http://lantatwinbay.com/83/dutch-ban-segways/
Only three of 20 Apripl indicators registered improvementfrom year-ago levels, matching the numbe r of upward-pointing indicators recorded in March, the MMAC said in its Economicc Trends report. "The employmenr situation continued to deteriorate with deepening job declines and unemployment indicators over double what they were oneyear ago," said Bret economic research director for the "But metro area existing homes sales rose for only the second time in nearluy three years giving some hope for near-terj improvement in a stagnanf local housing and real estate market." Nonfarmj employment in the metro area fell 4.8 perceny in April to 812,300, down from March’se 4.
3 percent decrease. Employment levels have now declined comparedxwith year-ago levels in each of the past 12 with April’s decline being the steepest registered in this the MMAC said. Only two of 10 major industryh sectors registered April job gaina compared with oneyear ago, whilde eight registered declines. Unemployment indicators for the metrlo area both measured more than twicetheirf year-earlier levels. The number of unemployed in metro Milwaukeerose 117.6%% against year-ago levels, to 70,300 comparedr with 32,300 in April 2008. Likewise, new unemploymenrt compensation claims rose ata 104.
6 percent rate in April to 12,101, this indicator’s third consecutive year-over-year increase of 100 percent or greater. On the positive side, existing homes salee for the metro arearose 5.6 percent in the first year-over-year increase in this indicator in sevej months and only the second such gain in nearl three years.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Blue Cross Ga. hit with class action suit - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
ishinlyuboqemija.blogspot.com
The suit alleges Blue Cross Georgia has discouragesd visitsto out-of-network providers by reimbursing procedures at a tiny fractioh of “usual and customary” charges. Blue Crosw Georgia spokeswoman Cheryl Monkhouse dismissed the allegationsx as being without merit and said the insurer plansdto “defend the suit vigorously.” Blue Crosw Georgia “is committed to providing appropriate reimbursement for out-of-networ services, while at the same time protectin its members and group customers against excessive charges by some non-participatingb providers,“ Monkhouse said. The suit is similar to one filee earlier this year by a dialysis providere againstBlue Cross.
That suit was dismissed. The new suit, filed against and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of alleges Blue Cross members paid highee premiums in exchange for the flexibility to receive coverages for care from providers who are not part ofthe plan’sz preferred network. Blue Cross Georgia has targeteddthese out-of-network providers, including ambulatorty surgery centers, “for a drastic and unprecedentedd slash in reimbursement to a mere fraction of usual and customart charges,” the suit claims. Thesew actions violate federal and state laws protecting patientseand providers, as well as Blue Crosws Blue Shield’s contracts, the suit claims.
Blue Crosx has cut its reimbursementto out-of-network surgery centerss by about 80 said Leigh Martin May, attorney with the plaintiff’sx firm, . Blue Cross “has slashed reimbursemenyt ratesto non-member surgery centers makinv it impossible for their insureds to receive the benefits they are payingf for,” May said. “[The is charging for a service it has effectively BCBS should honor the contracts they have made withtheit insureds.
” Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages -- which, May could run into the “eight figures” -- for Blue Cross Georgia’s alleged failure to pay the contracted reimbursement rate and they are asking the court to force Blue Cross Georgia to honor its Earlier this year, Nashville, Tenn.-based National Renal Alliancde filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross claiming the insurer slashed reimbursemenrt rates for out-of-network dialysis services by 88 percent. National Renalo Alliance was acquired by RenalAdvantage Inc. last year.
In a federal court judge in Atlanta dismissed the sayingBlue Cross’ decision to amend its reimbursemeng rates for dialysis performedr at out-of-network facilities like the Alliance’s did not violate the act’s provisions that prohibit insurers from discriminating against individuale with end-stage renal disease.
The suit alleges Blue Cross Georgia has discouragesd visitsto out-of-network providers by reimbursing procedures at a tiny fractioh of “usual and customary” charges. Blue Crosw Georgia spokeswoman Cheryl Monkhouse dismissed the allegationsx as being without merit and said the insurer plansdto “defend the suit vigorously.” Blue Crosw Georgia “is committed to providing appropriate reimbursement for out-of-networ services, while at the same time protectin its members and group customers against excessive charges by some non-participatingb providers,“ Monkhouse said. The suit is similar to one filee earlier this year by a dialysis providere againstBlue Cross.
That suit was dismissed. The new suit, filed against and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of alleges Blue Cross members paid highee premiums in exchange for the flexibility to receive coverages for care from providers who are not part ofthe plan’sz preferred network. Blue Cross Georgia has targeteddthese out-of-network providers, including ambulatorty surgery centers, “for a drastic and unprecedentedd slash in reimbursement to a mere fraction of usual and customart charges,” the suit claims. Thesew actions violate federal and state laws protecting patientseand providers, as well as Blue Crosws Blue Shield’s contracts, the suit claims.
