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Ohio Citizens State Energy Boom Platforms from Next Government

By on October 17th, 2012

The citizens of Ohio have clearly expressed their intentions for having an “energy boom” centered in Ohio. Ohio residents, once the center of commercial, industrial and business boom, had fallen into economic disasters because of outsourcing. Families in the area state that both participants in the U.S. presidential elections don’t seem to be allied with the local industries and are focusing more in their respective territories.

Most Ohio residents are swing voters, however, they state that they only want “what’s best for the United States”. They state that if governments wanted to know what’s best for their country, it would be best to live in Ohio and try to earn what they have made with their houses and properties. They state this would help runners in the election understand what the people really need.

Ohio has recently stumbled upon an “energy boom” after decades of economic struggle from its citizens as farmlands were discovered to have oil and natural gas wells rich beneath the farmlands of many dairy farmers. Dairy farmers, now losing to imports, are having a better life as industries continue to lease their lands for oil and gas drilling.

The state saw rising prices in lands from $15 per acre half a decade ago to $5,800 per acre today. The local energy boom helped many Ohio farmers retain their lands.

Citizens don’t firmly believe in businessmen bailing out their debts for them. In Ohio, a resident stated that they were the ones to bail themselves out of the debt but not through another “easy way” debt deal. All they did was tighten their belts, which most people would really do in such a situation.

While they trust their local governments for being allies of the energy boom, most residents find it firmly that the present administration has no support for local industries.

Source: CNN

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PPI Claims: How Long Until All Claims Pay Out?

By on October 10th, 2012

With the news that the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) receiving millions of complaints for PPI, analysts try to estimate how long until all the remaining claims pay out. The FOS reports that it is receiving at least 1,500 claims daily for mis sold PPI. According to Which?, their estimates come that in the year 2016, the number of complaints for mis sold payment protection insurance would reach the hundred thousands mark.

Currently, the FOS received 2.2 million claims in six months of processing the PPI claim for high street banks such as Barclays, Lloyds and Santander. The banks are reported to have the biggest shares of complaints. All the banks have five-digit numbers from September and are currently within the 300,000- 450,000 mark.

The numbers, according to Which? CEO Peter Vicary-Smith, may continue to increase by the end of the year. He warns that banks should set aside more money for compensating claims.

According to experts, PPI mis selling has happened in a span of 7 years. They also estimate that banks have earned £2.6 million a year just from the mis selling of the insurances alone. The £9 billion compensation package may not be suffice to repay all complaints coming in this year. They estimate the total damage to be more than a trillion pounds for the entire United Kingdom.

The experts also state that by 2016, the numbers of complaints would be reduced. Claims handling companies would be well-regulated by then or customers would be directly called by banks to have their claim for mis sold PPI.

Fraudulent or suspicious claims handling companies have been “cold-calling” customers to make a claim for their insurances. Customers who are unsure whether or not their current financial commitments have a mis sold PPI continue to work with these claims handling companies.

Claims handling companies have issued a statement, stating that they are only accessible help and would never cold call customers. The statement said that claims handling companies are only there to provide support and help, especially for people who do not have the time to make their own claims.

They also state that they are not trying to contribute to the number of complaints and have it increase. Claims handling companies are only there to verify the suspicions of their customers and help them make an effective claim

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South Carolina Flu Cases Gradually Rising

By on October 3rd, 2012

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control states that in a week, the barometer of flu cases went from idle to increasingly active activity as the total number of confirmed flu cases reported reached 22, twice than the number of cases the week before. In recent months, the barometer has reached highly-fluctuating levels of flu. It is expected to work slowly from October and then increase faster during the January and February months.

South Carolina medical experts recommend that citizens get a flu shot as this is their best bet against the disease. They state that while flue is non-fatal, it can disable people from going to work and become more vulnerable to more serious forms of diseases.

Flu seasons are common in South Carolina and medical centers prepare for the mid-winter seasons where outbreaks of flu begin to happen. In 2011, the flu outbreak never happened in the mid-winter season, prompting many analysts to speculate climate change as a contributor to such event.

Flu can come from the food or water consumed by individuals, their environment, the temperature of the environment or foreign objects in the air. Flu is spread by a HN strain of viruses. Flu from meat and chicken come from flu-ridden cattle and fowl. During the winter season, farm animals are usually hidden from snow or given a shorter amount of time to graze because of harsh weather conditions and temperatures. These are also speculated as the sources of flu in the area.

Source: The State

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PPI Claims: Why Consider Making One Now?

