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What do guns have to do with your health? Lawmakers in Florida seem to believe there is no connection. Since 2011, Florida has barred doctors from asking patients about firearm ownership. Doctors, however, do not like the restrictions and are asking for review of the law. Physicians groups are banding together nationally and pushing back in Florida. They are asking the full panel of judges on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the earlier ruling....

Emergency room visits associated with energy drinks have doubled in the past four years, suggests a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. From 2007 to 2011, the government found that the number of ER visits by energy drink users went from 10,000 visits to more than 20,000, reports the Associated Press. And in most of these cases, the individuals hospitalized were teens and young adults. The study concludes that energy drink consumption is a “rising public health problem” that can cause insomnia, nervousness, headache, fast heartbeat, and seizures....

GM’s reorganization appears to pose some tough choices for all of its dealers – those who will be cut and also those who wish to be part of the “new GM.” Though dealers on the chopping block appear to be receiving better treatment than their Chrysler counterparts, the changes any continuing GM dealerships must make may cause some to choose closing up shop. In the wake of Chrysler’s and GM’s respective bankruptcies, we’ve discussed the terrible fate that franchise agreements can meet when the franchisor declares bankruptcy....

How much an adoption lawyer will cost you depends on many factors, which are not all calculable in the abstract. Laws vary from state to state and there are different types of adoption, as well as distinctions in the process between adopting a child in the US and one who is abroad. Wherever you and the child are, adoption is a process. And usually not a fast one. In fact, it can be exceedingly slow and difficult for prospective parents....

Maybe your sister totaled your car and won’t pay for repairs, you contracted to rebuild your neighbor’s fence and now they won’t return your calls, or your college roommate stole your credit card and ran away to Tijuana. Whatever the case, you’re owed a debt. How in the world do you go about collecting it? There’s plenty of ways to go about collecting what you’re owed, from taking a gentle approach to pulling no punches....

Long-time, recurring contracts are essential to small business. They allow you to focus on the quality of your product and running your business. But it’s exactly because you’re not paying attention to your recurring contracts that you could be paying too much. With online banking and bill pay options, it’s easier than ever to pay your bills without reading the fine print and itemized charges. Here’s what you might be missing:...

July Fourth is the most dangerous holiday for drivers, and teens should be especially careful, according to data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. But why? An average of 134 people die on the Fourth of July each year, including eight to 13 teenagers, reports Allstate Insurance, which analyzed IIHS data. That may not seem like a huge number, but as teen drivers crash at a rate four times higher than any other age group, they need to be especially careful on Independence Day, Allstate suggests....

The idea of whether to create a juvenile sex offender registry is up for debate in Tennessee. Here are some of the pros and cons: PROS: The public would become aware of violent criminals. The state would be in compliance with the federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and secure $5 million in grant money disbursed to law enforcement agencies all over Tennessee. CONS: The reputation of a child could be marred forever hindering their ability to be reformed and lead a normal life....

In most personal injury cases, the main point of contention is proving who was at fault for an accident or an injury. But just as important is proving the injury itself and the extent of the harm. Damages are an essential element of any injury claim and even if you can prove another party was negligent, you won’t be entitled to any recovery if you can’t prove your injury. Depending on your circumstances, this could be as simple as an x-ray of a broken hip after slipping and falling in a store....

The practice of cremating and scattering the ashes of a loved one who has passed away is becoming increasingly popular in America. In fact, by 2016, the Cremation Association of North America projects that nearly half of all deceased Americans will be cremated. But what should you be aware of when scattering a loved one’s ashes? Are there any potential legal pitfalls that those planning their own final resting place or hoping to scatter a loved one’s ashes should watch out for?...

From time off of work to when it’s time to go to school, there are perhaps dozens of laws new parents need to know. So here are a few of the most important: 10 Ways the FMLA Can Work for You As soon as your child arrives, you’ll want to spend as much time as possible with your newborn. This means some time off work. Can you get paid time off?...

Pot backers say they have collected more than enough signatures needed to put a measure to legalize marijuana on the California ballot for November, 2010. According to the Associated Press, 700,000 signatures have been collected across all 58 California counties for the ballot measure. Supporters need 433,971 valid signatures from registered voters to make the statewide ballot. As previously discussed, the initiative, known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 would allow cities and counties to adopt their own laws to allow marijuana to be grown and sold....

Today is Earth Day; tomorrow, Picnic Day. With spring in full bloom, it’s the perfect weekend to spend in one of the country’s gorgeous national parks. But along with all that majesty comes just a little bit of menace. While national parks and wilderness areas can provide the perfect backdrop to wonder, contemplation, and take the odd selfie, they can also pose dangerous pitfalls most of us aren’t used to facing in our daily lives....

The current guidelines have made it clear that, regardless of technology, online advertisements must disclose material information, but MediaPost reports that the rules focus primarily on banner ads and websites. In the early stages of development, the Commission has put out a request for public comments, seeking information on how it can adapt its online advertising rules to better comport with the technological and legal advances of the last 11 years....

Preparing for church? Sunday clothes - check Book of hymns - check Handgun - wait, what? Supporters of gun control are questioning a new Louisiana law which allows guns in church statewide unless the church bans guns. Governor Bobby Jindal signed the new law, which will go into effect on August 15, overturning a state ban. Now guns will be legal inside churches, synagogues and mosques. The new law will not apply to churches located on school property....

Congrats to Marissa Mayer! Not only is she the new CEO of Yahoo but she is also pregnant with her first child. Mayer and her husband Zack Bogue are welcoming their baby in October which means that she will be taking some maternity leave later this year. That wouldn’t be big news except that Mayer is the CEO of a publicly traded Fortune 500 company. Her maternity leave will be a first in the business world, according to TechCrunch....

A Mississippi high school coach is on leave after he allegedly whipped athletes on his basketball team. Coach Marlon Dorsey has admitted to “paddling” students in an effort to instill discipline. Dorsey has been suspended 28 days without pay. Parents of some of the players have filed suit in federal court. According to the school website, there is no corporal punishment permitted at Murrah High School, but students, parents and even the coach have said this is something that did occur, reports CNN....

Isis is the Greek name for an ancient Egyptian goddess who could bring the dead to life. It was, until relatively recently, a pretty popular name for girls, stores, companies, and more. Bob Dylan wrote a song called Isis and there are countless new age books about the goddess. But today, businesses are rethinking the name, as it has been stained by its association with the terrorist organization ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL....

After a Twitter petition successfully convinced President Obama to declare a National Entrepreneurs’ Day in 2010, a group of entrepreneurs has now set their sights on Congress. House Resolution 401, sponsored by Rep. Scott Peters (D-California), would support the designation of the third Tuesday of November as National Entrepreneurs’ Day. Besides just being a mouthful to say, what would a National Entrepreneurs’ Day do to actually benefit entrepreneurs and other small business owners?...

Target stores will soon stop asking job seekers about their criminal records on employment applications as part of a national program set to roll out in 2014. Target’s “Ban the Box” movement calls for employers to “wait until a prospective employee is being interviewed” or has a prospective offer before inquiring about the applicant’s criminal history, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis, where Target is based. Should small business owners follow Target’s lead and nix the criminal history “box” on their employment applications?...