Barack Obama-Oprah Winfrey rally in Columbia

People no longer need a ticket for Sunday's Barack Obama-Oprah Winfrey rally in Columbia, but they may need binoculars.

The Democratic presidential contender's event has been moved to Williams-Brice Stadium. One day after Obama's campaign suspended distribution of free tickets, it announced that the rally would be moved from the Colonial Center, which seats about 18,000, to the football stadium that seats four times as many.

It could be the largest political gathering in South Carolina since 1976, when Jimmy Carter captured the Democratic nomination and spoke to tens of thousands from the Statehouse steps, said Alex Sanders, who introduced Carter at the time.

Obama steering committee member and former S.C. Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum said the Obama-Oprah event has injected "incredible enthusiasm" into the race, including among those who haven't paid much attention so far.

"When we saw folks had lined up in the early morning hours outside of our Columbia office when seats became available, and thousands signed up within hours, we recognized that the Colonial Center was going to fill quickly," she said.

Winfrey plans to join Obama and his wife, Michelle, for a New Hampshire rally, then travel to Columbia. While tickets are no longer needed, the campaign is asking people to RSVP at sc.barackobama.com/oprah_sc. Williams-Brice's doors will open at 12:30 p.m.; the event will start at 2:30 p.m.

Bill Clinton will campaign in Charleston

Former President Bill Clinton will campaign for his wife in Charleston on Saturday, a day before her Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama, is to speak in this early voting state alongside media mogul Oprah Winfrey.

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign confirmed Friday that the former president plans to make a campaign trip to the coastal city. The time and place of the appearance were not immediately made public.

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Myrtle Beach Mike Huckabee for President

Mike Huckabee will be at the Barefoot Resort Clubhouse in North Myrtle Beach on Friday night for an event. There is a $20 charge to enter the event. I believe the funds are going to the North Myrtle Beach Republican club. Still if you have the money its a get chance to see the governor live. The event starts at 6:30 Mike Huckabee will arrive around 7:15pm. I believe he's going to be at other locations this weekend around Myrtle Beach.
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identity theft reduction tips

Every year, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), almost 10 million Americans are victims of some sort of identity theft, and experts suggest that identify theft increases during the winter holiday season

To reduce the likelihood of being a victim of identity theft:
- Be careful with your social security number, which is one of the most valuable pieces of information that you have to “prove” who you are. Avoid carrying your social security card in your wallet, and don’t print the number on personal checks.
- Only release your social security number when it’s absolutely necessary, such as when required by a government agency (e.g., the Department of Motor Vehicles or Social Services).
- If a merchant asks for your social security number, ask why it’s necessary, and what safeguards they have in place to protect your information. Although there are instances where it is necessary to have this information (such as, in order to extend credit), you should feel confident with the safeguards that are in place to protect your privacy.
- Minimize the number of credit cards you have, and only carry one or two in your wallet. It’s a good idea to keep a list of all your credit cards, bank accounts, and investments in a safe place.
- Never leave envelopes containing bills and checks in places where there’s a danger of their being stolen. Consider mailing your bills at the post office, rather than leaving them for your letter carrier at your front door or mailbox.
- Think about computer safety
-never use obvious or easily guessed passwords or PINs, and always create passwords that combine letters and numbers.
- Be wary of “phishing” schemes. Phishing is a type of fraud that usually starts as an e-mail or pop-up designed to trick you into revealing personal financial details. Never reply to e-mails asking for personal details, or even click on links in e-mails that appear suspicious.
- Be careful what you throw away! Trash is a prime target for identity thieves, so take the time to shred all paperwork containing sensitive information, including pre-approved credit offers. The most secure shredders are “cross cut” shredders, because they ensure that the documents cannot be reassembled.
- Carefully review financial statements each month for unauthorized use, including your credit cards, bank statements, and phone bills. Alert your creditors immediately, in the event that you notice a discrepancy.
- Do a “check up” on your credit history once every year. Securing this information is easy
-simply visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877-322-8228. You’ll be able to get one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit bureaus.
- Another important consideration: determine whether you have protection in the event that you are victimized. Many credit card companies offer protection against identity theft, so ask your credit card agent or company representative if yours does. In addition, a few banking institutions now offer the convenience of identity theft resolution services. This assistance can prove invaluable, because it can help guide victims through the arduous process of reclaiming their good names.
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Mortgage rate freeze

WASHINGTON - On a day when the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that home foreclosures hit an all time high, President Bush is scheduled to announce a plan to freeze interest rates for five years for thousands of strapped homeowners whose mortgages were scheduled to rise in the coming months.

