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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.

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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.

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AARP Celebrating 50 Years Working Across the Generations

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Wednesday, July 2, 2008   

Rapid City, SD – The nation's largest senior group advocating for all generations, AARP, turns 50 in 2008. In the Black Hills this week, members are celebrating its founding.

National AARP board member and co-chair of the half-century anniversary festivities, Dick Johnson, is in the state this week for the South Dakota observance. He paid tribute Tuesday to Ethel Percy Andrus, the recognized founder of the organization.

Andrus' success in 1947 in giving teachers a stronger voice for improved pensions and health care, Johnson says, inspired non-educators to join her group. In 1958 it became what is now AARP, seven years before Medicare came into being in 1965.

Recent AARP surveys have found that seniors are postponing retirement longer, disturbed by the economic turndown and fears of losing their health insurance. Johnson says that's one reason why AARP launched the biggest movement in its 50-year history, called "Divided We Fail."

"What we're trying to do with this movement is get the two primary needs we see -- affordable, quality health care and long-term financial security -- to the highest level of public awareness. We wanted all the presidential candidates aware of these needs, and now we are pleased to see the two presidential finalists have these as major platform areas."

Johnson hopes South Dakotans will hold policymakers to their promises after the election, and will get rid of the gridlock he says has prevented progress on meeting these needs.

"It's the right of Americans to have security in those areas. That's one reason 'Divided We Fail' was initiated -- so efforts would be made to improve those situations, not just for our members but for all seniors as they approach these needs."

South Dakota's AARP anniversary celebration was held at Crazy Horse Memorial, 50 years to the day after Andrus founded the organization.

More information about "Divided We Fail" is available at www.dividedwefail.org



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