Killings in Yuma wipes out at least five and injuries one

On the morning of June 2, 2011 a 73-year-old male started a shooting spree in Yuma,, Ariz.. The shooter, Carey Hal Dyess of Yuma, killed five individuals and wounded one other person before fatally turning his gun on himself, as reported by experts.

Killed local lawyer

It seems there were two shooting locations although it isn’t clear what the rest of the details are. One of the fatalities occurred in the city of Yuma, and four others in Yuma County. The Phoenix Emergency room is supposedly taking care of one of the victims right now that are in critical condition. Attorney Jerrold Shelley is from Yuma. He was one of the victims.

So far, the other victims’ names were not released. It won’t be long until the names are released. However, police say the male murdered within the city limits was an adult male. The male was in a local business. Dyess then fired at him by running in.

Dyess involved in civil divorce suits

Court records show that Dyess was involved in two civil court cases that a divorce started. With one of the cases, a judge decided Dyess needed protecting. This protection was ordered in 2006. Motive is unclear right now.

Report of gunfire to police

It was about 9:30 a.m. when police responded to a call that said there was gunfire. This caused a lockdown of the court house and schools in the area. This was just a precaution. Every person at the courthouse ended up being safe. The lockdown was lifted.

Suicidal shooter

The Yuma County Sheriff’s department later found Dyess, killed of an apparently self-inflicted weapon wound.

Coming from the county judge

Just recently, Judge Andrew Gold made a statement to the Arizona Supreme Court. Gold is the Yuma County Presiding Judge. He explained that he was very sad about the whole thing. He then said that he is “thankful that those within the courthouse are safe.”

Articles cited

News Tribune

thenewstribune.com/2011/06/02/1690376/police-5-killed-in-shootings-in.html

CBS

cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20068375-504083.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+CBSNewsCourtWatch+%28CBS+News%3A+Court+Watch%29

WLTX

wltx.com/news/national/article/138854/142/5-Killed-in-Shootings-in-Yuma-AZ

Economists: the U.S. remains in a growth recession

Think it is the time to commemorate economic recovery? Don’t get cocky, suggests Investor’s Business Daily. Slow, insufficient growth is almost the same as backsliding, which is a common indicator that a growth recession is still on.

Concerning a growth recession

When economic growth is so low that it creates net joblessness, it is called a growth recession. Underachievement in job creation or very low growth is also Growth recession. Job contraction typically means that a country’s real GDP is expanding, but too slowly.

Facts in a tailspin

There are several growth recession signs, states Investor’s Business Daily. Here are a few:

• ADP Payroll Services found that 38,000 private-sector jobs were created in May 2011. The minimum goal economists hoped for was 100,000 jobs more than that.
• There was a two percent increase from April to May in the number of jobs cut since 37,135 jobs were cut, according to Challenger, Gray and Christmas.
• U.S. housing prices fell 4.2 percent in the first quarter.
• There was a 4 percent decrease in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s mortgage application index. This occurred in just one week at the end of May.
• The Institute for Supply Management’s factory activity index – an indicator of United States manufacturing health – dropped from 60.4 in April to 53.5 in May, the lowest score on the index since September 2009.

Back into recession

Getting joblessness back to normal is something that may not happen considering the U.S. GDP growth. It was only at 2.7 percent in May. 2011’s borrowing by the U.S. government has hit $1.5 trillion already. It may never be possible to keep away from the double-dip tough economy with that debt on our shoulders.

The United States needs to change if it is going to get back to economic health, claims Michael Pento. Pento is a senior economist at Euro Pacific Capital.

“Genuine government stimulus comes from low taxes, stable prices, reduced regulation and low debt,” said Pento. “Our economic policymakers have scrupulously avoided such remedies.”

Summer 2011 will smell of economic déjà vu , says The Indypendent. Federal spending is going down while spending cuts and tax increases are appearing in cities and states while the Federal Reserve is backpedaling. The United States may soon end up in a depression rather than a growth recession if things don’t turn around.

