Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Recalls, Market Withdrawals,

Farm Country Cheese House Recalls Raw Milk Cheddar Because Of Possible Contamination With Listeria Monocytogenes

Contact:
Consumer:
989-352-7779 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting

989-352-7779 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE —December 24, 2014 — Lakeview, MI — Farm Country Cheese House of, Lakeview Michigan is recalling 1136.53 pounds of Raw Milk Cheddar, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Raw Milk Cheddar was distributed in the state of Michigan. More specific in the Grand Rapids metro area and, Detroit metro area through retail stores and specialty shops.

The Raw Milk Cheddar in question is packaged under two different labels. The first label will have Farm Country Cheese House logo on the far left hand side, and the product name (Raw Milk Cheddar) will be written on top of the label. This product is sold as an 8 oz block. This product has “Use By Date” on the back of the cheese. The dates are between October 28th 2015 and December 5th 2015. This label will also have a Julian Date in the lower right hand corner. These Julian dates are as follows: 14301, 14302, 14308, 14309, 14324, 14325, 14332, 14336, and 14339.

The second label will have Farm Country Cheese House logo on the far left hand side, and the product name (Raw Milk Cheddar) written in white over a light blue banner this label will have the “Use By Date” on the back, it will not have a Julian Date. The “Use By Date” dates are between October 28th 2015 and December 5th 2015. This will be packaged in 8oz blocks and 5 lb. loafs.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the FDA which revealed that the finished products contained the bacteria. Farm Country Cheese House has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Consumers who have purchased Farm Country Cheese House Raw Milk Cheddar are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 989-352-7779 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting

989-352-7779 FREE end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or info@farmcountrycheesehouse.com Monday thru Friday from 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M EST.

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Video Purportedly Captures Vicious Fight At Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonalds « CBS Chicago

US Offers $11 Million in Cuba Program Grants

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Get Set for a Healthy Winter Season

Thursday, December 18, 2014

West Chicago Still Catching Up On Yearlong Backlog Of Water Bills « CBS Chicago

FCC Plans Massive Fine of Sprint for Bogus Charges - NationalJournal.com

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

‘Multiple Injuries’ In FedEx Truck Crash Near Tinley Park « CBS Chicago

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Takata says recall decision is up to automakers - FOX 32 News Chicago

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

What's New on the CDC Emergency Preparedness & Response Website

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

The NIOSH Science Blog has been updated: Drive Safely Work Week 2014

The NIOSH Science Blog has been updated: Drive Safely Work Week 2014

This week is Drive Safely Work Week. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the U.S. Read how you can protect yourself and your employees on the NIOSH Science Blog.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts > Mars Chocolate North America Issues Allergy Alert Voluntary Recall on Undeclared Peanuts and Eggs in TWIXÂ® Bites 7oz Stand Up Pouch

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Illinois targeting immigrant driver's license scammers

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Short Story: A Murder-For-Hire Target by Accident by Gardenia c. Hung on ScribeSlice

Monday, July 28, 2014

DuPage County Senior Health Fair

DuPage County Senior Health Fair

Du Page County Goverment Center

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

A Consumer Service Fraud Practice for Billing in Lombard

The Village of Lombard Water Service Department managed by Sharon Meyers has a water bill for $118.00US which was being used by Keith Steiskal at the Building Permits Departments to deny a building permit purchase requested by the Zees Group Disaster Restoration Services, in care of Mr. Zee Kawa, contractor, www.zeesgroup.com . Even when there was No Water, No Sewage, and No Water Service since 2004, 2005, when the Lombard plumbing pipes burst under ungauged and excessive water pressure released by the Village of Lombard Public Works, there was No Water or Sewage Service at 502 S. Westmore Avenue —the Village of Lombard had already installed new PSI valves to monitor water pressure for Lombard water mains which overflow to cause plumbing failure, water flooding and damages, www.villageoflombard.org.

