Why Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer is Better Than Representing Yourself

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 8, 2019)–Over the years, an increasing number of claimants have been pursuing compensation for personal injury without the relevant legal representation. On paper, this process may often seem relatively simple – especially for ‘open and shut’ cases – but any personal injury claim can be a testing time for all parties involved, and representing yourself can be harder than you realize.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Most personal injury lawyers are reluctant to take a case on unless they are sure that it has potential to win, so this itself can be a great pointer for you when it comes to determining whether or not pursuing your case is going to be worth the emotional dedication, stress and the cost. Once an attorney from a reputable firm – like this team of

Indianapolis personal injury lawyers

– has agreed to take on your case, one of the first things that they will do is provide you with a theoretical settlement figure. There are many ways to determine this, including expert opinions, legal guidelines, and simply understanding the market.

Keeping a Clear Head when an Offer is Made

If you have a relatively strong case in terms of compensation, it can be easy to rush when a settlement offer is made. Hiring a personal injury lawyer is usually helpful in this situation as they have the skills and expertise to put themselves in the shoes of those representing the defendant, who will have access to the same evidence as yourself and have likely come to the same conclusion. But even if it’s fairly obvious that liability has been proven, don’t underestimate the tendency of insurance adjusters to try and get away with

the lowest possible settlement offer

. Having a good personal injury lawyer by your side will help you get the maximum, rather than the minimum amount.

Be Ready for all the Negotiation

The good news is that the vast majority of personal injury claims are settled without ever reaching the courtroom, which can make getting the compensation that you’re entitled to that little bit easier. But, don’t underestimate the negotiation process that it takes to get here – a skilled personal injury lawyer can not only help you get the biggest settlement, but also expertly negotiate in order to avoid your case going to court unless absolutely necessary.

Where to Avoid an Early Settlement

That being said, there are some situations where an early settlement might not be the best course of action – waiting some time, and

being prepared to go to trial

is often the better option if you have not yet made a full recovery from your injuries; if your doctors have estimated that you’ll take at least six months to recover; if you have suffered multiple injuries that require you to see several specialists; if your treatment is still ongoing; or if you don’t have a definitive answer regarding your recovery time. Speak to your lawyer if you are in any of these situations, as they will be able to advise on the best action to take.

Representing yourself in a personal injury case might seem easy enough, but you’ll usually always get the best results working with an experienced lawyer.

image courtesy of unsplash.com

Are Cell Towers Dangerous to Humans and Pets?

Studies indicate that proximity to base stations correlates with headaches, dizziness, depression and other neurobehavioral symptoms, as well as increased cancer risk. Animal studies also

image of a cell tower

indicate that these effects may be cumulative.

Newswise — No one can over engineer like an engineer. So introducing a little more caution into an existing engineering process is nothing much to ruffle feathers. A new paper published in

Environmental Research

offers insight on how to include simple precautionary approaches to siting cell towers.

Joshua Pearce is the Richard Witte Endowed Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He runs the Michigan Tech Open Sustainability Technology (MOST) Lab, which works on solar photovoltaics, 3D printing, and open source science hardware.

And there are many cell towers — and more coming — since almost everyone has a cell phone and the towers are being used for more data intensive applications. In the U.S., the Pew Research Center reports 96% of Americans own a cell phone of some kind, and smart phone ownership today has risen to 81% from 35% in 2011. Industry data reported by GSMA Intelligence estimates more than five billion people worldwide use mobile devices. All these devices work using electromagnetic waves, which expose people to low levels of radio-frequency radiation (RFR).

“The research on the health impacts of RFR is still inconclusive. But some of the preliminary data gives us reason to be concerned,” said Joshua Pearce, a professor in electrical and materials engineering from Michigan Technological University who led the study, which reviews current data on RFR and engineering solutions for placing towers. “I’m pro-tech and I’m pro-human, so I think there are ways for us to have our cell phones and minimize potential risk without waiting to find out that putting a cell tower on top of a school was a bad idea.”

Pearce and his team’s solutions focus on getting companies to rethink where to place cell towers when they do a standard “search ring” map that prioritizes potential sites based on maximizing coverage for the least cost. Assessing tower placement is not a new idea; Canada and many European countries are looking into siting guidelines that help keep particularly vulnerable populations safe, like kids and those with illnesses.

