Consumer Issues / Public News Service

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Rural AZ inn saves on energy bills, helps environment

This article was produced by Local First Arizona.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Local First Arizona-…

A student at Portland Opportunities and Industrialization Center uses the organization's new self-measuring blood pressure cuff. (American Heart Association)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

First self-measuring blood pressure site sets up in OR community center

Self-measuring blood pressure sites are coming to the Northwest, starting with a community organization in Portland. The American Heart Association …

Some 36,000 Arkansas Medicare beneficiaries used insulin in 2020. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

AR seniors to benefit from Medicare prescription drug cap

Arkansans who are on Medicare will see big savings next year thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. The Act will cap prescription drug costs…

Groups fighting hunger will hold a panel discussion in Los Angeles, called

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

California is home to more than 181,000 people who are unhoused, with 75,000 in Los Angeles alone, so the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will host a …

Environmental advocates say the growth of so-called 'fast fashion' is adding to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Buying just one white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving 35 miles in a car, according to the climate action group, WRAP. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Serving looks with books: Libraries fight ‘fast fashion’ by lending clothes

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Grist-Public News Service C…

Inflation Reduction Act funding is helping leading electric cooperatives, which serve one in five rural Americans, to accelerate the adoption of affordable and reliable clean energy, lowering costs for their members. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Tri-State to lower customer energy costs by $400 million over 20 years

Colorado's second-largest electricity provider, the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, projects new federal clean energy funding will …

Nebraska homeowners lost about $17 million in home equity between 2014 and 2021, when more than 300 homes were taken for property tax debts. (blvdone/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Court's 'home equity theft' ruling helps homeowners in NE, nationwide

A year-old U.S. Supreme Court case means relief for two Nebraskans who faced losing their homes and all the equity they had built, when investment …

In the past decade, the U.S. Energy Department said 2,555 North Dakota homes, occupied by people with limited incomes, have been weatherized. The free upgrades include furnace repairs, insulation and sealing drafty windows. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

An under-the-radar profession could use a helping hand

September is Workforce Development Month and North Dakota offices managing energy assistance programs hope people in need of a fresh career start will…

A new report found Connecticut still has massive gender, racial and ethnic wage gaps, both for low-wage and middle-wage workers. The issue is especially prominent in public-sector jobs, which also suffer from a lack of diversity. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Report: CT post-pandemic job growth still lags

A new report showed Connecticut's post-pandemic job growth lags behind the rest of the nation. The State of Working Connecticut report found …

Iowa seniors list the out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications as one of their main health-care concerns, according to AARP Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

Prescription costs soon to be capped for Iowa seniors

A new report from AARP Iowa predicts thousands of seniors on Medicare Part D in the state will save money on their prescriptions, thanks to a cap on …

Around 2,250 adults with serious mental illness each year, on average, receive psychiatric treatment at the University of Louisville Hospital. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

DOJ report finds Louisville overuses its psychiatric hospitals

A U.S. Department of Justice investigation has found Kentucky is failing to provide access to community-based mental health services for people who …

Environmental researchers say locally based-food growers tend to be more conscious about minimizing harmful runoff from their farmland. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

WI program serves up fresh produce, with a side of climate benefits

Access to nutritious food can be hard to come by for underserved populations. A Wisconsin program that relies on contributions from locally based …

According to the research website Definitive Healthcare, consumers spent $603 billion on prescription drugs in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

IN residents await price reductions on costly prescriptions

Indiana ranks 20th among states for its prescription drug spending and especially for older adults, some help is on the way. The Inflation Reduction …

The Brookings Institution, a nonpartisan research group, gave South Dakota a

Monday, September 16, 2024

SD voting advocates hope to avoid ballot challenges seen in primary

Just a few months after some South Dakota absentee ballots were illegally challenged, officials are concerned slow mail delivery could affect …

One cow can produce up to 264 pounds of methane every year, and it's estimated that livestock production is responsible for 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

How livestock farming fuels climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Consumer prices are not just getting attention in the presidential race. Federal budget talks have included debate about how much authority agencies should have in going after corporations suspected of treating consumers unfairly. (Adobe Stock)

