Watch Bank Fees-Costs Quietly Ramping Up

From Wonkbook, The Washington Post

Banks are quietly ramping up consumer costs, reports Eric Dash: "Even as Bank of America and other major lenders back away from charging customers to use their debit cards, many banks have been quietly imposing other new fees. Need to replace a lost debit card? Bank of America now charges $5 -- or $20 for rush delivery. Deposit money with a mobile phone? At U.S. Bancorp, it is now 50 cents a check. Want cash wired to your account? Starting in December, that will cost $15 for each incoming domestic payment at TD Bank. Facing a reaction from an angry public and heightened scrutiny from regulators, banks are turning to all sorts of fees that fly under the radar. Everything, it seems, has a price...Banks would need to recoup, on average, between $15 and $20 a month from each depositor just to earn what they did in the past."

Related articles

• Banks Quietly Ramp Up Costs to Consumers - New York Times (nytimes.com)
• Here Come the New Bank Fees (dailyfinance.com)
• After Dropping Debit Card Fees, Bank Of America Is Quietly Cranking Them Up Elsewhere (businessinsider.com)

Past Sexual Abuse Allegation at The Citadel

In the wake of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, another university, The Citadel military college in South Carolina, revealed on Saturday that it had investigated accusations against a camp counselor but took no action.

The man has since been jailed on separate charges of molesting five boys in Mount Pleasant, near Charleston, South Carolina.

"We regret that we did not pursue this matter further," Citadel President Lt. General John Rosa and Board of Visitors Chair Doug Snyder said in a statement.

The Citadel said it investigated four years ago accusations of inappropriate conduct with children by Louis Neal "Skip" ReVille, who was a counselor at the military school's camp.

ReVille is a graduate of The Citadel, the college said, and worked as a counselor at the school's camp for three summers between 2001 and 2003.

Porky's Actor Takes His Life

Wyatt Knight portraying Tommy Turner in Porky's II-The Next Day

Wyatt Knight, who starred in the 1980s "Porky's" films, has been found dead in Hawaii with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 56.

A family statement Friday said the actor chose to end his life after a painful bout with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which was in stage 4. He underwent radiation treatments that left him in "physical and emotional pain," and had a bone marrow transplant in 2003.

"He was tired of the pain and after much contemplation, chose to end his life in a beautiful and a serene place," the statement said. "His family and friends are devastated. He was deeply loved by all who knew him and will be missed every day."

Maui police Lt. Wayne Ibarra said Knight's body was found Oct. 26 in the upcountry region. An autopsy determined Knight died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Knight's most well-known role was playing Tommy Turner in the "Porky's" comedy trilogy.

"Wyatt was an incredibly talented, intelligent and loving person with an amazing spirit. He is free and at peace," the family's statement said.

Related articles

• Update: Porky's Star Death Ruled As Suicide (perezhilton.com)
• 'Porky's' star found dead of apparent suicide (today.msnbc.msn.com)
• 'Porky's' actor Knight commits suicide in Hawaii (sfgate.com)

Andy Williams Fighting Bladder Cancer

Singer Andy Williams told the crowd at his Christmas show Saturday night that he has bladder cancer.

The Tri-Lakes News reports the 83-year-old Williams appeared early in the show at the Moon River Theatre and vowed to return next year to celebrate his 75th year in show business.

"I do have cancer of the bladder," Williams said. "But that is no longer a death sentence. People with cancer are getting through this thing. They're kicking it, and they're winning more and more every year. And I'm going to be one of them."

The Iowa native hosted an Emmy-winning variety television program "The Andy Williams Show," from 1962-71. He published an autobiography, "Moon River and Me: A Memoir," in 2009.

Williams sang "The Christmas Song" (known as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire") at the theater he started in 1992 and said he would be back next September and October to celebrate.

"I'm going to do the shows I've planned to do," he said.

Related articles

• Singer Andy Williams has bladder cancer (cbsnews.com)
• Singer Andy Williams announces he has cancer (cnn.com)
• Singer Andy Williams says he has bladder cancer (today.msnbc.msn.com)

Home Remedies That Work

Americans spend billions of dollars for over-the-counter health remedies for everything from nighttime coughs to poison ivy. In many cases, there is no need to spend tons of money to find relief. If you check your cupboard, you may find some surprising home remedies.

Here are some cheap, easy to find home remedies that really work:

Honey

One spoonful can help quiet a nighttime cough better than over-the-counter cough syrups or suppressants.  Honey coats and soothes an irritated throat. Doctors say that using honey is generally safe and can be used repeatedly as needed. Honey does have a high sugar content, “which may be inappropriate for older adults with diabetes.”

Liquid dish soap

If you come into contact with poison ivy or poison oak, washing the affected area with liquid dish soap within two hours of contact may prevent you from getting an itching red rash. Liquid dish washing soap  is formulated to remove oil, so why not use it to get rid of the plant oil on poison ivy leaves that causes a rash when it gets on your skin.

Short Lived Celebrity Marriages-Lasting Hours or Days

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian

When reality star Kim Kardashian filed for divorce, Ryan Seacrest confirmed the news via tweet: "Yes @kimkardashian is filing for divorce this morning. I touched base with her." After all the publicity and an18 million dollar wedding...surprise, surprise. Real or Staged? Your guess is as good as any.

Unfortunately, short-lived celebrity marriages are not unusual. Take a look at some of the fastest to move from married to divorced:

Hillary Clinton's Mother Dies

Dorothy Rodham, mother of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Bill Clinton's mother-in-law, died Tuesday at age 92 after an illness.    

The family said Rodham died shortly after midnight, surrounded by her family in Washington.
The secretary of state cancelled a planned trip to London and Istanbul to be at her mother's side.
Dorothy Rodham was a witness to her daughter's political victories and defeats. She avoided the spotlight and rarely gave interviews about herself or her daughter and son-in-law, the former president.

A notable exception was her daughter's 2008 bid for the Democratic nomination for president. She appeared with her daughter in primary states, particularly at events focusing on women's issues.

Glee Star's Dad Murdered

The estranged father of singer Charice Pempengco of the hit TV show "Glee" was stabbed to death in her hometown in the Philippines, causing the teen star to fly home and cancel the rest of her tour dates.

In a statement, Charice said the killing was a "terrible tragedy." She thanked fans for their support.

Her father, 40-year-old construction worker Ricky Pempengco, was at a small grocery store in San Pedro township south of Manila late Monday when he brushed against a drunk man who became angry and stabbed him with an ice pick in the chest and back, according to the Laguna province police chief, Senior Supt. Gilbert Cruz.

A manhunt has been launched for the suspect. Cruz said the killing appeared random.

Charice had long been estranged from her father. Local media reported that Charice's mother left him when Charice and her younger brother were small children.

Related articles

• 'Glee' singer Charice's dad killed in Philippines (today.msnbc.msn.com)
• 'Glee' Star's Father Murdered (aoltv.com)
• 'Glee' Star's Dad Killed in Philippines (abcnews.go.com)