The Super Bowl is normally held in warm weather states: Florida, California. So when Dallas got its first Super Bowl, one didn’t expect the major headlines to exclaim that weather left Super Bowl fans injured. Dallas’ unpredicted icy conditions took aim at Super Bowl fans Friday afternoon when ice started falling from the curved roof of Cowboys Stadium. The dome began expelling snow and ice earlier in the day, reports The Dallas Morning News....
The decision to start a family is a major one. And a follow-up consideration to wanting to have kids is whether you should adopt. Adoption is increasingly becoming a popular avenue for people looking forward to family life. Adoption can be rewarding and fulfilling but can involve a lengthy application process and can be cost-intensive. Is it right for you? Here are a few considerations to take into account in deciding whether to adopt a child:...
A lot of people have been wondering when the government would finally start prosecuting the companies responsible for the home loan and mortgage crisis of the last few years. In one of the Department of Justice’s first actions, it filed a suit against mega-lender Deutsche Bank on Tuesday, accusing the company of lying and recklessly approving mortgages for federal insurance. In other words, mortgage fraud. Between the years of 1999 and 2009, the Los Angeles Times reports that MortgageIT, a Deutsche Bank subsidiary, took part in the Federal Housing Administration’s mortgage insurance program....
With the new school year starting soon, school districts are reminding parents that truancy isn’t just the student’s and school’s problem, but may have serious ramifications for parents as well. Truancy is the legal name for skipping school. In most states, truancy occurs whenever a student a certain age or under (17 in most states, 16 in some) is absent from school without an excuse from a parent or guardian. Although skipping school is often romanticized in pop culture, according to U....
Children and even infants often need legal documents in order to travel. But what papers or IDs are required? The answer depends on where you’re going, and perhaps even which mode of transportation you choose. All children need some form of government-accepted identification in order to travel internationally – if you intend to return to the United States, that is. The Department of Homeland Security notes that “all children, even infants” need a passport or other Trusted Traveler Program document to enter the United States....
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics save a lot of lives working on the front lines of healthcare. Their roles are critical and the decisions they make at the scene of an emergency and transporting someone to a hospital can seriously influence long-term outcomes. You might think then that these emergency medical workers are held to the same standard of care as any other medical practitioner, and you might be right in some cases....
Beyond revealing what you look like, selfies containing metadata can reveal your exact location – which means the person receiving your selfie can potentially figure out where you live. Metadata can include GPS information, the date and time the photo was taken, and information on how and what conditions the photos were taken in, according to Cypher Avenue. Simple computer programs, like Apple’s iPhoto application, can reveal the metadata information....
Sometimes a marriage just doesn’t work out, or you need some time apart from your partner. So when is it a good idea to pursue a legal separation instead of a divorce? In a legal separation, you and your spouse are still married, but living apart. Some states require this before you can file for divorce; other states allow for a separation but don’t require it, while a few states don’t recognize legal separations at all, according to a financial planner’s column for Forbes....
When checking into a hospital, legal concerns are often the last things on your mind. But as it turns out, there are quite a few legal questions you should be aware of if you’re checking into a hospital. Here’s what you need to know: If you’ve been injured, either leading to a hospital stay or during your time there, you may want to consult with an experienced injury attorney about your claim....
Are you an “encore entrepreneur”? Encore entrepreneurs are those who invest in ventures a bit later in life – in general, anyone who turns to small business ownership after the age of 50. It’s not always easy to invest later in life. In fact, it’s not even that conventional to get into small businesses when many are dreaming of retirement. Luckily, there are many tips and tools out there for those looking to become entrepreneurs after 50....
The words “Facebook” and “privacy concerns” seem to go hand-in-hand these days. The spotlight is again shining on the social networking site, as Facebook’s underage users have risen to nearly 20 million strong. Of those 20 million minors, approximately 7.5 million were under the age of 13, according to a survey by Consumer Reports. According to Facebook policy, users must be at least 13 years old to register for the site....
Maricopa County election officials have certified that Citizens for a Better Arizona has collected over 10,300 signatures, nearly 3,000 more than necessary, in its Russell Pearce recall effort. The group opposes the Arizona Senate President, who represents the area around Mesa, on the grounds that he supports guns in state parks and sponsored and fully supported the state’s controversial anti-immigration bill, SB 1070. What’s going to happen next? Recall efforts, or attempts to vote out an elected official, vary from state to state....
Toxic mold lawsuits have historically been met with speculation. Much of this was the result of the science – differing opinions on causation and whether visible mold automatically implies the presence of toxins. Some even went so far as to claim mold litigation was based on “junk science and hysteria.” However, a recent ruling from a New York appeals court suggests that prevailing opinions about mold science may have changed. At least when it comes to the courts....
While some states have been suing the federal government for the right to discriminate against transgender people when it comes to bathroom access, California is going in the other direction. The same state that led the way on transgender student access to bathrooms in schools just passed a bill requiring all public, single-occupancy bathrooms in the state be gender neutral. The new law would allow anyone to access these bathrooms, regardless of gender identity....
A California woman claims that her father, one Guy Ward Hendrickson, was the Zodiac killer, reports the San Francisco Examiner. Yes, if 47-year-old real estate agent Deborah Perez’s claims turn out to be true, one of history’s most notorious and apparently elusive serial killers, would turn out to be a former carpenter from Southern California. Unfortunately, going directly to the source on this claim won’t be possible, considering that Guy Ward Hendrickson died in 1983....
Even if you see what you think is a crime being committed, you don’t always have to dial 911. In fact, there have been some infamous incidents lately of people dialing 911 for some bad reasons or for no reason at all. And while calling the cops can get you in trouble in certain instances, one New York congressperson wants to make calling the police on innocent black people a hate crime....
Cars and pedestrians are often at odds on the road. But when accidents occur, how do you figure out who’s at fault? In car v. pedestrian accidents, both the driver and the injured pedestrian typically try to blame each other. And with accidents like a recent hit-and-run in Pittsburgh that resulted in a Penn State student’s death, you can see why. In less clear cases, how can you tell which party is legally to blame?...
A recent guest at a California Hilton has now started a class-action Hilton newspaper lawsuit. The Hilton is being sued over newspapers that they leave outside guests’ doors. Rodney Harmon, 55, stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Sonoma County Airport in late March, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Outside his door in the morning was a copy of USA Today. Harmon checked his bill, and then noticed that he had been charged for 75 cents for the newspaper, which he never requested, the San Francisco Chronicle reports....
The IRS has news for Bitcoin holders: The virtual currency isn’t considered currency for tax purposes – it’s property. The Internal Revenue Service announced Tuesday that since Bitcoins and other virtual currencies have no legal tender status in any jurisdiction, they cannot be classified as “currency,” reports Reuters. Instead, the IRS explained that Bitcoins can be treated like taxable property. With Tax Day looming, how will Bitcoin holders need to report their virtual riches?...
Whether it’s your neighbor or a complete stranger, you may have spotted a car or two on the road with dealer plates. But is it legal to drive with dealer plates? In general, dealer plates are special license plates used by dealers that allow customers to legally test-drive unregistered cars on public streets and highways. The laws on dealer plates vary significantly state-to-state. But in general, most states only allow dealer license plates to be used by an owner, officer, employee of the dealership, or by a customer that is test driving the car, according to the Automobile Dealer Training Association....
