May 31

In criminal and civil situations, it is important to know your rights

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May 31, 2013

You Have The Right To…What?

In criminal and civil situations, it is important to know your rights

(St. Charles, MO) – You see those dreaded red and blue lights in your rear view mirror. You pull over and the officer wants you to open the trunk so he can look around.

Should you?

What if you are struggling to pay the bills and your landlord wants you out so he can charge someone else higher rent?

Where do you turn?

Legal experts want you to know your rights in these cases and in countless other possible scenarios. That’s the focus of the latest “Missouri Viewpoints.”

MWSnap027St. Louis attorney, Joe Welch, works with the Missouri Civil Liberties Association (MoCLA).

“The police aren’t going to tell you what your rights are.” Welch asserts. “…they’re going to try and coerce you into doing things to make their job easier.”

That’s why he says it’s important to study up on your rights now, in case you ever end up in a bad situation where you are a part of an investigation. That’s why he recommends not voluntary allowing police to search your property. His advice is to ask to see a warrant, even if you’ve done nothing wrong.

“There is also an intrinsic value to our privacy in our homes.”

Welch suggests asking a simple question when being detained by a police officer, especially if you decline to allow them to search your property (such as your car): am I free to leave?

“If the police are asking you for permission, that means that they don’t have the legal right to search…so, just say no…”

That viewpoint may not be popular with everyone because it will make investigations harder for law enforcement at times. Welch believes that is simply the result of making individual civil rights a priority in our society.

What happens when you believe you’ve been wronged by another private citizen, or even by a government office?

A common belief is that only those with a lot of money have access to our courts for civil action. Dan Glazier from the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri office says that’s not true.

MWSnap028There’s a legal aid office serving every county in Missouri.

“Access to justice, access to the courts is the very foundation of what our country is based on.”

Sometimes, that means helping a domestic violence victim get a restraining order. Legal aid lawyers also help low income families access public health care programs if they are denied services.

It could also mean legal aid attorneys take landlords to court to stop a wrongful eviction when the tenant can’t afford a lawyer otherwise.

Glazier says family law matters, like domestic violence situations, are the most common cases where legal aid is requested from his office.

Legal aid offices, Glazier explains, sometimes also take on consumer issues on behalf of low income Missourians. While the circumstances need to be appropriate, that could involve taking action against a business that defrauded someone or even protection from aggressive collectors for things like medical bills.

There are income qualifications when it comes to using legal aid services. These are for low income Missourians who, otherwise, would not have any access to legal counsel.

If you qualify, the legal aid services are free.

Legal aid offices operate privately and independently with funding from government and private grants.

In Glazier’s view, that’s money well spent from both the public and private sector. “We judge our society by how we treat the most vulnerable in our society…when we can’t provide access to the judicial system for those most vulnerable, that’s when our society is vulnerable.”

On a less philosophical level, Glazier says the importance of legal aid offices has an impact every day. “The work that we do keeps people safe. The work that we do gets people access to education so that can grow and they can prosper. The work that we do helps communities.”

On the web:

Missouri Civil Liberties Association: www.MOCLA.org

Joe Welch, Attorney At Law: www.StLDrugLawyer.com

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri: www.LSEM.org

Legal Services (statewide): www.LSMO.org

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/in-criminal-and-civil-situations-it-is-important-to-know-your-rights-2/

May 24

The Role of Foster Care and Adoption in the Show Me State

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May 24, 2013

For The Children in Missouri

The Role of Foster Care and Adoption in the Show Me State

 

(St. Charles, MO) – There are about 10,000 children in foster care in Missouri right now.

Think about that for a moment.

That’s the staggering number reported by Joanne Shelton from The Adoption Exchange, which works to find homes for children “in the system” – both foster homes and permanent, adoptive ones. One challenge to that MWSnap030mission is the fact that not enough homes are opening up for these children.

“There is a really large need for foster homes.” Shelton explains, “Not everybody is cut out to be an adoptive parent. But anybody over the age of 21 who just has the heart to help our children in that in-between state, from the time they enter foster care to either the time that they return back to their biological parents, return back to some family members or are, indeed, placed into an adoptive home, those are people we are definitely looking for.”

