Attorney General Intervened in Federal Case to Allow Corps to Implement Floodway Plan

Cape Girardeau, Mo. – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today applauded the federal court’s ruling in favor of Illinois and the Army Corps of Engineers, which authorizes the Corps to pursue its plan to save the town of Cairo, Ill., from potential floods due to dangerously high water levels on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. 

“I am pleased that through our joint efforts the people of Southern Illinois were given a voice in this critical decision,” Attorney General Madigan said. “It is imperative in the midst of this potential disaster that the Army Corps be able to take quick action if and when necessary to protect our communities.”

Attorney General Madigan yesterday intervened in the federal case brought by the state of Missouri seeking a temporary restraining order to prevent the Corps from implementing its Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway Operations Plan. The plan, which has been in place since 1986, calls for the demolition of a frontline “fuseplug” levee. If deemed necessary, the controlled demolition would release water into farmland located on the Floodway to alleviate flooding on both sides of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in the tri-state area and beyond. The levee was constructed specifically to be demolished.

Madigan argued that banning the Corps from acting would directly threaten the nearly 3,000 residents of Cairo. If the levees protecting Cairo are breached, water levels in the city will rise 18 to 20 feet, a height that reaches above most two-story buildings.

Bureau Chief Tom Davis handled the case for Madigan’s Environmental Enforcement Bureau in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

Area tour shows high waters, increasing damage

Marion, IL – Lt. Governor Sheila Simon yesterday returned to flood-damaged Southern Illinois with Governor Pat Quinn and state officials to survey damage and get an update on the state’s disaster response. After a briefing at the Unified Area Command Center in Marion, Simon was joined by Governor Quinn and Rep. John Bradley (D-Marion) in a helicopter tour of the most affected areas, including a stop in Olive Branch, where most residents have already evacuated while flood levels continue to rise.

“I will continue to be in touch with state, local and disaster relief officials as we work to provide aid to our most affected and vulnerable communities,” Simon said. “I would like to applaud the diligence and dedication of all the first responders, and encourage them to continue to persevere until all residents are out of harm’s way.”

The only constitutional officer from Southern Illinois, Simon commended the coordinated response efforts and voiced her support for a contested Army Corps of Engineers plan to breach the Birds Point levee and flood farmland in Missouri’s Mississippi County in an effort to ease rising waters and avoid life-threatening tragedy in and around Cairo.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to block the Birds Point breach. Madigan argued that any delay in the implementation of the Army Corps plan will immediately put the health and safety of the nearly 3,000 residents of Cairo at serious risk.

“Families are more sacred and valuable than farmland, and we will work to ensure that the best course of action is pursued by the Army Corps of Engineers and that state and federal agencies continue to bring relief to all who need it,” Simon said.

Chicago, IL — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today filed suit against a Bensenville company for scamming Illinois homeowners out of thousands of dollars for flood control work in their homes that was never completed.

Madigan’s lawsuit, filed in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges Eveready Flood Control and its president, Patrick Regan, of Roselle, defrauded consumers out of contracted work for installation of flood control systems. The Attorney General alleges Regan’s company completed little to none of the contracted services after consumers paid him down payments, in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and Home Repair and Remodeling Act.

“With spring being a popular time to make home repairs, this lawsuit should serve as an important reminder for homeowners to thoroughly scrutinize a contractor before signing any agreements,” Attorney General Madigan said. “Request references and ask for estimates in writing. Check with trusted sources like my office’s Consumer Fraud Bureau and the Better Business Bureau.”

Madigan’s office previously obtained $3,000 in restitution for a Cook County consumer affected by Regan’s scam through mediation efforts by the Consumer Fraud Bureau. The Attorney General’s suit today seeks an additional $7,000 in restitution for other affected homeowners.

Madigan’s lawsuit also asks the court to prohibit the defendant from the home repair business in Illinois and cancel any pending contracts with consumers. The lawsuit also seeks to impose on the defendant a civil penalty of $50,000, additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation found to be committed with the intent to defraud, as well as $10,000 per violation found to be committed against a person 65 years or older.

Assistant Attorney General E. Paige Boggs is handling this case for Madigan’s Consumer Fraud Bureau.

Chicago Detours Launching “Good Times around Michigan Ave”

Chicago, IL – This Saturday April 30, Chicago Detours continues to “reinvent the tour” with its launch of a new guided walking tour that explores entertainment history, with stops at former sites of grand galas, underground clubs, jazz shows, theater performances, and more. While interacting with historic images on shared iPads, guests will go off Michigan Ave to uncover hidden spots of lively history on the side streets. Topics include high society soirees of the Gilded Age (at the opulent Driehaus Musem) and the Medinah Athletic Club, once a roaring ’20s social club (now the Intercontinental Hotel). The $26 tour price includes use of iPads, engaging commentary by top guides, an interactive group dynamic, and valuable extras. Reservations are required.via Facebook or email to info@chicagodetours.com, contestants can win $52 worth of walking tours (2 tickets) for this Friday.  We will award 30 lucky contestants later this evening. More details here.

