As many as 8,000 residential properties in Cook County, including 4,000 in Chicago, have been in foreclosure for at least three years without resolution, new data show, a situation that could further deteriorate already scarred communities.

Many of those properties that seem to get stuck or abandoned in the foreclosure process are in lower-income areas where annual household income is $49,000 or less, according to a study by Woodstock Institute.

Some of the at-risk houses, condos and apartment buildings are vacant, and the lenders have likely abandoned the foreclosure cases. Some continue to be inhabited while in foreclosure. Others are still in foreclosure while lenders consider short sales.

"You're stuck in this situation where nobody really has a long-term interest in the property," said Spencer Cowan, a vice president at the Chicago-based public policy and research group and one of the report's authors. "The titleholder knows it may be taken at any time. The servicer doesn't own it and may never own it. They may release the lien or just let it sit."

Mortgage servicers filed foreclosure cases against about 228,400 houses, condos and apartment buildings in Cook County between 2008 and 2012, according to Woodstock. Its research, though, looked only at the roughly 135,000 cases filed between 2008 and 2010 because of the long time it typically takes to process a foreclosure case through the county's court system.

Sixty percent of those cases studied completed the foreclosure process and were sold at auction between 2009 and 2012. The majority become bank-owned. An additional 34 percent were resolved in another way, such as through a mortgage loan modification, a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. The remaining 6 percent remained stuck in foreclosure three years after the original court case was filed, Woodstock concluded.

The study also found that in addition to the different treatment based on household income, properties in areas with a higher percentage of nonwhite residents were more likely to be sold at auction.

"Properties that went into foreclosure in lower-minority tracts seem to have had more alternative resolutions than properties in tracts with higher minority populations," Cowan said.

Woodstock's research used a random sample of 500 properties and extrapolated the findings based on the region's income distribution.

It estimated that nine of Chicago's 77 community areas contain more than 100 unresolved foreclosure cases. Most are those are in neighborhoods that bore the brunt of the city's foreclosure crisis. They are Ashburn, Austin, Belmont Cragin, Chicago Lawn, Humboldt Park, the Near North Side, Portage Park, Roseland and West Ridge.

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Unresolved foreclosure cases pile up in Cook County

T.J. Thompson, chair of Safe Access Virginia, the newly formed state chapter of Americans for Safe Access, the national group advocating for medical cannabis (it prefers the "scientific" term over marijuana), will be leading a lobbying effort in Richmond on Monday, Jan. 20.

Twenty two states now have medical cannabis laws on the books. Since 1979, Virginia Code has also included a statute: "Possession or distribution of marijuana for medical purposes permitted ... for treatment of cancer or glaucoma."

Washington D.C. is an example of how the latter works, as in 2010 its Health Department was tasked with overseeing the creation of eight medical 'dispensaries' to supply authorized individuals.

In Virginia, there's also a backlash, and on Monday, HB 684, sponsored by Del. Robert G. "Bob" Marshall, will be heard in the House Courts of Justice Sub-committee. The bill would "amend and appeal" Virginia' statute "relating to prescribing marijuana as medicine" and would make it so that "no practitioner of medicine ... shall prescribe, dispense, administer, or cause to be administered marijuana."

"We don't want to go backwards," said Thompson, a Chesapeake resident and military veteran. He cites research showing the efficacy of cannabis for a number of conditions, including chronic pain, nausea, spasticity and movement disorders.

The Safe Access group also has a draft "Virginia Medical Cannabis Act" at the ready but has not yet found a sponsor for it.

The group will meet on the Capitol lawn at 9:30 a.m. before meeting with lawmakers.

For more health news, go to http://www.dailypress.com/health

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Medical marijuana lobbyists will be in Richmond on Monday, Jan. 20

The death of Richard Davis at Southwell in 1996 was a turning point. All racecourses became equipped with ambulances and doctors specifically trained in the injuries they were likely to encounter on the racecourse. We can expect the same treatment if we fall at Cheltenham during the Festival or Fontwell on a Friday.

When he started, it had not been long since the role of racecourse doctor was virtually honorary and seen as a good job and a free lunch for a retired GP. Now there are nearly 250 fully trained racecourse medical officers who are retrained every three years.

Improving the standard of helmets and body protectors has also been an obsession for him so, although it is still an inherently dangerous profession, it is much safer than it was on his arrival; he has ensured we are fit and healthy, riding in the safest equipment and with the best medical support if we get injured.

Also near the top of the list of his achievements was his introduction of stringent concussion protocol in 2004, 10 years ahead of the Rugby Football Union, and he will now use his experience to set up the National Concussive Head Injury Centre in London which, hopefully, will also have further benefits for jockeys.