By on October 2nd, 2012

You’ve seen it in the news, the TV and the Internet. Millions of people are filing PPI claims. The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) states that banks such as Barclays, Lloyds and HSBC receive 1,500 claims a day for mis sold payment protection insurance. The bulk of claims today has reached 2.2 million, and the reserves of these banks will run out soon.

Around £9 million was set aside by high street banks to compensate payment protection insurance claims from customers. The High Court ruled in 2011 that all customers who cannot make a claim for mis sold PPI due to ineligibility will need to be refunded. Claims handling companies, such as www.PPIClaims.co, continue their endeavor in helping people get back all the refunds they deserve.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA)’s recent investigation of 22 banks show that most of them adopt a faulty banking incentives system for their employees. Much of the complaints coming into the FOS have financial advisers accountable. Larger bonuses are given to employees who can sell more expensive products. FSA’s Managing Director Martin Wheatley proposed that all banking incentive systems be reformed and be under the observation and regulation of a Financial Conduct Authority.

Currently, millions are still having trouble making their PPI claims. The FOS reported that some banks, financial institutions and other lenders have refused to acknowledge claims that they were obliged to respond to. Half the compensation package have been distributed and these banks were warned to comply.

If you’re experiencing trouble making your own payment protection insurance claims, dont hesitate to call a claims expert. Most of them offer free advice through the phone or help you make your claim successful. Peter Vicary-Smith, CEO of the consumer group Which?, states that payment protection insurance is one of the biggest financial scandals in the UK with numbers of complaints rising faster than any other financial scandal in the country to date.

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USC Changing Its Image With New Logo, Marketing and Slogan

By on September 20th, 2012

Changing skins is in this season. The University of South Carolina begins to change and improve its academic image by changing its marketing campaign, making a new slogan and a logo. The state’s college is aimed to boost the national reputation of the school in the United States.

The schools primary slogan, “No Limits” and the tail feathers are the key features of its campaign. The USC marketing campaign has reached $900 thousand to this date and has appeared in the downtown Columbia campus. As the marketing campaign picks up, the slogans would appear nationwide. The effort is aimed to increase the school’s national reputation by sharing enough information about its academic programs and projects.

The increasing popularity of the University of North Carolina and the University of Virginia had prompted USC to join their ranks through the formulation of their marketing campaign. The school understands the many improvements of their systems, namely the increasing number of graduates, improving student-teacher proportions and facilities.

The school leaders believe that the school just needs to improve on itself and believe in what it can do to push its reputation forward. However, they also understand that improvement can take quite some time, but they’re willing to sail in the storm.

The new programs of the university target students having more real-world applications of their courses and also offering long-distance courses for students far from the university.

Source:  The State

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U.S. Accuses Iraq of Lending Airspace for Iran Military Equipment Deliveries

By on September 7th, 2012

Iran, the strongest regional ally of the Syrian regime, continues to support the Syrian government by supplying it with food and aid. However, the United States accuses Iraq of allowing Iran to use its airspace to help deliver military weapons and equipment to the Syrian regime. Iraq states that the U.S. must provide evidence first before stating any allegations.

Prime Minister Spokesman Ali al-Moussawi, stated that the U.S. lacks evidence to prove such claims to aid the murderous regime in the 18-month civil war in Syria. He states that even if Iraq has been trading and working with Iran, the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was promised that they were only transporting food and medical aid.

The United States and the Iraqi government have a long-term relationship being sent aid as mandated of the 2008 strategic partnership for development between the two nations. If Iraq is supporting Iran in its undying dedication to its ally Syria, it might threaten this particular partnership. Flying weapons in Iraqi airspace is also a significant violation of the United Nations Security Council resolution, which bans Iranian arms exports.

Iran’s alliance with Syria allows the country to reach its Shiite allies in Lebanon. While having a significant Shiite population, Iraq is yet to give a stance in the Syrian conflict but has good partnership with Iran.

Source: ABC

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Drunk Student Faces Jail Time for Hitting Construction Worker

By on August 24th, 2012

A 23 year old University of South Carolina student is charged with drunk driving and bodily injuries after a 5 AM accident on Assembly Street after hitting a construction worker directing traffic on the construction site in the 700 block of the area.

Natalie Nicole Jacobson of Hampton hit the unnamed construction worker along with a 24 year old former USC student William Reed Pimental of Columbia. Both were charged with drunk driving and false information to police. The two are reported to have tried to talk their way out of the situation with false claims.

The construction worker suffered severe head injuries. He was admitted to the Palmetto Health Richland Hospital Thursday night. His condition is now stable according to police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons.