The handful of human studies reviewed in Pearce’s paper indicate that proximity to base stations correlates with headaches, dizziness, depression and other neurobehavioral symptoms, as well as increased cancer risk. Animal studies also indicate that these effects may be cumulative.

Given the current research, cell towers would be cautiously placed 500 meters, or about a third of a mile, away from schools, hospitals and lots of sleeping people in dense neighborhoods or high rises.

The challenge in the U.S., unlike in India where such setback laws are already in place, is the laws that govern cell tower siting plans in Section 704 of The Telecommunications Act of 1996 specifically eliminate “environmental effects” from consideration.

“This is a peculiar law, but saying that something is legal doesn’t make it right or cost-effective in the long run,” Pearce said. “It’s in companies’ best interests to be thoughtful about where to place cell towers; they don’t want to move towers or be held responsible down the line. These effects are inadvertent — but there are options to do it differently that can reduce potential health impacts and thus a company’s future bottom line.”

In addition to revamping search ring mapping to include a 500-meter buffer, which doesn’t impact the cost of the siting process but reduces future liability, Pearce says there are other more innovative options, like cell splitting and small cell deployment, that could also decrease RFR exposure. At the end of the day, it comes down to thinking before building.

Wise Winter Weather Tips for Your Family

When Old Man Winter comes, calling, homeowners need to keep everyone in the family – including your pets—safe. Follow these wise winter weather tips from the

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI)

and

TurfMutt

Bring Pets Inside:

Dogs and cats should be kept inside during cold weather months. Wipe their paws and bellies after they’ve been outside, and check for ice accumulation between paw pads. If you’re using a de-icing agent, remove that salt and other agents, too.

Pick up Debris:

Before it snows, remove debris and household items from your family yard. Doormats, hoses, toys and sticks can hide under a layer of snow that could harm your snow thrower, family or pets.

Clear a Path:

Your snow thrower is a convenient way to clear your driveway and sidewalks. It also gives your pet a path to their bathroom area.

Trim Trees Carefully:

When using a chainsaw, stand with your weight on both feet, adjust your stance so you are angled away from the blade and hold the chainsaw with both hands.

Ventilate Portable Generators:

If a winter storm knocks out your power, a generator can be a life-saver, if used properly. Place the generator outside and away from windows, doors and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

Watch Where You Throw

: Keep kids and pets away from the equipment, and never put your hand in the chute or auger to clear a blockage. Turn the machine off and always use a clean-out tool.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 25 (Dec. 8, 2019)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. He’s been distributing his comics in school since 3rd grade. (click image to enlarge)

Why Do You Need to Use Practice Tests to Explore Microsoft MS-200 Exam Topics?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 8, 2019)–MS-200 is one of the Microsoft recently introduced certification exams. It is designed for the messaging administrators who configure, troubleshoot, deploy, and monitor mail protection, recipients, permissions, public folders, and mail flow in both on-premises and Cloud environments. These professionals are responsible for managing messaging infrastructure, disaster recovery, hybrid configuration, hygiene, client access, migration, and high availability. The certified administrators work in partnership with the Microsoft 365 enterprise and security administrators to performa topology that will fulfill the requirements of an organization for its business.These specialists have knowledge of licensing, authentication types, and integration with the applications of Microsoft 365.

Microsoft MS-200 is part of the prerequisites for obtaining the Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate certificate. This test includes 40-60 questions with the allocated time of 120-150 minutes. It is available in English only. The exam fee is $165. If you are not in the United States, you should check the certification webpage to find out the specific fee that applies to you because it may vary from one country to another. After passing Microsoft MS-200, the candidates can proceed to take the second test to earn their certificate. The second one, Microsoft MS-201, is designed to validate the students’ skills in planning and implementing hybrid configuration & migration, managing organizational settings, and securing messaging environment. However, this certification guide will focus on the first exam, Microsoft MS-200. Let’s dive into it and its objectives.

http://www.exam-labs.com/dumps/MS-200

Microsoft MS-200 Exam: Skills Measured

The MS-200 test measures three different core skills that include management of the following areas:

Modern Messaging Infrastructure – 45-50%;

Mail Flow Topology – 35-40%;

Recipients &Devices – 15-20%.

