Janasko News

Photographers marvel at falling ‘lava’ at Yosemite – Chicago Sun

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:59:24 +0000

By TRACIE CONE February 20, 2012 10:24AM

In this undated handout photo provided by the Scott Gediman of the Yosemite National Park Service, the firefall from Glacier Point is shown in Yosemite. A window of time just opened in Yosemite National Park when nature photographers wait, as if for an eclipse, until the moment when the sun and earth align to create a fleeting phenomenon. This marvel of celestial configuration happens in a flash at sunset in mid-February _ if the winter weather cooperates. On those days the setting sun illuminates one of the park's lesser-known waterfalls so precisely that it resembles molten lava as it flows over the sheer granite face of the imposing El Capitan. (AP Handout Photo/Yosemite National Park Service, Bethany Gediman) MUST CREDIT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Updated: February 20, 2012 7:07PM

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — A window of time just opened in Yosemite National Park when nature photographers wait, as if for an eclipse, until the moment when the sun and earth align to create a fleeting phenomenon.

This marvel of celestial configuration happens in a flash at sunset in mid-February — if the winter weather cooperates. On those days the setting sun illuminates one of the park’s lesser-known waterfalls so precisely that it resembles molten lava as it flows over the sheer granite face of the imposing El Capitan.

Every year growing numbers of photographers converge on the park, their necks craned toward the ephemeral Horsetail Fall, hoping the sky will be clear so they can duplicate the spectacle first recorded in color in 1973 by the late renowned outdoors photographer Galen Rowell.

“Horsetail is so uniquely situated that I don’t know of any other waterfall on earth that gets that kind of light,” said Michael Frye, who wrote the book The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite.

“How many are perched on a high open cliff? Most are in an alcove or canyon and won’t get the sun setting behind it. Yosemite’s special geography makes this fall distinctive,” he said.

Four decades ago, photographers had only to point and shoot to capture another famous Yosemite firefall — a man-made cascade of embers pushed from a bonfire on summer nights from Glacier Point.

But photographing Horsetail is a lesson in astronomy, physics and geometry as hopefuls consider the azimuth degrees and minutes of the earth’s orbit relative to the sun to determine the optimal day to experience it. They are looking for the lowest angle of light that will paint Horsetail the colors of an iridescent sunset as rays reflect off granite behind the water. It materializes in varying degrees of intensity for the same two weeks every year.

“If you hit it at just the right time, it turns this amazing color of gold or red-orange,” said Frye, a photo instructor with the Ansel Adams Gallery in the park.

Article source: http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/10759595-418/photographers-marvel-at-falling-lava-at-yosemite.html

Co-operative Insurance Companies Selects iPartners’ Insurance Scorecard

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:59:21 +0000

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iPartners, the leading provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) business analytics solutions to the property casualty (PC) insurance industry, today announced that Vermont based Co-operative Insurance Companies (Co-op) has chosen iPartners’ Insurance Scorecard. The solution coupled with iPartners’ Software as a Service (SaaS) model provides a rapid and cost-effective delivery which will enable Co-op to achieve quick-to-value “in production” business intelligence (BI) and robust reporting capabilities.

“This singular focus enables us to deliver the best possible products and services to our growing family of insurer clients.”

In its strategic planning process, Co-op identified a need to improve the quality and depth of information being provided to its executives to provide greater visibility into the business and better decision making. Without the in house BI expertise or available staff, Co-op opted to look outside of the organization. iPartners was chosen due to its reputation for both business intelligence and property casualty industry expertise, combined with the proven Insurance Scorecard solution.

The implementation of iPartners’ Insurance Scorecard will benefit Co-op by:

Providing a wide range of analytics and robust reporting across the entire enterprise;
Enabling executives to easily access detailed and timely information and insight into the business; and
Presenting information and analysis in an easily usable format to allow for knowledge-based business decisions.