Consumer protections swept up in federal budget fight

Even in a stable economy, consumers in Wisconsin and elsewhere still express pessimism and advocates said a key federal agency working on issues like …

According to a poll of 50-64-year-olds, top issues of concern are strengthening the economy (80%), defending against terrorism (76%), and making the Social Security system financially sound (73%). (Adobe Stock)

Caregiving, financial security among top concerns of older SD voters

Voters over age 50 reliably show up to the polls in large numbers but sometimes candidates overlook them. In 2020, 138,000 South Dakotans ages 45-64 …

AARP says between 3 million and 4 million Medicare enrollees nationwide are estimated to benefit from the new out-of-pocket federal cap every year between 2025 and 2029. Of the total, 40,050 are in Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Picture becomes clearer on drug cost savings for older Minnesotans

Consumer advocates have long detailed how older adults struggle to manage the cost of their medications but hope is emerging in Minnesota and elsewher…

A California law banning restrictive crates for pigs could be invalidated by a provision in the Republican proposal for the new Farm Bill. (Animal Equality)

How meat industry shapes U.S. politics and vice versa

Agribusiness has spent $500 million so far to lobby for changes to the next farm bill - in particular to invalidate a California law that bans extreme…

According to the site Tech-stack, AI algorithms can forecast energy needs, helps improve the reliability of solar energy supply and balance the grid load. (Adobe Stock)

IL residents can benefit from merging of solar and AI

By Kari Lydersen for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

In New Mexico, 70% of extremely low-income renter households face a severe cost burden, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. (qingwa/AdobeStock)

America's 2-decade-long housing shortage needs a fix

New Mexico houses cost less to buy than in many other states but there's also less inventory and one data expert does not expect a building boom to re…

Green chiles take center stage next month when New Mexico extension agents offer classes in preservation techniques. (Photo courtesy of NMSU)

NM experts dish up best techniques for preserving green chile

The growing season is winding down in New Mexico and experts want to make sure the people preserving green chile for the colder months are doing it ri…

So far, 34 farmers markets, food hubs and retail locations across the state offer Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot program makes fresh Colorado produce accessible to more families

As Colorado's fall harvest kicks into high gear, people participating in SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, can now get up to $60 per …

In 2022, 42.4% of full-time undergraduate students worked while enrolled to cover their costs, reflecting the growing challenge of affording higher education. (William W. Potter/Adobe Stock)

Ohio universities see tuition spike, enrollment decline

By John Hilber / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. In the last 21 years…

If the Kroger-Alberstons merger is approved, Gunnison's 6,000 residents would have to travel 65 miles to find a grocery store not owned by Kroger, which owns King Soopers in Colorado, according to the American Economic Liberties Project. (Galatas)

Corporate consolidation, lack of competition linked to rising grocery prices

As a federal judge considers a lawsuit aiming to block a proposed $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, a new report detailed how …

Solar panels on the roof of Lifeline Church of God in Princeton, W.Va. (Resource Rural)

Federal funding reduces barriers to solar for WV schools, churches

Wayne County Schools and a church in Princeton have installed solar panels with help from the Inflation Reduction Act, local grants and solar …

In addition to Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, Vice Presidential nominees Tim Walz and J.D. Vance have been holding plenty of campaign events in battleground states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. (Adobe Stock)

Battleground state bonanza: Guidance for WI voters on campaign interactions

For the 2024 presidential election, Wisconsin has retained its status as a battleground state. That means voters are hearing a lot from campaigns …

According to Redfin, in 2019 Minneapolis became the first city to eliminate exclusively single-family zoning citywide. (Delores Harvey/Adobe Stock)

AARP NE grant funds design contest for one type of 'missing middle housing'

Drawing attention to a housing option that could make it easier for older Nebraskans to "age in place" is one of the goals of an AARP Community Challe…

Iowa has provided more than $3.3 billion to communities to help finance water quality improvement projects over the years, according to the Iowa Environmental Council. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa seeks to remove dangerous lead water pipes