Foster parents could be signing up for as little as a two-day stay by a child or up to two years. There’s a small monthly stipend and the children are covered by the state’s Medicaid system. State funds also subsidize basic needs like diapers, clothes, food and school supplies but it’s still not an easy job.

Children generally enter the foster care system because of physical or sexual abuse or because of neglect.

That sounds like a tall order to deal with but Shelton reminds us that training programs are provided to help foster parents prepare to help the children with whom they work.

Resources are also offered after a foster placement, so foster parents are able to get help during a child’s stay in their home as well.

You won’t get rich by being a foster parent but you are rewarded, according to Shelton. “The benefit is knowing that they provided a loving and safe environment that that child didn’t have at one time. So, the benefits are purely in their heart.”

Around 15% of the children in foster care in Missouri at any time are available for adoption because the biological parents’ rights have been terminated. In addition to that, others are available for adoption when biological parents choose to give up their parental rights in hopes of finding a better home for their children.

Those who are considering adoption have choices, including the choice of adopting a child from Missouri or even adopting from another country. The process and the costs vary depending on which route you take.

Jan Scheurer from Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri points out that some of the financial MWSnap031sting is taken out by adopting close to home.

“When you’re looking at an adoption from foster care, most of those expenses are going to be taken care of for you. You don’t have to pay any agency fees…you, frequently, can get subsidies to help you with the expenses related to the adoption of the child.

“And, you also are eligible for tax credits so that taking a child from foster care and into your home in an adoptive plan is not an expensive proposition in and of itself.”

The bottom line for thousands of children in Missouri is that homes are needed with open doors on the front and open hearts inside.

Whether the possibility of foster parenting or adoption is one your mind, the first step is to ask questions and learn about the challenges and the rewards, the costs and the resources available. Scheurer points to studies that show it often takes a family two years from the time they decide to learn about adoption to the time they begin the formal process.

Both Shelton and Scheurer recommend learning as much as possible up front in order to make a plan that will allow everyone to focus on the child instead of the finance, paperwork and process.

On the web:

The Adoption Exchange: www.AdoptEx.org (also: 800.554.2222)

Lutheran Family & Children’s Services of MO: www.LFCSMO.org

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/the-role-of-foster-care-and-adoption-in-the-show-me-state/

May 17

Energy Efficiency at Home and On the Road

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May 17, 2013

Energy Efficiency at Home and On the Road

(St. Charles, MO) – It’s getting hotter in the Show Me State as summer weather finally rolls in and gas prices are going up in several parts of the state at the same time.

That’s got Missourians cringing at the pump and waiting until the last minute to turn on the air conditioner.

Of course, we all want to keep that energy bill down each month. What may surprise you is that one of Missouri’s largest energy companies says it wants your bill to stay low as well. Ameren Missouri’s Cara Dolly explains why.

MWSnap032“We know that the energy not used is the cheapest form of energy that’s out there. So, we want customers to use less of our product and then in the future we all benefit from that because we won’t have to build more power plants. We may not have to do as much fuel loading. We may not have to do a lot of the maintenance that we’ve done in the past which will, eventually, keep all the costs down to our customers.”

The company currently has a three year, $147 million initiative to promote energy efficiency in homes and businesses. Some of that cost is recovered through state incentives.

Dolly says the expectation of the effort is to save 800 million kilowatt hours of energy. That’s about what is used to power a medium-sized Missouri suburb for a year, according to Ameren.

The initiative is designed to use new technologies to save energy use and, as a result, save money on your heating and cooling bill each month. One example is the promotion of CFL light bulbs. Dolly points out that using the new bulbs won’t impact the amount of light in your room but it will use less energy to deliver it.

Ameren is partnering with retailers in various parts of the state to lower the cost of energy savers, including those light bulbs.

Saving energy isn’t limited to flipping the light switch or adjusting the thermostat at home. You can also protect your wallet by getting the most out of every gallon of gasoline you pump into your vehicle.

AAA Missouri’s Mike Right says that kind of saving starts before you pack up the car for vacation.

It actually starts with basic maintenance. Right says something like having the correct air pressure in your tires MWSnap033can let you go a little farther down the road before you need to gas up.

“If you’re riding around in underinflated tires, it’s basically robbing you of fuel economy, as much as three percent.”