“We have been thinking about improving our BI capabilities for some time. We set up a demo with iPartners and were very impressed with their capabilities. The fact that they had broad experience with our particular policy management system, CSC’s Point System, clinched the deal,” said Dave Tatlock, Co-op’s CFO. “We were also excited about their business model, which has us provide data, but has iPartners doing all the heavy lifting.” We look forward to a long and successful partnership with iPartners.”

“It is very gratifying to be recognized by Co-operative Insurance Companies for our past achievements in both business intelligence and the insurance industry. Our plan is to keep our focus solely in the insurance space so that we can maintain and grow our reputation as the premier BI solution provider to insurers,” commented Robert Lasher, iPartners founder and CEO. “This singular focus enables us to deliver the best possible products and services to our growing family of insurer clients.”

iPartners’ Insurance Scorecard Business Intelligence solution is an easy to use SaaS solution designed specifically for the PC industry. The suite offers a complete analytics solution including: insurance specific data warehouse, performance management dashboards and scorecards, ad-hoc detailed analysis, production reporting, and drill to detail.

About Co-operative Insurance Companies

Co-op is a $60 million property casualty insurance company writing business throughout Vermont and New Hampshire. Specializing in farms, rural properties and small commercial risks, Co-op has been providing financial security to its policyholder members since 1915 from its home office in Middlebury, Vermont.

About iPartners

As the industry leading provider of ‘on demand’ PC insurance business analytics solutions, iPartners enables insurance executives to make higher quality and more timely decisions – the true measure of an insurance executive’s productivity - by delivering accurate, up-to-date, easy-to-use and relevant data via a suite of customized dashboards, scorecards, and a library of PC specific KPIs (key performance indicators). Delivered via Software as a Service (SaaS), iPartners currently services over 35 customers and processes over 15 million policies representing over $12 billion in premiums. For additional information visit www.iPartners.net or call 888.618.8360 ext 230.

Article source: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120221005380/en/Co-operative-Insurance-Companies-Selects-iPartners%E2%80%99-Insurance-Scorecard

Tension between congressional candidates Kucinich, Kaptur on full display at …

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:48:37 +0000

Democratic candidates for the 9th Congressional District debate Monday at the City Club of Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Democratic candidates for the new congressional district along Lake Erie frequently locked horns Monday in a downtown debate that exhibited the building tension surrounding the closely watched race.

With the March 6 primary approaching, incumbents Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur, who have described each other as friends, threw crisp jabs throughout the debate.

Political newcomer Graham Veysey, meanwhile, took shots at both Kucinich and Kaptur. Veysey, a Cleveland entrepreneur, presented himself as a change of pace with fresh ideas to solve problems such as poverty and the national deficit.

Kucinich set the acrimonious tone in his opening remarks, saying that Kaptur has resorted to "swift-boat-type advertising tactics" in a TV ad that recently began airing in the Cleveland market. Kucinich said the ad misrepresents his voting record on job creation, veterans' care and prescription drug benefits for seniors.

Playfully referring to Kaptur as "my friend," Kucinich also criticized her support of defense spending and acceptance of campaign contributions from "war contractors."

"If the corrupt system in Washington can ensnare this fine lady, there aren't too many people who can take it on," Kucinich said.

Kaptur stood by the commercial's message and promoted her a record of "real results" -- a stark contrast, she said, to the former Cleveland mayor's failure to get anything meaningful accomplished.

"You can take on the status quo, but who really makes a difference in the end with actual bills that get passed?" Kaptur said.

Kucinich had a chance to cite legislative accomplishments when Plain Dealer politics writer Henry J. Gomez, who moderated the event, asked the candidates to name a recent bill they championed to create jobs. Kucinich cited his support for the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus.

Health care, education, and abortion rights were among the other issues that emerged during the hour-long debate at the City Club of Cleveland.

The three Democrats are on the ballot in a reconfigured 9th Congressional District that stretches along the Lake Erie shore from Kaptur's longtime Toledo turf to Kucinich's base in Cleveland and its western suburbs.

