Regulations

The U.S. Supreme Court and Death Care

By Funeral Director Daily / October 8, 2019 /

There is a lot of talk about the United States Supreme Court this week.  The talk ramps up during the first week of October every year because that is when the court goes back into session hearing cases after its summer recess.  Here is an article from the Washington Post pertaining to the issues coming…

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Iowa Attorney General investigating two funeral homes prepaid accounts

By Funeral Director Daily / October 3, 2019 /

According to an article published yesterday from Radio Iowa that you can read here, the Iowa attorney general is going to court asking that the Iowa Insurance Division be allowed to step in and try to recoup money from two funeral homes under investigation. According to a statement in the article, Dennis Britson, of the…

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Article says Oregon “falls short” in death care inspections

By Funeral Director Daily / September 17, 2019 /

I came across a really good consumer information article the other day about the State of Oregon and its Mortuary and Cemetery Board.  The point of the article was an information topic on how the funeral home, cremation, and cemetery industry is regulated in that state.  You can read the article here. As my headline…

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Australian pre-need insurer faces investigation and civil action

By Funeral Director Daily / September 16, 2019 /

This article from the Sydney Morning Herald relates to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that, according to that article, commenced action last week against funeral and accident insurance company Select AFSL  and its director, Russell Howden. The article mentions that the company faces a lawsuit from Australia’s corporate regulator over what they call…

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Dillinger may not be exhumed after all

By Funeral Director Daily / September 13, 2019 /

Last month we brought you this story that pertained to the exhumation of a legendary bank robber who was at one time known as “Public Enemy #1”.  We refer to the life and death of John Dillinger and his eventual burial at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. We told you last month that…

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Grave robbery. . . the 21st century way

By Funeral Director Daily / September 6, 2019 /

“Members of a nonprofit Queens cemetery board plundered its coffers and made off with money meant to keep the burial grounds running” according to a suit filed by the New York Attorney General. . . . is how this article from the New York Post begins. According to the article the suit goes on to…

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Back to School

By Funeral Director Daily / August 29, 2019 /

Today I will be enjoying one of my favorite days of the year. . . .  Convocation Day at the University of Minnesota.  It is the day we welcome the new students to the University of Minnesota and as one of the 12 people appointed by the State Legislature to serve on the governing board…

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The staffing issue

By Funeral Director Daily / August 28, 2019 /

A couple of things came to my attention last week that made me again think about the staffing issue facing funeral homes across the country.  While I am no longer on the front lines in looking for licensed staff, I do hear from my colleagues that hiring and retaining professional funeral home licensed staff is…

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Contrasting Forces: Landmark Preservation vs. Redevelopment

By Funeral Director Daily / August 23, 2019 /

What to do with a funeral home that has “become outdated and closed due to a drop in demand?”  That is the question that seems to have an answer from most of us and, in particular, the owner in this case Service Corporation International (SCI).  I’m guessing that most of us would put the building…

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SCI properties in the news

By Funeral Director Daily / August 21, 2019 /

For the 30+ years that I operated our family owned funeral home I had to deal with a maximum of about 17 employees or teammates at work at any given time.  You got to know all of them real well and as the manager of a small firm you really understood what was happening under…

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