The Village of Lombard adds surcharges, overcharges, and triple the water service charges and sewage utilities billing for resident homeowners in DuPage County, Illinois, USA. Lombard even overbills resident homeowners for water utility services as part of the consumer service fraud practice at the Village of Lombard Town Hall in DuPage County, Illinois USA. Waterbill padding for surcharges, overbilling, and surplus service charges are a common business deceptive practice used by the Village of Lombard to collect additional funding from resident homeowners in DuPage County, Illinois USA. A Lombard water bill can duplicate or triplicate consumer usage per household based on surcharges and overbilling service charges attached for deceptive business practices in the Town Hall, subject to consumer service fraud, www.ftc.gov, in DuPage County, Illinois USA.

www.villageoflombard.org

City to Begin Replacing Water Meters - Government - Wheaton, IL Patch

City to Begin Replacing Water Meters - Government - Wheaton, IL Patch

The City’s Water Division soon will be replacing the majority of the 16,500 water meters within the City as part of its multi-year Water Meter Replacement Program.

The current water meters have been in service for 10-15 years and have reached the end of their useful lives. As water meters age, they often lose accuracy, resulting in incorrect billing and non-revenue water loss. The new meters, which have an expected 20-year battery life, will ensure accurate readings and billing.

The new water meters will operate the same as the old meters. All water meters in Wheaton currently have a wireless device that transmits the meter readings on a licensed radio frequency over a short distance to a handheld or mobile device. Readings are only transmitted once a month when a Water Division meter reader drives by each location to wirelessly collect data from each meter. This technology has improved the efficiency of the meter reading program.

This program is expected to take approximately 5 years to complete. When your water meter is set to be replaced, you will receive a letter from the City requesting a meter replacement appointment.

During this appointment, a Water Division customer service representative will visit your home to replace the water meter, free of charge. Each appointment takes about 30 minutes to complete, during which the water will be shut off for about 15 minutes.
Appointments may be scheduled between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Lombard Criminal Disaster Damages & Loses For Gardenia C. Hung-Wittler, The Company Communications, Languages & Culture Inc. and The Estate of Mr. Roberto Hung Juris Doctor in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

The Daughter of Mr. Roberto Hung has not received Lombard Real Estate Payment nor Compensation or Restitution as a Du Page Homeowner in York Township, State of Illinois, USA | GHung's Blog

The Daughter of Mr. Roberto Hung has not received Lombard Real Estate Payment nor Compensation or Restitution as a Du Page Homeowner in York Township, State of Illinois, USA | GHung's Blog

The eldest Daughter of Mr. Roberto Hung has not received Lombard Real Estate Payment nor Compensation or Restitution as a Du Page resident homeowner and Illinois Victim of Heinous Hate Crimes at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard, following the Lombard Criminal Disaster Roofing Water Damages and Losses Demolition arranged by Lombard Fire Department Chief George Seagraves, Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne, Keith Steiskal, David Hulseberg, Bill Mueller, Laura Fitzpatrick, Diane Arturi, Michael Mariani, John Valle, and others in the Village of Lombard, York Township, in Du Page County, Illinois USA. The Village of Lombard owes Gardenia Hung-Wittler real estate payment, compensation, and restitution as a Lombard resident homeowner, Illinois Victim of Heinous Hate Crimes in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois, United States of America.

In June 1993, Mr. Roberto Hung was fifty-five (55) years old when his youngest son and wife encouraged him to buy Lombard real estate property in Lilac Town with his oldest daughter and son-in-law who would help him pay for the historic Lombard brick bungalow at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard one block north from St. Pius X Church and School Parish and three blocks from the Illinois Secretary of State Motor Vehicles Facility at Eastgate Shopping Center. The Westmore Elementary School is only one block north on School Street. The Deicke Home for the Retarded is three blocks away from the same location. Mr. Roberto Hung, his eldest daughter, and son-in-law started looking for Lombard real estate property to purchase during the summer in Du Page County, Illinois USA. Finally, Mr. Roberto Hung found a Lombard Brick Bungalow at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard with the help of Baird & Warner Realtor Paulette Weininger and Century 21 Realtor Dino Lekousis from the Lombard Pines Shopping Center on Main Street, across from the J.W. Reedy Realty office. The Lombard historic brick bungalow was built in 1927 and was owned by Debra Seckreki and her father Adam Seckreki, who lived there with two children, and a senior citizen named Stella who resided on the second floor in-law apartment. Mr. Roberto Hung, his eldest daughter, and son-in-law purchased the Lombard historic brick bungalow and have lived in the Village of Lombard, Lilac Town, as Illinois resident homeowner in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois USA.

