Strange things have happened to the men in Catherine Shelton's life. Her husband was convicted of murdering the spouse of one of her former employees. Was she involved?
One thing almost everyone agrees on is that this Texas lawyer is very smart, and she's mastered using the law in her own defense. Last fall, Correspondent Richard Schlesinger reported on this story of murder and betrayal. A shooting outside Dallas more than three years ago opened the latest act in a long-running melodrama of death and betrayal. Marisa and Michael Hierro were shot outside their home. Michael died at the scene, but Marisa lived, and says she still remembers what one of her assailants said that night. "She screams, 'Shoot her, shoot her again,'" recalls Marisa. "Catherine. Catherine Shelton." Catherine Mehaffey Shelton is Marisa's former boss, and a criminal defense attorney in Dallas. Since the Hierros were ambushed in 1999, Shelton has never been charged with the crime. She says it's because she didn't do it: "I've never killed anybody. I don't know anything about it." "She thinks she's untouchable. And she has a right to think that now, because she's done it again," says Marisa. Shelton didn't want to talk about her past, but her personal story is a Texas-size saga that spans 30 years with accusations involving -- among other things -- panty hose, a pistol and a porta-potty. "I don't ever look back at anything. Why would I," says Shelton. "Life is an adventure." Life has certainly been an adventure for some of the men in this lawyer's life. Back in the '70s, one of her former boyfriends was bludgeoned to death. She shot another ex-boyfriend in the back, and another ex's apartment burned down. But there's more. A man named with Shelton in a lawsuit was found with a bullet in his head. And a former client who accidentally hanged himself was found in Shelton's house, dead and naked. "I'm in the middle of life. And I'm supposed to work through this and work these things out," says Shelton. "And do the best I can. It's not for me to reason why." Shelton, then Catherine Mehaffey, was just beginning to make a name for herself when private investigator Kent Ferguson first heard of her. In 1979, the family of a Houston doctor named George Tedesco hired Ferguson to investigate his murder. "He was beaten to death violently in his garage. His body was left there," says Ferguson. Shelton had dated the doctor shortly after she started practicing law. When they broke up, she sued him for divorce, claiming to be his common-law wife. "According to my investigation, they dated approximately three to four months," says Ferguson. "I found no one who ever said that they lived together." Around the time this article Catherine's divorce was filed, Tedesco reported someone had come into his townhouse and taken some property. Ferguson said Tedesco named Shelton as the primary suspect. Shelton admitted taking things from Tedesco's home but called it community property. Approximately a year later, on the very day Shelton's divorce case was to be heard, Tedesco's battered body was found in his garage. The divorce was no longer an issue, but Catherine now claimed to be a common-law widow. She went after the estate and lost. That case was closed, but the murder case wasn't. No one has ever been charged. Tedesco's family filed a wrongful death suit against Shelton and one of her clients, Thomas Bell, who had been caught with some of Tedesco's property. But the lawsuit never made it to court -- and neither did Bell. "He was found shot in the head by a 357 magnum. Police ruled it as a suicide as a result of playing Russian roulette," says Ferguson. But it was one more death of one more man associated with Shelton. She was never implicated in Bell's death, but it added to her reputation as a woman with a past. Even before she began making headlines, Shelton was making a lasting impression on some of the men she dated. Attorney Ferris Bond briefly dated her in the early '70s. He says when it came to Shelton, breaking up was very hard to do. "It was God awful. It's the worst thing I've ever been through," says Bond of their relationship. "Probably the worst thing was burning my apartment and all of my possessions up. She stole my automobile, shot at me with a shotgun." Shelton has denied doing anything wrong to Bond, but he says he finally got away from her by joining the Marines: "Frankly, I didn't think there was any way she'd follow me into the Marine Corps." Shelton refused to talk about Bond or Tedesco, but she admits she may be too much for some men to handle: "I think it's my propensity to say exactly what I think to them at a certain point when I just can't hold it in any longer." Does she hurt other people? "Well, I don't intend to," she says. Shelton began practicing law in the '70s, and she was known as one of the most attractive criminal defense lawyers in Harris County, Texas. When her ex-boyfriend was murdered in 1979, she attracted even more attention, particularly from one member of the press. "She was a hot item at the courthouse. She was intriguing," says Houston reporter Gary Taylor. "Because of the mystery of her past and the danger that seemed to be lurking underneath." Shelton doesn't care to remember Taylor, but he found her unforgettable. "It was like playing in fire," he recalls. They started dating, and at first, he says it was fun. But within weeks, he said he started seeing another side to Shelton, one that she couldn't control. He also said that she kept talking about Tedesco's unsolved murder. "I heard her say this to several my latest blog post people," says Taylor. "'You better do what I say. You know what happened to George.'" Taylor went to his friends at the Houston District Attorney's office who were still investigating the Tedesco case. He suggested that he and his roommate secretly record Shelton on the telephone. One tape became notorious when Taylor's roommate