Under the administration plan, the rate freeze will apply to loans made at the start of 2005 through July 30 of this year and will cover loans that had been scheduled to rise to higher rates between Jan. 1, 2008, and July 31, 2010.

The mortgage companies will offer to freeze the loans at the lower introductory rates as long as the borrowers did not miss any payments at the lower rate.

"The $64,000 question remains: `Will investors who might balk at going along with this be able to maintain legal roadblocks and prevent the plan from going into effect?'" asked Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

Release of the plan was coming after news earlier Thursday that home foreclosures surged to an all-time high in the July-September period. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the percentage of all mortgages that started the foreclosure process in the third quarter jumped to a record 0.78 percent, surpassing the previous record of 0.65 percent of all mortgages in the second quarter.
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FAA won't chip in for terminal until city, county OK plan

Horry County will have to go it alone in its next effort to expand Myrtle Beach International Airport.
The Federal Aviation Administration will not give the county any cash for the planning process for any terminal expansion before it is approved by both the county and Myrtle Beach.
The FAA generally pays for some preliminary work; but because a project to build a new terminal at the airport's west side was rejected in April by Myrtle Beach's Community Appearance Board, the agency now is being extra cautious.
The FAA gave the county more than $7 million related to planning, environmental and design work for the airport project, according to a letter the FAA sent to the county in October.
The FAA told the county it had to repay that $7 million by Monday. The money, which the FAA received late last week, needed to be repaid before the agency considers subsidizing a new expansion project at the airport, said Scott Seritt, the manager at the FAA's Atlanta Airports District Office.
If a new airport expansion project is approved, the FAA would consider reimbursing the county for previous design and planning costs, said Scott Seritt, the manager at the FAA's Atlanta Airports District Office.
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SC State lawmakers file immigration bills

COLUMBIA --Immigration reform is at the top of many state lawmakers' lists, and reform appears likely during this year's session.
Wednesday marked the first deadline for lawmakers to pre-file bills for the upcoming session that begins Jan. 8.
Bills for the S.C. Senate were available online Wednesday. House bills won't be available until today.
Three of 32 Senate bills deal with immigration changes. Highlights include:
Giving the state more control in deciding what government services to provide or deny undocumented immigrants
Requiring all state agencies, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, to offer services, publications and videos in an English-only format unless otherwise required by federal law
Requiring employers and contractors to verify that new employees are in the country legally by running their Social Security numbers through a federal database; also, establishing a SLED unit to investigate and arrest those who prepare and sell fraudulent IDs.
State Sen. Dick Elliott, D-Horry, one the bill's sponsors, said the long-term cost of illegal immigrants in the state could be catastrophic if the issue isn't addressed now.
"When they get old and they're in nursing homes, imagine the burden to taxpayers unless we begin dealing with the problem today," Elliott said. "That will far outweigh the cost of food stamps and other subsidies that we are giving today."

Loris, Myrtle Beach high schools rank among best

U.S. News & World Report magazine has released its rankings of American high schools, and two Horry County sites earned spots on the list.
Loris High School and Myrtle Beach High School each received a bronze ranking for their achievement on standardized reading and math tests; participation and performance in Advanced Placement courses (if the schools offer them or have enough students participating).
"It was definitely an awesome surprise for our faculty and students," said Loris High Principal Trevor Strawderman. "It was an early Christmas gift."
The magazine regularly rates U.S. colleges and universities but has never had a high school ranking until now because there wasn't enough comparable data. Standardized tests implemented through the federal No Child Left Behind Act and increased participation in AP courses has provided a database, said Horry County Schools in a news release.
The rankings will appear in the Dec. 10 print edition of the magazine, but also can be found on its Web site at www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools.
In South Carolina, 18 schools earned mentions, including Charleston County's Academic Magnet High School, which is ranked No. 27 on the gold list of the country's top 100 high schools.
Schools that don't offer AP courses or have enough participation appear on the silver and bronze ranking lists.
Two years ago, it had a graduation rate of 60 percent, and now that rate has reached 80 percent. That's one of the highest in the state among comparable schools, he said. More than 75 percent of the 912 students at Loris High are receiving free or subsidized lunches, which indicates their families' poverty levels. About 48 percent of Myrtle Beach High's student population is receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
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Presidential debates need volunteers