It is crucial to mention that the associated percentage on each of the skills refers to the weight of questions that may be expected from each of the topics. This means that the objectives with higher percentages are likely to have more questions in the delivery of a particular exam. However, it is recommended that you gain mastery in all the topics to be able to achieve success in the Microsoft MS-200 certification test. To help you prepare for it, we will explore each of these objectives in detail.

Managing ModernMessagingInfrastructure

This topic takes up the bigger chunk of the skills that will be measured in the exam.Almost half of the whole test. It requires that the candidates understandthe management of databases. Therefore, they have to understand the process involved in mailbox database prerequisites planning; creating, troubleshooting, and configuring mailbox databases. The skills in managing DAG are also required. For this, the individuals must be able to create it; plan and manage DAG members and settings; manage and deploy site resilience; test datacenter and database fail-over scenario; measure Exchange services health; and troubleshoot DAG issues. The students should also understand the techniques required in client access management and implementation. This entails planning namespaces; configuring policies, URLs & virtual directories, global OWA policies, and auto-discover for Exchange. The test takers also need to know how to manage the lifecycle of the Exchange certificates and troubleshoot connectivity issues.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/exams/ms-200

Additionally, the applicants should know a thing or two about disaster recovery management. This entails planning a strategy of backup & recovery; implementing and performing backups; restoring databases, mailboxes, and servers. The skills in the management of messaging infrastructure lifecycle are also needed so you can attain the desired success in this Microsoft test. Therefore, the candidates should have competence in planning the installation of Exchange Server; installing and updating Exchange services; preparing AD for Exchange.

Managing Topology of Mail Flow

The skills you need here include planning transport pipeline, managing connectors, managing mail flow, and troubleshooting mail flow issues. Therefore,the individuals need to study up on designing mail flow with multiple sites; planning solutions for high availability mail flow. They also need to understand all about planning connectors, configuring them, as well asknow a thing or two aboutSend and Receive ones.The test takers should also know how to manage transport rules& domains. In addition to this, they need to know about the validation of outbound and inbound mail flow; monitoring of mail flow; investigation of transport logs; handling of NDRs; configuration of messaging tracking.

Managing Devices&Recipients

This topic has the least percentage, which means the questions from it are likely to be lower than the first two. However, you can’t afford to discard this subject in the course of your preparation because it might just be the deal-breaker for your success in the actual exam. Having said this, it is crucial that you prepare for it. You will be required to manage the recipient resources. This entails managing groups and mailboxes, including archive mailboxes, resource mailboxes, and mailbox permissions, as well as configuring mailbox policies. It also covers the skills in evaluating license options and managing shared mailboxes. Additionally, the candidates for Microsoft MS-200 must have competence in mobile devices management. This includes managing mobile device access and configuring mobile device mailboxes policies.

NOTE:

If you want to easily study all these topics in order to pass the exams and get your Microsoft certification, you need to find reliable sources and resources. Microsoft offers various prep tools that the students can use to prepare for the MS-200 test. You can also explore other platforms to get the necessary and relevant resources. Exam-Labs is one of the sites that offer extensive study materials to prepare for this Microsoft certification exam. They are study guides, video tutorials, practice tests, braindumps, blog articles, etc. Visit this website to know more.

Conclusion

Success in the Microsoft MS-200 exam can be ensuredif you take the time to study these topic areas in depth. The great news is that there are the relevant resources that will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to understand all these objectives. The Microsoft Learning platform has a wide array of study materials to prepare for the test, including training with the certified instructors who will lead you through the whole course; official practice tests;study groups where you can ask questions and get answers to them. There are many resources that you can explore on Exam-Labs to get ready for this certification exam. Use them wisely and obtain the credential that will change your personal and professional life.

FBI Seeking Person of Interest

December 4, 2019

Who May Have Information Regarding the Identity of a Child Sexual Assault Victim

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the public’s assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown female who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. Photographs and an

informational poster

depicting the unknown individual, known only as

Jane Doe 37, are being disseminated to the public.

Initial videos of the unidentified female, Jane Doe 37, shown with a child were first recorded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in June 2014. The EXIF data embedded within the video files also indicated that the files were produced in April 2012. In addition, audio from the animated film

The Land Before Time

can be heard in the background of the videos.

