February 11, 2012

With or without a federal bailout experts say credit rates will increase

Experts predict that even if Congress passes a bailout bill soon finances for the average Missourian will get worse. 

"The credit markets are still kind of tied up," said University of Missouri management professor Karen Schnatterly.  "What that means is, banks aren’t lending to each other, banks don’t even trust each other and if banks are having trouble getting money, everybody is having trouble getting money."

The bottom line is even if a federal bailout bill passes today Missourians will still have trouble getting any kind of credit for the foreseeable future, she said.

"A lot of us are going to see interest rates go up, minimum payments per month go up and how much you can carry your maximum is going to go down," Schnatterly said. "I think we’re going to see credit become costlier."

It isn’t just individual credit that is going to get more expensive, she said the cost of doing business will also get more expensive.

"Equally this effects businesses because they need to borrow money short term and they also lend money short term just to keep their assets relatively liquid and credit markets are telling them we’re not liquid anymore," Schnatterly said. "So it’s tough to get credit which means we see businesses unable to get supplies tomorrow, unable to pay people at the end of the month."

download or listen to Aurora Meyer’s story here.

Washington University ready for debate it almost didn’t get

The wheels are in motion at Washington University in St. Louis in preparation for Thursday’s vice presidential debate between Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin, with expectations of tomorrow being a very busy day on campus.

Steve Givens, Associate Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs at Washington University, says this is the fourth debate hosted by the school. The previous three debates involved the presidential candidates. This vice presidential debate was initially offered to Washington State University, but that school turned down the offer in hopes of landing one of the presidential debates.

Givens says with all the attention focused on the VP debate because of Sarah Palin’s candidacy, Washington University has lucked out and is getting a lot of attention.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

McCain returns to Missouri for event in Independence

Republican presidential nominee John McCain (R-AZ) is returning to Missouri.

The Arizona Senator has scheduled a Wednesday morning, 10 o’clock event at the Truman Library in Independence. It’s a ticketed event – not a rally – and is open only to those with tickets. Among the topics McCain is expected to discuss: the economy and his ideas for addressing our economic woes.

Interestingly enough, McCain will be in Kansas City on the same day Michelle Obama – the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) – visits the city. She’ll be attending a rally at the 18th & Vine Jazz District to encourage supporters to register to vote by the October 8th deadline. She’ll be joined by U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD).

 

Tigers guarded against upset

Phil Bradley and the 78 Liberty Bowl Champs Missouri Tiger fans know the numbers. 1978 was the last time a Missouri team went up to Lincoln and beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers. 

The Tigers ranked 3 rd in the country will look to end the slump this Saturday.  This is by far the best Missouri team that has gone up there, but let’s not forget, #1 USC, #2 Georgia, and #3 Florida were all upset this past weekend.  Head coach Gary Pinkel is very aware of it.

Even quarterback Chase Daniel doesn’t have an answer as to why there were so many upsets.  You can listen to their comments on the Nebraska game below.

On November 4, 2006, when Chase Daniel was a sophomore, the Tigers were down 24-3 and ended up losing 34-20 and lost a share of 1 st place in the Big 12 north.

The last time the Tigers won, they pulled off then a 35-31 upset.  Phil Bradley was the quarterback, Kellen Winslow, the tight end, James Wilder at running back.  Tiger fans are hoping the Chase to Chase QB to TE connection does in the Huskers again.

Watch highlights from the 1978 game right here .

Download/listen to Pinkel and Daniel (mp3)

Bearcat Council named MIAA player of the week

LaRon Council (courtesy Northwest Missouri media relations)

Northwest Missouri State junior running back LaRon Council has been named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for the period ended Sept. 28. It’s the second time in three weeks Council has earned the award.

Council rushed for 130 yards and scored two touchdowns in Northwest’s 42-0 drubbing of No. 5 Nebraska-Omaha Saturday in Omaha. It’s the third-most yards gained on the ground by Council during his collegiate career and the third time he’s surpassed the century mark this season.

Council scored on a 16-yard screen pass in the first half and on a 5-yard carry in the fourth quarter. He had two receptions for 22 yards in the game and finished with 152 all-purpose yards.

Council is the nation’s leading scorer with 13 touchdowns this season and the second-leading rusher in the MIAA at 105 yards per game.