Slow population growth cost Ohio two seats in Congress, setting up the battle between Kaptur and Kucinich.

Kucinich, 65, had a feisty demeanor throughout the debate, particularly when addressing attacks from his opponents. He was especially annoyed with a claim in Kaptur's TV ad that Kucinich voted against prescription drug benefits for seniors.

Kucinich said the ad is referring to competing budget plans more than 10 years ago. Kucinich said he voted against a plan proposed by conservative "blue dog" Democrats that included increased military spending along with provisions for a prescription drug plan for seniors. Instead, Kucinich said he voted for a budget plan that did include a Medicare prescription drug benefit.

"C'mon Marcy, I mean you understand the difference between a blue dog amendment which I voted against, and the Democratic alternative which I voted for," Kucinich said. "Seniors know that I stand for them."

Kaptur, 65, rattled off an assortment of projects she championed. She did not refer to Kucinich by name during the debate and questioned his support of regional businesses in the solar, steel and auto industries.

"When I look the congressman from Cleveland, I really ask myself how he can claim to have any jobs successes," she said. "People should ask themselves, who has been fighting hardest for jobs along the coast?"

On the economy, Veysey, 29, said the region should embrace innovation and transform itself into the "digital belt."

Veysey was the only candidate to take a strong position on Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson's recently proposed plan to reform the city's schools. The plan includes elements of Senate Bill 5 -- the collective bargaining law voters overturned in November -- such as merit pay and the elimination of seniority as the sole factor in employment decisions.

Veysey said he supports the mayor's plan. Kaptur didn't take a position. Kucinich admitted he did not know details of the plan but said, "I'm not certain that I'm going to be supporting his particular approach."

Watch the disputed television ad:

Article source: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2012/02/tension_among_congressional_ca.html

Princeton defeats Trinity for squash national title, denying Bantams 14th …

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:11:27 +0000

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Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/princeton-defeats-trinity-for-squash-national-title-denying-bantams-14th-straight-crown/2012/02/19/gIQAFxKQOR_story.html

Insurance industry could take hit from birth control mandate

admin — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 00:00:10 +0000

The insurance industry is concerned it will take a hit from the Obama administration’s mandate that they provide birth control in health plans for employees of religious organizations that object to the coverage.

Publicly, the health insurance industry has avoided getting involved in the fight.

But in private, the industry is dubious of the administration’s argument that the insurance industry wouldn't take a hit because birth control is cheaper than unwanted pregnancies.

The trade group America's Health Insurance Plans has limited its comments to saying it worries about the "precedent" the mandate would set. The concern is that the government could eventually require health plans to cover any number of preventive services – even prescription drugs - without copays or deductibles, under the theory that they save money in the long-term.

Privately, however, insurers say there's nothing "free" about preventing unwarranted pregnancies. They say the mandate also covers costly surgical sterilization procedures, and that in any case even the pill has up-front costs.

"Saying it's revenue-neutral doesn't mean it's free and that you're not paying for it," an industry source told The Hill.

Doctors still have to be paid to prescribe the pill, drugmakers and pharmacists have to be paid to provide it - and all that money has to come from insurance premiums, not future hypothetical savings, the source said.

The White House argues the new plan will save money for the health system.

"Covering contraception is cost neutral since it saves money by keeping women healthy and preventing spending on other health services," the White House said in a fact sheet.

"For example, there was no increase in premiums when contraception was added to the Federal Employees Health Benefit System and required of non-religious employers in Hawaii. One study found that covering contraception saved employees $97 per year, per employee."

Tim Jost, a champion of the health reform law and law professor at Washington and Lee University, reiterates that point in a new analysis of the birth control mandate.