Jacobson drove over traffic caution cones before she hit the construction worker, according to eyewitnesses. She was arrested on scene and is now held in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Pimental was seen walking away from the accident. Smelling alcohol on his breath, police questioned and detained the passenger. Eyewtinesses mention that Pimental was walking away from the scene as police have arrived.

Jacobson was a current media arts student in USC. Pimental was a well-decorated previous student of the said University

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S.C.’s New Immigration Unit To Help Track Down Serious Crimes

By on August 13th, 2012

After the creation and implementation of the immigration law went into effect, the S.C. Immigration Enforcement Unit was formed in 2011. The unit, which is directly below the S.C. Department of Public Safety, is tasked to track down immigrants who are performing illegal activities all over South Carolina. However, the task force does not have the authority to question the residency status of their potential suspects.

The Unit is to be formed by six officers working undercover. It will also have its own insignia and uniforms. The Unit will focus on investigating immigrants involved in drug smuggling, human trafficking and any other crimes. It is not to focus on hunting down illegal immigrants in the state. The unit’s commander, Lt. Eddie C. Johnson, states that it will not try to start having people wary because the Unit is out there to snatch up illegal immigrants.

The Unit was given a $1.3 million budget to begin. Organizers have so far used $440, 723. The Unit estimates that it will be using up at least $689,780 for this year’s budget. The budget is to provide for 12 members of the unit including a commander and an administrative assistant. As six officers round out the first batch, Johnson states that the hiring of four more officers has not yet been finalized.

The large Hispanic community in South Carolina is what concerns some legal authorities and residents. Attorney Tammy Beshearse of the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center states that the Unit might overstep their bounds on the other communities if they do not have the training to identify an illegal immigrant easily.

Source: The State

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New South Carolina Law Pushed to Give Veterans Rightful Military Funerals

By on July 30th, 2012

Two American Legion members, Larry Truax and John Bianchi, passed a new state law allowing the names of the dead that remain unclaimed by any relatives to be checked for military service. States other than South Carolina had similar laws, and the two mentioned that it was time for South Carolina to have its own.

During its passing in the state House and Senate, no opposition was met. It was made official and signed in May.

Many US veterans who had served their countries and have died without any family had died and were buried without having the honors they deserve.

One example is Staff Sgt. John Rieser who died in October of 2009 in Conway. His parents have died and he was an only child. Horry County Coroner Robert Edge, who wanted to give Rieser a proper military burial did not know what to do. This law aims to resolve these particular details in the shortest possible time.

The two lawmakers who passed the state law mentioned that they did not want to see veterans die alone or do not get the honors they deserve. The two men have served four years in the Korean War era.

The community of South Carolina have been supportive of the efforts, given the many veterans who have died of old age and were not given a proper military funeral service.

Source: The State

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The Mis Seller of PPI: Financial Advisers

By on July 23rd, 2012

In making any kind of claim, one must prove how their claim is true. If one fails to prove their claim, then they have a problem. PPI or payment protection insurance is the biggest problem of the United Kingdom. Today, the claims process for the repayments have become simpler thanks to the efforts of the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the consumer group Which?. However, the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) stated recently that it has received 6,000 false claims for mis sold PPI. In truth, these are not hoaxes, but rather half-baked PPI claims.

PPI mis selling is not too difficult to prove if one has a grasp about how it was mis sold to them by their financial advisers such as bank representatives or insurance brokers. PPI or payment protection insurance can actually provide 12 months of loan, mortgage or credit card repayments. Being mis sold, it has actually extorted thousands of pounds from customers, making it infamous all throughout the United Kingdom.

One cannot mistake a financial adviser to make a mistake. Given their experience and expertise in doing their work, one cannot doubt their superior knowledge. However, this places many advantages over customers. Many were mis sold PPI given that the financial adviser urged many customers through the use of financial plans. Stating that the insurance policy is to be part of the plan, many customers trust their financial advisers, in which they are mis sold PPI in the process.

Customers are required to have a good health and employment status before they can receive the benefits of PPI. PPI provides 12 months of loan, mortgage or credit card repayments. Given the wide range of benefits it has, it can have customers pay out £3000 on average by the end of their loan repayment term. Quite an expensive insurance product to lose money to as well.

It is quite easy to make a PPI claim nowadays. However, the simpler it is, some details might not be considered in making a claim. Legal and technical details are usually skipped, which might result in incomplete repayments for customers. It is advised that they consult with claims handling companies to guarantee that they can receive all their repayments completely