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Report: Former Postal Worker Sentenced to Probation for Fraud

A former U.S. Postal Service worker in Delaware was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay nearly $94,000 in restitution for defrauding the federal workers’ compensation program,…




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Court Reverses Finding That Worker Failed to Exhaust Reasonable Conservative Treatment

The Delaware Superior Court overturned a determination that an injured worker failed to exhaust reasonable conservative measures to treat his knee injury before opting for surgery. Case: Baxter v. Verizon Communications,…




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Court Upholds Finding That Truck Driver Was Ag Worker Not Covered by Comp

The Delaware Superior Court said the Industrial Accident Board did not err when it held that a truck driver was a farmworker and therefore not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits…




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Dispute Over Worker's MMI Status Doesn't Allow Employer to Dodge Penalty

The Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that an employer was properly penalized for failing to make an indemnity payment to an injured worker because of a dispute over when and if…




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WCC Activates Web-Based Data Entry App for DRG Reports

The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court activated its web-based data entry application for diagnostic related group reports. The Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Act requires covered hospitals, workers’ compensation insurers, self-insured employers and risk…




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Supreme Court Upholds Award for Housekeeper's Respiratory Injury

The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld an award of benefits to a housekeeper for a respiratory injury brought on by wearing a used face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic. Case: Prinz v.




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Grain Operator Fined $536,965 for Combustible Dust Hazards

Federal workplace safety inspectors fined a grain operator in Nebraska $536,965 for exposing workers to fire and explosion risks by allowing combustible dust to accumulate. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration…




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How Cryptographic 'Secret Sharing' Can Keep Information Safe

One safe, five sons and betrayal: this principle shows how shared knowledge can protect secrets—without having to trust anyone




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AI Beats Humans on Unsolved Math Problem

Large language model does better than human mathematicians trying to solve combinatorics problems inspired by the card game Set




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Inside Mathematicians' Search for the Mysterious 'Einstein Tile'

The quest for the einstein tile—a shape never seen before in mathematics—turned up even more discoveries than mathematicians counted on




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Podcasts of the Year: Cleo, the Mysterious Math Menace

In 2013 a new user named Cleo took an online math forum by storm with unproved answers. Today she’s an urban legend. But who was she? A 2023 editor's pick. 




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Simple Math Creates Infinite and Bizarre Automorphic Numbers

Squaring numbers can have surprising consequences




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AI Matches the Abilities of the Best Math Olympians

Until now computers have failed to solve mathematical problems. But the AI program AlphaGeometry has succeeded in finding proofs for dozens of theorems from the International Mathematical Olympiad




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Math Explains Why Your Friends Are More Popular Than You

The inspection paradox makes sense of social networks, long train wait times and why the call center is always busy 




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This Nomadic Eccentric Was the Most Prolific Mathematician in History

The bizarre life and legacy of Paul Erdős, the most prolific mathematician ever




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A Wild Claim about the Powers of Pi Creates a Transcendental Mystery

Mathematicians cannot determine whether multiplying pi by itself repeatedly might produce a whole number




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These Numbers Look Random but Aren't, Mathematicians Prove

A new mathematical proof helps show whether a sequence of numbers is “pseudorandom”




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Tomorrow's Quantum Computers Threaten Today's Secrets. Here's How to Protect Them

Researchers are racing to create codes so complex that even quantum computers can’t break them




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Scientists Destroy Illusion That Coin Toss Flips Are 50–50

Researchers go to great lengths to prove a tiny bias in coin flipping




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How String Theory Solved Math's Monstrous Moonshine Problem

A concept from theoretical physics helped confirm the strange connection between two completely different areas of mathematics




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The Strangely Serious Implications of Math's 'Ham Sandwich Theorem'

A simple solution to gerrymandering crumbles when confronted with math’s ‘ham sandwich theorem’




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Casual Employment Threshold, TD Benefit and Attorney Fees to Increase

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division announced that maximum temporary total disability benefits and attorney fees are increasing on July 1 along with the threshold used to determine whether employment is…




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WCD Adds 'Physician Associate' to Change of Provider Form

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division on Friday announced that it updated the form used to request a change of provider to replace the term “physician assistant” with “physician associate.” The WCD…




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Carrier Doesn't Have to Treat Worker as Having 'Combined Condition'

The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that an insurance carrier did not have to treat a worker as having a combined condition when none of her impairment was related to her compensable…




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WCD Reports No Change in Rate of Accepted Claims in 2022

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division reported that covered employment and the number of accepted disabling claims increased in 2022, resulting in the claims rate per 100 workers remaining the same as…




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DCBS Reports 7 Compensable Fatalities in First Quarter

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services said it received notice of seven fatalities accepted for workers’ compensation benefits in the first three months of 2024, one less than…




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Court Clarifies When Spouse Doesn't Qualify as Beneficiary of Fatally Injured Worker

The Oregon Court of Appeals clarified when a worker’s spouse falls within an exception to the definition of “beneficiary” because the couple was “living in a state of abandonment” at…




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Roofing Material Supplier Fined $92,226 for Fall Hazards

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined a building materials supplier $92,226 for repeatedly failing to protect workers from potential fall hazards that it said could seriously injure or…




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DCBS Reports 42 Compensable Fatalities in 2023

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services reported that it received notice of 42 fatalities accepted for workers’ compensation benefits in 2023. The 42 compensable workplace fatalities represent a 40%…