Blue Crosx has cut its reimbursementto out-of-network surgery centerss by about 80 said Leigh Martin May, attorney with the plaintiff’sx firm, . Blue Cross “has slashed reimbursemenyt ratesto non-member surgery centers makinv it impossible for their insureds to receive the benefits they are payingf for,” May said. “[The is charging for a service it has effectively BCBS should honor the contracts they have made withtheit insureds.
” Plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages -- which, May could run into the “eight figures” -- for Blue Cross Georgia’s alleged failure to pay the contracted reimbursement rate and they are asking the court to force Blue Cross Georgia to honor its Earlier this year, Nashville, Tenn.-based National Renal Alliancde filed a lawsuit against Blue Cross claiming the insurer slashed reimbursemenrt rates for out-of-network dialysis services by 88 percent. National Renalo Alliance was acquired by RenalAdvantage Inc. last year.
In a federal court judge in Atlanta dismissed the sayingBlue Cross’ decision to amend its reimbursemeng rates for dialysis performedr at out-of-network facilities like the Alliance’s did not violate the act’s provisions that prohibit insurers from discriminating against individuale with end-stage renal disease.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Conn. man to be sentenced for harassing actress - San Francisco Chronicle
antoninahubihe.blogspot.com
Conn. man to be sentenced for harassing actress San Francisco Chronicle A Connecticut man who harassed actress Rose McGowan in Twitter posts and calling her cell phone is set to be sentenced to probation as part of a plea deal. Thirty-six-year-old Louis Santo is scheduled to be sentenced Monday in Derby Superior Court to ... |
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Northern Virginia home sales up 5% - Washington Business Journal:
exceeding-commissioner.blogspot.com
During the month, 1,803 homes were sold in the which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Churc h as well as the counties of Fairfadxand Arlington, according to Rockville-based market research firm In the same montuh in 2008, the number of homes sold was 1,724. The mediaj sale price of a home in the area fell 7 percenft in Mayto $375,000, according to D.C. home sales did not do as well last There were 484units sold, down 9 percen from 533 homes sold in the same month last The median sale price dropped 10 percent, from $440,000 in May 2008 to $394,95o0 last month. Units spent an average of 91 or 13 more on the market last monty overMay 2008.
Units on the Norther Virginia market, however, are being snappedc up faster than last Homes are spending an average of 76 days on the or 13 less days than the same perioxd ayear ago. In Fairfax County, 1,3311 homes were sold in May. That is up 4 percen compared with ayear ago. The mediah sale price dipped nearly 10 percentto $360,0000 last month. In Arlington the median sale price was up 11 percengtto $469,000 and 239 homes were sold — up nearly 5 percent from the same monthh a year ago. Prince Williamj County experienced a 4 percengt increase in sales of753 homes, compared with 724 homezs sold in May 2008. The mediab sale price was down nearluy 19 percentto $207,777.
Units spent an averagre of 78 days, or 50 less days on the than inMay 2008. Prince George’s County home salea were up 28 percent, with 494 units sold last The median sale price was down 21 percenytto $224,900, but homes spent, on average, 33 more days on the marketr than they did in May 2008. Montgomery County home salex last month totaled874 units. The median sale price was down 13 percentto $358,117, and homes spent, on two more days on the market than they did in May 2008.
During the month, 1,803 homes were sold in the which includes the cities of Fairfax and Falls Churc h as well as the counties of Fairfadxand Arlington, according to Rockville-based market research firm In the same montuh in 2008, the number of homes sold was 1,724. The mediaj sale price of a home in the area fell 7 percenft in Mayto $375,000, according to D.C. home sales did not do as well last There were 484units sold, down 9 percen from 533 homes sold in the same month last The median sale price dropped 10 percent, from $440,000 in May 2008 to $394,95o0 last month. Units spent an average of 91 or 13 more on the market last monty overMay 2008.
Units on the Norther Virginia market, however, are being snappedc up faster than last Homes are spending an average of 76 days on the or 13 less days than the same perioxd ayear ago. In Fairfax County, 1,3311 homes were sold in May. That is up 4 percen compared with ayear ago. The mediah sale price dipped nearly 10 percentto $360,0000 last month. In Arlington the median sale price was up 11 percengtto $469,000 and 239 homes were sold — up nearly 5 percent from the same monthh a year ago. Prince Williamj County experienced a 4 percengt increase in sales of753 homes, compared with 724 homezs sold in May 2008. The mediab sale price was down nearluy 19 percentto $207,777.