Guests meet in front of the Tribune Store, 435 N. Michigan Ave. This two-hour walking tour goes 1.5 miles, ending at the intersection of State and Rush streets. Launch is April 30th, and it will will run until late October. Tour times in May & Oct: Tue. and Sat. at 10:00am, Sun. at 1:30pm,
Sat. also at 8:00pm. Tour times Jun – Sep: we will continue this schedule and add Thu. at 10:00am & Fri. at 1:30pm. Reservations are required, and can be made by phone (312.350.1131) or online (chicagodetours.com). Adult tickets are $26; students/seniors $24; kids 5 and up $18; kids under 5 free.

The photo contest for the “Good Times” tour launch ends tonight at 8:00pm. By simply posting a picture of a “good time” in Chicago,

Chicago Detours makes tours that are like mobile exhibits. Guests interact with each other, urban space, and historical media to engage with Chicago’s architecture, art, history, politics, entertainment, and city life. Tours bring people to explore stories and places that locals don’t even know about. Highly trained guides share forgotten stories from the past, and create an engaging dynamic to spark discussions and learning. Private groups can also reserve the tour. As a social venture, Chicago Detours guides do not take tips; rather they take donations for worthy causes, such as educational initiatives to give tours to local schools free of charge.

Since launching this past fall, the company has received feedback from tour attendees that has been widely positive, with top ratings on both Yelp and TripAdvisor. One Yelp comment says, “We found it interesting, fascinating, eye opening, worth our time and money…and we live in Chicago!” Cathy Domanico, the Director of Tourism of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, said, “Very informative and fun! I learned a lot, too.” Another guest eagerly comments, “This is no stuffy all buildings tour” and New City Magazine journalist Kristine Sherred writes, “Guides encourage questions and conversation, fostering a collaborative educational environment unlike the talking head on run-of-the-mill tours.” 

Scotese has 8 years experience as a tour guide, and especially honed her skills while employed as a guide and guidebook researcher with Rick Steves, one of the nation’s most well-known travel authors and television personalities. She enriched her knowledge of architecture, urban studies, and art history through her M.A. in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. Further information on Amanda Scotese and Chicago Detours is available on the website, www.chicagodetours.com.

By Carlos E. Moore, Esq.

Nationwide (BlackNews.com) — Maritime or nautical workers regardless of their position are exposed daily to hazards of working offshore, on inland waters, at the docks and along the coast. The working conditions of seaman, longshoremen, harbor workers and shipyard workers are generally more dangerous than that of the typical job onshore. Injuries in these settings fall under the umbrella of maritime law and provide specific benefits and remedies that are not afforded to workers in traditional shore based jobs.

When a maritime worker is injured on the job, one of the first steps that must be taken is to determine which body of law controls – the Jones Act, the Longshore Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act or general maritime law. This often comes down to two questions, are you a “seaman” and were you working aboard a “vessel”.

Seaman status does not require a worker to be assigned to an ocean going vessel in a traditional maritime capacity, but instead is determined by the job duties a claimant performs. First, a claimant must be performing or assigned duties that further the vessel’s purpose. Therefore, all members of the vessel’s crew from the captain to the cook are considered seamen for the purpose of Jones Act protection. Second, the claimant must have at least a semi-permanent connection to a vessel that is in operation. This definition extends seamen status to underwater workers and divers who work off a vessel, despite the fact that their duties are not carried out aboard the vessel.

Although the question, “What is a vessel?”, seems simple enough to answer, it is often a point of great controversy. The courts have extended vessel status beyond traditional ships, barges and boats. In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the term vessel includes every type of craft or vehicle capable of being used for transport on water. This extends vessel coverage to special purpose vessels such as mobile offshore drilling units including jack-up and semisubmersible rigs, dredges and even pontoon rafts.

Those who have been injured while working offshore, along the coast or on inland waters from Mississippi to St. Louis, should consult with an experienced maritime attorney for assistance in determining your rights under the law and which statutory scheme applies to your claim. Because maritime law is one area in which many of the details of the law are decided by judges rather than statutory law, it is important to speak with an attorney who is experienced in this area of practice and understands the nuances that are buried in these laws.

