Yesterday, February 8
New credit card rules
Posted at 9:52am
• Your monthly credit card bill will include information on how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you only make minimum payments.
• With some exceptions (such as a variable-rate account), your credit card company cannot increase your rate for the first 12 months after you open an account.
• If your credit card company does raise your interest rate after the first year, the new rate will apply only to new charges you make.
• You must “opt in” for transactions that will take you over your credit limit. Only if you decide to allow such transactions can the credit card company charge you an over-the-limit fee.
• If your credit card company requires you to pay fees such as an annual fee Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
New credit card rules zip up rates for a year
Posted at 9:52am
BY DON MECOY
Rules offering new protections to credit card customers take effect Feb. 22, but consumers should be wary of some unintended consequences of the new regulations.
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act (CARD Act) of 2009 includes provisions that prevent credit card issuers from raising rates during the first year after a card is issued, that place limits on over-the-limit transactions and establish caps on high-fee cards.
Anticipating the new rules, card issuers who already were battered by the economy have been casting off higher-risk customers, raising interest rates and fees, and scaling back rewards programs, said Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com. Some changes have delivered the biggest blow to consumers who do the best job Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
7,000 remain without power as new storm approaches Oklahoma
Posted at 9:41am
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Almost 7,000 homes and businesses remained without power from the Jan. 28 storm. That included about 800 in Altus, 2,000 served by Hollis-based Harmon Electric, 1,451 served by Binger-based Caddo Electric and 980 served by Lindsay-based Rural Electric.
Those areas are expected to receive 1 to 3 inches of snow Monday.
Snow accumulation could be highly variable, as thin heavy bands are expected, the weather service said, with local totals over 6 inches likely north and west of Oklahoma City.
A winter storm warning is in effect until 6 p.m. Monday for areas north of a line generally running from Elk City to Watonga to Stillwater to Tulsa.
A winter storm watch is in effect until Monday afternoon for areas north of a line generally running from Altus Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
Panhandle State drops games
Posted at 9:20am
By Scott Puryear
SAN ANTONIO, Texas —Panhandle State dropped both games to the St. Mary’s Rattlers on Saturday.
St. Mary’s 93, Oklahoma Panhandle State 79
Although the Aggies led by four at halftime, 42-38, the Rattlers burned the nets for 55 second half points to earn the victory.
There were several lead changes in the opening half, and with just under ten minutes on the clock, Trayvon Williams nailed a jumper to give OPSU the lead at 21-17.
Reggie Lassiter dumped in 10 points and Marcale Marshall added nine points and Kevin Geofroy, another fast moving OPSU guard, came up with three first half steals.
Marcale Marshall was tops for the Aggies with 24 points and Reggie Lassiter scored 19. Marshall was the rebounding leader with six. by Sheila Stogsdill
St. Continue reading…
Winter Weather Advisory
Posted at 8:34am
There is a Winter Weather Advisory in effect for all of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles until 6 p.m. today. Bands of snow will continue to move across the panhandles at 25 mph. Moderate to heavy snow will impact areas around Dalhart, Hartley, Dumas, Texline, Goodwell, Elmwood, Stratford, Texhoma, Gruver, Perryton, Booker and Follett. New snowfall accumulations of up to an inch per hour can be expected in these areas. Other bands of light to moderate snow will move toward areas around Wellington and Shamrock. Elsewhere across the panhandles fog and freezing fog are expected. Visibility restrictions of one to three miles will be common with isolated spots less than a mile at times. In areas not yet snow packed bridges and overpasses will remain slick and Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
Sunday, February 7
Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad still talk of the town(s)
Posted at 10:53am
Tim Tebow
By Carla Hinton
Representatives of Focus on the Family, the faith-based organization sponsoring the much talked about Tim Tebow Super Bowl ad, said the 30-second spot will air for the first time sometime during the first quarter of the Super Bowl on Sunday.
The ad continues to cause talk as football fans await the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts.
I’ve seen lots of opinions on the issue being bandied about on the Internet in the days since I last posted a blog on this issue. I just got a news release today that says an anti-abortion group called Wisconsin Right to Life has produced a Tim Tebow mask that people can wear on Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
3 Woodward County prison escapees considered armed, dangerous
Posted at 10:47am
Jake Trout, Dennis Finch and Christopher Hibl
By Aaron Crespo
FORT SUPPLY — Woodward County authorities are looking for three men who escaped Friday from the William S. Key Correctional Center.
A Woodward County Sheriff’s Department dispatcher said Jake Trout, 22, Dennis Finch, 20, and Christopher Hibl, 20, escaped some time before the 10 p.m. cell check.
The trio is thought to have burglarized a home north of Fargo about 5 p.m. Saturday. At least one of them has changed clothing. They are thought to be on foot. Firearms may have been taken from the burglarized home, so the fugitives are considered armed and dangerous, the dispatcher said.
Trout was in prison for second-degree burglary. He is a white male, Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
Stricken Oklahoma towns brace for storm
Posted at 10:40am
BY DARLA SLIPKE
Another winter storm could strike tonight while some communities are still plagued by power outages caused from the ice storm 10 days ago.
The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for tonight and Monday morning for parts of the state.
Meanwhile, crews were working Saturday to restore power to about 12,100 customers in the southern part of the state.
The storm likely will hit central Oklahoma sometime Monday morning and end by mid-afternoon, meteorologist Bruce Thoren said Saturday.
“I imagine we’ll see snow. It’s just a matter of how cold it will be and how long it will last,” he said.
The storm is expected to start as cold rain in the central part of the state and turn to snow. How much snow Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
Okies in today’s Super Bowl
Posted at 10:30am
From Staff Reports
Several players with Oklahoma ties will play in today’s Super Bowl. Here is a look at each Oklahoman and their road to Super Bowl XLIV:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
→Charlie Johnson, OT, OSU
This will be the Texas-native’s second Super Bowl after helping the Colts beat Chicago in 2006. In that game, Johnson took over for an injured Ryan Diem in the second quarter and has been protecting Peyton Manning’s blind side ever since.
Today, Johnson will once again be protecting Manning’s left side, this time against Saints’ speed rusher Will Smith. Smith has 13 sacks on the year, a career high.
→Jacob Lacey, CB, OSU
Lacey will be following in Johnson’s footsteps by making the Super Bowl as a rookie. Lacey started nine games this season, Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
Archie Bowl I: Manning’s validation comes tonight in Miami
Posted at 10:16am
Archie Manning is seemingly at the center of this Super Bowl, being the father of Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning and a former QB and favorite of the New Orleans Saints. AP PHOTO
By Berry Tramel
Archie Manning is seemingly at the center of this Super Bowl, being the father of Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning and a former QB and favorite of the New Orleans Saints. AP PHOTO
The New Orleans Saints knew exactly what they were getting with the No. 2 pick in the 1971 NFL Draft.
Something as concrete as a face of the franchise. Something as abstract as the Southern male ideal.
Archie Manning surely had no clue what he was getting with the Saints. The opportunity Continue reading…
by Sheila Stogsdill