"Health plans will be able to offer contraceptive coverage for free because, according to studies cited by the government, contraceptives cost substantially less than pregnancies," Jost writes. "The free coverage is not, therefore, an 'accounting gimmick' under which employers in fact pay for coverage against their beliefs, but coverage will in fact be paid for by the insurers out of savings that they realize by offering contraceptive coverage."

Yet in a survey of 15 large health plans this week, Reuters found that "40 percent of the participants said they expect the requirement will increase costs through higher pharmacy expenses" within a year or two.

Another "20 percent said costs would even out because they already budget for contraception in the premium, 6.7 percent said it would drive up pharmacy costs but decrease medical costs, while 33.3 percent weren't sure," Reuters found. "None said it would lead to net savings."

It's not clear how those costs would be passed on. The regulation bars the health insurance plans from raising the religiously-affiliated employers' premiums, so it's possible workers at companies that directly offer contraceptive coverage would get stuck with higher premiums to make up the lost revenue.

Another unresolved issue is the case of self-insured institutions, where the employer and the insurer are in effect one and the same. The administration says it's still working that out, but Republicans doubt they'll be able to.

"It forces the insurance company that they have to pay to do the coverage," Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said last Sunday in reaction to the new rule. "So instead of making the institution itself, it reinforces the insurer. And a lot of these Catholic institutions are self-insured, and all insurers under this rule must provide these mandated benefits."

To complicate things further, some critics of the special treatment for religiously-affiliated institutions have argued that employers aren't really spending their own money on healthcare benefits in the first place. Because employees must accept lower wages than they otherwise would, the idea that employers are spending their own money on employee coverage is "rubbish" according to Gary Puckrein, Founder and President of the National Minority Quality Forum, a nonprofit group dedicated to eliminating health disparities among racial groups.

"Employers do negotiate benefit design with insurers on behalf of workers, but the benefit does not exist until the employee's wages are transferred to the insurer's account," Puckrein writes in the Huffington Post. "Religious employers are no exception; they are not using their own money to buy medical products and services for their employees. It is their employees who are purchasing the benefit with their own money."

Article source: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/211563-insurers-could-take-hit-from-birth-control-mandate

Cleveland City Planning Commission rejects parking plan for historic May Co …

admin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:28:19 +0000

Cleveland City Planning CommissionThe historic May Co. building, just off Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The Cleveland City Planning Commission rejected the owners' proposal to turn half of the former department store into parking. The plan involved creating 734 parking spaces on floors two through five and removing the windows for ventilation.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The owners of the historic May Co. building should explore a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the former department store, a city commission said Friday.

The Cleveland City Planning Commission rejected a proposal to convert half of the eight-story building, just off downtown Cleveland's Public Square, into parking.

The building's owners, an out-of-state investor group, hoped to create 734 parking spaces on four floors and remove the windows for ventilation.

An architect working on the project said that the ground floor would be maintained for retail, and that housing and offices were possible on the upper floors. But plans submitted to the city focused only on parking, on the building's second through fifth floors.

"Given the amount of investment that's planned for Public Square, and literally all the private sector investment around that building, it just seems to me to be an under-performing repurposing of the building," Anthony Coyne, chairman of the planning commission, said in an interview after the meeting.

"They don't have plans for any of the upper floors," he added. "Everything is speculative."

The May Co. building, owned by an affiliate of the Morgan Reed Group of Miami, Fla., stretches from Euclid Avenue to Prospect Avenue, just east of Public Square. The parking plan was a clear bid to capture traffic from a nearby casino, set to open in mid-May in the Higbee Building at Tower City Center.

But a city design review committee expressed trepidation about the project Thursday and tabled the plan for further review. On Friday, the planning commission sent a stronger message, rejecting the parking proposal outright and asking the property owners to come back with a detailed plan that addresses the entire building.

"The planning commission members made it clear that their vote to disapprove was meant to send a message to the owner," said Bob Brown, the city's planning director.

Middleburg Heights architect Robert Zarzycki represented the owners at the design review and planning meetings. He did not respond to a request for comment after the Friday meeting.