Jane Doe 37 is described as a white female with brown hair and wearing dark-framed glasses. Due to the age of the images, it is possible that the individual’s appearance may have changed over the years.

Information regarding this individual was originally released in late 2016 under a John Doe title. However, further investigation has led the FBI to determine the gender of this individual is female and not male. Therefore, this individual is now known as Jane Doe 37.

UNKNOWN INDIVIDUAL – JANE DOE 37

Anyone with information to provide should

submit a tip online

or call the FBI’s toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no charges have been filed in this case and that the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This individual is being sought as part of the FBI’s Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing characteristics in association with child pornography images.

Another NJ-Base Pharmaceutical Co. Admits to Price Fixing

Rising Pharmaceuticals Agrees to Pay Over $3 Million in Criminal Penalty, Restitution, and Civil Damages Related to Hypertension Drug

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain and the Department of Justice announced that Rising Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Rising), a generic pharmaceutical company headquartered in New Jersey, was criminally charged for conspiring to fix prices and allocate customers for a generic hypertension drug, and in a related enforcement action, reached a civil settlement for violations of the False Claims Act, subject to bankruptcy court approval.

According to a one-count felony charge filed today in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, from about April 2014 until at least September 2015, Rising participated in a criminal antitrust conspiracy with a competing manufacturer of generic drugs and its executives to fix prices and allocate customers for Benazepril HCTZ, a medicine used to treat hypertension. This charge is the fourth in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s ongoing criminal investigation into the generic pharmaceuticals industry; previously, two executives were charged and pleaded guilty to criminal antitrust violations, and a corporation, Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc., was charged and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Antitrust Division in May 2019.

U.S. Attorney McSwain and the Antitrust Division also announced a deferred prosecution agreement resolving the charge against Rising, under which the company admits that it conspired to fix prices and allocate customers for Benazepril HCTZ. Under the deferred prosecution agreement, Rising agrees that $1,543,207 is the appropriate amount of restitution it owes to victims of the Benazepril HCTZ conspiracy. To account for Rising’s separate agreement with the Department of Justice’s Civil Division, which requires Rising to pay approximately $1.1 million in civil damages for False Claims Act violations predicated on Rising’s antitrust conduct, the deferred prosecution agreement calls for an offset of Rising’s restitution, to $438,066. The deferred prosecution agreement also requires Rising to pay a $1.5 million criminal penalty, reduced from the fine of approximately $3.6 million called for under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, as a result of Rising’s inability to pay a larger fine without impeding its ability to pay restitution and in light of its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings that will result in liquidation. Both the deferred prosecution agreement and civil settlement agreement are pending approval in the bankruptcy court. Once approved, the deferred prosecution agreement will be filed in district court.

In addition, under the deferred prosecution agreement, Rising has agreed to cooperate fully with the Antitrust Division’s ongoing criminal investigation. To allow Rising to comply with the agreement’s terms, the United States will defer prosecuting Rising for three years, or until its ongoing bankruptcy proceedings become final, whichever comes first. The agreement will not be final until accepted by the court.

The Antitrust Division entered into this deferred prosecution agreement with Rising based on the individual facts and circumstances of this case. Among those facts and circumstances, the agreement specifically identifies the company’s substantial and ongoing cooperation with the investigation to date, including its disclosure of information regarding criminal antitrust violations involving drugs other than those identified in the criminal charge and the agreement. According to the agreement, this cooperation has allowed the United States to advance its investigation into criminal antitrust conspiracies among other manufacturers of generic pharmaceuticals. Other facts and circumstances identified in the agreement include Rising’s agreement to pay restitution, and the fact that a conviction (including a guilty plea) would result in substantial delay to Rising’s ongoing bankruptcy proceeding and liquidation. The agreement ensures that Rising is held accountable for its criminal conduct and preserves the United States’ ability to prosecute the company should material breaches occur.