Iowa is getting federal help to eliminate lead water pipes in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with local water …

Sheep graze on a solar field in Garrard County owned by Silicon Ranch Corp. (Silicon Ranch)

KY communities consider solar zoning ordinances

As Fayette County considers approving industrial-scale solar operations on farmland, more communities in the Commonwealth are considering special …

In a new national survey, people 65 and older were more likely than other age groups to think raw milk was less safe than pasteurized milk. (Adobe Stock)

Rural residents more likely to consider raw milk to be safe

By Tim Marema for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration…

The Biden administration is providing a range of subsidies to spur carbon-capture projects to help reduce carbon emissions. But as projects take shape in the Midwest, issues such as landowner rights have led to extensive public debate. (Adobe Stock)

Survey sheds light on public sentiment about carbon-capture land conflicts

In a new poll, 81% of registered voters from several Midwestern states said they oppose corporations resorting to eminent domain for private projects…

Weston Lombard, at his Athens County farm, uses regenerative practices funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. (Photo credit Sijie Yuan)

Ohio reacts to Biden's investment targeting rural electrification

President Joe Biden has announced a landmark $7.3 billion investment, the largest since the FDR New Deal, aimed at electrifying rural America…

Close to 4 million tons of food waste ends up in New York City landfills yearly, which comprises 20% of the city's waste. (Adobe Stock)

NYC nonprofit helps communities fight food insecurity

A New York City nonprofit is helping communities fight food insecurity. Rethink Food began in 2017 with the mission of taking excess food from top …

80% of Wyoming adults say that EMS should be considered an essential service, according to a 2024 AARP survey. (Kirill Gorlov/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Wyomingites support increased EMS funding

Some emergency medical services, or EMS, are consolidating or closing across Wyoming, while the need for services is increasing. In 2021, Wyoming EMS …

A key goal of Michigan's Healthy Climate Plan is to limit energy burden from powering and heating homes to not more than 6% of annual income for low-income households. (M.studio/Adobe Stock)

New solar deal brightens Lansing's green future

Lansing residents and businesses can breathe easier following a new 15-year renewable energy deal. The partnership between General Motors and North …

The Federal Trade Commission received 60,599 fraud reports from consumers in North Carolina in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Beware election scams: BBB warns NC voters of fraud risks

Scammers are on the prowl this election season to target the emotions of voters to steal donations, seek polling information or gain their financial …

A new California bill requiring speed warning systems on vehicles does not require data to be stored. Privacy issues would remain in the hands of car manufacturers. (Rawintanpin/Adobe Stock)

Newsom urged to sign bill to require speeding alert systems on cars

Groups fighting for safer roads are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill requiring new vehicles to have a speed-monitoring system to warn drivers …

Around 17 million people attempt to get a new Social Security card every year. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting your Social Security number: GA residents urged to stay vigilant

In Georgia, the demand for Social Security cards is soaring, with nearly 34,000 residents in Gwinnett County alone requesting appointments for new …

The Arizona State University Center for Tribal Digital Sovereignty is designed to provide tribal nations with the resources they need to build proactive digital platforms. (ASU)

New ASU program to help tribal governments develop digital sovereignty

Historic inequities have left many tribal nations behind the rest of the country but a new Arizona State University program is designed to launch them…

Meatpackers are able to lower the cost of processing each animal by running bigger operations compared to smaller facilities. (Dragosh/Adobe Stock)

AR ranchers want a bigger cut from beef industry

The price of beef could be on the minds of Arkansas farmers and ranchers when they go to the polls in November. Currently, just four companies - …

From 2011 to mid-2020, 95 gigawatts of coal capacity was closed or switched to another fuel and another 25 gigawatts is slated to shut down by 2025, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginia’s PSC faces lawsuit over coal-plant directive

The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is facing legal challenges for its 2021 directive that Appalachian Power increase the usage of three of…

Beginning in January, new federal changes will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 annually for 56 million Americans with Medicare drug plans. (Adobe Stock)

Some older Kentuckians will save on prescription drugs next year

Around 60,000 Kentucky seniors will save more money on their medications in the New Year, according to a new AARP report. Under the federal …