Committee and commission members worried that stripping out the windows and replacing Prospect Avenue storefronts with entrance and exit ramps would damage the historic character of the building and hurt its prospects for complete renovation. The May Co. building, on the National Register of Historic Places, likely is eligible for federal and state tax credits meant to cut the cost of restoring historic structures.

In Northeast Ohio, such credits have helped developers turn empty or little-used buildings into apartment complexes, hotels and offices.

Planning commission members also expressed concern about potential traffic problems and the condition of the building, where the only ground-floor tenants face Euclid Avenue. The building's Prospect Avenue side, which faces the site of a welcome center and valet-parking operation for the casino, is vacant and dilapidated.

"We would love to see a more collaborative, comprehensive redevelopment plan - that may very well include parking," Coyne said.

Follow me on Twitter: @mjarboe

Article source: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_city_planning_commis.html

Bruce Springsteen and the National Constitution Center?

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:30:40 +0000

Hitching The Boss to a Philadelphia institution that normally plumbs the deepest meanings of the Constitution and displays busts of the original signers might seem a stretch.

But, yo, this is Philly. Bruce is the city’s adopted son. (OK, so he’s technically from across the Delaware in Jersey.)

Yet it only seems natural that the Constitution Center would eventually honor a sort-of-local boy who made good as America’s troubadour. Friday, the center opened a seven-month exhibit, "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen.’’

The exhibit, which runs until Sept. 3, features the rock 'n' roll totems dear to adoring Springsteen fans:

Bruce’s Fender Esquire guitar from the cover of "Born to Run." The outfit the Boss wore on the cover of "Born in the U.S.A." -- T-shirt and jeans, but you Bruce fans knew that.
Handwritten lyric manuscripts of your favorite Springsteen tunes, complete with Bruce’s wavy cross-outs and doodles.
The 1960 Corvette the Boss bought himself after "Born to Run" hit it big. A snapshot of little boy Bruce and his sister Virginia on a bench on the Asbury Park, N.J., boardwalk.

As the center’s promotional materials point out, the 150 Bruce artifacts are "never before seen outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum!’’ (And Cleveland weeps.)

Amy S. Rosenberg, an "only slightly obsessive’’ Bruce fan who writes for the Philadelphia Inquirer, had a little fun with the notion of analyzing the Boss the way the center analyzes all things constitutional. In an engaging Inquirer piece titled "The meaning of Bruce, debated in a new forum,’’ Rosenberg posited: "Should we apply a strict interpretation to these lyrics or a more expansive one? Historic context or first impression?’’

Chuck Darrow of the Philadelphia Daily News dismisses many of the exhibit artifacts as "somewhat prosaic and not especially interesting.’’ But he does recommend, in a "Why it’s cool’’ analysis: Bruce’s Communion photo. The Boss’s Columbia Records audition tapes. Springsteen’s 1994 best song Oscar, for "Streets of Philadelphia," presented by Whitney Houston.

David Eisner, the center’s president, says in a video interview on the center’s website that the exhibit is "a home run for us."

"Bruce Springsteen’s music is all about achieving the American dream,’’ Eisner says. "The Constitution Center is about the values and the dreams on which the American dream was based."

Not all Inquirer readers agree. In an online poll, the newspaper asked: Does a Bruce Springsteen exhibit have any place at the National Constitution Center? Twenty-four percent of respondents agreed that "Yes, he’s as American as apple pie and the Declaration.’’ Fifteen percent agreed that "Yes, his songs fit into the mold of the great protest singers.’’ Alas, a lot more people – 44% – agreed with "No, merely a commercial way to get people to buy museum tickets.’’

For faithful Springsteen fans, could the appropriate response to that last poll result be something The Boss himself once wrote: "It’s a town full of losers, we’re pulling out of here to win?’’

