February 2015 - Page 3 of 4

Long-Awaited MTA Bus Tracking System for Baltimore Commuters Is Finally Available

14Feb

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Local

Long-Awaited MTA Bus Tracking System for Baltimore Commuters Is Finally Available

Starting Monday, February 9th, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) began offering a digital bus tracking timetable for its public bus lines running in Baltimore and the surrounding suburbs. Although the real-time tracking system is new, public demand for accurate bus arrival information has been building up for quite a while. As the Baltimore Sun explains, “riders have been clamoring for the system for years, complaining that MTA buses often operate outside of posted schedules -- leaving them [the riders] out in the cold and making their commutes unpredictable..” The timetable tracking system, called “My MTA Tracker,” will allow commuters to access updated arrival times for each of the MTA’s buses. The system is not yet available as a mobile app, but it’s accessible via the MTA’s web...

City of Tempe Provides Landscaping Referrals to Residents

14Feb

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Business

City of Tempe Provides Landscaping Referrals to Residents

The city of Tempe, Arizona is providing relief for its residents through landscaping discounts. Azfamily.com reports that the city government has negotiated a referral program for its residents. Known as the "Tempe Landscape Referral" program, the initiative offers residents discounted rates for three local landscaping companies. The discounts can save residents up to 25% from what they would pay otherwise for basic landscaping services. "The City uses its, basically, bulk purchasing ability to get you the best rate possible," said city council member Kolby Granville. "You contract with them, they do the work. You pay on a monthly basis: $35 a month for the front yard and $70 a month during the summer months." The three landscaping companies -- Artistic Land Management , Inc., J.A. Dese...

U.S. Department of Energy Says Hang Drapes to Keep Out Winter Chill

14Feb

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Lifestyle

U.S. Department of Energy Says Hang Drapes to Keep Out Winter Chill

Winter has settled over the country in full and unforgiving force, and many Americans are looking for any way possible to keep the cold out and the heat in. When it comes to making your home more energy efficient, the answer may be as simple as a new set of drapes. In fact, in addition to making a home more comfortable and saving homeowners on utilities, NJ.com reports that certain types of drapes are actually eligible for the same energy efficiency federal tax credits as installing a solar water heater or adding attic insulation. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's website, Energy.gov, window coverings can play a role in reducing heat loss in a home by 25% when installed properly. The Department of Energy advises that homeowners should hang blinds or shades as closely to the wi...

Newly Wed Pennsylvania Couple Design Pope T-Shirts to Commemorate Upcoming Papal Visit

12Feb

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Business

Newly Wed Pennsylvania Couple Design Pope T-Shirts to Commemorate Upcoming Papal Visit

With the Pope's highly anticipated visit to the City of Brotherly Love rapidly approaching, how are Philadelphians going to rock their papal pride? One young, newlywed couple hailing from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania may have the perfect answer: Pope T Shirts. Newly married couple Michael and Ally Tandarich are designing custom Pope Francis T-Shirts -- the Official Pope Francis Philadelphia Apparel, mind you -- with great emphasis on what the city of Philadelphia is known for: brotherly love, of course. Michael, who also runs a branding agency in the city, No-Comply Designs, felt that designing custom t-shirts would be an excellent way to show support and give back to the Catholic community while continuing to build excitement for the papal visit. Also, it gives papal fans something unique to...

Agricultural Zoning Violation Leaves 40 Couples Without a Wedding Venue

12Feb

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Lifestyle

Agricultural Zoning Violation Leaves 40 Couples Without a Wedding Venue

The marriage of Denver Broncos player Eric Decker and country singer Jessie James brought their gorgeous rural venue, Castle Cliff Estates, into the national spotlight. But other brides who booked the venue won't be able to get the fairy-tale ending they envisioned. According to Catherine Chase-Groos, who owns the estate in the hills of Douglas County, CO, bookings soared after the celebrity wedding. But the 40 brides who already booked the venue for 2015 will have to be married elsewhere. After the Decker wedding, several neighbors filed complaints against Castle Cliff Estates, arguing that the property is zoned as agricultural land and is not permitted to be used as an event venue. Castle Cliff Estates is located on a horse farm. The complaints resulted in Chase-Groos being approached...

