The Illinois Personal Injury Weblog of Schaeffer & Lamere P.C.

Winter Storm on the Way

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Winter storm coming -- slow but sure," by Harry Levins--

Slow but certain -- that's the word this morning on the looming winter weather.

"It's slowing down and taking its sweet time getting here," forecaster Jim Kramper of the National Weather Service said shortly after 9 a.m. today. "It looks now like rain later today or tonight -- and the cold air could hold off until tomorrow morning."

Even so, Kramper said, area residents should brace themselves. He said the temperature should fall below freezing before Thursday's rush hour, about 3 to 4 a.m.

--Posted by Madison County Illinois work injury lawyers and Illinois work comp abogado (de accidentes de trabajo) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois workers compensation law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Medicare Makeover in Missouri?

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Blunt plan would radically change Medicaid," by Virginia Young--

Gov. Matt Blunt is crafting a health care program for the poor that won't look much like Medicaid. In fact, it won't even be called Medicaid.

Tentatively dubbed Missouri Healthnet, the new system would use both carrots and sticks to place more emphasis on prevention and personal responsibility.

Under the working draft, residents would apply for the program over the Internet, use a state rating system to pick their doctor, receive benefits tailored to their health status and reap rewards for good habits.

--Posted by Madison County Illinois work injury lawyers and Illinois work comp abogado (de accidentes de trabajo) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois workers compensation law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Black Friday Bargains

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Shoppers seek Black Friday bargains," by Anne D'Innocenzio--

The nation's retailers ushered in the start of the holiday season Friday with expanded hours, generous discounts and free money in the form of gift cards.

In a slowing but still steady economy, retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. were increasing the sales pitch to shoppers, hoping to grab customer dollars. A growing number of stores and malls threw open their doors at midnight to jump-start the season, and CompUSA Inc. and BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. even opened on Thanksgiving for the first time to grab customer dollars before the competition does.

--Posted by Illinois car accident injury attorneys and Illinois car accident abogado (de accidentes de automovil) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois accident law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Political Chaos in Lebanon

From the Washington Post via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Political chaos in Lebanon could complicate policy," by Anthony Shadid --

One of Lebanon's most pronounced political crises in a generation slid into bloodshed Tuesday when assailants showered gunfire on a car carrying an anti-Syrian politician and scion of the country's most prominent Christian family, killing him and a bodyguard and pushing Lebanon a step closer to civil strife.

The assassination of Pierre Gemayel, a divisive figure in a country riven by sectarian tension, underlined the escalating struggle over Lebanon's political future that has followed this summer's war between Hezbollah and Israel.

--Posted by Illinois car accident injury attorneys and Illinois car accident abogado (de accidentes de automovil) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois accident law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Personal Injury Help Form at Schaeffer & Lamere Website

If you want to contact Schaeffer & Lamere about personal injury, you can use the personal injury help form at our website. Just follow the link. Or you can email one of our partners by clicking on their names, Evan Schaeffer or Andrea Lamere.

--Posted by Illinois mesothelioma lawyer and Illinois abogado asbesto T. Evan Schaeffer of the Edwardsville Illinois personal injury law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Highway 40: What to Expect

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Highway 40: What to expect when construction begins," by Elisa Crouch--

Half the lanes on Highway 40 will remain open and new ones will be created on Interstates 44 and 70 to handle overflow traffic during the massive rebuilding project that starts this spring.

Thirty-two overpasses will be rebuilt on Highway 40 (Interstate 64), a new interchange at Interstate 170 will replace the incomplete one there now, and 12 miles of aging roadbed will be ripped up, say sources briefed on the plan, which remains under wraps at the Missouri Department of Transportation.

--Posted by Illinois mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys and Illinois abogado asbesto T. Evan Schaeffer of the Illinois asbestos law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

The Tsunami That Wasn't

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Small waves hit Japan after tsunami fear," by Hiroko Tabuchi--

A powerful undersea earthquake prompted tsunami warnings Wednesday for Japan and Russia but the danger appeared to pass after a series of tiny waves hit the northern Japanese coast.

The waves did not swell higher than 16 inches and rapidly diminished in size, but Japan's meteorological agency said that it would wait for at least several hours before withdrawing its warning of possible larger waves.

--Posted by Missouri mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys and Missouri abogado asbesto T. Evan Schaeffer of the Missouri asbestos law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

The Tsunami That Wasn't

From the Associated Press via Yahoo! News: "Small waves hit Japan after tsunami fear," by Hiroko Tabuchi--

A powerful undersea earthquake prompted tsunami warnings Wednesday for Japan and Russia but the danger appeared to pass after a series of tiny waves hit the northern Japanese coast.

The waves did not swell higher than 16 inches and rapidly diminished in size, but Japan's meteorological agency said that it would wait for at least several hours before withdrawing its warning of possible larger waves.

--Posted by Illinois mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys and Illinois abogado asbesto T. Evan Schaeffer of the Edwardsville Illinois asbestos law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Mold and Maggots in New Orleans

From Reuters via Yahoo! News: "Mold, maggots in New Orleans homes left to rot," by Matthew Bigg--

NEW ORLEANS  - More than a year after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, thousands of homes damaged by flooding still stand empty, stained by black mold and some of them infested with maggots.

City authorities are now cranking up a $20 million drive to deal with a problem until now addressed mainly by charities, home-owners and contractors who have worked to gut the properties and eliminate the health hazard they pose.

--Posted by Illinois car accident injury attorneys and Illinois car accident abogado (de accidentes de automovil) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois accident law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.

Israel and Iran

From the Associated Press via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Israeli: Strike on Iran a possibility"--

JERUSALEM (AP) -- The deputy defense minister suggested in comments published Friday that Israel might be forced to launch a military strike against Iran's nuclear program - the clearest statement yet of such a possibility from a high-ranking official.

"I am not advocating an Israeli pre-emptive military action against Iran and I am aware of its possible repercussions," Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh, a former general, told The Jerusalem Post. "I consider it a last resort. But even the last resort is sometimes the only resort."

--Posted by Madison County Illinois injured at work comp attorneys and Illinois work comp abogado (de accidentes de trabajo) T. Evan Schaeffer of the Madison County Illinois workers compensation law firm of Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C.