Iowa Flooding: Thousands Evacuate Cedar Rapids

Thousands of Iowans are taking no chances in advance of what could be one of the worst floods in the state's history. For days, the rising waters of rivers and creeks in eastern Iowa have forced more than 10,000 residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa's second-largest city, out of their homes and businesses.

California Mountain Communites Evacuated as Wildfire Grows

Hundreds of homes were evacuated after the fire broke out Monday amid a heat wave, and more residents were ordered to leave as the flames spread overnight. Officials didn't say how many homes are affected.

Part of VA Primary Care Annex in Tampa Closing to Fix Mold Problem

Portions of the Primary Care Annex serving patients at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital will be cordoned off for several weeks as workers clean up a mold problem. Meantime, across Tampa Bay, officials at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center at Bay Pines are dealing with their own mold problems.

Small Businesses Seek Delay of Overtime Rule

The nation’s leading small business trade group on Tuesday asked the Labor Department to delay a new rule making millions of Americans eligible for overtime pay, saying employers aren’t prepared to implement it when it goes into effect Dec. 1.

(Read more about the new OT rule in this recent R&R article.)

Five Steps to Mitigate the Risk of Legionnaires' Disease

While some people are at greater risk than others, no one can completely avoid the risk of antibiotic-resistant infections. Infections with resistant organisms are difficult to treat, and require costly and sometimes toxic alternatives. By creating a framework for proactively managing building water systems and reducing the potential for Legionella growth in these systems, building and facility managers can prevent many, but not all, cases of legionellosis.

NAPSLO Pushing Flood Bill to the Finish Line

The bill essentially clarifies language in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (BW-12) regarding the ability of privately issued flood insurance to meet lenders’ mandatory purchase requirements. When BW-12 was originally reported out of the House, it specified that lenders shall accept private flood insurance for mandatory purchases. 

Rising Sea Levels Could Cost U.S. Homeowners Close to $1 Trillion

When talking about housing, “underwater” usually means you owe more on a mortgage than the home is actually worth. If climate change continues apace, that term could take on a much more literal meaning. Rising sea levels could soak homeowners for $882 billion, according to a new report from real estate website Zillow.