played it in the courthouse pressroom. On the tape, Shelton is heard demanding that Taylor stop talking to the D.A. "He's got to beg for my mercy," she says. "I've never killed anybody in my life! I never really wanted to, but he's doing so much to me. He better stop!" "The tape was always known in the press room as the 'Exorcist' tape," says Taylor. "She was very dramatic. She liked to tell me that I had entered the arena of death. And that's a direct quote." Strange visit this site right here things started happening to Taylor. Like Tedesco, he discovered his home was burglarized, and he says Shelton offered to help get back his stolen belongings. Shelton told him to come over to her place, where he found his things in her bedroom closet. "It was so outrageous, but I did it. I went back and pop over to these guys I got in the closet. As soon as I got in the closet, the lights went out and I heard a gun click," says Taylor. He says he turned around, and then saw Shelton: "She took a policeman's position like this. There was a hazy look in her eye. It was a pretty spooky look, and she started telling me about how this was it, this was how it was gonna end." Taylor says he tried to defend himself with the only thing available, a chair. "I went straight at her with the chair like a lion tamer. She fired off a round, a bullet came through the chair and nicked me. And I threw the chair at her, and ran down the hallway," says Taylor, believing that he was running for his life as he bolted for the front door. "I opened the door and that's when I felt the shot in the back," says Taylor. "She blew me out through the door. And I can remember lying there on the ground thinking,'That bitch shot me. She really shot me.'" He got up, he says, and started running again - three blocks before he got help. "I found out later that the bullet stopped, they told me, a centimeter from my heart, dead in the center," says Taylor. Shelton was arrested, and for the first time, she found herself facing a serious charge -- attempted murder. At her trial in 1980, her legal team argued that she shot Taylor in self defense, and said Taylor was a snake for making those secret tapes. Shelton never took the stand, and the jury was deadlocked. But at her second trial, Shelton testified and the jury got an earful. "Catherine's uncontrollable. When you ask Catherine a question, there's no telling what's going to come out of her mouth," says her attorney, Jim Skelton. Shelton claimed Taylor held a gun on her, and said she was trying to get away from him even though Taylor ended up getting shot in the back. The jury reached a guilty verdict in little over an hour. Shelton was sentenced to 10 years, but her conviction was overturned on appeal. Rather than go through a third trial, Shelton pleaded guilty to aggravated assault. She got probation and she was temporarily barred from practicing law. Taylor now edits an online publication, and has not seen Shelton for more than 20 years. She is out his life, but still on his mind. So Taylor has put private investigator Kent Ferguson on a most unusual retainer. "Basically, I've retained him to investigate my murder should it happen," he says. Shelton says Taylor recovered quickly: "While I regret the incident and I don't go around shooting people, it was in the nature of a minor traffic accident." She still stands by her testimony but doesn't care to discuss the details: "I really rather not go into that [the shooting] because really I can't even remember, to tell you the truth." Part II: Catherine Shelton http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-law-and-mrs-shelton-29-10-2003/
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March 6 (Reuters) - The student council of a southern California university passed a bill that would ban the hanging of any national flag in the common area of student government offices, school officials said on Friday.
The measure, passed by six undergraduates on the University of California at Irvine's student legislative council, said that national flags bear a range of cultural significances that could be interpreted negatively by some. The resolution added that national flags - citing the United States flag in particular - have been "flown in instances discover this info here of colonialism and imperialism" and "serve as symbols of patriotism or weapons for nationalism." "Freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech," the bill said. The Executive Cabinet of the school's student government will meet on Saturday to discuss vetoing the bill, Associated Students of UCI President Reza Zomorrodian said in a statement. "I stand firmly against this piece of legislation, though I understand the authors intent and supporters intent, I disagree with the solution the council has come to," Zomorrodian said, adding that the bill was not supported by campus leadership. The Los Angeles Times reported that if vetoed, the bill would return to the legislative council where it would have to be passed by a two-thirds majority to override the rejection. A post on the university's Facebook page on Friday made light of the bill reading in part, "Contrary to what you might be hearing, flags are still flying at UC Irvine," alongside a picture of the American flag. Many of the more than 350 comments on the post decried the bill. (Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Robert Birsel) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/06/uc-irvine-ban-flag_n_6821316.html The simple results of the ACFC child support survey are listed below. A full report including the numerical basis, variance, and meaning of each result is in progThe simple results of the ACFC child support survey are listed below. A full report including the numerical basis, variance, and meaning of each result is in progress in conjunction with the University of California, Berkeley and will be published in the near future.
