MCKEE, Ky. -- It's been five years since a rural phone cooperative in Eastern Kentucky completed the installation of super-fast, fiber-optic cables across two counties, giving every home and business in the region high-speed internet. Today, advocates say that $50 million investment has brought an influx of jobs to the region, mainly in tech support.

Keith Gabbard is CEO of the Peoples Rural Telephone Cooperative in Jackson County, who spearheaded the effort. He said the area's unemployment rate has shrunk from 16% to nearly 5%.

"In the two counties we serve, we've seen over 1,000 jobs created. In both of our counties, over half the people actually typically drive to a surrounding county to work. So, that's the norm," Gabbard said. "Some of these people are working for Apple, they're doing tech support for Apple; they're working for a lot of different companies. And all of 'em are paying more than a lot of the minimum-wage things that are available around here."

Fiber-optic cables transmit electronic information at faster rates than standard copper wires. According to the Fiber Broadband Association, around 18 million households in the U.S. have this type of broadband service.

For some residents of Jackson and Owsley counties, high-speed internet has changed life in other ways. Gabbard said local veterans who can't make the long trip to the nearest Veterans Administration clinic can now speak with healthcare providers by video conference at the local public library, where his company has enabled free internet access.

"So, we worked out a partnership with our local public library. That's something the veterans are using more and more; it's really been well-received there," he said. "Veterans are spending all day to go to VA clinic in Lexington, Kentucky."

While he acknowledged broadband can't solve all the region's woes, Gabbard said it's bringing real opportunities to many Appalachian families.

"$50 million - we built a thousand miles of fiber at about $50,000 a mile. I have to say, that's probably the best investment our company ever made," he said. "We did not envision how important it would be when we first started."

He said the money for the project came from various sources, including federal grants and loans.


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Fifth Third Bank just agreed to pay a $20 million fine to settle charges it forced car buyers to purchase unnecessary insurance and created fake accounts in customers' names.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said the bank required customers with car loans to buy insurance, even if they already had coverage or got their own within 30 days.

Rosemary Shahan, president of Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said some customers then could not afford the payments.

"There were about 1,000 consumers who had their cars repossessed," Shahan recounted. "Most people rely on their car to get to and from work, and get their kids to school, and get to medical appointments. So that is really devastating when they lose their car."

In a statement, Fifth Third Bank said it shut down the protection insurance program in 2019 and is taking action to set things right. The money from the fine will go to a fund to reimburse 35,000 customers who were harmed. The court order also bans the company from setting employee sales goals incentivizing fraudulently opening accounts.

Shahan pointed out car dealers sometimes make verbal promises differing from the written contract or fail to even print out the financing paperwork. She wants people to know they cannot be required to buy insurance if they already have coverage.

"The best way to avoid all these scams is join a credit union, get your own financing, and deal with a reputable bank," Shahan recommended. "Don't let the dealer get financing for you."

In 2015, Fifth Third Bank was ordered to pay more than $21 million in fines for discriminatory auto loan pricing and for illegal credit card practices.

For years, Indiana home sellers have signed formal listing agreements with real estate brokers but now buyers also need written agreements before purchasing a home.

The change is among 172 new laws approved this year by the Indiana General Assembly which kicked in this month. The change stems from a major settlement between home sellers and the National Association of Realtors, aiming to boost transparency and consumer protection.

Maggie McShane, senior vice president of government affairs for the Indiana Association of Realtors, said professional representation is crucial for homebuyers navigating a complex and challenging market.

"Many states already require this," McShane pointed out. "We don't run into opposition from consumers in those states. The change in practice might take some consumers by surprise but they're being represented contractually as well."

Previously, home sellers typically covered both listing and buyer agent commissions. Now, buyers might need to pay their agent's commission if the seller opts out. It is important to note buyers can still visit open houses without an agent.

McShane noted the new state law clarifies the relationship between buyers and real estate brokers, detailing terms and compensation.

"If down the road we foresee if there is a separation between those two sides of the transaction that this would treat both sides equally," McShane emphasized. "Consumers have a written agreement and the agent has a written agreement with their client on how that should proceed."

Experts reminded Hoosiers the impact of the change will unfold as the market adapts, and to remember everything in real estate is negotiable.


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As Oregon is seeing its first major heat event of the summer, some simple tips can help you keep your home cooler.

Most of Oregon was under a heat advisory over the holiday weekend.

And with summer just starting, Cameron Starr - senior operations customer experience manager with Energy Trust of Oregon - said more hot days are likely ahead.

He said one recommendation is to keep out heat by pulling down window shades during the hottest part of day, and open windows when temperatures cool down.

"During that time when it's cool outside," said Starr, "a box fan or window-mounted fan on the shady side of the house can really be effective in drawing in cool air."

Excessive heat can be dangerous.

Starr said cooling centers are open across the state for people struggling with the heat. He also noted that you can visit many local businesses with air conditioning to cool down.

Starr advised people to use heat-generating devices, such as ovens, less frequently during hot days.

He added that it's important to check the filters in your air conditioners, especially if they're window-mounted or portable units.

"You want to make sure you're checking those filters, and a lot of manufacturers state to check and clean those every two weeks," said Starr. "And if you've got pets, you probably want to increase that cycle."

For people with fans, Starr said check to ensure it's spinning in the direction that cools, allowing you to feel a breeze rather than pulling cool air upward.

And making sure there aren't any gaps in doors and windows is also important.

"Sealing off any gaps," said Starr, "can very much help reduce the amount of cool air that you're losing to the outside."

Energy Trust offers cash incentives for people to install systems that cool - or provide heat during the winter. There are also federal tax credits available for equipment like energy-efficient heat pumps.




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