skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

New Yorkers Demand Candidates that ‘Care’ About Health Care, More

play audio
Play

Thursday, November 8, 2007   

Albany, NY — Voters of all ages and political stripes are coming together to demand a system that "cares" about health care and secure futures.

Amanda Vance, 23, is headed to Albany to share her frustrating experience getting her insurance carrier to pay for an emergency room visit while she was away at college in Brockport. The company first refused to pay the $2,000 bill, claiming she was out of her coverage area. After three months, the insurer finally agreed that, as a student attending college, she was covered. Amanda says it's clear to her the entire system needs fixing.

"It shouldn't be that difficult. What can we do to change it? Make sure everyone's insured? Insurance is not just for kids, but also adults, or when you go to college. I mean, that's really scary."

Vance is just one of the New York voters who will demand action on healthcare reform and long-term financial security at seven town hall meetings being held simultaneously across the state today. They're part of the AARP's nonpartisan "Divided We Fail" campaign.

In addition to healthcare reform, financial security will be another major topic of discussion. Many voters are pledging to back only candidates who are calling for change in those key areas. AARP's Kevin Donnellan says 10,000 pledges already have been signed by New York voters in hopes of forcing action by the candidates on key issues.

"They must be real clear with the voters on what they will do, once they are elected, about issues of health and long-term financial security. We plan on holding folks responsible. A promise made needs to be a promise kept."

Part-time Pastor Stephen Thomas says he'll only back candidates who work on healthcare reform, because his monthly $500 health insurance payments leave him and his wife with no financial security.

"With nothing left extra at the end of the month, nothing for retirement, nothing for savings, we're just barely able to meet our bills."

More information about the meetings and the campaign is available online, at www.DividedWeFail.org.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021