Carlos E. Moore, Esq. is a founding member of the National Law Group (NLG) – the first and only Black-owned coalition of law firms that offers legal services to customers nationwide. To be legally represented for Maritime Injuries and other matters such as Divorce, Criminal Law, and Medical Malpractice, call (866) 654-2727 or visit www.NLGattorneys.com or www.BlackLawyers.NET

“Consumers are bombarded every day with ads and e-mails offering services to manage or reduce debt.  It is hard to know what offer may work for them, let alone if the company can be trusted,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and Northern Illinois. “Families in debt may think their situation can’t get any worse.  However, not understanding the differences among debt negotiation, consolidation or elimination firms can actually lead to increased debt and even bigger worries.”

To help consumers understand various options for dealing with debt, the BBB offers a brief explanation of debt negotiation, consolidation and elimination services and tips on finding help to deal with debt:

Debt Negotiation/Settlement

Debt negotiation companies claim that they will negotiate with a consumer’s lenders to lower the total amount of debt owed for an upfront fee.  Unfortunately, some consumers who paid for debt negotiation services found out that the company never contacted their lenders.  Instead, the firm took the consumers’ money and disappeared as a business.  Another caution is for consumers to keep talking directly with their lenders and not succumb to the belief that debt negotiation companies have everything under control.  Too often consumers end up slipping deeper into debt. Relying on debt negotiation firms could also put a dent in a consumer’s credit report.

Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation companies offer to group together various debts allowing the debtor to make one lower payment to the company, rather than many payments to the different lenders. While debt consolidation can make paying monthly bills more manageable, consumers should be aware that some companies tack on high fees and charge exorbitant interest rates.  These mean the consumer is paying much more in the long run for the convenience of a single, reduced monthly payment.

Debt Elimination

Companies that offer debt elimination rely on many different schemes, but they all hinge on the notion that credit lines are illegal. Debt elimination companies typically provide, for an upfront fee, a document for the lender that supposedly absolves the consumer of the debt. Unfortunately, the document has no bearing whatsoever on the debt owed and consumers paying for such services have found that they’ve wasted money on a debt elimination scheme that would have been better spent on actually paying back their debts.

Before enlisting the help of a business to manage debt, the BBB offers the following advice for consumers:

• Always check the company out first with the Better Business Bureau. BBB Business Reviews on debt negotiation, consolidation, and elimination companies are available online for free at www.bbb.org
• Stay in contact with lenders and try to work out a plan with them first before enlisting outside help.
• Start with a credit counseling service. Credit counseling services are often nonprofits that offer financial guidance for a small fee, or at no cost. To find a credit counseling service for free go to www.bbb.org
• Beware of offers that sound too good to be true. There is no easy fix for reducing debt and any company that makes huge claims and guarantees, probably can’t deliver.

For more advice and referrals on dealing with debt including how to manage a budget, go to www.bbb.org

Chicago Architecture Foundation Offers Late Walking Tours and Cruises

Chicago, IL – People meeting up after work can take in an architecture tour and still get home for dinner. The Chicago Architecture Foundation offers after-work tours that take advantage of the sunsets on Chicago’s skyscrapers. All tours are led by the incomparable Chicago architecture Foundation docents. May through September

From Log Cabin to Trump Tower: Chicago River Main Branch
      – select evenings at 5:30pm

      Wolf Point, the Wigwam and the West Loop: River Bend
      – select evenings at 5:30pm

      Downtown Deco
      – Mondays at 5:30pm
     
      Millennium Park Revealed
      – Tuesdays at 5:30pm
     
      Historic Downtown (south loop): Rise of the Skyscrapers
      – Wednesdays at 5:30pm
     
      Historic Downtown (north loop): Treasures of Culture & Commerce
      – Thursdays at 5:30pm
     
      Modern Skyscrapers
      – Fridays at 5:30pm
     
      Gold Coast: Dearborn Street
      – Select evenings at 6pm
     
      Gold Coast: Astor Street
      – Select evenings at 6pm
     
      Evanston Downtown
      – Select evenings at 5:30pm
     
      Vice to Nice
      – Select evenings at 5:30pm

The “date night” Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady Cruises is offered at 5:30 pm, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from June 4-October 2.

For detailed information check: www.architecture.org – P 312.922.3432

 The Chicago Architecture Foundation is located at 224 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Current exhibition is Chicago Model City with a large scale model of Chicago. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public interest and education in architecture and design. The Chicago Architecture Foundation pursues this mission through architecture tours, exhibitions, panel discussions, and youth and adult education programs. For further information visit www.architecture.org or call 312.922.3432 or become a facebook fan: www.facebook.com/chicagoarchitecture or follow on twitter: www.twitter.com/chiarchitecture