Saving even more money requires some research. Right says gas prices vary significantly around the state. That’s why it’s important to look up the prices along your route beforehand. Websites like GasBuddy.com can help you find areas where the same gallon of fuel is just a little bit cheaper. Several apps for mobile phones are available as well that provide that information.

While you’re focused on saving fuel and money, don’t forget to save lives during the trip.

Right says about one third of crashes today are caused by “distracted driving” involving phone calls or texting. That’s a safety factor that is completely controllable if Missouri drivers simply put the phone down during the trip and leave it down until your next stop.

On the web:

Ameren’s Energy Efficiency Initiative: www.ActOnEnergy.com

AAA: www.AAA.com

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/energy-efficiency-at-home-and-on-the-road/

May 12

The increasing problem of copper theft in Missouri

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May 12, 2013

Common Crime with a Statewide Impact

The increasing problem of copper theft in Missouri

 

(St. Charles, MO) – Urban, suburban and rural areas of Missouri are different in many ways but there is one trend growing in all of them: the rise of copper theft.

While copper theft may not sound like the most interesting topic to learn about, it has a direct impact on you and your community.

Whether it’s from construction sites or commercial property or even from homes, thieves are taking bolder risks to get their hands on the copper in your home. That gets sold to recyclers who are trying to keep up with an increasing demand for the material.

AT&T Missouri President Jon Sondag says that increasing demand for copper is driving up the market price and that creates an environment that tempts those who need quick cash.

MWSnap034“We are reaching all time highs [of copper prices] and so it’s more lucrative for people to steal copper, in whatever form it is, and to resell that to support whatever they’d like to support.”

And it can impact your family’s safety.

Thieves have been known to cut down communication lines to make off with copper and that can take down your internet and phone connection. That cuts you off from the emergency service providers just down the street.

Sondag explains what could happen if thieves hit communication lines in critical places.

“It’s not just your communication, but it cuts off communication to public safety. Your 9-1-1 will not work, so people that have a need to call are going to be at risk because they can’t contact the 9-1-1 dispatch.”

It can also bring the local store’s ability to process credit/debit card purchases, hurting the local economy.

AT&T, along with other businesses, is working with law enforcement in hopes of stopping the problem. AT&T, in fact, has a standing offer of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of copper thieves.

That’s in addition to improving the real time technology that monitors both the communication lines and the areas where copper is stored.

Sergeant Jason Clark from the Missouri State Highway Patrol warns everyone, business owner and home owner, to take precautions.

MWSnap035“With this economy and the price of scrap metal, anything that’s metal can be scrapped and, really, if it’s not locked up or something like that then there’s a good chance it’s going to be taken.”

Clark works with the Patrol’s Rural Crimes Unit. He says, while all parts of the state are impacted by copper theft, rural areas are often particularly vulnerable because it’s easier to drive to businesses, homes and construction sites without being seen.

On the web:

AT&T: www.ATT.com

Missouri State Highway Patrol: www. http://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/MSHPWeb/Root/index.html

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/the-increasing-problem-of-copper-theft-in-missouri/

May 04

At Home or Overseas, Missouri’s Military Stands Ready

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May 4, 2013

At Home or Overseas, Missouri’s Military Stands Ready

(St. Charles, MO) – When most of us go to work, we know where we’ll be all week and what we’ll be doing until 5:00.

We also know we’ll get to come home at the end of the day.

That’s not the case for Missouri’s citizen-soldiers who make up the Missouri National Guard and Air National Guard. When they get called up for duty, they could be deployed to a flood zone or an area struck by a disaster (like the Joplin tornado) or they could head overseas, into a war zone.

The Guard plays a larger role in our state than many realize and it has a presence throughout Missouri.

The Missouri Air National Guard’s Assistant Adjutant General, Colonel Greg Champagne, sits down with Mike MWSnap036Ferguson to give us a look into the official duties of Guardsmen and –women.

“We’re dual-tasked. What that means…is that we do a federal mission and we do a state mission.”

Hundreds of Missourians who wear the Guard’s uniforms are currently deployed around the world.

Some are part of the Agribusiness teams that teach Afghanis how to support themselves instead of on drug cartels.

While the Guard stands ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, a state program works to support them and their counterparts in the other branches of America’s military. The Show Me Heroes program connects veterans and employers in Missouri.

