EDITOR'S NOTE: This will be the final edition of Taking Stock. Malcolm Berko's family announced his death this week. A former stockbroker, Berko began writing his syndicated column in 1982. He leaves a son who is a physician, a daughter who practices law and four grandchildren. Dear Mr. Berko: I had bad luck last year buying various high-yielding issues you and my two top brokers recommended. The brokers lost over 70% and did embarrassingly worse than you. According to my wife, who's my business partner and bookkeeper, I had a net return of minus 3.6% in 2018, including interest and dividends. A friend of mine found a stock called Washington Prime that's $5.50 a share and yields nearly 18%. I'd like to buy 5,000 shares and would appreciate your opinion. — E.Y., Erie, Pennsylvania Dear E.Y.: You must be a masochist, coming back to me for more punishment. Your folks must have dropped you on your head shortly after you were born, or they fed you too many Dum-Dums during your … [Read more...] about Washington Prime is risky bet that could pay off
What will happen with Boren’s statue on OU’s campus?
The statue, designed by artist Paul Moore, sits in a garden just west of the OU student union. The International Studies college building was named after Boren in 2017 after he helped found the college in 2011. A second statue by Moore of Boren also stands on the campus of the OU Health Science Center in Oklahoma City, where the student union is also named after Boren. The graduating class of 2018’s senior gift was a green space along Lindsey Street in front of the residential colleges named “The Boren Green.” OU regent Gary Pierson told The Oklahoman the separation between OU and Boren is as complete as it could get. "We cannot erase history so he will always be a former president of the university," Pierson said. "But he won't have any right, title or interest in the university going forward." In addition to statues and buildings, several scholarships are also named after the former president, as well as the David L. Boren professorship, which comes with a $10,000 … [Read more...] about What will happen with Boren’s statue on OU’s campus?
Her ‘predator’ stepfather held her captive for 19 years
McGinnis grew up in Springfield, Missouri, where she was an honor roll student who played the violin and hoped to be a veterinarian when she grew up, she told KSHB. Her mother, who had split with her biological father, was handing out fliers for a neighborhood watch when she met Piette. They quickly became friends, and then more. When McGinnis was 10, Piette moved the whole family out to Oklahoma. She now suspects he did it to isolate them from their relatives. "He knew exactly who to target and how to get what he wanted," McGinnis told KSHB. By January 1997, when McGinnis was abducted, her mother had left Piette after less than a year of marriage and moved into a women's shelter for victims of domestic abuse. As soon as McGinnis failed to show up after school, her mother notified police that the sixth-grader had been kidnapped, court records show. But authorities never caught up with Piette, who had gone on the run with McGinnis and several of his children from previous relationships … [Read more...] about Her ‘predator’ stepfather held her captive for 19 years
NBC 5 Forecast: Heavy thunderstorms moving east
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Rain and storms will slowly push east and southeast of DFW through the morning. Heavy rain and lightning are the main threats. No severe storms are expected. While today is expected to be slightly cooler because of more clouds, we will still have to stay on guard for additional storms developing during the day. It would be a good idea to keep the rain gear close at hand! Storms late this afternoon and evening could have some strong, gusty winds, hail, and locally heavy rainfall. Make sure you are WEATHER AWARE and paying close attention to rapidly-changing weather conditions.A stalled out stationary boundary will help to trigger scattered showers and storms today through Monday. Rain chances begin to diminish for Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs will be in the 80s for a couple of days, but 90s quickly return for the middle and latter part of next week. FATHER'S DAY: Partly to mostly cloudy and breezy with a 60 percent chance for storms. Some storms could be severe with … [Read more...] about NBC 5 Forecast: Heavy thunderstorms moving east
The corn ‘train wreck’ may be worse than forecast
A smartphone could fit in the space between James McCune's index finger and thumb as the Illinois farmer describes the height of crops stunted by incessant rain and unseasonably cool weather. "Corn's not supposed to be this tall" in mid-June, McCune, who can trace his family's farm roots as far back as 1857, said. "It's supposed to be this tall," as he gestures just below his waist. Conditions and morale are so low in McCune's area of northwestern Illinois, typically the second-biggest corn-producing state, that he organized a get-together Thursday evening at The Happy Spot, a restaurant and bar in Deer Grove, Whiteside County. About 125 farmers and others tied to the industry turned out for chicken and beer at the event, dubbed "prevent plant party," in reference to acreage left unplanted this season. "It's going to be a train wreck," McCune said. The headwinds growers are facing are multiple. Record rain has flooded Midwest streets and snarled Mississippi River traffic, crucial to … [Read more...] about The corn ‘train wreck’ may be worse than forecast