The Middle Class Borrower Protection Act has passed the House and was received in the Senate on July 10, 2023. (Man888/Adobe Stock)<br />

Federal bill aimed to help MI homebuyers draws criticism

Michigan has seen a 10% rise in foreclosures this year. The Middle Class Borrower Protection Act, intended to assist middle-class homebuyers…

Experts warn not to give in to an event organizer's pressure to participate in a festival or fair. Also, if they are pushy about getting payments but are not giving details, it could be a scam. (Adobe Stock)

Experts advise CT consumers about safe shopping at festivals

Experts are advising Connecticut consumers to be cautious with what they buy at late-summer fairs and festivals. As fun as the events can be…

On price negotiations alone, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the Inflation Reduction Act will generate more than $100 billion in savings over 10 years for those using Medicare. (Adobe Stock)

With new caps, WI Medicare enrollees expected to save $1500 next year

Older Wisconsin residents struggling to manage prescription drug costs, have new data on how much they might save as a new federal rule kicks in …

Medicare enrollees will not have to spend more than $2,000 annually on prescription drugs, starting next year. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

Hundreds of thousands of older Californians will see huge savings on prescription drugs starting in January, according to a new report from AARP…

Actions by the Biden administration reduced the number of people with medical debt on their credit reports from 46 million in 2020 to 15 million Americans in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Nationally proposed medical debt policies can aid NYers

New Yorkers could see relief from medical debt if several national proposals move forward. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new …

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Consumer

Rural AZ inn saves on energy bills, helps environment

First self-measuring blood pressure site sets up in OR community center

AR seniors to benefit from Medicare prescription drug cap

Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

Serving looks with books: Libraries fight ‘fast fashion’ by lending clothes

Tri-State to lower customer energy costs by $400 million over 20 years

Court's 'home equity theft' ruling helps homeowners in NE, nationwide

An under-the-radar profession could use a helping hand

Report: CT post-pandemic job growth still lags

Prescription costs soon to be capped for Iowa seniors

DOJ report finds Louisville overuses its psychiatric hospitals

WI program serves up fresh produce, with a side of climate benefits

IN residents await price reductions on costly prescriptions

SD voting advocates hope to avoid ballot challenges seen in primary

How livestock farming fuels climate change

Consumer protections swept up in federal budget fight

Caregiving, financial security among top concerns of older SD voters

Picture becomes clearer on drug cost savings for older Minnesotans

How meat industry shapes U.S. politics and vice versa

IL residents can benefit from merging of solar and AI

America's 2-decade-long housing shortage needs a fix

NM experts dish up best techniques for preserving green chile

Pilot program makes fresh Colorado produce accessible to more families

Ohio universities see tuition spike, enrollment decline

Corporate consolidation, lack of competition linked to rising grocery prices

Federal funding reduces barriers to solar for WV schools, churches

Battleground state bonanza: Guidance for WI voters on campaign interactions

AARP NE grant funds design contest for one type of 'missing middle housing'

Iowa seeks to remove dangerous lead water pipes

KY communities consider solar zoning ordinances

Rural residents more likely to consider raw milk to be safe

Survey sheds light on public sentiment about carbon-capture land conflicts

Ohio reacts to Biden's investment targeting rural electrification

NYC nonprofit helps communities fight food insecurity

Survey: Wyomingites support increased EMS funding

New solar deal brightens Lansing's green future

Beware election scams: BBB warns NC voters of fraud risks

Newsom urged to sign bill to require speeding alert systems on cars

Protecting your Social Security number: GA residents urged to stay vigilant

New ASU program to help tribal governments develop digital sovereignty

AR ranchers want a bigger cut from beef industry

West Virginia’s PSC faces lawsuit over coal-plant directive

Some older Kentuckians will save on prescription drugs next year

Federal bill aimed to help MI homebuyers draws criticism

Experts advise CT consumers about safe shopping at festivals

With new caps, WI Medicare enrollees expected to save $1500 next year

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

Nationally proposed medical debt policies can aid NYers