According to the survey, 13.1 % of child support payers (child support payers) are custodial fathers, .6 % custodial mothers, 80.5 % noncustodial fathers, 1.2 % noncustodial mothers, and 4.6 % other. 9.5 % of child support payers are satisfied with the amount of time they spend with their children, 90.5 % are not satisfied. 82.0 % of child support payers have experienced access and visitation denial; 18.0 % have not. Of the 82.0 % that have experienced access and visitation denial, in 17.7 % of cases, the court did something to enforce visitation; in 82.3 % of cases, the court did not do anything to enforce visitation. Of those that spent time in court concerning visitation rights, 25.4 % spent under $1000; 24.1 % spent $1001- 5000; 27.7 % spent $5001-20,000; 7.9 % spent $20,001- 50,000; and 3.8 % spent $50,001- 100,000 on court and attorney fees; and in 11.3 % of cases there was no billing error. In 41.2 % of states where children live, there are social service agencies that assist in resolving visitation problems; 20.5 % of states did not possess these agencies and 38.3 % of people responding were not sure whether or not these programs exist. 6.5 % of people surveyed received effective assistance in resolving these problems; 43.1 % did not receive effective assistance; 8.4% claimed that their state has no such program; 9.5 % have not had visitation problems; 32.4 % have not contacted agencies for help. 54.5 % of people surveyed have experienced billing error by the child support agency; 45.5 % have not. Of those experiencing a billing error, 7.9 % have overpaid and 92.1 % have underpaid. Of those experiencing a billing error, 45.1% spent under $1000; 31.4 % spent $1001- $5000; 17.9 % spent $5001- $20,000; 4.9 % spent $20,001- $50,000; and .7% spent $50,000-$100,000. In 90.8 % of cases, the child support payer tried to get the child support agency to fix the error; in 9.2% of cases, s/he did not. In those cases where the child support payer tried to get the child support agency to fix the error, the child support payer was successful 38.5 % of the time and unsuccessful 61.5 % of the time. To fix billing errors, the child support agency took 1 week in 27.8 % of cases, 1 month in 21.0 % of cases, 1 year in 21.2 % of cases, 2 years in 3.4 % of cases, 3-5 years in 5.4 % of cases, and over 5 years in 21.2 % of cases. Regarding a billing error, the number of calls made to a child support enforcement case worker was 1-5 calls in 44.0 % of cases, 6-10 in 23.3 % of cases, 11-20 in 10.9 % of cases, and over 20 calls in 21.8 % of cases. In 29.7 % of cases, the case worker was courteous and responsive to the call; in 70.3% of cases, s/he was not. Concerning errors of the child support agency, 20.7 % of errors were mathematical errors, 16.5 % were the child support agency's failure to record payments made by the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER, 4.1 % regarded the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER being charged for welfare reimbursement when the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER was not aware his/her child was on welfare, 1.7 % were failure to stop child support obligation when child reached the age of emancipation, 3.9 % were because the parent receiving child support incorrectly reported that the other parent owed money, 13.8 % of errors were the failure of the child support agency to update a child support order with a downward or upward modification or later court ruling, and 29.8 % of errors were for a reason other than those listed. While paying the custodial parent directly, 22.9 % of child support payers have been billed by a child support agency for child support already paid (and can be proven paid) because the child http://wallinside.com/post-57545935-how-to-protect-your-finances-in-a-divorce.html was on welfare without the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER being notified; this is not a problem in 77.1 % of cases. . If the above was a problem, the agency honored the receipts and presented the correct claim of the amount owed 33.8 % of the time; the agency did not do this 66.2 % of the time. . Child support is paid directly to the custodial parent in 28.1 % of cases; it is not paid directly in 71.9 % of cases. When http://meadowszzrkjomfej.wikidot.com/blog:10 child support is paid directly to the custodial parent, 32.4 % child support payers have been billed by the agency claiming they owe money to the child support agency; 67.6 % of child support payers have not been billed by the agency. In 43.0 % of cases, the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER has been subjected to punitive measures as a result of a billing error; in 57.0 % of cases, s/he has not. These punitive measures are as follows: lien on property (19.5 %), wage garnishment (26.7 %), loss of driver's license (1.5 %), income tax refund interception (15.9 %), negative credit report (6.7 %), seizure of bank accounts or other assets (3.1 %) and other (26.7 %). 22.4 % of child support payers feel the child support amount is reasonable; 77.6 % do not feel it is set at a reasonable amount. 47.1 % of child support payers have had problems getting credit or buying a home because of incorrect information on their credit report; 52.9 % have not had this problem. Of the child support payers that have wage garnishments, 8.3 % are because they were behind in child support and the court ordered it, 39.1 % because wage garnishments are automatic in the child support payer's state, 24.1 % because the custodial parent requested it, 6.3 % because the custodial parent is/was on welfare, and 22.3 % because of other reasons. 22.0 % of child support payers pay by cash, 33.7 % by check, 5.2 % by money order, 50.7 % by garnishment, and 8.2 % by voluntary pay allotment. 