Obama Weighs in on Recession, Future

Many Americans today are familiar with the phrase "change we can believe in."

But what "changes" have President Barack Obama made since being sworn into office on Jan. 20, 2009?

He has tried to tackle numerous important issues, such as health care, education and the war in Iraq, but one of the main problems he continues to face has drawn much criticism from others - the recession.

When Obama began his first presidential term, the unemployment rate in this nation was 7.7 percent, compared to a now all-time high of 10 percent one year later.

What happened to the $787 billion economic stimulus bill that was passed into law back in February of 2009?

According to MSNBC.com, more than half of the seven million-plus jobs in our country have been eliminated since the recession began in December of 2007.

On the evening of Jan. 27, 2010, Obama will be giving his State of the Union speech, and some citizens are eager to hear what his next move will be concerning job losses in the U.S.

Republican Fears More Harm Than Good

In mid-November of 2009, Obama said, “The economic growth that we’ve seen has not yet led to the job growth that we desperately need.”

Some would consider this an understatement.

Senior Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, Representative Dave Camp of Michigan, rejects Obama's new ideas.

“What will help middle-class families most is creating jobs and reducing the unemployment rate, but these proposals won’t do either,” Mr. Camp announced. “Moreover, if these proposals are coupled with higher taxes or more mandates on small businesses, the President’s plan could end up making it tougher for middle-class families to find a job.”

Recession Impacts Americans

About 50 percent of Americans who are unemployed said the recession has been a "hardship" on them and caused major life changes, according to a recent nationwide poll of unemployed Americans conducted by the New York Times and CBS News.

In addition, only five percent of people said the recession has not had much of an effect on them. Twenty-two percent think the job market in their area will just get worse.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, a Republican from Ohio, said, "Americans are asking ‘Where are the jobs?’ But none of the proposals outlined by the White House today would, in fact, create jobs...It’s past time for the White House to scrap its job-killing agenda and work in a bipartisan way to create jobs for the American people.”

When will Americans see this "change" that we used to believe?

Obama to Reveal New Five-point Plan

Tomorrow night, Obama will explain a new agenda that could create more jobs for Americans and finally allow the economy to begin to heal.

The five key themes of this plan, according to politico.com, include:

• Nearly doubling the child and dependent care tax credit for middle class families making less than $85,000 a year
• Limiting a student’s federal loan payments to 10 percent of his or her income above a basic living allowance
• Creating a system of automatic workplace IRAs, requiring all employers to give the option for employees to enroll in a direct-deposit IRA
• Expanding tax credits to match retirement savings and enacting new safeguards to protect retirement savings, making it easier for families to plan for retirement
• Expanding support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives, helping them manage their multiple responsibilities and allowing seniors to live in the community for as long as possible

Maybe this time promises will turn into actions.

Crimestoppers Wants Deadbeat Parents

The York County Detention Center (YCDC) and the sheriff's department don't take unpaid child support fees lightly. They are always in search of York County's "deadbeat" parents, and, even citizens are encouraged to help in this fight for justice.

The YCDC Web site features a special section for the area's most wanted deadbeat parents, and it also provides information on how anyone can submit tips in hopes of bringing in these offenders.

If you know a deadbeat parent and would like to report him or her, Crime Stoppers is asking you to submit as much information you know as possible. Call 877-409-4321 to help, while remaining anonymous. You may be eligible for a cash reward.

To submit an online anonymous tip, click here to enter all information pertaining to a crime or wanted person.

Remember to keep the following questions in mind when entering information:

• How do you know about this crime?
• Did the person who committed the crime tell you about it?
• Do you know the name of the person who committed the crime?
• What does the person look like?
• Where is this person living or where does he or she hang out?
• When and where did you last see this person?

As of now, the number of York County deadbeat parents at large is 27 - two females and 25 males. These individuals owe anywhere from $3,619.22 to $105,699.64.

Please contact Crime Stoppers if you know any information regarding the following top three or any other wanted deadbeat parents of York County:

Tyrone Glover, 35, from Catawba, S.C., owes over $100,000 in back-child support. He was last seen on June 28, 2007, and also has a family court bench warrant for his arrest.

James Lee Johnson, 57, from Charlotte, N.C., owes $60,830.14. He was last seen on Jan. 1, 2001, and also has two family court bench warrants for his arrest.

Dennis Erby, 45, from Rock Hill, S.C., owes $51,303.24. He was last seen on March 22, 2007, and also has a family court bench warrant for his arrest.

York County Detention Center Protects Community

The York County Detention Center (YCDC) in South Carolina prides itself on keeping criminal offenders off the streets. Each year, hundreds of inmates pass through the YCDC and become confined to the inside of a cell. Listed below are mugshots and information regarding the 10 most recently arrested York County individuals (compiled from the sheriff department's Web site).

1. Terrice Milton Cherry, 23, was booked on Jan. 24, 2010. He is charged with driving under suspension and operating an uninsured motor vehicle (first offense). Cherry has also been booked three previous times from 2007 to 2009 for charges including: unlawful carrying of a weapon, probation violation, pointing and presenting firearms at a person and public disorderly conduct. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
2. John Frank Howell, 36, was booked on Jan. 24, 2010. He is charged with breach of peace. Howell was also booked once in July of 2008 on public disorderly conduct charges. He is from Hickory Grove, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
3. Damon Christopher Sumter, 36, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with driving under the influence (first offense). Sumter has no prior arrests. He is from Fort Mill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
4. Adam Kasey Martin, 20, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with malicious intent to personal property exceeding $1,000 (but less than $5,000), pointing and presenting firearms at a person and public and disorderly conduct. Martin was also booked once in May of 2007 for possession of marijuana (first offense), reckless driving and operating an unsafe vehicle. He is from Clover, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
5. LaKrystle Chinyere Caldwell, 26, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with speeding (over 10 mph but under 15 mph), transportation of alcohol with a broken seal in a motor vehicle, incorrectly displayed tag, giving false information and failure to maintain proof of insurance in the vehicle. Caldwell has also been booked five previous times since Oct. of 2001, on charges including: failure to appear, speeding, shoplifting, fradulent checks and commitment. She is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
6. Tarrance Antoin Barber, 38, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with shoplifting (third offense). Barber has also been booked four previous times from 2002 to 2009 for charges including: criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, assault and battery, failure to appear, kidnapping and burglary (first degree). He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
7. Travis Quanta Foster, 28, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with burglary (first degree), armed robbery with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, assault and battery with intent to kill and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Foster has been booked three times prior in 2002 on charges of possession of crack, resisting arrest, possession of a handgun by a minor, failure to stop for blue lights and larceny exceeding $5,000. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
8. Ronnie Lamar Meeks, 28, was booked on Jan. 23, 2010. He is charged with possession of marijuana, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of cocaine near a school. Meeks was also booked once in January of 2008 on possession of crack cocaine charges. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
9. Elder Exequiel Flores-Gomez, 19, was booked on Jan. 22, 2010. He is charged with holding for another agency. Flores-Gomez has no prior arrests. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.
10. Jaime Hernandez-Guerrero, 33, was booked on Jan. 22, 2010. He is charged with holding for another agency. Hernandez-Guerrero has no prior arrests. He is from Rock Hill, S.C. For his mugshot picture, click here.