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A new study shows health disparities cost Texas billions of dollars; Senate rejects impeachment articles against Mayorkas, ending trial against Cabinet secretary; Iowa cuts historical rural school groups.

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The Senate dismisses the Mayorkas impeachment. Maryland Lawmakers fail to increase voting access. Texas Democrats call for better Black maternal health. And polling confirms strong support for access to reproductive care, including abortion.

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Rural Wyoming needs more vocational teachers to sustain its workforce pipeline, Ohio environmental advocates fear harm from a proposal to open 40-thousand forest acres to fracking and rural communities build bike trail systems to promote nature, boost the economy.

Credit Unions Celebrate, Continue to Grow in Idaho

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Thursday, October 19, 2017   

NAMPA, Idaho -- Credit unions in Idaho and around the world are celebrating International Credit Union Day today. These banking alternatives are growing in popularity in the Gem State, with half of Idahoans now members of one of 28 local credit unions.

Many celebrated the lead-up to Credit Union Day with member appreciation week promotions. Nick Fugal is chief financial officer of Clarity Credit Union in Nampa, which is holding a scavenger hunt to observe the week. He said the structure of credit unions - as not-for-profit, member-owned cooperatives - allows them to better serve people.

"So it's not based on shareholders like a Wells Fargo or Bank of America where you buy shares in the equity stocks and you become an owner and get a vote,” Fugal said. "This way, if you have an account here, you get a vote in the board of directors. And because of that, the people who govern the credit union are focused on returns for the members."

Clarity has nearly 15,000 members. There are more than 230 million credit union members worldwide. The theme for this year's Credit Union Day is "Dreams thrive here."

Because of their structure, Fugal said credit unions also tend to be more community-focused than other financial organizations. He said they also can help people who are in financial distress, and not write someone off because of their credit score or because they're considered "risky."

"We're looking at it, saying, 'Hey, we're a community. We want to help our community. We need to make our community better not only physically but economically,’” he said. "So, we're going to look at the member, look at their story, find out what it is that they really need and do everything we can to help them."

Since credit unions don't have to pay shareholders, they are often able to offer lower fees on their services than traditional lenders.


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