Since Debra Sekrecki and her father Adam Sekrecki owed $2,800 in Lombard real estate property taxes in 1993, Mr. Roberto Hung had to pay Du Page County for the Lombard Brick Bungalow real estate taxes in York Township on September 2, 1993. In addition, Mr. Roberto Hung also paid in cash $89,000, half of the down payment as deposit for the Lombard real estate property at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA. On September 2, 1993, Mr. Roberto Hung, his eldest daughter, and son-in-law began payment of Lombard real estate property mortgage to own the historic brick bungalow, while the three of them were working full-time, part-time, and on weekends.

Three (3) years later on September 2, 1996, Mr. Roberto Hung and his eldest daughter completed full cash payment of the same Lombard real estate property at 502 S. Westmore Avenue at the Maple Park State Bank in Kane County, Illinois USA. The eldest daughter was a witness to the full cash payment for the Lombard real estate property in Du Page County, Illinois USA.
The eldest Daughter of Mr. Roberto Hung has not received Lombard Real Estate Payment nor Compensation or Restitution as a Du Page resident homeowner and Illinois Victim of Heinous Hate Crimes at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard, following the Lombard Criminal Disaster Roofing Water Damages and Losses Demolition arranged by Lombard Fire Department Chief George Seagraves, Lombard Police Chief Ray Byrne, Keith Steiskal, David Hulseberg, Bill Mueller, Laura Fitzpatrick, Diane Arturi, Michael Mariani, John Valle, and others in the Village of Lombard, York Township, in Du Page County, Illinois USA. The Village of Lombard owes Gardenia Hung-Wittler real estate payment, compensation, and restitution as a Lombard resident homeowner, Illinois Victim of Heinous Hate Crimes in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois, United States of America.
When is the Village of Lombard going to pay the Daughter of Mr. Roberto Hung as a Lombard homeowner and Illinois Victim of Heinous Hate Crimes at 502 South Westmore Avenue and Washington Boulevard in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA?

Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow formerly at 502 S. Westmore Avenue owned by Mr. Roberto Hung Juris Doctor, his eldest Daughter, and son-in-law

New Lombard Home Built by Manco Home Builder Sold by the Village of Lombard in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA

Friday, June 13, 2014

A Nuisance For Roofing Water Damages & Losses - GHWittler - Open Salon

A Nuisance in Lombard For Roofing Water Damages and Losses in Du Page
County, Illinois USA

Once upon a time, twenty years ago, a Chinese-Cuban family moved to Lilac Town at the corner of 502 South Westmore-Meyers Road and Washington Boulevard to a historic Lombard Brick Bungalow built in 1927, which was surrounded by a wooden picket fence with only one entry gate on Washington Boulevard in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA.

While the Chinese-Cuban family members were working very hard to pay their Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow during the day, afternoon, and night, Lombard wildlife, critters, animals, intruders, uninvited visitors, and trespassers would meander into the resident family’s fragrant Lilac garden,
apples orchard, strawberry patch, and vegetable garden.

After several home invasions during the day, afternoon, and after midnight, the daughter called Ralph Schlemer the Handy Man from Elmhurst to install a gate lock to prevent trespassers and thieves from coming into the garden to cut off fragrant lilac branches, kill the Perkins Peace Rose or access the Lombard home through the garden shed door. The Elmhurst Handy Man also installed another electrical switch by the porch to turn on a large fluorescent light to illuminate the backyard and keep marauders off the premises, by adding changes to the Schlage door locks.

All the Lombard resident homeowners’ efforts did not deter nor discourage a nuisance for damaging roofing structure by Critter Detectives in Lombard, DuPage County, Illinois USA.The Lombard home only had one young green Maple Tree in the middle of the backyard surrounded by a wooden picket
fence and three Golden and Red Delicious Apple Trees in the backyard.

One day the daughter noticed that the wooden picket fence posts had been sewed off at the bottom to open up a hole for animals and wildlife to access entry by Chuck, Robyn and Jennifer’s adjoining driveway. Can you imagine, “Who would use a carpenter’s saw to sew off a wooden picket post to let animals, wildlife and critters into my back yard?”…while the Chinese-Cuban family was working during the day, afternoon, and nights.

The wooden picket fence around the Lombard Historic Bungalow never disturbed anyone until John and Eva Carpenter drove the Station Wagon backwards into the wooden fence posts while they were moving into the Ahrens-Stebens home the Summer of 2001.

One afternoon, the daughter saw how Eva Carpenter backed into my Lombard wooden picket fence and said, “You just broke the wooden posts when you backed without looking into the fence, Eva.”