9.4 % of child support payers have received notices and/or demands for payment from more than one state for the same child support claim; 90.6 % have not. Reasons that child support payers are behind in payment are 9.7 % because the monthly amount is set too high, .6 % because of penalties and interest, 12.0 % because of loss of job, 4.6 % because of billing error, .6 % because of welfare reimbursement, 1.0 % because of illness, 2.9 % because of disability, 21.0 % because of other reasons, and this question is not applicable to 47.7 % of those surveyed. 9.0 % of child support payers have been jailed due to child support issues; 91.0 % have not. Of those jailed due to child support issues, the person who posted bail was the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER in 8.0 % of cases, parents of CHILD SUPPORT PAYER in 17.3 % of cases, spouse in 14.7 % of cases, significant other in 1.3 % of cases, friend in 10.7 % of cases, and other in 48.0 % of cases. Of those jailed due to child support issues, the person who finally paid the amount claimed as owed was the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER in 42.0 % of cases, parents of CHILD SUPPORT PAYER in 8.0 % of cases, spouse in 8.0 % of cases, significant other in 3.4 % of cases, friend in 3.4 % of cases, and other in 35.2 % of cases. 33.6 % of child support payers have been denied access to their children because they were behind in child support payments; 66.4 % have not. 20.4 % of child support payers have reduced contact with their children or abandoned their child/ parent contact altogether as a result of a conflict with the custodial parent over a child support billing error; 79.6 % have not. 4.8 % of child support payers are paying child support for a child who was proven by DNA testing to not be their child; 95.2 % are not. 60.1 % of child support payers have a second family that s/he is supporting; 39.9 % do not. Of the child support payers with a second family, 61.0 % have suffered hardship due to a child support billing error; 39.0 % have not. 29.9 % of child support payers with a second family are also supporting a child from the new spouse who doesn't get child support from their ex; 70.1 % are not. 22.6 % of child support payers have had a tax refund intercepted as a result of a billing error when they were actually current in their child support; 77.4% have not. Of the child support payers that have had their tax refund intercepted, 29.0 % got their money back while 71.0 % did not. 16.3 % of child support payers have filed for bankruptcy as a result of money being spent for child support billing errors, punitive child support collections, or other child support or custody related issues; 83.7 % have not. When unable to resolve a child support billing error on their own, 24.4 % of child support payers could afford an attorney to represent them while 75.6 % could not afford an attorney. When unable to afford an attorney, 10.0 % of child support payers were able to get free assistance while 90.0 % could not. 12.1 % of child support payers could find an attorney willing to sue the child support agency to recover civil damages as a result of grossly negligent child support billing error that the state agency knew or should have known was false; 87.9 % could not. 3.2 % of child support payers have filed criminal charges against a child support agency for civil rights violations, false certification, or mail fraud as a result of a grossly negligent child support billing error that the state agency knew or should have known was false; 96.8 % have not. Of those who filed charges, in 18.4 % of cases, the U.S. Attorneys an/or Postal Inspectors took appropriate action to correct misconduct on the part of the child support agencies; in 44.8 % they did not, and in 36.8 % of cases, it is not known if appropriate action was taken. The mean amount spent by the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER on attorney fees since the divorce is $12,016.21. In 40.4 % of cases, someone has helped the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER pay attorney or court fees; in 59.4 % the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER has received no help and the question is not applicable in .2 % of cases. If the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER has received assistance in paying fees, the mean amount was $6,308.56. 42.2% of Child support payers have received a notice from the child support agency stating that they are behind in their child support when in reality the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER was current in child support payments; 57.8 % of Child support payers have not received a notice with this claim. In the cases where the CHILD SUPPORT PAYER did receive this type of notice, the mean amount of the child support billing error was $6,625.21. 3.7 % of child support payers feel that the performance of the child support agencies was very good, 4.4 % feel it was good, 19.3 % feel it was fair, 24.0 % feel it was poor, and 48.6 % feel it was very poor. 3.7 % of child support payers feel that the performance of the courts in dealing with custody and visitation issues was very good, 1.6 % feel it was good, 7.4 % feel it was fair, 19.5 % feel it was poor, and 69.6 % feel it was very poor. http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-253099 Appraisals are an important part of the homebuying process. A real estate appraisal establishes a property's market value - the likely sales price it would bring if offered in an open and competitive real estate market. Lenders require appraisals when buyers use their new homes as security for their mortgages. An appraisal provides the lender with assurance that the property will sell for at least the amount of money it is lending.