Checking out the growth recession

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIGJy41ekEU

Citations

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_recession

The Indypendent

indypendent.org/2011/06/02/the-coming-double-dip-recession/

Investor’s Business Daily

investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/573972/201106011847/President-Plays-Economy-Lists.htm?src=HPLNews

Extra charges acquire billions for the air industry

Baggage expenses and other “extra” charges are unavoidable for the current air vacationer. They can be expensive and irritating. But they are gravy for the airline carriers. A new study suggests they add up to hundreds of millions for the market.

How the new report adds up

The market was able to acquire $21.46 billion just last year from luggage fees, frequent-flier programs, co-branded charge cards and other non-transportation fees, reports the Amadeus Review of Ancillary Revenue Results.

Top dollar earners

About $5 billion was brought in in extras with United Continental Airlines, which was probably the most non-transportation money an airline brought in. Second was Delta, at $3.7 billion. The third was American Airlines at $2 billion. All of them are companies based in the U.S.

Having a low spending budget means revenue comes from extras

There are usually lower ticket costs and shorter-distance flights with bargain airlines. This means generating income demands extra fees. They lead the pack if the data is analyzed as a percentage of their total income. Of the airline carriers analyzed, Allegiant Airlines made 29.2 percent with these extra charges making it the top earner. The next two integrated Spirit Airlines at 22.6 percent and Ireland-based Ryanair at 22.1 percent.

Expect an increase in expenses soon

Soon, non-transportation fees are sure to go up, according to co-author or the study and president of IdeaWorks Jay Sorenson. “Oil prices spiked in 2008, which was also the year in which the U.S. industry introduced baggage fees. We’re nearing those historical oil prices again, and I believe we’re going to see another round of new à la carte fees.”

Study done previously

Another study was done earlier this year by the Washington D.C.-based lobby group Customer Travel Alliance. The study was done with a coalition of travel agencies with Open Airlines for Airfare Transparency. The study found that in 2010, air passengers paid an average of $36.80 in expenses for every round trip.

Government being pressured

In an attempt to try to get the federal government to change how flight companies work with expenses, two groups collected over 60,000 online signatures, as of last March.

Articles cited

MSNBC

overheadbin.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/01/6764501-nickeled-and-dimed-for-21-billion

Denver Business Journal

bizjournals.com/denver/news/2011/03/10/airlines-cost-coloradans-1486m-in.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

Business Week

businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9IBOU7G6.htm

The Ku Klux Klan protests the Arlington Cemetery Memorial Day Westboro Baptist demonstration

A somber Memorial Day 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia was interrupted by an unlikely pairing of protestors against one another, reports CNN. Just a few hours before Obama was to lead nationwide observances at the Tomb of the Unknowns, members of the Westboro Baptist Church and Ku Klux Klan traded words of turmoil and caution. Luckily, the day was not sullied by physical violence and arrests, only hateful comments.

Being anti-gay gets the Westboro Baptists hated by the KKK

Lots of attention has been brought to Topeka, Kan., because of the Westboro Baptist Church. This comes because of their U.S. military and homosexual protests. Church members end up protesting outside military funerals with anti-gay signs saying the soldiers will go to hell with the help of Pastor Fred Phelps and his daughter Abigail.

Such sentiment did not sit well with a group of 10 people at Arlington who claimed to represent a group called Knights of the Southern Cross (aka Soldiers of the Ku Klux Klan), however. There was a banner that said "POW-MIA" being held up by the KKK that was near the Westboro Baptists. The Ku Klux Klan group also had American flags and tried to drown out the Westboro Baptists' protests.

According to Imperial Wizard Dennis LaBonte, who was present at the demonstration, the Ku Klux Klan was assembled to protest Fred Phelps’ anti-troop message.

“It’s the soldier that fought and died and gave them that right to free speech,” said LaBonte.

White power in scriptures not seen

Abigail Phelps told CNN that the Westboro Baptists acknowledge no moral authority in the Ku Klux Klan, as in her church’s view, the Bible makes no references to white power or Caucasian supremacy. LaBonte and other suggest the Ku Klux Klan is only there to look after the white race. It is not about being racist or hateful. Meanwhile, the Westboro Baptists cling to their war against homosexuality and the United States military complex (illustrated by hateful slogans like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers").

