch a new weekly service between London and some of Switzerland's most popular ski resorts. On sale from Thursday 11 October, the new ski service will carry ski and snowboarding enthusiasts from St Pancras International and Ashford International to the heart of the Swiss Alps and the Valais region. Resorts including; Verbier, Zermatt, Saas Fee and Gstaad will be served on the new route from Saturday 22 December until Saturday 13 April ...

A.C. White Relocations knows that there are more and more things college students seem to need when moving from Atlanta back to their college dorm or apartment. With students living in everything from high rise dormitories to private apartments, A.C. White Relocations recommends using its Atlanta movers to ease the hassle of moving your child back to school. With students cramming dorms with loft beds, fridges, microwaves, and a slew of personal electronics, parents are beginning to discover that moving back to school is not as easy as it was when they were in college. ...

Monthly subscriptions are something mostly every person deals with; whether it's paying a cell phone bill, electric bill, or car loan. Those monthly subscriptions can add up. But when it comes to small business owners, advertising subscription services can leave a choke hold on them and has the potential to stump their future growth. AffordableVendors.com - "The Right Vendor for the Right Price!" takes a lead approach on understanding what it will take to really help small business owners see value in their advertising dollars. AffordableVendors.com launches ...

Truffle and Basil just launched a new location in Denver, CO where Executive Chef Jennifer White will be in charge of the daily private chef operations. Truffle and Basil Denver, CO will feature a different menu such as elk, venison and other wild game-inspired dishes. Our mission at Truffle & Basil is to provide our clients with exceptional eclectic cuisine and the finest hospitality services right in your own home. We believe in using farm-fresh ingredients as the key elements to a successful meal. We are here to please your palate with exciting new bold flavors ...

The 9th generation 2013 Honda Accord Sedan has recently made its way to Valley Honda Dealers in the Phoenix region. The Coupe model is set to release in mid-October. There are a couple of upgrades made to the model that are noteworthy, including the increase in horsepower from 177 to 185 from the 4 cylinder engine. Fuel economy ratings have also been upgraded with a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine that can deliver up to 27 city mpg and 36 mpg in highway driving. The new 2013 Honda Accord sedan is now available for sale at the 8 Valley Honda Dealerships, including Arrowhead ...

A publication by the Latin Business Chronicle stated that Nicaragua was the country with the highest index of FDI as percentage of itsGDP in Latin America in 2011, with a total of 13.3 percent, followed distantly by Panama with 9.1 percent and Chile with 7.0 percent. In 2011, Nicaragua had an extraordinary performance attracting a total of US$968 million of FDI, growing 90.5% when compared to 2010. The FDI attracted in 2011 was led mainly by the energy, telecommunications and free zones sectors, which together accounted for 52 percent of total FDI. Nicaragua's performance ...

Seagrass Recovery, Inc., located in St. Petersburg, Florida, has launched a new website promoting seagrass conservation. The website was designed to provide concerned citizens, organizations, educational institutions, and corporations vital information on how to protect, restore and expand seagrass habitats. The new website is intended to better align Seagrass Recovery's branding to match its mission to save oceans, estuaries and shorelines for generations to come. A recent article, "Seagrass ecosystems as a globally significant carbon stock", published online ...

Persson Associates, in the business of helping companies develop Disaster Recovery Plans (DRP's) for over 30 years, has just released a new product which is low cost, easy to use; all geared towards Small and Medium Businesses (SMB's) computer services (aka Information Technology: I/T). Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Does your company need a written Disaster Recovery Plan for computer services? 2. Do you have limited resources to develop a DRP for I/T? 3. Can you afford to spend $35 to get started? If you answered "yes" to the above 3 questions, ...

Gorgeous 47-acre Kingwood Center will come ablaze during the annual Great Pumpkin Glow. On Sunday Oct. 21 from 4 - 9 p.m., the stunning display of hundreds of glowing pumpkins will warmly greet guests as they walk through Kingwood Center's lush grounds. The public is also invited to get in on the action and contribute to the display, carving his or her own pumpkin Oct. 19-20 from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pumpkin carving is free, but supplies are limited. Pumpkins can be picked up to take home on Oct. 23. Complete information on this one-time event is available at www.kingwoodcenter.org ...

Top 40 Billboard artist, author, and conference speaker Jennifer Shaw is releasing her new album entitled Someday during October's National Sensory Awareness Month. To assist in efforts to bring awareness to sensory disorders and other special needs issues, Shaw is offering the song entitled "Your Child" as a free download to all special needs families during the month of October. Shaw's own son, Toby, was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder at an early age. In addition, a music video of the song is in the works and special needs families are encouraged ...

There are several chores homeowners can tackle this fall to prepare themselves for a stress-free spring. These include preparing lawn mowers for winter, removing fallen leaves, storing outdoor furniture and staining wooden decks, fences and furniture. While many of us are used to the routine maintenance of preparing for colder weather, we may not consider practical projects, such as deck staining, that will help us get ahead of our spring chores. Here's how to get your deck-staining job done before the snow hits the ground: - Before heading to the store, create ...

As crowds of angry people flood into the streets of Athens to protest government austerity programs, demonstrators armed with gasoline bombs and bricks are met by riot police with tear gas and rubber bullets. The demonstrations have been an occasional occurrence in Athens through much of the last year. As the demonstrations rage and tempers remain short, it's local businesses that sometimes get caught in the crossfire between rioters and police. To protect their security personnel, companies like IKEA have partnered up with EnGarde to supply the latest in bulletproof ...

Newspaper co-owner, Emily Mason-Wohl writes a story that begins, "I remember being murdered. I died a terrifying violent death. I shall never forget it." But it does not occur to her that she might be writing about an actual past life. Meanwhile, set on Florida's Gulf Coast, Emily and her best friend City Prosecutor Marta Miller battle evil forces operating under the guise of a religious cult threatening to destroy the peaceful city. One member of the cult wants Emily dead--for personal reasons--again. In the middle of it all, Alessio, the love of her ...