When the BHA get a new man for the job, it is essential he has a great interest in the sport and in us. That is half the battle and the new chief medical officer should not regard it as just a job. He has some big boots to fill.

Taquin De Seuil (1.30) is the reason I am at Haydock on Saturday and I am hoping he will be hard to beat in the two-mile-five-furlong novice chase. Certainly, if he wants to go to the Cheltenham Festival, he needs to be winning. He will not mind the ground or the track so neither of those will be excuses. Gevrey Chambertin, winner of a fixed brush race at Haydock last time, gets 7lb from us and is a danger and I rode Ofaolains Boy on his chasing debut and he will improve.

Champagne Rian (12.20) looks to have as good a chance as any in a handicap hurdle but Act of Kalanisi (2.40), winner of his last two and a soft-ground lover, looks like he has a tough job on his hands to beat both the former smart novice Melodic Rendezvous and Ptit Zig in the Champion Hurdle Trial.

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Tony McCoy: Farewell to Dr Michael Turner, the man who saved us from ourselves

Lawn care is very essential for any type of lawn or garden as the lawn in a house is the place that adds fresh sir to the house. It also rejuvenates the mood ofthe people if it is clean and well maintained. But unfortunately, people these days have started neglecting their lawns due to busy schedule as well as hectic life. Thus it is advised to go with an effective company in Virginia Beach for Lawn care.

There are different types of companies that offer their lawn care services to their clients these days. Most of these companies offer the services that are related with maintenance as well as they also offer different types of agronomic programs to their clients. It is highly advised to settle on a particular kind of service before you choose a particular maintenance company for your lawn. In general there is a huge range of tools as well as techniques that are used by these services. It is seen many a times that the people do not know what exactly has happened to their lawn that is the reason that you must seek for a genuine advice from a professional that offers different types of lawn care services. He would thoroughly inspect your lawn and provide the garden with a suitable treatment. One can browse through the various services offered by these companies from the official website of these lawn care service companies.

There are different types of lawn care packages that are delivered by these companies.

There are different types of services available and the customer has the freedom to choose the one that suits his needs the best. These services could be availed daily, weekly or even yearly as that depends upon the care and treatment that is needed by your lawn.

The price of the company that you have chosen for yourself must be competitive enough. There are many false companies that charge extra high prices that are absolutely not fair. You must cross check the prices of the company that you have chosen for yourself from the other companies of the same expertise.

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Lawn Care: Essential for a beautiful and flawless garden

Free Sign Up CP Newsletter! Related Veterans Group Wants Congressional hearing on VA Dept.'s Alleged Religious Liberty Violations Police Chief Refuses to Remove Cross From Lawn Following Atheist Complaint in Ark. Mark Driscoll Fires Up His Detractors, Social Media-Minded Christians With 'Going to Hell' Tweet

January 16, 2014|10:12 am

An atheist organization has taken up the cause of a Florida man who has complained for several years that the display of a Bible in one city council's chambers is a violation of the Constitution.

Randy Heine, the owner of Rockin Cards and Gifts in Pinellas Park, Fla., told The Christian Post he was "stonewalled" by city officials when he tried to have the Bible removed from the dais in the city council chambers back in 2005. He could not afford to take legal action against the city, he says, so his mission was put on hold.

In June 2013 he reached out to the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an organization that promotes the separation of church and state of which he is also a member, to share his concern.

An FFRF staff attorney sent a letter to Pinellas Park Mayor Sandra Bradbury shortly after claiming that, among other things, displaying the Bible is a government endorsement of religion and is therefore unconstitutional.

"No legitimate purpose is served by having a bible [sic] on the dais. Its presenceonly appears to express approval of its contents and of Christianity," wrote FFRF attorney Andrew Seidel.

Seidel told CP his organization sent several follow-up letters to the city, including one sent earlier this week, but city officials have not yet responded. The city has, however, worked with FFRF on an open records request that was included with the first letter.

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Several federal courts have declared that displaying the Bible on government property is a violation of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, he says. He also says he hopes city leaders will see that they can still exercise their beliefs privately and that FFRF is concerned with protecting the First Amendment.

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Atheist Group Challenges Bible Display at Fla. City Hall, Calls It a Violation of the US Constitution

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Along Californias North Coast, so much marijuana is grown that the region has become known as the emerald triangle. As states hash out laws regarding humans use of pot, though, some point out that its not just a human concern: Fish and wildlife proponents say salmon are feeling the negative effects of the marijuana industry.

It takes a huge amount of water to run pot farms, and many marijuana growers draw that water from rivers. And NPR reports that pesticides and fertilizers are also being found in those rivers where Chinook and other salmon swim.