Paying for freedom isn't cheap

As long as the Westboro Baptists stay a certain distance from military funerals, they’re allowed to protest under the First Amendment protection, according to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Much the same is true of the Ku Klux Klan and their Caucasian power demonstrations. Organizations can do whatever demonstrations they want as long as they don't violate any laws or become violent.

Articles cited

Arlington National Cemetery

arlingtoncemetery.mil/

CNN

cnn.com/2011/US/05/30/arlington.cemetery.protesters/index.html

New York Daily News

nydn.us/mK3Aku

Debt reduction and consolidation frauds still widespread after the downturn

Debt relief and consolidation corporations seem to have spread like wildfire in the past few years. Not all of these businesses are exactly trustworthy, though the majority is perfectly fine. Despite elevated regulations, there are still a lot of fraudulent debt reduction corporations in existence.

No use having Federal Trade Commission regulation for crooks

To be able to stop fake debt settlement and debt settlement businesses from stealing, the Federal Trade Commission started up many new rules. This was over half a year ago. Debt servicing corporations, according to KNDU, an NBC affiliate in Washington state, are prohibited from asking for an advance fee, have to make specific information accessible up front and can’t misrepresent themselves in any way. Companies have to give customers realistic estimates of how much money they could conserve and disclose exactly what fees are integrated in the service. Companies aren’t following the laws right now.

Large debt relief business busted

WalletPop reports that the states of Washington and New York did a sting with Freedom Debt Relief and found out it did not follow debt services’ laws. The firm is located in California. It misled consumers in the states mentioned. In both cases, the company settled. It settled for $2 million in payments in customers. The company is dealing with a class action lawsuit right now. It also made similar settlements with four other states. The Federal Trade Commission, according to the Wall Street Journal, recently won large settlements against two debt management companies illegally “robocalling” customers with automated phone messages. Dynamic Financial Group and Advanced Management Services NW were robocalling customers and said that with an upfront fee, they could reduce a debt. If it didn’t work, Advanced Management Services said it would refund money although the businesses both would keep the cash and tell consumers that they need to pay their ! bills on time to lower debt.

It may not be true if it looks that way

The old maxim that “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” holds true when it comes to debt settlement companies. The Federal Deposit Insurance Company and Federal Trade Commission both warn that any business guaranteeing to remove negative items from credit states or a settlement for “pennies on the dollar” is most likely a scam. Also, it is illegal for any debt settlement or debt reduction business to ask for any money whatsoever until after the debt is reduced or somehow changed. Just go ahead and check for a nonprofit debt counselor instead. There are several of them that can help you do a debt reduction plan for free. Before going to any for-profit debt reduction services, try a not-for-profit credit counselor first, the CFIC suggests. You are able to get help from the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. This will be where financial advisors as part of your area can be found.

Citations

Walletpop

walletpop.com/2011/03/08/freedom-debt-relief-agrees-to-pay-back-consumers-after-accusatio/

KNDUO/p>

kndo.com/story/14696586/how-new-federal-debt-relief-rules-protect-consumers

Wall Street Journal

online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110526-711657.html

FDIC

fdic.gov/consumers/consumer/news/cnfall10/debtoverload.html

FTC

ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/dealing-with-debt-relief-services.shtml

NFCC

nfcc.org/

Overdraft fee settled by Bank of America for $410 million in payment

Overdraft fees were the focus of a massive class action suit involving Bank of America, which the financial institution just recently arrived at a settlement agreement in. To settle the suit, B of A has agreed to pay $410 million. Comparable suits are being filed against other banks.

Account charges gets banks sued

Overdraft fees and account fees aren’t popular among consumers, and outrage over charge practices has led to major class action lawsuits against some of the largest financial institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Almost 1 million people are part of a huge class action suit, according to Bloomberg, against Bank of America, and similar suits have been filed against Chase bank, Citigroup and Wells Fargo. Bank of America is able to settle now. A $410 million settlement has already been approved. Reuters explained that over 2 dozen banks in the United States. Europe and Canada are being sued for fees like these, all of which were changed to be class action suits. In Re: Checking Account Overdraft Litigation is the name of the case.

