Archive of the March 2009

• March 31, 2009

  After the Morning Meeting

  Show Producers  | 

  Good Morning! We're just out of out morning meeting where we hashed out what going to be the focus of Happening Now.

  President Obama leaves for London, England today for the G20 summit. This will be his first overseas trips-- his first international trip was to Canada.

  Ohio will be ban a drug used by many teens and young adults known for its highly hallucinogenic effects lasting up to 15 minutes. Currently the herb, called Salvia, is available for purchase over the Internet. Dr. Manny Alvarez will tell us all about the drug.

  In California, an 8 year-old girl is missing. Now the FBI is involved. We'll have the details and any new information on this ongoing investigation.

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• March 30, 2009

  BND: First look at NC Nursing Home Slaughter Suspect

  Harris Faulkner | 

  This is 45 year old Robert Stewart. He's the man Carthage Police say went to the Pinelake Health and Rehab Center Sunday morning and opened fire on residents and employees.
  When it was over... seven residents and a nurse were dead... and three other people were wounded.
  A decorated police officer who answered the 911 call fired on Steward--- hitting him in the chest. And the suspect actually shot the cop 3 times in the leg. Both men survived.
  Now, Stewart is in custody.
  The Carthage Police Chief saying... the gunman may have targeted the nursing home because his estranged wife works there. In fact, she is a certified nurse assistant and reportedly the couple had split up recently.
  H-

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• March 30, 2009

  Question of the Day

  Show Producers  | 

  President Obama will address the nation today at 11 AM. He will be talking about his plans and vision for the American automotive industry. This, after news broke late Sunday that GM CEO Rick Wagoner was asked to step down from his position at GM. More details are certainly on the way, but we thought we'd ask:

  Should the government be allowed to fire a CEO of a company? Send us you thoughts.

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• March 30, 2009

  After the Morning Meeting

  Show Producers  | 

  Back to work-- ITS MONDAY!

  Big news of the day, the GM CEO resigns per the request of the President and his administration. At the top of our show President Obama will be laying out his auto industry plan. We'll show it to you live then provide analysis and time for debate afterward.

  News broke yesterday of a shooting in a North Carolina nursing home. Eight people were killed. Today we are getting new details on why the murderer targeted this nursing home.

  The weather has not improved in Fargo... now residents are warned of a full blown blizzard. We have a reporter covering the personal stories that you want to hear most out of the area.

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• March 27, 2009

  HOW TO GET OUT OR STAY OUT OF DEBT

  Show Producers  | 

  Confused about what to do about your personal finances?  Yesterday, we put a call out for your most important money questions.  Today, our guest will give the answers you may need to get through the economic downturn.

   

  Meanwhile, here are some tips to get you started from our guest Rozanne Anderso--of the upcoming website AskDoctorDebt.com (set to launch in mid-April) and Executive VP & General Counsel for ACA International: 

  TOP FIVE WAYS TO AVOID FALLING INTO DEBT:2. Watch how much you spend.  How much is too much? Your credit obligations should be limited to no more than 20% of your monthly income. Compare your total debt payments (auto loan, credit cards, student loans, and all other consumer debts but not rent or mortgage) to your take-home pay for the month. Do not take on more debt if it means exceeding 20% of your income.3. Learn to save money.  Try to put aside some extra money during each pay period, no matter how little that amount might be. Even $5 or $10 each month can add up surprisingly fast. And most importantly, you'll establish a good habit that will help you with your finances while creating an emergency fund.  1. Take a personal assessment  The first step to getting out of debt is to honestly assess your situation. Gather all your bills. Write down the due dates, balances and interest rates for all credit cards so that you can see which debts are costing you the most. 

  2. Learn from past mistakes. Once you have worked through your current situation, it's extremely important to learn from any past mistakes to avoid repeating them in the future. Yes, sometimes debt is unavoidable, due to a job loss or illness. But there are many simple ways for you to become more financially solvent in the future.

  3. Make a plan to get out of debt.  First, create a budget and watch what you spend. Track household spending and plan ahead for expenses. Relying too heavily on credit cards each month can lead to dangerous over-consumption. Try paying cash or using debit cards for everyday expenses. It will help you realize the actual cost of simple things like gas and groceries, and non-essential items such as coffee shop lattes and dining out. Careful budgeting and monitoring can help you live within your means.

  4. Cut back on the credit cards.  It is also important to reduce the number of credit cards you use. Avoid using the credit cards that have high interest rates. Always try to pay off the entire balance every month. And if that isn't possible, pay off more than the minimum required by the credit card company. Remember that the only way to become truly debt-free is to pay off the entire balance.

  5. Don't hide.  Instead of avoiding phone calls or letters from your creditors or collection agencies acting on their behalf, be open and up front about your financial situation and all your different obligations. If you communicate with them, they can help you figure out a realistic option, such as negotiating the amount of debt owed, creating a payment plan, etc.

   

   

  4. Use debit cards. They're a great way to monitor your spending. Debit cards still offer the convenience of credit cards, but unlike a credit card, debit cards only allow you to spend money that is already in your account.

  5. Get educated through credit counseling.  Nonprofit organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling web site serve as knowledgeable, personal resources for consumers looking for credit and debt advice.

  TOP FIVE WAYS TO GET OUT OF DEBT:

  1. Create a budget and stick to it!

  Keep your credit card and credit line balances low. Determine your limit on each account and try to keep your balance below 50% of the limit. This will prevent your credit score from being docked and will help you avoid over-limit fees.

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• March 27, 2009

  BND: NEW PICS coming in from Upper Midwest Flooding

  Harris Faulkner | 

  Check this rescue out by the USCG... little doggie and owner plucked from rising waters. The chopper video is coming into us now and I'll have that in a live report in a few minutes.
  In North Dakota, chopper crews were dispatched to rescue three teenagers and three adults from a flooded building... and, they went to a home that was filling up with water and rescue a man, woman their cat and dog... it's amazing to see the pet crate loaded onto a Coast Guard basket and being lifted in the wind into the chopper.
  H-out

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• March 27, 2009

  Question of the Day

  Show Producers  | 

  

  (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

  NFL player Ryan Moats and his wife were prevented from getting into a Dallas area hospital last night. We'll have the full story on Happening Now, but our Question of the Day concerns the police officer's actions. So far the police department has been apologetic, but what do you think should happen to the police officer?

            Fired for the way he treated the Moat family? 

            Kept on the job because he did nothing wrong?

  Let us know what you think!

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• March 26, 2009

  BND: POTUS hosts online Townhall

  Harris Faulkner | 

  From the Breaking News:  POTUS (President of the United States) as the Secret Service likes to call him... is hosting an online townhall on the economy-- LIVE.

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• March 26, 2009

  David after Dentist-- 16 Million views on YouTube

  Harris Faulkner | 

  As of this morning, this 8 year little boy, David DeVore and his Dad, David Sr., had been viewed 16,648,000 times and growing.

  The video brings some people to laughter-- others are offended.  But, one thing is clear-- David after the Dentist is viral.

  Here we are with another guest, Eric Yaverbaum (PR expert).  This pic is from his visit this morning to Fox HQ in NYC:  clockwise from right/bottom... David, me, Eric and David Sr.

  H-out

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• March 26, 2009

  Question of the Day

  Show Producers  | 

  The White House has opened a forum to the American public. They have asked that you send in YOUR questions, and today President Obama will answer them. The questions should pertain to the economy, but we hear some groups are asking questions across the board.

  Believe it or not the president won't get to all of your questions--  the nearly 100 thousand questions! If President Obama didn't select your question, we want to know:

  What would you like to ask President Obama in his "community-moderated online town hall?"

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