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Rulemaking Advisory Committee Reviewing Treatment Regs

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division's rulemaking advisory committee will review medical treatment regulations during a Nov. 5 meeting. The division said a preliminary list of topics that the committee will discuss…




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DCBS Cutting Rates by 3.2%

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services said employers will pay an average of 3.2% less for workers’ compensation coverage next year. The department said the advisory pure premium rate…




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Most Lodging and Meal Reimbursement Rates Increase Oct. 1

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division on Thursday announced that most lodging and meal reimbursement rates for injured workers who travel to medical appointments will increase Oct. 1. The standard lodging rate…




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No Change in Premium Assessment Rate for 2025

The Oregon Workers' Compensation Division announced that premium assessment rates will remain unchanged in 2025. The division said the premium assessment rate for 2025 will be 9.8%, the same as it…




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Finding the rare sandhills cellophane bee – with data

We use iNaturalist data to help find the sandhills cellophane bee. Researchers are looking for nesting sites for the rare bee.



  • Longleaf Pine & Fire Ecology
  • Pollinators and Gardening
  • Wildlife in North Florida- Critters Big and Small
  • Florida native bees
  • iNaturalist
  • sandhills habitat

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Federal Court Reinstates Injured Worker's Civil Suit Against Crane Contractor

A federal appellate court revived an injured worker’s suit against a crane contractor, finding there were triable questions as to whether the crane operator allegedly responsible for his injuries was…




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Judge Miscalculates Insurance Provider's Lien Against Amputee's Tort Settlement

The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled that a trial judge miscalculated an insurance provider’s lien against a truck driver’s third-party recovery for an accident that resulted in the loss of…




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WCRI: Medical Payments Per Claim Higher Than Most States

The Workers Compensation Research Institute reported that medical payments per claim in Indiana were higher than typical among the 17 states included in a recent study. WCRI said its analysis of…




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High Court Suspends Attorney for Nine Months

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals suspended for nine months an attorney with a long disciplinary history. Nelson Gonzalez is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and New Jersey. He has been…




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High Court Overturns Finding That Injured Worker Doesn't Qualify as Employee

The District of Columbia’s highest court overturned a finding that an injured worker was not an employee within the meaning of the Workers’ Compensation Act. Case: Sanchez Lopez v. DOES, No. 22-AA-0765,…




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Penalties by Office of Risk Management Not Subject to Review by Office of Administrative Hearings

The District of Columbia’s highest court ruled that the Office of Administrative Hearings lacks authority to review penalty calculations by the Office of Risk Management. Luigi Buitrago injured his back in…




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Court Overturns Denial of Benefits to Son of Fatal Heart Attack Victim

The Illinois Appellate Court overturned a denial of benefits for the son of a worker who died of a heart attack. Richard Cronk worked for Kimball Hill Homes as a construction manager.




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Court Upholds Summary Dismissal of Widow's Claim Against Parent of Late-Husband's Employer

A federal appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of a widow’s wrongful death claim against the parent company of her late-husband’s employer. Case: Mesenbring v. Rollins Inc., No. 23-2473, 06/28/2024, published. Facts:…




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Court: Fatal Heart Attack Compensable, Worker's Adult Son Qualifies as Beneficiary

An Illinois appeals court overturned the denial of death benefits to a deceased worker’s adult son, finding that the father's fatal heart attack was compensable and that the son was an…




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Court Upholds Summary Dismissal of Retaliation Claim

A federal appellate court upheld the summary dismissal of a worker’s claim of retaliation for pursuing workers’ compensation benefits. Paula Emerson began working for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in 2008.




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Chamber, Self-Insurers' Association Open Registration for Work Comp Conference

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce and Illinois Self Insurers’ Association opened registration for their Workers’ Compensation and Safety Conference scheduled for Oct. 9 in Lisle. The conference will feature a case law…




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Governor Announces Arbitrator Reappointments

Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday announced several arbitrator reappointments to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission. The reappointed arbitrators are: Joseph Amarilio. Crystal Caison. Paul Cellini. Ana Vazquez Diaz. Gerald Granada. Jessica Hegarty. Adam Hinrichs. Jeffrey Huebsch. Nina Mariano. Maureen Pulia. Pritzker has also appointed…




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Federal Law Preempts Worker's Claim for Alleged State Insurance Law Violations

A federal appellate court ruled that a worker’s claim that his employer’s health plan administrator violated Illinois law was preempted by federal law. Case: Carnes v. HMO Louisiana Inc., No. 4:22-cv-04179,…




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Governor Appoints Magda Derisma-Oyewole as Arbitrator

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Monday appointed Magda Derisma-Oyewole as an arbitrator for the state Workers’ Compensation Commission. Magda Derisma-Oyewole Derisma-Oyewole has been a practicing attorney since 2015 and focused on…




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Comp Attorney James Keefe Sr. Dies at 68

Long-tenured Illinois workers’ compensation attorney James K. Keefe Sr. died at the age of 68. James K. Keefe Sr. (kasslyfuneral.com) Keefe died at his home Sept. 9, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission said…




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Supreme Court to Weigh in on Statutory Employer Defense

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide whether general contractors can be denied statutory employer status if they have not paid benefits to a subcontractor’s injured employee and whether the statutory employer defense is…