ALSO:

Another twist in Maxine Waters case

Arizona bill targets swearing--by teachers

IRS reveals its "dirty dozen" tax fraud scams

Article source: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-bruce-springsteen-and-the-national-constitution-center-20120217,0,5704707.story

How Insurance Companies Detect Insurance Scams

admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 04:07:42 +0000

Angie Mohr, provided by

Friday, February 17, 2012

Article source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/17/investopedia74717.DTL

KWQC-TV6 News and Weather For The Quad Cities – LeBron not ruling out return …

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 09:25:12 +0000

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James could picture returning one day to the place where his NBA journey began.

Back in Cleveland.

Imagine that.

After practicing in a gym where he refined his game for seven seasons, James said Thursday he would not rule out a return to the Cavaliers, a team he carried to the brink of a title before he spurned an entire region by leaving as a free agent in 2010 to chase a championship with Miami.

Asked if he could play for the Cavs again, James initially paused before giving his answer.

"I don't know. I think it would be great," he said. "It would be fun to play in front of these fans again. I had a lot fun times in my seven years here. You can't predict the future and hopefully I continue to stay healthy. I'm here as a Miami Heat player, and I'm happy where I am now, but I don't rule that out in no sense.

"And if I decide to come back, hopefully the fans will accept me."

James' comments may have been calculated, coming one day before the Cavs host the Heat for the third time since the superstar's infamous and messy exit from Cleveland. In mentioning a possible reunion, he may be trying to soften the negative response he'll get Friday night from fans who haven't forgotten what he did to them.

However, James appeared sincere when talking about a potential return to the Cavs, his fractured relationship with Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and topics ranging from phenom Jeremy Lin to rookie Kyrie Irving following practice on the fourth floor of Quicken Loans Arena.

Perhaps it was because he was back in familiar surroundings that prompted James' remarks. Or maybe it's part of a larger agenda. Whatever the case, his past with Cleveland, and his decision to bolt from the Cavs, will always be a sensitive subject.

After all, James put Cleveland back on the NBA map by taking the Cavs to one finals and winning two MVP awards during his stay. He left the franchise during a summer in which he held an entire city at bay as it awaited his decision. After he announced he was joining the Heat during a nationally televised special, the Akron native was vilified by the same fans who cheered every one of his dribbles and dunks.

Time has healed some of the wounds - not all.

James said he has made no attempt to patch things up with Gilbert, who harshly criticized James in a scathing letter to Cleveland's fans. Gilbert promised to win a title before James, questioned his character and told The Associated Press he felt James quit on the Cavs during the playoffs.

James said he has no bitterness toward Gilbert. They have not spoken since James met with the Cavaliers on July 3, 2010, when they were one of several teams courting him to sign with them.

"I don't have any hard feelings. He said what he said and I've moved on," said James, who is under contract with the Heat for two more seasons. "But there's been no attempt to patch things up."

James, however, said he can envision being friends again with Gilbert.

"I don't hold grudges," he said. "I hold them a little bit, but I don't hold them that long. He said what he said out of anger and he would probably want to take that back. But I made a mistake, too, and there are some things I would want to take back as well.

"You make mistakes and move on."

But could he play for Gilbert?

"Dan is not the coach," he said. "I can play for any coach. We'll see what happens."

Attempts to reach Gilbert were unsuccessful. Two years ago, Gilbert was fined $100,000 for his comments about James following "The Decision."

It wasn't clear if by "mistake" James meant the way he announced his departure from Cleveland or joining the Heat. He insists he's happy in South Florida and committed to winning a title with the Heat, who are favored to win it all this season after losing to Dallas in the finals last June.

James acknowledged he's changed and enjoying hoops the way he once did.

"I'm back to how I was in Cleveland, having fun with the game, appreciating the game, loving the game and playing at a high level," he said. "I got away from that last year. It was a difficult year for me last year, making the whole transition, on and off the floor, going through everything I went through.

"I just got back to how I got to this point, back to playing the way I know how to play."