In the separate civil resolution, Rising has agreed to pay $1.1 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act related to the price-fixing conspiracy, subject to bankruptcy court approval. The government alleged that between 2013 and 2016, Rising paid and received remuneration through arrangements on price, supply, and allocation of customers with another pharmaceutical manufacturer for certain generic drugs in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and that its sale of these drugs resulted in claims submitted to the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

“My Office is proud to announce our next round of enforcement actions in this criminal and civil investigation with the Antitrust Division and the Civil Division,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “We and our partners at the Antitrust and Civil Divisions remain heavily focused on price-fixing and market allocation in generic drugs and addressing the impact on federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. These criminal and civil resolutions with Rising, if approved by the bankruptcy court, are yet another important accomplishment in that area.”

“Hypertension medicines are vital for patient health, and engaging in schemes to price fix these generic medicines is illegal and could potentially be dangerous, as some patients may have an inability to pay for the medicines they need,” said Maureen R. Dixon, Special Agent in Charge of the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services. “HHS-OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate allegations of companies engaging in actions that put the public and the Medicare program at risk.”

“Today’s charge, like the previous corporate and individual charges announced in this investigation, publicly affirms the Antitrust Division’s steadfast commitment to prosecuting the companies and executives who fixed prices of generic pharmaceuticals,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Rising and its co-conspirators exploited patients that rely on Benazepril HCTZ as a low-cost alternative to brand-name medications to treat high blood pressure. The deferred prosecution agreement is an important step in restoring integrity to the generics industry. It will require from Rising not only an admission of guilt, a criminal penalty and cooperation in the ongoing investigation, but also restitution to the direct purchasers that bought Benazepril HCTZ at artificially inflated prices.”

“The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General appreciates the opportunity to assist in these critical generics industry antitrust investigations,” said Special Agent in Charge Scott Pierce. “Aggressively pursuing those companies and executives who foster behavior related to price fixing, bid rigging and market allocation helps to ensure an open process by which generic pharmaceuticals can be competitively priced and sold. Working closely with the Department of Justice and our counterparts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General stands ready to support these vital efforts going forward.”

“The FBI is proud to join our partners in this effort to uncover companies and individuals who attempt to exploit necessary medicines to cheat the economic system and illegally amass wealth,” said Timothy R. Slater, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “Today’s announcement shows the FBI’s level of commitment to investigating allegations of antitrust violations and illuminating criminal behavior so that the perpetrators can be held accountable.”

The criminal charge is the result of an ongoing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct in the generic pharmaceutical industry, which is being conducted by the Antitrust Division with the assistance of the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Anyone with information on market allocation, price fixing, bid rigging and other anticompetitive conduct related to the generic pharmaceutical industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Citizen Complaint Center at

1-888-647-3258

or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.html.

The civil settlement was handled by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with support from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. Except for those facts admitted to in the deferred prosecution agreement, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

4-Year University Tuitions Jumped 34 Percent in PA and 35 Percent in NJ

The Center Square

Pennsylvania four-year public university tuition and fees went from $11,175 in 2004-05 to $14,937 in 2019-20, the 10th smallest increase among the 50 states and the District of

CNBNews image files

Columbia, the College Board said in

a new report.

That 15-year change represented a tuition and fee hike of 33.7 percent. Between the 2018-19 and the 2019-20 academic years, four-year tuition and fees in the state decreased 1 percent, according to the College Board numbers.

The analysis found that average tuition and fee amounts at four-year universities in five states dropped over the past five years when the costs are adjusted for inflation. And in nine states, those tuition costs rose by at least 15 percent over the same time period, the College Board reported.

The average out-of-state tuition and fee amounts in 10 states are more than three times that of the in-state tuition and fee numbers, according to the analysis.