Don't confuse a comparative market analysis, or CMA, with an appraisal. A CMA is a sales report based on data entered into the multiple listing service, or MLS. Real estate agents use CMAs to help their clients determine realistic asking and offering prices. Appraisals are detailed reports compiled by licensed appraisers. An appraisal is the only valuation report a lender considers when deciding whether to lend the money. An appraisal is also not the same thing as a home inspection. Home inspectors test appliances and outlets, check the plumbing and confirm that a home's heating and cooling system is working. Such information is helpful for the buyer to know before moving in. An appraiser, however, is only concerned with valuating a home. About Appraisers and AppraisalsAppraisers are licensed by states after completing licensing coursework and internship hours.The appraiser must be an objective third party, someone who has no financial or other connection to any person involved in the transaction. The property being appraised is called the subject property.In some cases, the buyer pays for the appraisal at the time of loan application. Other times, the appraisal fee is added to the settlement statement and paid at this content the closing table.What You'll See on a Residential Appraisal Report Appraisals are very detailed reports based on an appraiser's on-site evaluation of a property as well as an evaluation of sales data. Here are a few things they include: Details about the subject property, along with side-by-side comparisons of similar properties.An evaluation of the overall real estate market in the area.Statements about issues the appraiser feels are harmful to the property's value, such as poor access to the property.Notations about seriously flawed characteristics, such as a crumbling foundation.An estimate of the average sales time for the property.The type of area in which the home is located, for example, a development or stand alone acreage.Residential Appraisal Methods There are two common appraisal methods used for residential properties: Sales comparison approach The appraiser estimates a subject property's market value by comparing it to similar properties that have sold in the area. The properties used are called comparables. No two properties are exactly alike, so the appraiser must compare similar properties to the subject property, making adjustments so that their features are in-line with the subject property. The result is a figure that shows the price at which each comparable property would have sold for if it had the same components as the subject property. Cost approach The cost approach is most useful for new properties, where the costs to build are known. The appraiser estimates how much it would cost to replace the structure if it were destroyed. So What Does the Appraisal Mean to You? A homebuyer's initial mortgage approval is accomplished early on, but final approval usually hinges on a satisfactory appraisal. The lender wants to be sure its investment is covered in case the buyer default on the loan. If the property appraises lower than the sales price, the loan might be declined, but that isn't the only hurdle it must pass. Other red flags noted on appraisals include: Estimated time on the market is longer than the area average.Entry to the property is from a private, shared road. The lender might want to see a road maintenance agreement signed by everyone who uses the road, verifying that maintenance is shared by all parties. These are just a few examples of appraisal findings that could stall a home purchase. Lenders study appraisals carefully before determining whether a property qualifies as security for a home loan. Low Appraisals Don't panic if the appraisal comes in low because there are steps you can take to make the deal work. If the appraisal uncovers other problems, remember that most problems are correctable. Keep your cool and work through issues one step at a time. https://www.thebalance.com/facts-about-residential-real-estate-appraisals-1797691 WASHINGTON - Anthony Elonis claimed he was just kidding when he posted a series of graphically violent rap lyrics on Facebook about killing his estranged wife, shooting up a kindergarten class and attacking an FBI agent.
But his wife didn't see it that way. Neither did a federal jury. Elonis, who's from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was convicted of violating a federal law that makes it a crime to threaten another person. In a far-reaching case that probes the limits of free speech over the Horace T Internet, the Supreme Court on Monday was to consider whether Elonis' Facebook posts, and others like it, deserve protection under the First Amendment. Elonis argues that his lyrics were simply a crude and spontaneous form of expression that should not be considered threatening if he did not really mean it. The government says it does not matter what Elonis intended, and that the true test of a threat is whether his words make a reasonable person feel threatened. One post about his wife said, "There's one way to love you but a thousand ways to kill you. I'm not going to rest until your body is a mess, soaked in blood and dying from all the little cuts." The case has drawn widespread attention from free-speech advocates who say comments on Facebook, Twitter and other social media can be hasty, impulsive and easily misinterpreted. They point out that a message on Facebook intended for a small group could be taken out of context when viewed by a wider audience. "A statute that proscribes speech without regard to the speaker's intended meaning runs the risk of punishing protected First Amendment expression simply because it is crudely or zealously expressed," said a brief from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups. But so far, most lower courts have rejected that view, ruling that a "true threat" depends on how an objective person perceives the message. For more than four decades, the Supreme Court has said that "true threats" to harm another person are not protected speech under the First Amendment. But the court has been careful to distinguish threats from protected speech such as "political hyperbole" or "unpleasantly sharp attacks." Elonis claims he was depressed and that his online posts under the pseudonym "Tone Dougie" were a way to vent his frustration after his wife left him and he lost his job working at an amusement park. His lawyers say the posts were heavily influenced by rap star Eminem, who has also fantasized in songs about killing his ex-wife. But Elonis' wife testified that the comments made her fear for her life. After she obtained a protective order against him, Elonis wrote a lengthy post mocking court proceedings: "Did you know that it's illegal for me to say I want to kill my wife?" A female FBI agent later visited Elonis at home to ask him about the postings. Elonis took to Facebook again: "Little agent lady stood so close, took all the strength I had not to turn the bitch ghost. Pull my knife, flick my wrist and slit her throat." Elonis was convicted of making threats of violence and sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison. A federal appeals court rejected his claim that his comments were protected by the First Amendment. The Obama administration says requiring proof that a speaker intended to be threatening would undermine the law's protective purpose. In its brief to the court, the Justice Department argued that no matter what someone believes about his comments, it does not lessen the fear and anxiety they might cause for other people. "The First Amendment does not require that a person be permitted to inflict those harms based on an unreasonable subjective belief that his words do not mean what they say," government lawyers said. The National Center for Victims of Crime, which submitted a brief supporting the government, said judging threats based on the speaker's intent would make stalking crimes even more difficult to prosecute. "Victims of stalking are financially, emotionally and socially burdened by the crime regardless of the subjective intent of the speaker," the organization said. The case is Elonis v. United States, 13-983. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-is-an-online-threat-illegal-and-when-is-it-free-speech/ Housing Programs Are So Strapped For Cash That Millions Of Families Canât Even Get On Wait Lists12/18/2016 Federal programs provide homes for about 5 million families nationwide, but that's only a fraction of the people who are trying to receive assistance, according to a report released Thursday.