James' comments about a return to Cleveland - albeit unlikely - caught former teammate Antawn Jamison off guard.

"It surprises me that he's saying that now," said Jamison, who played 25 games with James in 2010 after coming over in a trade. "Three years down the road it wouldn't surprise me if he entertains the idea. But hey, after the first go-round, I don't think anything would surprise you as far as scenarios taking place."

Cavs guard Daniel Gibson can't envision Cleveland fans ever receiving James warmly again.

He may have moved on. They haven't..

"I don't think he'd be welcome," Gibson said. "Not with the way that went down. It was a pretty tough situation. I'm sure they wouldn't feel comfortable with that at all."

For the moment, and for at least the next two seasons, James is with the Heat. Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has seen a renewal in James, who he believes will one day be warmly recognized by Cavs fans for his time in Cleveland.

"Time heals a lot of things and LeBron had many special years here," Spoelstra said. "There probably will be a time in the future where he will be embraced and acknowledged for the great run that they had here. It's a new chapter for their organization and they've got a bright future ahead."

James knows what's coming on Friday. He's prepared for a rough reception, but not as hostile as the one the seven-time All-Star got on Dec. 2 last season. James expects to hear boos, but maybe not as many obscenities.

"It doesn't sting anymore," James said. "The booing isn't as bad as it was last year so it's not even a big deal."

James' comments about a hypothetical return to Cleveland didn't surprise teammate Dwyane Wade, his running mate in Miami.

Even Wade, who stayed with James at his home Bath, Ohio, could imagine his friend reuniting with the Cavs - some day.

"Anything is possible," Wade said. "Hopefully, I'm retired."

Article source: http://www.kwqc.com/story/16952465/james-not-ruling-out-return-to-cavs

$1 billion casino at National Harbor proposed by Prince George’s Executive Baker

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:44:32 +0000

The developer of National Harbor endorsed the plan Thursday, but the prospect of bringing a full-fledged casino to Prince George’s faces considerable hurdles, including mixed views among county lawmakers and staunch opposition from the owner of a planned casino in neighboring Anne Arundel County.

Baker, who opposed slots during a decade as a state delegate, said in an interview that his views have changed since becoming county executive 14 months ago and that — under the right conditions — he would welcome a facility “much like what you see in Las Vegas.”

“The economy around us has changed,” Baker said. “There are far fewer revenue options for the county or the state. . . . We’re going to do everything we can to get this bill passed.”

In addition to generating education funding for the state, Baker said, the casino could yield nearly $50 million a year in gaming and other tax revenue for the county, which could be spent on a variety of economic development, housing and community-based programs.

Gambling boosters have long argued that a Prince George’s casino could be Maryland’s most lucrative, drawing patrons from the District and Northern Virginia, where casino-style gaming remains illegal. The county was not among the five locations in a 2007 bill that launched Maryland’s slots program, however, because of near-unanimous opposition from Prince George’s lawmakers.

Proposed legislation

Although that opposition has softened, many elected leaders in Prince George’s say they remain concerned that gambling preys on the poor and will tarnish the county’s image — even as part of an upscale development.

“Should we make that our hallmark in Prince George’s County? I don’t think it is a great idea,” said Del. Jolene Ivey (D-Prince George’s). “When people think of Prince George’s County, I don’t want the first thing they think of to be ‘that’s where we can play slots and gamble.’ ”

Legislation introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly in recent weeks would add a sixth gaming site, in Prince George’s, pending approval by state and county voters.

The bill also would allow table games, such as blackjack, craps and roulette, at all Maryland casinos and would increase the share of proceeds that private operators may keep.

Supporters, who include the powerful Senate president, Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), say the bill would make Maryland more competitive with the surrounding states of Delaware, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Article source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/1-billion-casino-at-national-harbor-proposed-by-prince-georges-executive-baker/2012/02/16/gIQAy2hOIR_story.html