real estate

Loras College Dorm Meth Lab Explodes

Steve Lombardi
March 21, 2012 10:00

A restroom being used as a make-shift lab to cook meth exploded setting off the sprinkler system and the fire alarms. By the time emergency workers arrived the person responsible was long gone. KCCI reported that police suspect the person or persons were using the shake-and-bake method where...

Manure pit foam causing methane gas explosions on Midwest Farm

Steve Lombardi
March 20, 2012 10:00

Hog manure pits have an unplanned and unidentified foam growing and then forming a cap that traps methane gas. When a spark is present the methane explodes. The report referenced in the linked article cites six explosions since 2009. The foam is described as being up to four feet thick and growing...

Important Changes to Zoning Law

John Bruce
March 19, 2012 20:37

The Wisconsin Legislature in its last session made significant changes to the ability of municipalities to regulate commercial and other buildings. Senate Bill 472 prohibits municipalities from imposing cost requirements on repair or remodeling of legal nonconforming structures.  Such...

Community Organized Breaking and Entering

Kevin Funnell
March 19, 2012 02:56

An irate reader sent me this article last week, which, he asserted, showed evidence of "open criminal activity" that Chicago city officials were tacitly permitting. To make the long human-interest story short, non-profit groups allied with the Occupy Wall Street...An irate reader sent me this...

Canada: lender’s inspection may create liability to third parties

Walter Olson
March 14, 2012 15:50

A British Columbia court has allowed a suit to proceed arguing that a government lending program which included inspection of the property to be renovated could incur a duty to third persons who might later fall on a staircase whose faults allegedly would have been detected had inspection not been...