NEWS: Why Are Sockeye Salmon in Trouble?

According to Scott Bauer, a fisheries biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 24 tributaries of the Eel River went dry last summer. Its unlikely that Chinook and Coho salmon will return in large numbers in coming years, he told NPR. Some fear they wont return to certain rivers at all.

I have nothing against people growing dope, Dave Bitts, a Humboldt County commercial fisherman and the president of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermens Associations, told NPR.

But if you do, we want you to grow your crop in a way that doesnt screw up fish habitat. There is no salmon-bearing watershed at this point that we can afford to sacrifice.

NEWS: Killer Whales Die Without King Salmon

Its not the first inkling that animals and cannabis dont mix: This summer, a study found that rat poison used on pot farms may be killing fishers, a sensitive species of medium-sized mammals, in the southern Sierra Nevada.

Exposure of wildlife to pesticides has been widely documented, but this is a fundamentally different scenario," said wildlife biologist Dr. Kathryn Purcell.

In marijuana cultivation sites, regulations regarding proper use of pesticides are completely ignored and multiple compounds are used to target any and all threats to the crop, including compounds illegal in the U.S., she said.

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California Pot Farms Could Put Salmon at Risk

Police are looking for information after a man was allegedly pepper sprayed at a party in the area of Albert Street South early Saturday (Jan. 11) Kawartha Lakes Police Service Kawartha Lakes This Week

(LINDSAY) Police are looking for information after a man was allegedly pepper sprayed at a Lindsay party early Saturday (Jan. 11).

Kawartha Lakes Police and EMS were called to the area of Albert Street South at about 2 a.m. after someone driving by noticed a man rolling around in the snow on a lawn after being allegedly pepper sprayed at a nearby party. The man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 705-324-5252 or make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at http://www.khcs.ca.

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Man allegedly pepper sprayed at party

MOULTRIE Dolly and Bud Stringer, both cancer survivors, will pass a torch, that was lit for them by friends during their battle with cancer. Run for a Reason, a 5K and one-mile fun run, organized by the couples friends to help them, will be held this year, on Saturday, Feb. 8, to honor Jacob Martin, a four-year-old who is battling a malignant brain tumor.

When adversity strikes, it is the love and support of your God, family, friends and your community that gets you through it. Our family was so blessed, and we wanted to give back. Jacob and his family were the perfect fit. They are so strong in their faith and their desire to beat this illness. We are honored to be able provide some assistance to them on their journey, said Dolly.

According to Christie Cooper, Jacobs great-aunt, Dolly Stringer wanted to continue the Run for a Reason campaign and honor a local resident who is battling cancer each year.

She was drawn to Jacob and chose him as the honoree in the Second Annual Run for a Reason, Cooper said.

In July of last year, Jacob, who is the son of Grant and Lindsay Martin of Moultrie, was diagnosed with a Gliomatosis Cerebri tumor, which is a rare, aggressive, high-grade tumor that does not respond to chemotherapy. Instead, he has been taking radiation treatment over the past year and, Cooper said, he has responded well to it.

As of his last MRI, which was made in November, the tumor has shrunk by 35%, she also said.

On July 4, of last year, Jacob had a seizure after waking from a nap and, after a trip to Colquitt Regional Medical Center and later Archbold Memorial, the Martins found themselves on the way to Childrens Hospital of Atlanta in Egleston. After an MRI was performed, the doctors told the family that the mass that has been discovered in Jacobs brain had been there for approximately two to three years and was inoperable. Since, according to the doctors, the tumor seemed to be asleep, Jacob was released from the hospital.

In August, the family took a last minute trip to Disney World so that Jacob and his sister, Addison, could enjoy it while he was still feeling good. Jacob started getting sick including losing his hearing completely. On discussion with their doctors at Childrens Hospital, they took him back to Atlanta. At that time, it was decided that Jacob would start the radiation treatment. After his tenth treatment, his hearing started to return and he regained his energY.

The Martins would like to thank the community for all of their prayers and support throughout this process. God has done some mighty powerful work in Jacob over these past few weeks and with continued prayer and trust in Him, we know we will continue to see improvement, the family stated in an article which was run in The Observers Faces of Courage publication in September of last year.

The Stringers were both diagnosed with cancer in 2012 Dolly with breast cancer in April and Bud with melanoma in August. Bud decided to surprise his family by shaving his head in support of Dolly whose head he had shaved before she went through chemotherapy. The melanoma was found at that time and doctors told Dolly that if it had not been found, Bud would not have survived to see Christmas.

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Stringers' "Run for a Reason" to aid Jacob Martin