John Carpenter and the two sons must remember how they use to play basketball in their backyard and the ball would end up over the adjoining picket fence and the young son running after it would climb over the wooden picket fence into the Chinese-Cuban family backyard.

“Why did the Carpenters’ young son jump into the Chinese-Cuban family’s backyard?” when the
daughter saw him jump back home from the porch windows.That was not the only aggression against the Lombard wooden picket fence.

Another day, the daughter found the squirrels racing around the fence at a maddening speeding, while they chased each other out, all around the backyard, only to jump up to the green Maple Tree.

Blue birds and red cardinals also made their way into the Lombard garden and feasted on Golden and Red Delicious Apple Blossoms and budding apples.

There was even a loud Wood Pecker by the Apple Orchard burrowing a whole into the tree trunks to make a nest.

There had never been so many birds, wildlife, animals, and strange people into the Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow garden, until the daughter saw a creepy, crawly Opossum or Possum which look like albino giant rats.

After coming home from work one afternoon, she noticed that the grass had signs of a large reptile, slithering over the green lawn grass while leaving imprints on the backyard. That day, she found the whole sewed off at the bottom of the wooden picket fence posts by Chuck and Robyn’s driveway on Washington Boulevard.

Then, the daughter saw two masked bandits sneaking into the Lombard garden. Raccoons behave like crooks and criminals causing damages in the Lombard garden and backyard near the Illinois Prairie Path, the Lombard Lagoons, and all over Du Page County, Illinois USA.

The critter marauders began to appropriate the backyard an climbed the rain gutter duct by the air conditioning unit to make a nest up on the roof. Another raccoon climbed up the green Maple Tree to cross over and hide on the roof.

That is when the daughter called Critter Detectives in Lombard at 1294 South Lloyd Avenue, Telephone: 630-916-7678. According to Critter Detectives, “If You Have Critter Trouble, We’ll Be There on the Double for Nuisance Wildlife Relocation 1 (888) 271-8837. Critter specialists in
the Chicagoland area for 15 years since 1997".

The Chinese-Cuban family moved into Lilac Town on September 2, 1993. Critter Detectives followed new Lombard homeowners four years after into Lilac Town upon demand of wildlife roaming red foxes, wild renegade coyotes, snakes, raccoons, squirrels, opossum, moles, groundhogs, skunks, beavers, birds, bats, dead animals, and geese hazing.

The brother referred me to Critter Detectives in Lombard to resolve home invasions by raccoons nesting on the roof after trespassing under and above the wooden picket fence posts surrounding the Lombard garden at 502 S. Westmore-Meyers Road and Washington Boulevard in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois USA.

When I would come out to the Lombard garden after work, I felt critter peering eyes gazing at me from the roofing above my head. One morning in May, a Hispanic Critter Detective drove up to the Lombard driveway and set up a Raccoon Trap on the roof of the Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow
during May before the Memorial Day weekend.

The Hispanic Critter Detective made a bigger hole to attach the Animal Trap to the Lombard roofing structure in order to catch the roving renegade raccoons who would come and go from this location.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, the Lombard resident homeowner went to observe the ceremony at the Daley Plaza Eternal Flame monument.

Upon return to the Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow, she found one Raccoon caught inside the Animal Trap over the weekend.

Then Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty knocked on the porch door and talked to her by the doorway saying that the neighbor, Eva Carpenter was disturbed by the Raccoon being caught in the Animal Trap set up by the Hispanic Critter Detective.

The Lombard resident homeowner asked the Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty, “Why is Eva Carpenter complaining about the Raccoon caught in the Animal Trap?”

Mark Gouty said that Eva Carpenter wanted the Raccoon released from the Animal Trap and set free.

But, the Lombard resident homeowner said that she had called Critter Detectives in Lombard and “ did not want the Raccoon in the backyard anymore that is why Critter Detectives were called to catch the wildlife animal disturbing the Lombard home roofing and the backyard”.

So, on Memorial Day weekend, Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty got into the Lombard backyard and picked up the Animal Trap with the Rogue Raccoon inside, as if the Lombard Policeman was arresting the wildlife Raccoon for being in the Lombard backyard inside the Critter Detective Animal
Trap.

The irony was that the Lombard resident homeowner had called Critter Detectives about a nuisance wildlife damaging roofing structure. “Why was Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty intruding upon the Critter Detectives’ Animal Trap with the Rascal Raccoon caught inside during Memorial Day weekend?”