For the report, researchers at Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation looked at a study about homelessness among public housing applicants published in 2014 by the U.S. Department of Housing gin ethelsen and Urban Development. PAHRC research manager Keely Stater zeroed in on a startling figure: In 2012, 2.76 million families were on waiting lists for housing choice vouchers, a federal program that covers a portion of recipients' rents in privately owned affordable housing. But close to half of local housing agencies, struggling with shrinking resources and a finite number of vouchers, had closed their waiting lists when the data was collected, meaning families that wanted to apply for affordable housing couldn't. Stater wanted to determine how many families were actually trying to get assistance, whether waiting on an official list or off it. In their analysis of the HUD data, researchers used statistical models to estimate that 9.5 million households would be on waiting lists for housing vouchers if there were no caps -- more than three times the official total. Their estimates only include those they predict would apply if waiting lists were open; there are more eligible families who don't seek housing assistance and were not included. The revised, larger figure underscores the need for an expansion of affordable housing programs, Stater said. In some states, there are more than four families waiting for each available housing voucher. Credit: Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation The map shows how many families are waiting for housing vouchers compared to the number available by state. See the breakdown by county here. It's clear how far the programs fall short when you look at what happens when agencies reopen their closed waiting lists. When the Detroit Housing Commission -- which serves several Michigan counties -- opened its waiting list last year, 40,000 people applied. DHC added 7,000 applicants to the waiting list, chosen by lottery, leaving another 33,000 out of luck. Chicago opened its waiting lists in 2014 for the first time in over four years. More than 280,000 people registered and only 96,000 were added. Once a family makes it onto a list, there's no guarantee that they'll get assistance anytime soon. Waiting list size and turnover vary, but in some places, applicants who make it on the list end up stuck for years. Credit: Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation The map shows the number of years families wait for housing vouchers by state. See the breakdown by county here. In 2013, The New York Times talked to Maria Almonte, one of over 200,000 people on the New York City Housing Authority's waiting list for public housing. She applied in 2009. "Every time I call, they don't say anything," Almonte told the paper. "They say, 'You're on the waiting list, you're on the waiting list.' Sometimes I feel such anxiety because of the uncertainty." New York City has one of the most robust sets of housing assistance programs, but also has some of the highest need. According to PAHRC's estimates, there are more than five families seeking vouchers for each one available in New York County. Families who haven't yet succeeded in getting housing assistance cope in a variety of ways, Stater said. Some spend more of their income on rent than they can afford, others might share space with other tenants or stay with relatives and some people are homeless. "There's a lot more people waiting than we previously thought. ... It's pretty astounding to me," she said. "This is a great way to demonstrate that we need more resources for housing across the nation." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/affordable-housing-waiting-lists_us_56d9c5b5e4b0ffe6f8e9321f The bar for luxury residential real estate in Hong Kong, already one of the most expensive areas in the world, has been raised.
The Peak, at 1,811 feet above sea level, is the highest point on Hong Kong Island and has symbolized prominence and wealth since the 19th century. Formally known as Victoria Peak, it towers above the heart of the city and has spectacular, 360-degree views of all of the surrounding islands. To live there signifies a status level for which captains of industry from around the world are willing to pay top dollar. Last month, The Peak exceeded its own lavish reputation, with local headlines claiming it is the site of the most expensive residential piece of land in the world. The government land auction of 12 Mount Kellett Road fetched $231 million from Sun Hung Kai Properties -- 134 percent of the opening bid and a projected $5,417 per square foot. And that's for just the land. Why the historic high price? It's a simple supply-and-demand equation. Property here, the most sought-after low-density neighborhood in Hong Kong, comes available so infrequently that some of the world's richest line up to buy. At The Peak, "less than 50 properties will be available in the next two years," according to Buggle Lau, the chief analyst at Midland Holdings, a real estate brokerage company selected by Forbes as one of the best small Asian companies in 2006. Luxury throughout the world is difficult to compare, but there are interesting ways to track residential riches, according to Liam Bailey, head of residential research at the global property agency Knight Frank. Bailey is based in London, which happens to be the most expensive city per square foot in the high-end market ($3,051 on average and $5,800 at the very top, for those keeping track). By square foot unit price, Monaco is No. 2, with a high-end average of $2,673. Hong Kong is No. 3 at $2,008 and New York, the highest-ranking U.S. city, is No. 5 at $1,796. High-end real estate is also tracked by how many square feet you can buy for $1 million. In London, $1 million gets you 328 square feet. In Monaco, it's 374. In Hong Kong, it's 498 and in New York, it's 557. Perspective on The Peak Changes Through the Years In Hong Kong, nearly 7 million people live on about 425 