|
Housing dreams turning into nightmares
LAWRENCE -- Jose Felipe dreamed of buying a retirement house in Florida, where palm trees and balmy breezes would remind him of his native Dominican Republic. So the commercial painter went to a storefront mortgage consultant in Lawrence two years ago and asked for a credit check. Top-notch, he recalled being told. But not for long. About a year later, he said, he discovered that the consultant, Rafael D. Reyes -- who turned out to have been convicted twice for identity fraud since 1998 -- had used his name and Social Security number to buy a $260,000 duplex in Lawrence. Since then, Felipe has struggled to repair his credit rating and get authorities to charge Reyes. ``This is driving me crazy," said Felipe, 59, who had tried to put his life back together after being convicted of two drug charges in 1992 and receiving suspended sentences.
Candidate Survey Results Are Available Online
The Walton County Chamber of Commerce recently surveyed candidates for Walton County School Board and Board of County Commissioners on their positions relative to business development. The survey results have been compiled and are now available online. The Chamber did not edit, spell check or change any of the answers that were given. If there is a candidate that is not included that is because they did not respond to the survey. To view all of the completed surveys, click here.
Email to a Friend | Print Article | Traducir al Español | Submit Story Idea
Hits: 14 .
Ryanair to seek compensation
Budget airline Ryanair will give details of possible legal action against the Government over losses incurred through the new anti-terror airport regulations. An initiative "to keep Britain flying" is also set to be launched by Michael O'Leary, the Irish no-frills carrier's chief executive. Mr O'Leary, whose airline has had to cancel dozens of flights at the height of the security crisis, has been highly critical of the new baggage rules, describing them as "nonsensical". It is believed that Ryanair has been trying to get other airlines to join in the fight for compensation. Ryanair has been particularly critical of airport operator BAA's arrangements at Stansted, accusing the company of not having enough staff on duty. The airline's website said: "We continue to call on the UK Government to lead the process of returning normality to London's airports by addressing the root causes of the problems.
Take care when choosing long-term care coverage
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - You wouldn't ask your banker to choose stocks for you, or your dentist to check out your bum knee, even though their fields are related. So don't expect your life insurance agent to answer all of your questions about long-term care insurance. Shopping for the right long-term care coverage is a challenge. First, there's the job of finding a knowledgeable and ethical agent to sell it to you. And the need to buy a policy from a company that you'll trust to be there if you file a claim in 20 or 30 years. Finally, there's constructing the right policy to fit your life. And throughout the whole process, you'll have to deal with a business that's still figuring itself out. "This particular industry is still evolving," says Linda Leitz of Pinnacle Financial Concepts, a Colorado Springs fee-only financial planning firm.
Guinea: President Conte Returns After Switzerland Medical Check-Up
Ailing Guinean President Lansana Conte returned home late on Thursday after a weeklong stay in Switzerland for a new medical check-up, state television announced. The 72-year-old head of state flew home after dusk following his second medical check-up in Switzerland in less than six months. Unlike his last homecoming in March, there were no crowds lining the streets to welcome him. But an official who asked not to be identified said the low-key return bore no relation to his state of health and that Conte was well and ready to resume his duties. "It's because he arrived here at night and it was raining that people did not come out to welcome him," he said. Last March, the president's sudden and unannounced departure for Geneva had raised a swirl of apprehension. But this time around, the government announced his departure last Friday on public radio and television.
Crash probe checks on controller
Lexington, Ky. - The lone air traffic controller on duty the morning Comair Flight 5191 crashed had only two hours of sleep before starting work on the overnight shift, a federal investigator said Wednesday. National Transportation Safety Board member Debbie Hersman said the controller had only nine hours off between work shifts Saturday. That was just enough to meet federal rules. The controller, a 17-year veteran whose name has not been released, worked from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. He came back to work at 11:30 p.m. on the same day to begin an eight-hour overnight shift. The commuter jet crashed on Sunday morning, in the final hours of the controller's shift, while trying to take off from Blue Grass Airport. Federal officials have been looking for explanations for why Flight 5191 tried to take off from a runway that was too short, crashing in a nearby field and killing 49 of 50 people on board.
Census Bureau to Hold News Conference on Income, Earnings, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage Findings
The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a news conference to release two reports: "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005," containing findings from the Current Population Survey (CPS); and "Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2005 American Community Survey (ACS)." The CPS findings are national, while the ACS findings pertain to states, as well as counties and cities of 65,000 or more people. The ACS report also includes a comparison of earnings for men and women by selected characteristics, including industry and occupation. WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 29, at 10 a.m. EDT WHO: -- Louis Kincannon, director, U.S. Census Bureau -- David Johnson, chief, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, U.S.
|