If you want to volunteer for next month's presidential debates, you've almost missed your chance.
The official deadline to sign up through Step Up, the organization coordinating volunteers for both the Jan. 10 Republican debate and the Jan 21 Democratic debate, has been moved to 9 a.m. today, but officials may offer some leniency because of the late notice.
Step Up officials were using a sign-up deadline of Dec. 17 as recently as last week.
The change relates to security screening through the State Law Enforcement Division, said Mary Henry, a volunteer who announced the change at a Tuesday night meeting of the Myrtle Beach Republican Club.
"It's going to have to be done if you're going to get anywhere near these people," Henry told club members of the background checks.
The change, however, has been so sudden that many people may not have heard about it, said Diane Klebanow, Step Up program director. Officials may give would-be volunteers a small grace period, but she urged anyone who has not contacted the organization to do so immediately - "no later than the end of this week," Klebanow said.
To volunteer for either debate, call Step Up at 349-6488 or visit the organization's Web site, www.stepup-grandstrand.org. Volunteers must attend a one-hour training session.
A major role of the volunteers, Henry told club members, will be promoting the Grand Strand to the many prominent out-of-towners in the area for the debates.
"The chamber wants Myrtle Beach pushed," Henry said.
Even with the passing of the Step Up deadline, there may be other ways to volunteer.
Rob Godfrey, spokesman for the state Republican Party, said anyone interested in the GOP debate should call the state party office at 803-988-8440.
"We are still excited that people are responding overwhelmingly," Godfrey said.
Officials with the Democratic Party and the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, which is hosting the Democrats' debate, could not be reached late Tuesday.
Local Republicans will have a chance to learn more about tickets and logistics for the GOP debate at an information session this weekend, said John Bonsignor, president of the South Strand Republican Club. That meeting will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Donut Man, 200 U.S. 17 South, Myrtle Beach. For information, call Bonsignor at 385-3963.
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Padding your retirement with real estate

NEW YORK (Money) -- Question: I have a chance to pick up two ocean-front condos on the east coast of Florida for about $85,000. I was thinking of buying them in an all-cash deal with my IRA account, but I'm not sure whether you're allowed to own real estate inside an IRA. Can I do this? - Bernard Grossman, Hallendale Beach, Florida
Answer: The short answer is yes, you can invest in real estate through your IRA account. But the question you ought to be asking yourself is whether you should be loading up your IRA with real estate.
A few years ago, when the housing market was booming and everyone saw real estate as a can't-lose strategy for building wealth, buying "sticks-and-mortar" real estate (i.e., actual buildings as opposed to REITs, real estate mutual funds or other securities) within IRAs was all the rage.
Indeed, a slew of advisers and investment firms were pushing everything from condos to single-family homes to commercial properties as ideal IRA investments. And a number of financial publications ran stories that made it seem as if you were an old stick in the mud if you weren't beating the bushes for a sweet real estate deal for your IRA account.
Of course, now that home prices are tanking and the people who followed the advice of the rah-rah real estate crowd have presumably seen the value of their IRA accounts plummet rather than soar, you don't hear as much about the virtues of devoting IRA money to real estate.
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Federal tax credit encouraging home energy efficiency

U.S. homeowners have just one month to utilize a soon-to-expire federal tax credit aimed at encouraging home energy efficiency. The tax credit, created by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, allows for a tax credit of up to 10% of the cost of materials for certain home improvements, including installing ENERGY STAR®-qualified windows, attic insulation or air sealing products. This part of the act, which offers a tax credit of up to $500 per household, was not extended by Congress this year.