square miles of space. With the city's land reserve policy in place, land is a limited and valuable commodity. In site simple terms, the government in Hong Kong controls land availability. Land is listed for sale, and interested applicants submit bids to the government. The right price triggers the government to release the land and auction it off to the highest bidder. It doesn't happen often. Before the Mount Kellett property, the last government auction for land at The Peak was seven years ago. I can still remember The Peak from my childhood. A happy playground, it provided our family a chance to escapes the hustle and bustle of the city. Twenty-some years later, I've moved back to Hong Kong and The Peak still strikes its same peaceful purpose -- it is just as green, with views as stunning as ever. Time, however, has changed my perspective. Now I notice the flashy sports cars cruising down private roads to houses and infinity pools hidden behind security gates and cameras. I'm ready to explore the grown-up playground. Visiting One of The Peak's Poshest Addresses "Should I take my shoes off?" I ask, knowing this is common practice when entering people's homes in Asia. "Yes, thanks," says the real estate agent, a tinge apologetic. My bare toes are about to grace the floors of 15 Plantation Road, a triplex on The Peak. Though the price of this ground was a mere half that of the plot at Mount Kellett, I am still thankful I just gave myself a pedicure. At $12.6 million for just 4,455 square feet -- this was luxury, Hong Kong-style. Inside the triplex, the harbor greets us through wide windows on every level -- stealing the limelight from the elegance within. I force myself to pay attention to the detail of the sleek modern kitchen (designed by an architect flown in from Italy), to count the bedrooms (four) and bathrooms (four) and notice the hot tub. "Is that a hot tub?" I whisper to the real estate agent. Distracted again by the view, I point out the window down toward the Mediterranean-style swimming pool. I'm whispering because it's that really-expensive-museum-like-quiet inside. The hot tub is in the perfect location, perched high in the corner to offer the optimum angle to view the harbor. "Hong Kong luxury is a bit different from North America," says Lau. "It's relatively small compared to the states. But in terms of location, you enjoy the breathtaking sea view." He's referring to the panoramic view of Victoria harbor. The harbor is famous itself as a major center for imports, exports and transportation from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, and also for its sensational surrounding skyline. As prices have climbed, the luxury bar has been raised. People in Hong Kong are developing a taste for the finer things in life. New properties are going up with amenities such as private pools, saunas, movie theaters, clubhouses and tennis courts. "We didn't have these things 10 years ago," says Xavier Wong, Hong Kong head of research at Knight Frank, which lists three of the four most expensive homes in all of Asia. All three are at The Peak, according to Forbes.com. Top End Luxury Skyrockets, Other Real Estate Struggles While the top-end luxury real estate market in Hong Kong is smashing all-time records, the rest of the market is still rebounding from the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and the effects of the SARS outbreak in 2003. The gap between the two markets is widening. "The needs and demands of Hong Kong people are upgrading," says Wong. Developers, such as 12 Mount Kellett's Sun Hung Kai, are responding by raising the levels of luxury. Their latest 22-house property on the market, known as Severn 8, includes a swimming pool, spa, gym and resident clubhouse. It recently sold for over $4,600 per square foot. The only residence more expensive in all of Hong Kong is a single mansion in Shek O, valued at about $6,000 per square foot. Where is Shek O located? It's a beach town at the southern tip of Hong Kong Island -- scenic but, unlike The Peak, far from convenient to the rest of the city. Leases Longer Than Life There are no restrictions preventing foreigners from buying property in Hong Kong and there are also no advantages for the locals. To call one of these properties home, all you need is the money. "It's the free-est economy in the world." says Lau. But there is one small technicality per the government. When buying property in Hong Kong, you don't officially own the land -- you're renting it from the government. As of Hong Kong's return to China in 1997, newly granted leases generally last for 50 years. That might seem pretty long, but not compared to the early days, when leases were for terms of 75, 99 or 999 years. So Who Are All These High Rollers? "The buyers come from all over the world," says Lau, listing the likes of top executives, investment bankers with fat bonuses, and investment fund managers. There are more Chinese buyers than before. Stronger ties with the mainland -- in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen -- and the success of businesses there have changed the faces of buyers over time. While many Chinese manufacturers and factory owners have businesses on the mainland and have bought second homes there for investments, most continue to keep their main residence in Hong Kong for the quality of life. "Hong Kong is still the financial center of China," says Lau. As for up-and-coming neighborhoods, for those of us who can't afford The Peak, Lau suggests West Kowloon, across the harbor from Hong Kong Island and where the old Kai Tak airport used to be. The former airport area is all reclamation land that didn't exist before 1997, and buildings no longer have height restrictions there. "It's very interesting," says Lau, "because for many Hong Kong people, they've never had the experience of looking at the view of Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon side from 30-story buildings." From the way the market is trending, it looks like that is not the only thing those of us in Hong Kong have to look forward to. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/FunMoney/story?id=2773844&page=1 By Asher Levine
