| Microsoft opens personal health record site
But the software maker must still grapple with whether sharing data exposes it to greater financial risk in the event that hackers get their hands on confidential medical data. Many state-level security breach notification laws have been passed in the last couple of years, giving identity theft victims the ability to sue companies whose systems are hacked or whose computers are stolen, Hirsch said. The health care industry is just one U.S. sector that's treading lightly as a result. Some of the best sources of comprehensive health records data, major insurance companies, haven't agreed to build applications that work with HealthVault. But even if Microsoft were able to get providers and insurance companies to feed data into HealthVault, it's not clear consumers will use it.
Trailers ride to school's rescue; More space needed as Beeman student ...
Principal Sue Ellen Hogan yesterday was counting the hours until the arrival of two trailers to relieve overcrowding at Beeman Elementary School, whose student census has increased from 218 last spring to 330 last month.
"We can't wait for them," said Hogan, who noted that because of the 51 percent enrollment increase the Beeman library has been claimed for teaching Title 1 students. Teachers have no "preparation place," she added.
She thanked Superintendent Christopher Farmer for a recent tour that spurred the decision to lease the trailers.
The School Committee voted to lease the 440-square-foot trailers on Oct. 3.
School Committee member Carolyn Kirk said the one-year lease price was $12,000.
At that, they were a bargain compared to the four modular units the committee is still waiting for after fronting the $426,000 purchase price or the $2.5 million that the committee has decided it needs to spend on additional expansion to accommodate the larger number of students and teachers in the elementary schools next September.
RTS Can Continue Busing Students
Rochester, N.Y. -- A federal judge has reversed his earlier ruling that would have discontinued public transit bus routes, impacting 9,000 city school students. Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority has provided bus service for city school students for more than 10 years. But last year, the federal government reversed its stance and said the service was illegal because it amounts to unfair competition for school bus companies like Laidlaw.Today a federal judge says that's simply not true.Judge David Larimer accused the Federal Transit Authority of "flip-flopping" by re-writing the definition of what constitutes an illegal bus service.The judge reversed his October decision requiring the Rochester City School District to drop most of the service provided by RGRTA.He also ruled RGRTA can expand its express bus service to students after March 24."RCSD students and their parents would certainly need some time to be made aware of and prepare for coming changes in their bus service," said Larimer, which is is why he ordered the two month delay.Students who take RGRTA buses will continue to do so, but their pick-up times may change sometime after March 24.The city school district pays RGRTA almost $6 million for the service.The judge also ruled against Laidlaw and the transit drivers union which joined the federal government in this action.
Analysts predict wave of home refinancing
The economic stimulus plan agreed on Thursday could unleash a wave of mortgage refinancing that would amplify the effect of the Federal Reserve's 75 basis-point interest rate cut this week, according to analysts. While the Fed has cut rates aggressively, until now a large number of homeowners and would-be buyers have not been able to take advantage of the lower interest rates, because of high spreads in the dysfunctional secondary market for jumbo (large denomination) loans. Under the plan, the so-called conforming loan limit would be expanded for the two government-sponsored enterprises to 125 per cent of area median sales price up to a maximum of $729,750, from a current $417,000. Now more homeowners will be able to refinance or take out new mortgages in the functioning segment of the market that “conforms" to Fannie and Freddie rules.
ITT Educational confident in 2008 view
CARMEL, Ind. - Post-secondary education provider ITT Educational Services Inc. said Thursday it is "confident" it can achieve 2008 earnings per share of $4.50 to $4.60 despite the reduction in lender subsidies under federal student loan programs and tight credit markets which are pressuring students. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect full-year profit of $4.47 per share, on average. The company said it expects to continue to improve student retention, but believes future increases in the quarterly persistence rate will moderate from 2007 levels. "Recently, there has been a lot of speculation in the market with respect to the ability of our students to obtain the financing needed to pay their education costs," said Chief Executive Kevin Modany in a statement. "This speculation was caused by a recent reduction in lender subsidies under the federal student loan programs and the current credit crunch that arose from the subprime mortgage crisis." ITT said it has arranged for Bank of America, Chase Education Finance and Citibank, The Student Loan Corp.
Southwest Florida EverBank Loan Production Office Relocates to ...
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- EverBank, one of Florida's fastest growing financial services companies, announced the relocation of its Southwest Florida Loan Production Office (LPO) from Bradenton to its new office on Cooper Creek Blvd. in University Park. The loan production office will process loan applications and arrange financing for real estate projects, corporations and small businesses. The University Park office employees include: The Southwest Florida LPO will open its doors on Friday, November 2 at 8450 Cooper Creek Blvd., Suite 101, University Park, FL 34201. EverBank Financial Corp is a private financial services holding company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.
Obama and McCain ride momentum; Clinton feels the pressure
What does that say for the Hill'/Bill return to the White House? She might be a woman, but a very needy one! We had 8 years of the Clinton lying, cheating, twisting of truth, spineless response to initial attacks from Mid-east. Hillary is NOT a uniter and her husband makes it virtually impossible to be so. Do this county a favor and vote for ANYONE but the Clintons! .
Despite Citi woes, city plans on track
The billions in losses at Citigroup Inc., which led to Sunday's departure of chief executive officer Charles O. Prince, will not derail Citibank's expansion plans in Philadelphia, a local executive said yesterday. "From my perspective, nothing changes" in terms of Citibank's effort to become "a leader in financial services here in Philadelphia," said William E. Brown, Citibank's marketplace leader. Brown said Citibank opened its 11th branch here last week on Cottman Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia and - after opening its first here last year - planned to have 22 open by the end of the year. As all banks do, Citibank is working hard to gain favor in the communities where it opens branches. For example, Citibank was a lead sponsor, contributing $10,000 to the Education Foundation of Lower Merion's gala fund-raising event Saturday evening.
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