Tag Archives: state and local

Whistling for Change

On the right track

In Massachusetts, the state’s highest court must consider a lawsuit that was filed towards the end of March, targeting designated quiet zones enforced in pedestrian crossings.  According to the Federal Railroad Administration, throughout the state, 29 quiet zones are in place.  Five of those listed zones are located in the city of Beverly, a suburb of Boston.  The number of quiet zones in this city may be classified as excessive, as no other community, township, or neighborhood acknowledges more than one quiet zone.  State law and federal train regulations do not require the existence of these quiet zones. Continue reading →

Dressing Up a New Code

Coffee code

Nashville hot chicken, New Orleans beignets, Chicago deep-dish pizza, and Seattle coffee are some of the most well known regionally accredited delicacies in the United States. The method of delivery or presentation is often synonymous with its consumable counterpart. About a half hour from Seattle, a town called Everett, Washington is known for its drive-up coffee shacks, as well as a recent court ruling that admonishes a dress code impacting these establishments. In response to the 2017 passing of the code, employees, referred to as bikini baristas, filed a lawsuit, citing constitutional violations and an attack on women’s rights. Continue reading →

An Outpour of Violations

Preserving the Earth

Given the mission to protect wildlife and preserve the natural order of the environment, nation-wide organizations, such as National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, and Greenpeace, have served communities and continue to heal the Earth. Although conservationists may aim to reach, influence, and safeguard all areas of the country, circumstances may arise that trigger the attention of environmental agencies only after the brunt of damage has occurred. One town in Tennessee, for example, has not only damaged a critical waterway, including its marine life, but is also blatantly breaking the law. Continue reading →

Mold Covered Mansion

Property dispute

Although Megan Fox acknowledges that she failed to read prior reports and documentation about the state of the property, she agreed to move forward with the purchase of a $3.3 million Malibu mansion, once owned by Brad Pitt’s manager, Cynthia Pett-Dante. Among the claims addressed in Fox’s $5 million lawsuit against Pett-Dante, the actress focuses on mold and septic issues, as well as an illegal animal structure on the property. Fox stated that her main concern with the home was the presence of mold, which triggered chronic headaches and stress-related complications. The cost of fixing the stated issues was estimated at $500,000. Continue reading →

Lawsuit Bridges Gap in Construction Plans

Who will determine the fate of the bridge?

Rehabilitation versus reconstruction is the theme of an ongoing lawsuit in Maine.  The Frank J. Wood Bridge will be changing in the foreseeable future, but the question remains whether the bridge will be rebuilt or just modified.  Those who oppose the rebuilding of the bridge are the same groups that have filed a lawsuit against the Maine Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.  Friends of the Frank J. Wood Bridge, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Historic Bridge Foundation are pushing for rehabilitation. Continue reading →