| Sentencings in Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, March 5-6
Corey Devaughn Ryan, born 1971, Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, criminal mischief, driving under the influence, resisting arrest Sep 14. Sentenced to probation of 3 years, confinement of 11 months, 15 days-23 months, given credit for time served, ordered to undergo drug/alcohol evaluation, pay fine and $2,074.67 restitution, have no contact with victim. Neal Lee Edell, born 1956, Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to use/possession of drug paraphernalia Oct 6. Sentenced to probation of 1 year, ordered to undergo drug/alcohol evaluation and abide by its recommendations. Joseph McDonald, born 1965, Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substance not regulated Nov 10.
Merger of Blues gets full hearing hearing
There will be hearings, and lots of them. A U.S. Senate committee hearing in Philadelphia kicks things off this morning. Expect state legislative hearings, too. And the Insurance Department will convene meetings across Pennsylvania. This time around, everybody will have a chance to praise, protest or otherwise prattle on about the proposed consolidation of Pittsburgh's Highmark Inc. and Philadelphia's Independence Blue Cross, a marriage of the state's two largest health insurers. This wasn't quite so in 1996, when Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania and Harrisburg's Pennsylvania Blue Shield combined to form Highmark, the state's largest insurer. The state Insurance Department gathered little public input on the deal and was later rebuked by the state Commonwealth Court for the inaction of its commissioner, Linda Kaiser.
Highmark merger plan brings scrutiny
Politicians, competing insurance companies and health care providers expressed concern Wednesday that a combination of the state's two largest health insurers, Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross, will damage competition and raise health care costs. Ending two years of discussions, Pittsburgh's Highmark and Philadelphia's Independence announced yesterday that they intend to merge, creating a new company that will dwarf all other competitors in the state combined. The new company will insure 7.1 million of the state's 12.4 million residents. Such dominance has roused the state House and Senate to take a closer look at such deals. Yesterday, the state Senate approved a bill by a 48-0 vote that would increase state Department of Insurance oversight of such deals between non-profit entities.
Pennsylvania's 2 largest health insurers to merge
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Pennsylvania's two largest health insurers, Highmark Inc. and Independence Blue Cross, said they have agreed to merge, creating the third-largest Blue Plan health insurer in the United States. The companies provide health insurance to about 8 million people. .
Lincoln Employer Markets Announces Strategic Hires
Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) recently named six new members of its Lincoln Employer Markets Group Insurance team in its Omaha and Atlanta offices. Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) March 16, 2007 -- Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC) recently named six new members of its Lincoln Employer Markets Group Insurance team in its Omaha and Atlanta offices. Lincoln Employer Markets offers a broad breadth of products focused on Retirement, Group Insurance and Executive Benefits and was strategically created to provide employers with integrated solutions for all non-healthcare-related benefits. Timothy Bird, Assistant Vice President of Risk Services
Timothy Bird has been named Assistant Vice President of Risk Services for Lincoln Employer Markets Group Insurance business segment.
Insurance firms agree to merge
People walk past the entrance to Independence Blue Cross headquarters in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The company, which currently serves 3.4 million members and employs 9,500 people, is hoping to merge with Highmark Inc. of Pittsburgh. AP/MATT ROURKE .
A Philadelphia chemist helps desperate people who smell like old ...
He is a Ph.D. organic chemist, his lab stocked with gas chromatography equipment and test tubes. He has data to analyze and three post-docs to supervise, and he faces that familiar problem of the modern scientist: Grant money is running low. Yet once every week or two, he squeezes in time for a money-losing venture. For a nominal fee, he meets with people who have come to his Philadelphia lab from all over the world, typically after waiting more than a year. They are desperate for help with the most socially awkward of problems: extreme body odor. Preti is the accidental doctor, and he has more patients than he knows what to do with. "He is unique," says Paul Fennessey, a pharmacology professor at the University of Colorado who tests urine samples from Preti's patients.
When life changes, it's time to change your insurance
NEW YORK - Insurance policies, like shoes, provide the most comfort when they fit well. Yet at least 32 million households in the U.S. own insurance policies that aren't right for them, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In fact, in 2006, 58 percent of homes were undervalued in their policies by an average of 21 percent.But how can you tell if your insurance policy doesn't fit correctly? A good time to test it is when you undergo a major change in your life. For example, if you've recently gotten married or divorced, it may be time to update your homeowners and life insurance policies. You could be eligible for a discount on your auto insurance if you've just tied the knot. And don't forget to update your life insurance protection when you have a new baby - one-third of households with new additions forget to do so.
Teacher salaries slide relative to other states
State teachers, once paid third highest in the country, now rank eighth, trailing, in order, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Illinois, Rhode Island, New York and Massachusetts, according to an American Federation of Teachers survey. The average Michigan teacher's pay rose 1.5 percent -- the fourth-smallest gain in the country -- between the 2002-03 school year and 2004-05, the most recent year figures are available. Union leaders say they worry the flat salaries will prompt teachers to head not just to the Sunbelt, but also to neighboring states for better pay. And some students said that while money isn't their prime motivation, it's a concern. "You don't go into the education field to make a lot of money, you do it because you love the job and you love kids," said Grand Valley State University education student Jill Goerbig-Craig, who hopes to work in a West Michigan secondary school.
K-Wings Week in Review
In a preview of the postseason, Kalamazoo started the week on Wednesday (4/4) at the Perani Hockey World & Event Center against the Flint Generals. After no scoring in the opening period, Flint jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal from Bogdan Rudenko (25) just 17 seconds into the period. Kalamazoo stormed back with two unanswered goals. Midway through the period, Tyler Kindle (2) pulled the K-Wings even with a 5 on 3 power-play goal. With just under three minutes remaining in the second, Justin Cross (26) captured a 2-1 lead for Kalamazoo with his 26th tally of the season. Early in the third period, Rudenko (26) lit the lamp with a power-play goal to tie the contest at 2-2. The K-Wings closed out the scoring with three answered goals. At the 3:30 mark of the period, Kindle (3) jammed in a deflection to regain a 3-2 lead for Kalamazoo.
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