Units spent an averagre of 78 days, or 50 less days on the than inMay 2008. Prince George’s County home salea were up 28 percent, with 494 units sold last The median sale price was down 21 percenytto $224,900, but homes spent, on average, 33 more days on the marketr than they did in May 2008. Montgomery County home salex last month totaled874 units. The median sale price was down 13 percentto $358,117, and homes spent, on two more days on the market than they did in May 2008.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Metro seeks more control of convention center leadership - Atlanta Business Chronicle:
http://zonefranche.com/details-actus-zf.php?id_news=932
Metro councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder will introducre a measure next week giving the council authorityg over individuals who lead the Metropolitan ExpositionRecreation Commission. The motiom comes after Metro Council President David Bragdon criticized the performance of MERC General ManageerDavid Woolson. Councilors want to oversee the hiring, salaryh changes and employment statusof MERC’s top executive, accordingf to a letter Park and Burkholder sent to Don who chairs the commission. Trotte and other commissioners currently oversee the positiob and have given Woolsonh good marks during his firstg threejob reviews.
The council will consider the motion at its June 11 In a March 31 letter to the commissio regardingthe group’s budget requests, Bragdojn questioned both Woolson’s leadershio as well as the agency’s higher Woolson’s office spent $470,568 during the 2007-08 fiscal year. The numbet jumped to $838,803 for the currenft year. Woolson requested $877,808 for the 2009-109 fiscal year.
However, in a letter dated March 12, 2009 to Bragdon from Metro finance and administrative services directorMargoi Norton, Woolson says the cost increases are "primarilty the result of a reorganization of the public affaire function and the cost and creation of a businesw development capability." Specifically, MERC's public affairs managedr and public affairs coordinator were "reclassified" to a director of communicationsd and a director of businesss and community development. Woolson goes on to statew that additional resources for goods and servicesx for the positionsincluded "advertising, sponsorships...
and other general office expenses in ordetr to have a more effective effortg in this area." In the same letter, Woolsonm says the numbers alone don't paint an accurates picture because of unfilled positione in earlier budgets. Bragdon also said Woolson movecd his office downtown and boosted consulting travel costs and other expensedlast year. He also collectes “large raises” that, by increasinvg his salary to $184,000, make him more highly paid than his MERC moved downtown from the convention centerlast year. It occupies space in the Portlanc Center for thePerforming Arts, 1111 S.W.
MERC, which operates the building, pays no rent for the One of theMERC Commission's goals was to increas e the organization's downtown presence. MERC's board approvesd Woolson's pay raises. The board said last year that Woolsomn “has accomplished (an) enormous amountr of work and inspired He has quickly detected problems and has move to alleviate or fix There appears to be a new energyuat MERC.” Metro’s annual budget is $40 Woolson is the agency’s highest-pai employee.
Metro councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder will introducre a measure next week giving the council authorityg over individuals who lead the Metropolitan ExpositionRecreation Commission. The motiom comes after Metro Council President David Bragdon criticized the performance of MERC General ManageerDavid Woolson. Councilors want to oversee the hiring, salaryh changes and employment statusof MERC’s top executive, accordingf to a letter Park and Burkholder sent to Don who chairs the commission. Trotte and other commissioners currently oversee the positiob and have given Woolsonh good marks during his firstg threejob reviews.
The council will consider the motion at its June 11 In a March 31 letter to the commissio regardingthe group’s budget requests, Bragdojn questioned both Woolson’s leadershio as well as the agency’s higher Woolson’s office spent $470,568 during the 2007-08 fiscal year. The numbet jumped to $838,803 for the currenft year. Woolson requested $877,808 for the 2009-109 fiscal year.
However, in a letter dated March 12, 2009 to Bragdon from Metro finance and administrative services directorMargoi Norton, Woolson says the cost increases are "primarilty the result of a reorganization of the public affaire function and the cost and creation of a businesw development capability." Specifically, MERC's public affairs managedr and public affairs coordinator were "reclassified" to a director of communicationsd and a director of businesss and community development. Woolson goes on to statew that additional resources for goods and servicesx for the positionsincluded "advertising, sponsorships...
and other general office expenses in ordetr to have a more effective effortg in this area." In the same letter, Woolsonm says the numbers alone don't paint an accurates picture because of unfilled positione in earlier budgets. Bragdon also said Woolson movecd his office downtown and boosted consulting travel costs and other expensedlast year. He also collectes “large raises” that, by increasinvg his salary to $184,000, make him more highly paid than his MERC moved downtown from the convention centerlast year. It occupies space in the Portlanc Center for thePerforming Arts, 1111 S.W.
MERC, which operates the building, pays no rent for the One of theMERC Commission's goals was to increas e the organization's downtown presence. MERC's board approvesd Woolson's pay raises. The board said last year that Woolsomn “has accomplished (an) enormous amountr of work and inspired He has quickly detected problems and has move to alleviate or fix There appears to be a new energyuat MERC.” Metro’s annual budget is $40 Woolson is the agency’s highest-pai employee.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
US Introducing Gay Rights Doc at UN - Advocate.com
LG LP0910WNR
Washington Times | US Introducing Gay Rights Doc at UN Advocate.com The declaration, which will be announced Tuesday at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, has the support of more than 80 countries, according to the Associated Press. The document demands that countries end persecution of gay people and asks the UN to ... Obama Administration Introduces Statement In Support Of LGB Rights Obama admin introduces gay rights declaration at UN |
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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