Undue burden placed on vulnerable consumers

To be able to create multiple overdraft fees rather than just one or two, Bank of America has been accused of processing largest to smallest transactions so that accounts will go into overdraft over and over rather than in the order they came in. Overdrafts can function like short term credit; the bank will fund the transaction but add a fee to the amount owed by the account holder. Normal fees are between $25 and $35. Some customers can’t possibly afford overdraft fees. That is why customer advocates don’t like them. Banks cannot automatically put consumers in overdraft programs anymore. Consumers have to pick that choice.

Using your phone with Bank of America

The Los Angeles Times reports there’s a pilot program at Bank of America starting. If a transaction is dropped for insufficient funds, the consumer will receive a text message giving the customer the choice to have the bank cover the overdraft. The consumer has to deposit the funds then by 8 p.m. that evening to cover the transaction. If they do not, then they’ll get the $35 charge. This is only allowed with the one transaction. It is very limited. Overdraft fees will become the province of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to the New York Times, when the agency begins operation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is involved in an ongoing Congressional tug-of-war over the director position and what powers the bureau should have.

Articles cited

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-23/bank-of-america-410-million-overdraft-fee-accord-wins-tentative-approval.html

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/05/23/business-us-bankofamerica-overdraft-sett-idUKTRE74M63K20110523?type=companyNews

Los Angeles Times

latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/05/bofa-overdraft-text-message.html

New York Times

nytimes.com/2011/05/19/opinion/19thu3.html

Special House election puts Democrat in Republicans seat

A chair which had been held by the GOP in New York’s 26th Congressional District was won by Democrat Kathy Hochul in Tuesday’s special House election. Hochul’s opponent was Republican Jane Corwin. Hochul narrowly won, 47 percent to 43 percent. A third candidate, Democrat-turned Tea Party campaigner Jack Davis, garnered 9 percent of the votes.

Candidate against Medicare changes

The changes House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan suggested for Medicare were addressed quite a bit by Hochul. These changes are not supported by Hochul in any means. There was a debate with Ryan’s budget plan supporter Corwin last week where Hochul said: “I will fight any plan that tries to decimate Medicare. That is something people in this district feel passionately about, and I do as well.”

The win was something Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Steve Israel commented on: “Even in one of the most Republican districts, seniors and independent voters rejected the Republican plan to end Medicare.”

Medicare changes passed by House

There were 15 democrats and 4 republicans that voted opposes Ryan’s Medicare plan on April 15. It was passed by the House still. People younger than 55 would be able to take advantage of the changes which would allow federally subsidizes premiums for those younger than 55.

Hochul’s win something Obama likes

President Obama praised Hochul in a statement Tuesday. “Kathy has shown, through her victory and throughout her career, that she will fight for the families and companies in western New York, and I anticipate working with her when she gets to Washington.”

Argument from Republicans

House Republican Leader Eric Cantor disputed the claims the victory was based on the Medicare reform problems. “This race is about the truth that it’s a three-way race,” Cantor said to reporters.

Sex scandal causes somebody to lose their job

A seat was lost when Republican Rep. Chris Less had a sex scandal. Hochul won’t take that seat in his place. Lee had nothing left to do but step down in February. There were shirtless photos of him shown publicly after he sent them to a woman he met on Craigslist.

Even more vacancies

This year, two more vacancies have to be filled. This will require two special House elections. One, to be held in July, will be to replace California Democrat Jane Harman. In Sept, a political election will be held in Nevada to replace Republican Dean Heller. Now Heller will be put in U.S. Senate. She is taking John Ensign’s spot.

Citations

Huffington Post

huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/24/new-york-special-election_n_866074.html

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/43161820/ns/politics-capitol_hill

Chicago Tribune

chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-pn-ryan-special-election-20110525,0,3908152.story