Obviously, Eva Carpenter was meddling in the Critter Detectives’ Animal Trap with the Raccoon inside over the Memorial Day Weekend in the neighbor’s backyard, not the Carpenters’ driveway.

So, Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty said, “I am going to take the Animal Trap with the Raccoon inside and remove the wildlife”.

The Lombard resident homeowner told him that “Critter Detectives had set up the Animal Trap which belonged to them and they expected to find a Raccoon inside”.

Upon return from the Memorial Day Observance, the daughter who was also a Lombard resident homeowner was upset that Eva Carpenter was interfering with the Critter Detectives’ Animal Trap containing the crooked Raccoon caught inside for the holiday.

The Raccoon had already built a nest on the roof of the Lombard Historic Brick Bungalow and the Hispanic Trapper caught the wildlife nuisance into the Animal Trap.

After the Lombard resident homeowner talked to Mark Gouty, he made the mistake of walking into the Lombard garden, picking up the Critter Detectives’ Animal Trap with a nuisance wildlife Raccoon, and setting the Animal Cage inside the Lombard Police squad car for District 5 in the Village of Lombard. Mark Gouty said that he would bring back the Critter Detective’s Animal Cage to the Lombard home backyard.

Forty-five minutes later, Mark Gouty returned with an empty Animal Cage.

The Lombard resident homeowner asked him, “What did you do with the Raccoon?” Mark Gouty answered that he drove to the Grace St. Lagoon by North Avenue and released the Raccoon
there.

The Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty released free the criminal Raccoon which had set up a small nest on the Lombard roofing structure overlooking the backyard.

“What!” I said, “that Raccoon is going to find the way back to the Lombard nest on the roof…” I am
going to complain about the Lombard Police releasing rogue wildlife free at the Lombard Grace Street Lagoon by North Avenue, between the Village of Lombard and Addison in Du Page County, Illinois USA.

I did not know that Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty had to arrest a caged Raccoon on Memorial Day during May. Eva Carpenter, the Lombard neighbor, and Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty were both accomplices and access to criminal roofing damages caused by the Raccoon when the Lombard Policeman released the wildlife Raccoon entrapped and caged by Critter Detectives at 502 S.
Westmore-Meyers Road and Washington Boulevard, Lombard, IL 60148-3028 USA.

The next day, the Hispanic Critter Detective picked up the Animal Trap empty, without the Wildlife Raccoon which had been caught and released over the Memorial Day weekend by Lombard Policeman Mark Gouty who set the Raccoon free by the Grace Street Lagoon near North Avenue between Lombard and Addison in Du Page County.

Unfortunately, the Hispanic Critter Detective did not cover up nor repair the bigger hole he made while setting up the Animal Trap Cage to catch the nuisance wildlife Raccoon during the Memorial Day weekend at 502 South Westmore-Meyers Road and Washington Boulevard in District 5, Village of Lombard, Illinois USA.

Afterwards, the wildlife Raccoon returned with another mate to set up the nest in the same location where the first Raccoon had started residence on the Lombard home roof. The
nuisance wildlife continued marauding and intruding upon the Lombard homeowners
real estate property ever after that Memorial Day weekend in May.

Lombard Police Department in Du Page County

Lombard Criminal Disaster Roofing Water Damages & Losses at 502 S. Westmore-Meyers Road and Washington Blvd. in District 5, York Township, Du Page County, Illinois 60148-3028 USA

Friday, June 6, 2014

BBC News - GM accepts 'troubling' report on Chevrolet Cobalt recall

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Lombard, IL - Official Site

Lombard, IL - Official Site

Public Works inspecting Highland water tank next week, residents could see harmless cloudy water

The Village of Lombard's Public Works Department will be performing an inspection of the Highland Avenue elevated water storage tank located at 2020 S Highland Ave during the week of June 2 through June 9.

During this inspection, the tank will be isolated from the water distribution system, drained, and inspected. These inspections are done every three to five years and are for the purpose of finding potential structural damage and equipment failures all to ensure the operational efficiency of the water distribution system.