Here are Five Ways to Take Advantage of the Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credit
1 - Add attic and/or basement insulation. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 40% of all air leaks in the average home are in the attic, and homeowners can expect to see up to a 30% savings on heating and cooling costs with a well-insulated and air-sealed home. Adding insulation is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways for homeowners to take advantage of the tax credit. By purchasing insulation, homeowners can improve their home’s thermal envelope and decrease monthly energy bills for an immediate return on investment. A majority of homes in the U.S. are under-insulated, and most need up to 18 inches of attic insulation to guarantee proper thermal efficiency.
2 - Install or replace exterior windows and skylights with energy-efficient versions. All ENERGY STAR-qualified windows and skylights are eligible for the tax credit and aid the overall energy efficiency of a home by keeping out extreme temperatures and maintaining the overall comfort of a home. The maximum tax credit benefit for installing windows or skylights is $200.
3 - Trade in older storm doors and exterior doors for newer, energy-efficient versions. An older or poorly insulated exterior door can significantly contribute to air leakage. By replacing the exterior door or adding a storm door to an existing door, homeowners can better maintain the overall temperature of a home and reduce cold drafts or energy leaking out of the home.
4 - Replace an old furnace. Homeowners can replace an existing furnace with a replacement gas or oil furnace with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 95% or higher. Purchasing an energy-efficient furnace reduces the impact of energy pollution and promotes cleaner air quality while enhancing the comfort of a home.
5 - Install a solar energy system. While the overall investment is greater, purchasing solar photovoltaic systems or solar water heaters offers a tax credit of 30% (up to $2,000) of the cost of materials and carries the greatest tax credit available. Solar energy systems provide homeowners with a low-cost alternative to traditional energy sources by generating energy directly from sun light. Systems must be placed in service between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007.
The home energy efficiency improvement tax credit was created as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 in response to record high energy prices. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Annual Energy Outlook 2007, energy prices are expected to steadily increase through 2030.
To redeem the federal energy efficiency home improvement tax credit, homeowners must provide a Manufacturer’s Certification Statement, purchase receipt and use IRS Form 5695.
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investors have begun to pounce on bargain deals

Lennar Corp. has sold about 11,000 home sites to a venture mostly owned by the real-estate arm of Morgan Stanley for $525 million, a large land sale that signals that investors have begun to pounce on bargain deals.
Lennar, which will have a 20% ownership stake in the venture, will have the option to buy back certain home sites.
The deal, which closed with little fanfare Friday night, could be a catalyst for other "vulture" investors to swoop in and grab discounted land from other troubled builders. A wide range of investors have been raising money from pension funds and private-equity firms to acquire land.
While no one has yet been able to call the bottom of the housing slump, some land investors have a short-term strategy, hoping to sell house lots back to builders on a piecemeal basis. Other investors are planning to wait out the housing slump and hold the land for several years.
The Lennar deal comes just weeks after the nation's largest builder, D.R. Horton Inc., sold nearly 7,000 acres outside Phoenix for $70 million.
"There is a lot of money out there right now trying to do deals like this," says John Burns, a home-building consultant based in Irvine, Calif., who consulted with Morgan Stanley on the sale. "The problem has been the gap between what the buyers are willing to pay and what the sellers are willing to accept. This sends a strong message that somebody is willing to part with land at a significant loss."
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Holiday Sales

The 5 1/2 weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's used to be a time for agents, brokers and others in the real estate industry - at least the ones who have had a good year - to pack their bags and head to the Caribbean.
The thing is, this hasn't been a very good year.
Conventional wisdom has dictated that sellers don't want their holidays interrupted by open houses and buyers, aware that inventory typically shrinks toward the end of the year, use the winter months to take a break.
"The reality is that if you've been on the market since September and marketed the property through the entire fall, it needs a rest," Droubi said. "If you don't take it off and just market right through the holidays, it gets pretty tired. If you actually pull it off and put it back on again in January or February, there's a new surge of momentum."
The strategy is backed by statistics: January is typically the slowest month of the year for home closings, reflecting the lull in activity in November and December. Just 6,434 home sales closed in the Bay Area's nine counties in January of last year, compared with a high of 10,830 closings in June, according to DataQuick Information Systems.
But as residential real estate has evolved into a round-the-clock kind of business, many agents, mortgage brokers and others in the industry say that the holiday doldrums these days are more myth than reality.
Real estate agents say that the holidays tend to filter out all but the most serious of buyers and sellers, meaning that November and December can actually be an excellent time to get deals done.
"The sellers who are on the market now really do need, in fact, to sell," said Frank Cannella, branch manager for Prudential California Realty in Pleasanton. "Sellers don't go through the hassle of having their homes on the market during the holidays to test the market. There is more sincerity on the seller side."
For buyers, agents said, that can mean it's a good time to get a deal.
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