MWSnap037There are efforts, both public and private, around the state to help those looking for work but Show Me Heroes. Army National Guard Second Lieutenant Jon Barry also joins Ferguson to discuss the program. Barry is the Director of the program.

MWSnap039He explains what it is, who qualifies and why it’s important to help veterans and employers find each other. He also tells us why it’s a priority for the state to support veterans of any branch after they leave active duty. One unique challenge for job seekers who are veterans, according to Barry, is when their military experience isn’t leveraged in the civilian workforce.

“One of those is the lack of understanding from civilian employers, and even from the service members themselves, about how the skills that they have from their military training and experience translate into the regular civilian world. And the truth of the matter is, is that there are a number of skills, too numerous to list, that do translate over to the civilian world.”

On the web:

Missouri National Guard – www.MOGuard.com

Show Me Heroes Employment Program – www.ShowMeHeores.MO.gov

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/at-home-or-overseas-missouris-military-stands-ready/

Apr 26

Protect Your Money from Crooks and Common Mistakes

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April 26, 2013

Protect Your Money from Crooks and Common Mistakes

(St. Charles, MO) – “Show me the money” could have been a snazzy slogan for an investment opportunity before Cuba Gooding, Jr. made it famous on the movie screen. Maybe our slogan should be “Show Me How To Keep My Money” in a still-struggling national economy.

In the new “Missouri Viewpoints”, tips are offered for taking care of what you already have while keeping hackers and scam artists away from your savings.

Dorothy Bell and Mike O’Brien from the St. Louis Credit Union Association (which is part of the Missouri Credit Union Association) have some basic advice to get – and keep – a handle on your money.

MWSnap041“Be proactive.” Bell says “Getting a copy of your credit report often, reviewing it [and] making sure everything is ok…” is a habit everyone should develop. That’s among the best ways to detect problems early, when it’s easiest and least expensive to fix.

Stopping or preventing financial bleeding is one thing but, once that safeguard is in place, many Missourians aren’t proactive about managing their funds. O’Brien says the people who hold on to it for you are a good place to start when it comes to developing a financial plan.MWSnap042

“Don’t be shy about asking questions…a lot of times, they’ll even offer to go over your credit report with you or do some on-the-spot financial counseling.”

That can help you find mistakes in money-management decisions or even spot opportunities to maximize the money you already have deposited.

While grownups of all income brackets are often in need of money management skills, O’Brien and Bell say the best time to teach money management is when tomorrow’s workers and investors are still young. That means, teaching about money as early as during the grade school years.

MWSnap040In the digital age, though, managing money takes more than just tracking deposits and debits. It means taking basic precautions when banking online.

O’Brien says managing your accounts on your bank or credit union’s websites is safe but once you navigate off that page, be careful.

“Make sure you’re not responding to an email that comes out of the blue.

“Have a credit card with a smaller line of credit that you only use for online shopping. That way, if something did happen and the card was compromised, you’re not at risk.”

There’s certainly no shortage of crooks who want to reach into your pocket from behind a laptop.

“It’s a huge problem.” That’s the report from FBI Special Agent Dean Bryant, who works out of the St. Louis office.

While we should all be careful about where we are buying online, Bryant says the problem sometimes starts off line. Thieves can access personal information by literally digging through the trash. If they find something with your name and address on it, such as credit card offers, they have a head start to your bank account.MWSnap043

Name. Address. Date of Birth. That’s enough for many identity thieves and hackers to inflict damage financially. If they can get your Social Security Number, the possibilities are nearly endless when it comes to what can happen.

You may not notice the damage right away because, often, an identity thief will set up credit cards or purchasing accounts in a victim’s name. Once they receive their purchases, they simply skip out on the bill and that goes right to your credit report or to collection agencies that want the victim to pay up.

“This can wreak havoc for you for years to come.”

That means we need to take the time to look for problems constantly. When the bank account statement and credit card statement arrive, Agent Bryant says look over every line every month.

It may be tedious, but it’s among the best ways to spot purchases you didn’t make. The earlier you can alert the bank, credit card company or authorities, the less damage you’re likely to deal with.

Online:

Missouri Credit Union Association: www.MCUA.org

Federal Bureau of Investigation: www.FBI.gov

Permanent link to this article: http://americanviewpoints.tv/protect-your-money-from-crooks-and-common-mistakes/

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