As last-minute holiday packages flow in this week, and the United States Postal Service is warning customers not to fall for "smishing" scams.

John Hyatt, strategic communication specialist for the United States Postal Service, said smishing is the practice of sending fake text messages to smartphones asking users to click on a link to resolve a ZIP code or other issue with a pending package. He warned personal data is what the sender is after.

"Basically criminals trying to obtain personally identifying information about a person, such as accounts, usernames, passwords, dates of birth, credit card numbers, things like that," Hyatt outlined.

In 2020, the Internet Crime Complaint Center reported more than 240,000 victims of smishing, phishing and other fraudulent schemes, costing more than $54 million, with the average person losing about $800.

Smishing texts can be relentless this time of year but Hyatt stressed you should never follow the message prompts.

"When you get a suspicious text message, if you click on those links, it will take you to a website that could be downloading onto your phone," Hyatt explained. "Once you submit that information then they use it for nefarious purposes."

Hyatt emphasized you will only receive text messages from the Postal Service if you have gone online and registered for such services.

"You can sign up to receive text messages about a tracking number," Hyatt added. "Or you can go into the tracking service and put the number in and then ask for text message updates or even an email update on usps.com."

He noted the Postal Service's "Informed Delivery" program is being used by millions of Americans to receive legitimate messages about what packages are on the way.


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Florida Power & Light's request for a nearly $9 billion rate hike, possibly the largest in state history, has sparked concern about the potential burden on people already struggling with high energy costs.

The Florida Public Service Commission is reviewing the proposal, which the utility said is needed for grid resilience, population growth and storm recovery. If approved, the hike would raise the average residential bill by at least $200 a year by 2027, in addition to a $150 "storm recovery fee" already on bills this year.

Maria Claudia Schubert-Fontes, climate justice program manager for the advocacy group Catalyst Miami, warned the effects on low-income households could be devastating.

"Energy burden is the percentage of income that's spent on home energy bills and also is considered 'energy burdened' if it's at 6%," Schubert-Fontes explained. "So, 12% is way above that threshold and folks are spending a large portion of their income just to keep the lights on every month."

Florida Power & Light, which serves about 12 million people, has said the increase is necessary to continue providing reliable service as Florida grows. In 2024, it reported more than $4.5 billion in earnings, while its parent company NextEra Energy posted nearly $7 billion in profit.

Schubert-Fontes argued customers are already being squeezed and pointed out the proposal includes a return on equity far exceeding industry norms.

"Part of FPL's proposal is that there's an 11.9% return on equity, which is far higher than the industry standard, which sits around, like, 9%," Schubert-Fontes noted. "This is money that goes directly into the pockets of shareholders."

The Public Service Commission has completed a series of in-person hearings. Local groups urged regulators to prioritize consumers, particularly vulnerable households and fixed-income seniors. A final decision is expected later this year.


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Optimism is falling and pessimism is rising among businesses getting a read on the U.S. economy, according to a new national survey.

The findings are from the Center for Audit Quality, which gathered feedback from the nation's leading public company audit firms. The firms serve clients in a wide range of industries, from retail to mining. The spring survey showed pessimism about the U.S. economy surged to 44%, compared to just 10% last fall. Meanwhile, optimism fell to 15%.

Julie Bell Lindsay, CEO of the center, said there are a handful of key factors behind the sentiments.

"Concern about a recession, ongoing geopolitical instability, and tariff uncertainty," Lindsay outlined. "Those are the top three areas where audit partners are seeing companies concerned over the next 12 months."

The Trump administration said it remains undeterred in applying broad-based tariffs in pursuit of fair trade. Financial analysts said the approach creates less predictability for businesses with the potential for layoffs, adding some of the tariff polices have resulted in legal setbacks. White House officials hope tariffs lead to more domestic manufacturing but experts cautioned it could take years.

Among respondents, 54% said companies in their sectors are reducing employee headcounts in the current economic landscape but nearly half also are making an effort to boost the skills of existing staff. Lindsay added artificial intelligence has major appeal right now.

"The companies in the industries that they audit are mainly pursuing the use of AI to enhance customer experiences, services and support, as well as automate some work processes," Lindsay explained.

Despite the Trump administration's interest in cryptocurrency, survey results show American companies feel the situation is not right yet to jump into those markets. Of those surveyed, 96% said their clients are not having talks right now about such investments.


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As eastern Kentucky communities attempt to bounce back from a string of natural disasters, more small businesses are struggling to get back on their feet.

An upcoming series of workshops led by the nonprofit Mountain Association and AppalReD Legal Aid this month aims to help small businesses in the region better prepare for emergencies.

Jessica Epperson, Mountain Association disaster recovery coordinator, said if businesses can get up and running as quickly as possible after catastrophe, communities benefit.

"They're going to cover the topics such as the death of a business owner, legal considerations, by-sale arrangements, key-person insurance, estate planning, just to help businesses really prepare for the other side of a disaster," Epperson outlined.

Workshop participants can sign up for free one-on-one meetings with an attorney. Workshops will be held in Hazard on Wednesday, London on Thursday, Ashland on June 17 and Prestonsburg on June 18.

Epperson pointed out while many businesses receive immediate funds in the aftermath of disaster, many are unable to navigate long-term challenges.

"We're hoping that businesses will be able to learn from each other, as well as find opportunities to improve disaster recovery," Epperson explained.

Epperson stressed Appalachian Kentucky's economic stability depends on local business owners.

"By having small businesses, it's ensuring the livelihood of our communities," Epperson added. "It's a dual way of being able to support both the people and the businesses within a certain area."

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, between March 2022 and March 2023, more than 16,000 small businesses opened in Kentucky, and around 9,500 shut their doors. As of 2024, more than 380,000 small businesses operated across the Commonwealth, employing more than 685,000 people.