During this time, residents might see some pressure fluctuations or cloudy water, according to Public Works. These observations are normal and do not affect the quality of the water. Cloudy or “milky” water is an effect of undissolved oxygen in the water and will dissipate in a minute or so if left to stand in a glass. There are no effects to the quality of the water and is safe to consume.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Capture My Chicago Photo Contest - Why is Champion Cycle Center Inc. Closed in Chicago? by Gardenia Hung-Wittler

Champion Cycle Center Motorcycle Dealer at 3625 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL - Motorcycle USA

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Auto parts price-fixing probe rattles industry

WASHINGTON (AP) - An investigation into price-fixing and bid-rigging in the auto parts industry has mushroomed into the Justice Department's largest criminal antitrust probe ever, and it's not over yet.

The investigation, made public four years ago with FBI raids in the Detroit area, has led to criminal charges against dozens of people and companies, stretched across continents and reverberated through an industry responsible for supplying critical car components.

The collusion has also saddled U.S. drivers with millions of dollars in extra costs.

"It's a very, very safe assumption that U.S. consumers paid more, and sometimes significantly more, for their automobiles as a result of this conspiracy," Brent Snyder, a deputy assistant attorney general in the antitrust division, said in an interview.

So far, 34 individuals have been charged and 27 companies have pleaded guilty or agreed to do so, the Justice Department says. Collectively, they have agreed to pay more than $2.3 billion in fines. New cases have arisen with regularity, with Attorney General Eric Holder promising last September that investigators "would check under ever hood and kick every tire."

The most recent development came Thursday, when an executive from a Japanese company was charged with conspiring to fix the prices of heater control panels sold to Toyota and with persuading workers to destroy evidence.

Officials say the investigation stands out not just for its scope but also for the cooperation the authorities have received from Japan, Australia and other countries. Despite the challenges of prosecuting foreign nationals, the Justice Department has won guilty pleas from a series of Japanese executives who opted to get their punishment over with rather than remain under indictment in their home countries and subject to career-crippling travel restrictions.

Though the techniques and strategies sometimes differed, the executives generally carried out the collusion by trading coded emails, meeting at remote locations and destroying documents to avoid paper trails.

With an eye toward eliminating competition and maximizing profits, they exploited an industry that experts say is in some ways vulnerable to collusion: There are a finite number of purchasers and suppliers, there's steady pressure among companies to cut prices - and car parts, unlike certain products that have a great deal of variability - are generally standardized and homogeneous.

"The firms will just make more money if they're able to reach and stick to an agreement to collectively charge higher prices so that customers can't get them to bid against each other," said Spencer Weber Waller, director of the Institute for Antitrust Consumer Studies at the Loyola University Chicago law school. "The problem is, of course, it's a felony in the United States."

The Justice Department first publicly surfaced aspects of the investigation when FBI agents in Detroit raided the offices of Denso Corp, Yazaki North America and Tokai Rika. All three companies have pleaded guilty to their roles in price-fixing and bid-rigging schemes.

Since the raids, the probe has broadened to encompass about $5 billion worth of auto parts, including seat belts, ignition coils, steering wheels, air bags, windshield wipers and rubber parts that dampen vibration.

Similar cartels have formed in industries ranging from oil and gas to cement and vitamins, though there's debate among economists about how long they can last, given the constant incentive for one member to cheat the others and the tendency to collapse under their own weight as they keep growing, said Daniel Crane, a University of Michigan law professor.

But the collusion in these cases, which in some instances lasted more than a decade, was "deftly done," said Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor of Cars.com, who has followed the auto parts investigation.

"If they get too greedy and they make their prices too high, then someone smells a rat," he said. "When they set their prices and fixed their prices, they had to do it in a way that wasn't obvious and that took into account the entire market, including suppliers that weren't involved."

Wiesenfelder said that while the collusion affected car consumers, it's hard to tell how much the investigation has been noticed by the average driver.

"It's kind of abstract to consumers," he said. "It's not that prices were fixed on cars. That would really hit home."

But there are indications the industry is chastened.

For instance, Bridgestone Corp., a tire and rubber company that pleaded guilty this year, announced that it would strengthen its compliance, discipline employees and withhold a portion of compensation from certain board members and executives.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department says it's looking into additional misconduct in an investigation that bears all the hallmarks of classic antitrust law-breaking.

"This one," Snyder said, "has it all."

____

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

ERIC TUCKERThe Associated Press

Friday, May 2, 2014

This Is What a Magnified Splash of Seawater Looks Like - ABC News

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Editorial: Here's just few things wrong with Illinois

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

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Vimeo: Consulting Media