—

Changes in Tuition and Fees at Public 4-Year Universities

State

2004-05

2018-19

2019-20

1-Year % Change

15-Year % Change

District of Columbia

$3,414

$8,401

$8,444

147.33%

Hawaii

$4,587

$10,997

$10,978

139.33%

Colorado

$5,057

$11,360

$11,380

125.03%

Arizona

$5,524

$11,754

$11,921

115.80%

Nevada

$3,893

$7,805

$7,953

104.29%

Louisiana

$4,787

$9,678

$9,614

-1%

100.84%

Georgia

$4,621

$8,698

$8,719

88.68%

Oklahoma

$4,789

$8,960

$8,919

86.24%

Virginia

$7,558

$13,735

$13,627

-1%

80.30%

Kentucky

$6,063

$10,909

$10,902

79.81%

Alabama

$6,109

$10,972

$10,918

78.72%

Alaska

$4,653

$7,962

$8,233

76.94%

Tennessee

$5,833

$10,158

$10,255

75.81%

California

$5,683

$10,054

$9,966

-1%

75.37%

West Virginia

$4,919

$8,445

$8,487

72.54%

Idaho

$4,865

$7,729

$7,999

64.42%

Rhode Island

$8,037

$12,793

$13,060

62.50%

Michigan

$8,526

$13,690

$13,771

61.52%

Utah

$4,435

$7,114

$7,162

61.49%

Illinois

$8,797

$14,254

$14,166

-1%

61.03%

Kansas

$5,746

$9,255

$9,196

-1%

60.04%

Connecticut

$8,583

$12,974

$13,664

59.20%

Mississippi

$5,406

$8,568

$8,596

59.01%

Oregon

$7,073

$10,800

$11,220

58.63%

New Hampshire

$10,952

$16,859

$16,916

54.46%

Florida

$4,137

$6,468

$6,352

-2%

53.54%

South Dakota

$5,890

$8,841

$8,977

52.41%

Texas

$6,875

$10,347

$10,468

52.26%

Washington

$6,657

$10,023

$10,077

51.37%

North Carolina

$4,831

$7,359

$7,281

-1%

50.71%

North Dakota

$6,240

$8,826

$9,289

48.86%

Delaware

$8,980

$12,957

$13,292

48.02%

Vermont

$11,898

$17,306

$17,474

46.87%

South Carolina

$8,956

$13,201

$13,057

-1%

45.79%

Arkansas

$6,206

$8,859

$9,033

45.55%

Massachusetts

$9,529

$13,458

$13,641

43.15%

New Mexico

$5,295

$7,256

$7,432

40.36%

Maine

$7,587

$10,396

$10,478

38.10%

Nebraska

$6,394

$8,682

$8,745

36.77%

Minnesota

$8,755

$11,740

$11,834

35.17%

New Jersey

$10,809

$14,441

$14,536

34.48%

Pennsylvania

$11,175

$15,082

$14,937

-1%

33.66%

Wisconsin

$7,069

$9,178

$9,104

-1%

28.79%

Iowa

$7,325

$9,245

$9,364

27.84%

Wyoming

$4,393

$5,498

$5,581

27.04%

New York

$6,703

$8,307

$8,434

25.82%

Indiana

$7,921

$9,659

$9,675

22.14%

Montana

$6,053

$7,230

$7,204

19.02%

Missouri

$8,039

$8,806

$9,022

12.23%

Maryland

$9,171

$10,087

$10,115

10.29%

Ohio

$11,157

$11,001

$11,330

1.55%

Source: College Board

STUDY: PA Spends More Per Prisoner Than Most States

By Todd DeFeo |

The Center Square

Pennsylvania spends $286 for every resident to incarcerate prisoners, 11th most among the 50 states, and the commonwealth imprisons 473 people for every 100,000 residents, 26th most, according to a new examination of incarceration nationwide.

CNBNews.net Graphic files

The

analysis from HowMuch.net

found Pennsylvania incarcerates fewer people than the nearby states of Ohio (567 per 100,000), West Virginia (492) and Virginia (560). However, it imprisons more than New York (314 per 100,000), New Jersey (278) and Maryland (407).

The site’s review also found the Keystone state spends less than New York ($335 per capita), Virginia ($310) and Maryland ($317). However, Pennsylvania’s spending outpaces Ohio ($181 per capita), New Jersey ($227) and West Virginia ($195).

The state’s Department of Corrections’ 2018-19 fiscal year budget was about $2.3 billion, according to its website. That is up slightly from the nearly $2.2 billion in 2013-14, and it is also lower than the $3.7 billion budget

HowMuch.net

used in its analysis.

In 2016, the state spent $42,700 per inmate for incarceration, which was more than the $35,300 per inmate the state spent in 2006, according to state numbers. While that was less than the national average of $45,400 per inmate, it was more than Ohio ($33,700) and West Virginia ($42,000) spend.

