UMKC Associate Professor of Economics and Law Bill Black

A few months ago, we posted an interview from KCUR’s Frank Morris with UMKC professor Bill Black. Black has recently been featured in Michael Moore’s newest film, Capitalism: A Love Story. He is visiting Columbia this week to speak about his role in the film. Look for an interview from that later. In the meantime, here’s our original post.

Bill Black’s Conversation with Frank Morris

It seems logical that banks caught stuck with billions of dollars in worthless assets got into that mess by mistake. But, that’s not how UMKC law and economics professor Bill Black sees it. In Kansas City, Frank Morris spoke with Black who says an administration hostile to regulation allowed mortgage bankers to write “liars loans,” which they knew were based on bad information and allowed rating agencies and investment bankers to cash in on the charade. Now, Black says the Obama administration is helping to obscure the enormous mess, one riddled on all levels by a single element – fraud.

Click here for more on the story from Bill Moyers at PBS.

Missouri realtors are concerned that a poor economy might force the state and local governments to put an additional tax on real estate transactions.

KBIA’s Modupe Idowu has this story.

In Columbia Stephens College recently hosted the Citizen Jane Film Festival, which showcases female filmmakers. Leslie Cockburn is an American filmmaker and journalist, who showed her feature-length film, American Casino, at this year’s festival.

KBIA’s Carolina Astrain caught up with Cockburn at a local theater. They talked about her experience documenting the economic meltdown. Here’s a portion of their conversation. You’ll also hear a bit of the American Casino trailer.

In response to historically low hog and poultry prices and oversupply conditions, the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, or CFFE, has sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urging action by the USDA.

KBIA’s Brandon J. Smith has this report on what the campaign wants from the government.

A Columbia-based laboratory is expanding in hopes of running more efficiently. ABC Labs contract with pharmaceutical and chemical companies to help develop products. Laboratory officials say the labs will benefit the local economy.

KBIA’s Genevieve Curtis has the story.

A puppy waits to be adopted at the Central Missouri Humane Society. (Photo: Lindsey Foat, Brandon Schatsiek/KBIA)

The Columbia City Council is requesting an independent audit of the Central Missouri Humane Society. The human society recently asked the City to increase funding but several controversies have left officials curious about the organization’s management.

Here’s the story from KBIA’s Cyreia Sandlin.

Daniel B.Turban

University of Missouri researchers recently completed a study analyzing the process of job searching for recent college graduates. The research focused on 327 job-seekers and their approach to the current competitive job market. KBIA’s Tyler Lindsey sat down with MU Business Professor Daniel Turban to talk about his findings on job search success.

Hear their discussion here.

Play therapy is offered for children. (Photo: Alex Crowder, KSMU)

Since 1969, the Center City Counseling Clinic at Missouri State University has been providing low-cost counseling to the public. For a session, the clinic asks the patient to pay a fee of only five dollars.

Click here to listen to the story from KSMU’s Matt Evans.

Two Kansas City nonprofits have been recognized for their efforts to address critical social issues. They’ll receive $400,000 from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Excellence Initiative.

Here’s the story from KCUR’s Laura Spencer.

Also, find out more about Communities Creating Opportunity and the Charlotte Street Foundation.

Bikes sit in Moberly's City Street Barn.

The City of Moberly has an innovative way for earning some extra cash. KBIA’s Kristin Carringer recently visited the City Street Barn and has this story.