The Missouri Bar

Son of Illegal Immigrants Wins Gold in Wrestling

The 21-year old son of illegal American immigrants took home the gold in wrestling during the Beijing Olympics. Henry Cejudo said the medal was what he always wanted - something he strived for at the encouragement of his mother.

Immigration is a hot issue in the U.S. right now. In Missouri, lawmakers recently passed a law that toughened punishments for businesses that employed undocumented workers. Want to know what's happening in immigration legal news? Check out our Immigration Law posts.

Effort Begins to Lower Legal Limit

Each year, 1,700 college student die of alcohol-related deaths, sometimes injuring or killing others in the process. College and university officials say that lowering the legal limit from 21 to 18 years old could help take the fun out of drinking for students who are out from under parental supervision for the first time ever. This week, presidents from 100 colleges banded together to propose lowering the limit, saying that it would purge binge drinking from their campuses. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) and other groups strongly disagree. (Read more)

College is a time for learning - and partying - for many students, and some are completely unprepared for the very adult consequences of their actions. And it's not just drinking that can cause problems. Issues with landlors, credit card debt and arrests for peace disturbance or drug possession are among the top reasons students get in trouble.

In this Law in Your Life podcast, host Angela Wilson discusses these issues, and what parents and students need to know, with University of Missouri-Columbia legal services attorney Steve Concannon.

Law in Your Life #48: The Truth About Your Credit Score

Chances are someone has recently given you advise on the best ways to manage your credit score. But do they really know the truth? Today host Angela Wilson goes in-depth on this topic with Bruce McClary. He works with Clearpoint Financial Solutions.

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On the Web:

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 34.0 meg)
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On the Web:

National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Convoluted Passwords No Match for ID Thieves

Security experts say that long strings of letters, numbers and punctuations marks won't keep hackers from stealing your virtual info. And sometimes consumers click on Web pages that seem legitimate, only to sign in and give their login and password to fake sites set up to collect data and use it to get into bank, retail and other accounts, a scam called "phishing." (Read more in the New York Times)

What happens if your login info falls into the hands of hackers? What if someone steals your identity? Joy Frazier with the Missouri Attorney General's Office has the details in this Law in Your Life podcast.

One way to catch hackers before they can damage your credit rating, or empty out your bank account, is to regularly check your credit report. To obtain a free copy of your credit report visit, www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228.

Congress Tackles Web Privacy

Every time you log on to the net, thousands of corporations and search engines track your movements, hoping to collect data to streamline advertising. But just what information - and how its used - is still a mystery to lawmakers. Now, they want to know. Congress ordered 33 major corporations to tell them what information they collect, why they need it and how it is used. That information could be used as a basis for new laws to protect consumer privacy online.

Read The Associated Press story for more details

Nonpartisan Court Plan In The News

In Greene County, officials want to change the way judges are chosen. They want the county to institute the statewide Nonpartisan Court Plan, a selection process that is used everywhere but some major Missouri metropolitan areas. The court plan is a nationwide model that takes politics out of the selection process.

Many have strong opinions on the issue, and share them via letters to the editor in their home towns. Even gubernatorial candidates have had their say on it. (Read more) But what is the plan? And what does it mean to Missourians? Judge Michael Wolff explains the plan in this Law in Your Life podcast.

Music Legend Dies

Musician Isaac Hayes died this weekend. He was 65. Hayes, known for the pop culture theme for Shaft and groundbreaking work in music, was also the voice of Chef on the cable's popular South Park.

The death of a spouse or relative is an incredibly emotional time for family and friends. While celebrating the life of your loved one, you must also handle several legal issues - some critical. Attorney Reg Turnbull explains in this Law in Your Life podcast.

Law in Your Life #47: College Student Debt

Credit card companies can't wait for a new set of students to enter Missouri colleges this fall. Sometimes using deceptive tactics like T-shirt giveaways and free food, companies are laying in wait to sign up students for credit. But many times, these students aren't equipped to handle it, mentally and financially. What should students - and parents - know before they hit the quad and find tantalizing credit card offers? Attorney Debra Lumpkins shares with host Angela Wilson.

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Bus Tours Highlight Foreclosed Homes

In Springfield realtors will hold bus tours to show prospective home buyers which homes are on the market as a result of foreclosure. The tours, which take place in Springfield this weekend, are part of a nationwide trend to let buyers know what some call foreclosure best deals versus homes that are simply for sale. (Read more)

But some say buying a foreclosed home is a buyer-beware situation, and only informed consumers should consider buying. What should you know before you decide to buy? Find out in this Law in Your Life podcast.

Biggest ID Theft Case Proceeds

Eleven people were indicted for stealing more than 40 million credit account numbers in what could be the largest identity theft case in U.S. history. Prosecutors say the accused hacked into wireless systems at Barnes & Noble, OfficeMax, T.J. Maxx and other major corporations to get the numbers. The companies say they are doing everything they can to help consumers whose numbers were stolen. (Read more from ABC News)

If you believe you are a victim of identity theft, what should you do? Who do you call? What steps can you take to be certain it does not happen in the future? Find out what you can do if you are an ID theft victim in this Law in Your Life podcast.