Pennsylvania’s prison population stands at approximately 47,300 inmates, which represents a decrease of more than 4,300 inmates over the past 6½ years, according to state numbers. The prison population peaked in June 2012, when the population reached 51,757.

Pennsylvania officials also point to declining crime rates for the reduction in the state’s prison population. The state’s crime rate dropped by 4.7 percent in 2017, the most recent numbers available, which was 1.4 percentage points more than the nationwide crime drop.

In generating its analysis,

HowMuch.net

incorporated data from the U.S. Census for 2017 and numbers from the U.S. Department of Justice. The study found that Southern states tend to have higher rates of incarceration, while those in the northeast tend to put fewer people in prison on a per capita basis.

Nationally, Louisiana incarcerates the most people per capita (942 per 100,000), followed by Oklahoma (931) and Mississippi (812). Alaska spends the most on prisons per capita ($436), followed by California ($370) and New Mexico ($346).

Meanwhile,

a recent poll

from Gallup revealed a majority of Americans (52 percent) say crime is an “extremely” or “very serious” problem. While that is up slightly from

48 percent a year earlier

, the rate is down from 2015-2017 when the numbers ranged between 59 percent and 60 percent, according to Gallup.

published here with permission

CNB Hunting/Fishing Delaware: Rules on using bait while hunting in Delaware

Reminder for the week:

DOVER (Dec. 6, 2019) – To achieve public compliance with laws and regulations through education and enforcement actions that help conserve Delaware’s fish and wildlife resources and ensure safe boating and public safety, DNREC’s Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers

between Nov. 25 – Dec. 1 made 1,172 contacts with hunters, anglers, boaters, and the general public, issuing 31 citations. Officers responded to 47 complaints regarding possible violations of laws and regulations or requests to assist the public. A Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police presence continued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area and Michael N. Castle Trail.

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police in the Community

On Nov. 25, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police officers attended a Toys for Tots donation event with DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, State Parks Natural Resources Police, and Environmental Crimes Natural Resources Police at the Brandywine Zoo as reported in a

DNREC press release

Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police Actions

Citations issued by category, with the number of charges in parentheses, included:

Wildlife Conservation:

Hunting migratory waterfowl over illegal bait (1), possession of unlawfully taken waterfowl (1), hunting migratory waterfowl without required federal waterfowl stamp (3), possess/transport unlawfully taken game – antlerless deer (6), trespass to hunt (1), and hunting on a refuge (2).

Boating & Boating Safety:

Operating a vessel with insufficient number of life jackets (1).

Public Safety:

Possession, purchase, ownership, or control of a firearm, deadly weapon, or ammunition by a person prohibited (5), possession of marijuana – civil (1)*, possession of marijuana – aggravating factor other than for personal use (1), possession of a controlled substance – tier 5 methamphetamines (1), manufacture, deliver, or possession of LSD (1), possession of human growth hormones without prescription (1), and possession of drug paraphernalia (1).

Other:

Trespassing after hours on a state wildlife area (4)* and wildlife area map violation – parked in an area designated no stopping, standing, or parking (1).

Includes citation(s) issued at the C&D Canal Conservation Area.

DNREC’s Division of Fish & Wildlife recognizes and thanks the majority of anglers, hunters, and boaters who comply with and support Delaware’s fishing, hunting, and boating laws and regulations. The Public are encouraged to report fish, wildlife, and boating violations to the Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police by calling 302-739-4580 or through the DENRP Tip app on a smartphone, which can be downloaded free of charge by searching “DENRP Tip” via the Google Play Store or the iTunes App Store. Wildlife violations may also be reported anonymously to Operation Game Theft by calling 800-292-3030, going online to

http://de.gov/ogt

, or using the DENRP Tip app. Verizon customers can connect to Operation Game Theft directly by dialing #OGT.

Are you AWARE?

Delaware Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police remind hunters that it is illegal to use bait to hunt game, except for hunting deer on privately-owned lands. Bait is defined in Delaware law as any nontoxic food material, compound, or mixture of ingredients which wildlife is able to consume.

For more information on hunting in Delaware, click on

2019-2020 Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide

.Printed copies of the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide are available at the licensing desk in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901, or by calling the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912. The printed guide also is available from license agents throughout the state.