| SAO PAULO SAO PAULO Brazil's once red-hot housing market has turned cold quickly, forcing many developers to slam the brakes on new construction, though one corner of the industry is so far riding out the nation's worsening economic slump. The Brazilian real estate market is witnessing a drastic reversal from four years ago, when an economic boom lifted millions into an expanded middle class and fueled a home-buying frenzy that pushed prices up by as much as 30 percent on an annual basis. At the time, developers like Cyrela Brazil Realty SA and Rossi Residencial SA, flush with cash from recent initial public offerings, launched into a building binge of middle- and high-income housing to meet what they expected would be continuously growing demand. "Now things are moving in the exact opposite direction," said Sao Paulo-based economist Eduardo Zylberstajn, who helps oversee the widely used FipeZap real estate price index. Economic decline, stubborn inflation, rising mortgage rates and mounting unemployment have dragged consumer confidence to the lowest level on record, scaring many Brazilians out of their plans to invest in real estate and sinking prices along the way. "It's a perfect storm," said Itau BBA analyst Enrico Trotta, who also pointed out scarcer mortgage funding and the high number of apartments collecting dust following the industry's overly optimistic expansion. STRONG DEMAND FOR LOW-INCOME HOUSING But not every homebuilder is suffering. Those with a focus on the low-income segment, such as MRV Engenharia SA and Gafisa SA's Tenda division, have been reporting strong sales even as Brazil wades into its worst recession in 25 years. "There is still gigantic pent-up demand in the low-income market," Trotta said, citing Brazil's housing deficit, broadly estimated at upwards of 4 million homes, and the financial support of a government housing subsidy program known as My House, My Life. Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has pledged the program, budgeted at 13 billion reais ($3.73 billion) for this year alone, will be shielded from further rounds of government budget cuts, citing its broader economic benefits. MRV shares are flat this year, compared with Brazil's benchmark stock index, which has lost 2 percent, while Gafisa is up 14 percent. That contrasts with a 20 percent decline in Cyrela stock and a 76 percent fall in Rossi shares. Tenda plans to launch new projects valued at up to 2 billion reais by the end of 2016, executives told reporters on a conference call on Monday. Trotta warned, however, that stronger demand in the lower end of the market may dwindle should the government follow through with a proposed change to financing rules. Currently, the real estate industry benefits from a government-mandated, employer-financed workers' severance fund that can be used to finance home purchases, an especially tempting option because the fund's returns lag inflation. But under the proposed change, the government would raise the returns it pays on each worker's account, erasing the incentive to buy a home. The bill is expected to be voted on in coming weeks. LESS LUCRATIVE INVESTMENT As for the broader property market, most analysts do not see prices recovering over the short term, in part because of the rising opportunity cost of holding real estate as an investment. Brazil's central bank pushed interest rates to a nine-year http://sammcoappraisalgroup.weebly.com high last month, making the average rental yield of about 4.7 percent far less lucrative than the 9.2 percent return on a simple savings account. The savings account also comes without the risk of a drawn-out and costly eviction procedure should a tenant fail to pay rent. Already-reticent buyers have sensed their strengthened bargaining power, which they are using to demand discounts of up to 30 percent on some apartments "We have to explain the reality of the market to sellers nowadays," said independent Sao Paulo-based broker Milena Moreira. "Some just don't believe it." ($1 = 3.4813 Brazilian reais) (Editing by Christian Plumb and Matthew Lewis) http://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-homebuilders-crisis-idUSKCN0QF1P620150810 Best Netflix Movies, October 2016: Watch before they're gone | BGR
Halloween's on a Monday this year, so you're probably going to want to save your energy this weekend. What better way to do that than to sit on the couch or lie on the bed and binge watch a bunch of Netflix movies that will expire in November? With just a few days left until the end of the month, you're certainly not going to have time to watch every show and movie departing the streaming service, so we've decided to round up the best of the best and share them with you. After all, the movie selection is likely only going to get worse from here on out. SEE ALSO: Why Netflix doesn't want to be included in Apple's TV app Here are our picks of the 10 best movies leaving Netflix on November 1st: Almost Famous (2000)Angel Heart (1987)Deliverance (1972)E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)Fatal Attraction (1987)Fresh (1994)Into the Wild (2007)Legally Blonde (2001)Major League (1989)Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004) Some of these you've probably seen before; others you likely haven't. Either way, this chilly weekend should be a great time to barricade the front door and relax with some streaming video. And if you'd rather watch an entire television series than a bunch of old movies, Chuck is a highly entertaining distraction. Thankfully, even when all of these movies and shows do vanish, Netflix will replace them with a bunch of great new content. Don't forget to check out all of the new movies and TV shows being added to Netflix in November. http://bgr.com/2016/10/28/best-netflix-movies-leaving-november-2016/ |
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