RadioShack Expected to Announce Bankruptcy Settlement

12Feb

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Business

RadioShack Expected to Announce Bankruptcy Settlement

Millions of people will likely need bankruptcy help at some point in their lives. However, seeing prominent companies begin the same process can often come as a surprise. For this reason, many people were shocked to learn that RadioShack Corp., a technology retailer that has been in business for almost a century, will close on a bankruptcy agreement on or after after Thursday, February 5. RadioShack traces its roots back to 1921, when the company began as a mail-order retailer for amateur radio operators and maritime communications officers. Over time, the company shifted its focus, becoming the go-to source of hard-to-find electronics and other technology. In recent years, however, RadioShack has faced increasing competition from Wal-Mart, Amazon.com and other tech retailers. To make m...

Washington State House of Representatives Considers Proposed Oil Legislation

12Feb

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Business

Washington State House of Representatives Considers Proposed Oil Legislation

The Washington State House of Representatives is currently considering bills that would seek to make oil transportation safer for workers, the public and the environment, if passed. According to the Columbian, one of these bills, House Bill 1449, would increase regulations placed on railway and waterway oil transportation. The bill would require all railroads to develop a set of procedures and plans for oil spills, and to report information about the oil loads they transport to the state Department of Ecology. In addition, the bill seeks to increase the tax levied on oil transported by rail and pipeline. For oil transportation workers in Washington state, safety has long been a neglected priority, the bill's supporters say. "What I've seen ... is safety takes a backseat to product...

Starbucks and McDonalds Lead the Pack in Sustainability

11Feb

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Business

Starbucks and McDonalds Lead the Pack in Sustainability

A recent study by nonprofits As You Sow and the Natural Resources Defense Council showed that the food industry has a long way to go toward reducing the environmental impact of their product packaging. The study analyzed 47 prominent companies and ranked them Poor, Needs Improvement, Better Practices, or Best Practices based on their commitment to recycled content, recyclability in materials used, switching to reusable packaging, and boosting material recycling. Of the 47 companies analyzed, zero achieved Best Practices status, and only two (Starbucks and McDonalds) reached Better Practices. McDonalds reached Better Practices status by reducing the weight of its packaging and using 33% post-consumer recycled content to make its sandwich boxes. McDonalds has also made a pledge to phase ou...

Florida Senator Introduces Bill Regulating Used Tire Sales Citing Safety, Consumer Protections Concerns

10Feb

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Business

Florida Senator Introduces Bill Regulating Used Tire Sales Citing Safety, Consumer Protections Concerns

Currently, it’s up to Florida drivers to educate themselves on the risks of buying used car tires. But a bill introduced in the Florida Senate would make it illegal to sell unsafe used tires in the state. Staffers of Sen. Greg Evers, the bill’s sponsor, told the local CBS affiliate Feb. 6 that the bill is intended to address predatory used tire businesses that exploit consumers’ lack of knowledge, as well as safety issues associated with some used tires. In January, the Rubber Manufacturers Association said that it expected seven states, including Florida, to consider legislation regulating used tire sales in 2015 (Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas round out that list). The goal of such legislation, the group said, should be to improve “highway and motorist...

Target Canada Forces Franchise Pharmacies To Shut Down, Sell Patient Records To Competitors

10Feb

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Business

Target Canada Forces Franchise Pharmacies To Shut Down, Sell Patient Records To Competitors

In a disconcerting update on Target's store-closing catastrophe in Canada, another problem has just emerged: many of the Target locations had brought franchised pharmacists into the stores, and now that every store is being closed, Target is forcing those pharmacists to sell their own businesses at absurdly low prices to rival chain store Walmart. And what's even worse -- thousands of patient health records, once belonging to these Target pharmacies, now seem to be hanging in limbo, waiting to be sold to the highest bidder. When U.S.-based Target decided to close all of its 133 Canadian stores at the beginning of 2015, it's safe to say that no one was surprised. The company, which has chain stores all across the U.S. and is very successful in the American market, had been struggling to f...