Controversy Grows With Popularity of Uber Uber created a better mousetrap in the world of for-hire transportation. Its technology seamlessly links riders and drivers through a smartphone app that is one-tap easy to use. Becoming an Uber driver is almost as effortless, allowing people from all walks of life to earn money with their personal vehicle. The results have been staggering: Raving fans have propelled Uber from a tiny San Francisco startup in 2009 to…
On Tuesday (Jan. 6, 2014), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a final rule requiring most U.S. airlines to implement Safety Management Systems (SMS) by 2018, according to an FAA press release. SMS is a formal, organization-wide approach that assists in managing safety risks by providing airlines a set of business procedures to compile data from everyday operations, the FAA press release explained. With this data, airlines are able to isolate trends that may be…
The American Bar Endowment (ABE) passed along some New Year’s resolutions that Health.com released on its website. Interestingly, Health.com reported that 75 percent of resolution makers keep their promises for at least a week, but less than half (46 percent) continue to maintain their resolutions six months later. Here’s 10 healthy resolutions Health.com suggests: 1) lose weight 2) stay in touch 3) stop smoking – or don’t start 4) save money 5) cut your stress…
Forty-one novel medicines were approved in 2014 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, fourteen more than in 2013, according to Reuters. While the FDA does not develop or test products, their experts review testing performed by manufacturers and grant approval when they determine that the overall benefit of the product outweighs the risks of the intended use, the Science Times Reported. This number is second only to the…
A garage explosion that rocked the far north suburban neighborhood of Mundelein has reportedly left one person killed and another injured, according to a report by the Chicago Tribune. Fire officials responded to numerous calls from residents in the area of the 900 block of Killanary Pass Drive at about 11:30 a.m. Friday (Jan. 2, 2015). Fire officials reported that the explosion started in the garage behind the house and fire quickly spread to the…
By Robert A. Clifford AirAsia Flight 8501 was cruising at high altitude in an area of the world that has a reputation not only for high accident rates (3 times that of North America), but also for severe thunderstorm activity at altitudes that can exceed the ceilings of any airliner. Air traffic control (ATC) voice recordings reportedly show the pilots had asked for diversion around a storm cell but ATC denied that request. Minutes later,…
An Airbus AIR.PA A320-200 operated by Indonesia AirAsia disappeared on Sunday morning on course from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore, Reuters reported. As the plane was traveling over the Java Sea, it reportedly encountered a string of violent thunderstorms and massive clouds, at which point the pilot requested to ascend some 6,000 feet to circumvent a cloud, according to the Washington Post. However, Indonesian dispatchers denied the request, and the plane disappeared within minutes with no…
Keurig, a company best known for manufacturing easy-to-use, single cup coffee makers, has recalled approximately 6.6 million MIMI Plus Brewing Systems made between 2009 and 2014 in the United States, according to USA Today. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission divulged that the recalls were a response to consumers reporting burn injuries, USA Today reported. In total, Keurig had received 200 reports of hot water spewing out of the brewer, including 90 reports of burn-like…
Retired Judge Henry R. Simmons who is the son of former Chicago Public School teachers grew up on the South side of Chicago. His family’s strong work ethic provided him with a solid example to build upon throughout his career. He now takes on the position as managing partner at Clifford Law Offices, which is the bulk of all activity at the firm. The intake of every case originates through Judge Simmons. His goal will…