PHOENIX, Ariz. - Healthy pension plans for public workers help the Arizona economy, not just the retirees who get the checks, according to the latest research.

Backers of Arizona's public pension system say their defined-benefit retirement plans are doing well, although critics have claimed that some plans may be under-funded. The National Institute on Retirement Security says the benefits from these pension plans - including teachers' - generated more than $7 billion in economic activity in Arizona in 2016, the most recent figures available.

Julie Horwin, president of the Arizona Education Association-Retired, agrees they're helping to keep the economy strong.

"Pensions are not just an entitlement given to people who are older," says Horwin. "They're actually one of the chief economic engines that drives Arizona. Without those pensions, our economy would suffer a great deal."

One example of criticism was a recent op-ed by the research group Arizona Chamber Foundation. It warned that local and state governments are regularly having to increase their pension-plan contributions, suggesting this could eventually lead to solvency problems.

The National Institute on Retirement Security research breaks down the numbers further, showing that each dollar invested by Arizona taxpayers in public pensions supports more than $6 in economic activity.

Institute Executive Director Dan Doonan says defined-benefit pensions also have advantages for retirees over other forms of savings.

"What we'll see more with the 401(k), as retirees retire, it's not really clear how much you can pull out each year," says Doonan. "So, you spend your working years saving - and then you retire, and you're sort of afraid to use the money you save for retirement, because you don't know what's coming."

Doonan adds it is difficult for many workers to save enough for retirement, making a pension even more critical.

"We looked at the median savings of workers and it's basically zero dollars," says Doonan. "And even amongst those nearing retirement, it's about $88,000. That's a lot of money - but if you think in terms of a few decades in retirement, it's not a lot of income per year."

Despite claims that public pensions are draining state and local coffers, he adds only about one-quarter of contributions to Arizona pensions are from employers. The rest are from employees and the successful investment of pension funds.

Georgia lawmakers are mapping out the state's future in artificial intelligence.

This week, the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence wrapped up months of work, approving a 185-page report filled with recommendations. The plan outlines how Georgia can embrace AI to grow industries, prepare its workforce and address challenges such as data privacy and fairness.

The committee chair, Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, said examining AI's impact is critical for the state's progress and workforce.

"It's going to grow, it's going to change some jobs," he said, "but it's an important part of what we do and also making sure we're educating the workforce to be able to work in those manufacturing plants, because we want more of that right here in our state of Georgia."

The report emphasizes collaboration, with input from experts and communities to balance AI's opportunities with its challenges. Lawmakers are also looking at defining AI in legal terms to ensure its responsible use.

The report explores the possibility of creating a state AI board, monitoring its use in government agencies and fostering innovation across industries. Other options include developing grant proposals to help small farmers adopt AI for smarter crop management, and incentives for Georgia's entertainment industry to embrace AI-powered projects.

Albers is conviced that legislation will be key to striking the right balance.

"We also believe that we need to adopt state legislation to support AI regulation without stifling innovation, as we've talked about several times now," he said. "That includes a comprehensive data privacy bill, an updated 'deep fake' law."

He added that includes transparency in how the state is adopting AI. The committee also suggested further studies, noting how rapidly AI is evolving.


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By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.
Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation-Public News Service Collaboration.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is well in the rearview mirror in Arkansas, the number of working-class families on the brink of financial calamity has steadily climbed over the past two years.

New data from the ALICE in the Crosscurrents: An Update on Financial Hardship in Arkansas report shows nearly 11,000 more Arkansas households are struggling to make ends meet in 2022 compared to the previous year. That news comes even as wages for the lowest-paid jobs have risen nationwide at the fastest rate in four decades.

This brings the total number of households living paycheck to paycheck across Arkansas to 562,879, representing 47% of the state's population, according to the latest update from ALICE in Arkansas, in partnership with United For ALICE.

This includes 195,972 Arkansas households in poverty and another 366,907 defined as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), earning above the federal poverty level but less than what's needed to survive in the current economy. ALICE workers include childcare providers, home health aides, and cashiers-those working low-wage jobs with little or no savings and one emergency from poverty.

"ALICE is the families that we all know and love," said Sherece West-Scantlebury, CEO of Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

The new ALICE report was shared at a press conference at the Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation office in Sherwood. In addition to Winthrop Foundation, the report's sponsors include Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation, Entergy Arkansas, Baptist Health, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Heart of Arkansas United Way.

The original ALICE in Arkansas report in 2020, unveiled just weeks before COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, indicated that 41% of Arkansas households were either below the federal poverty level or had incomes that struggled to afford housing, childcare, food, transportation, and healthcare.

At the time, the federal poverty line for a family of four was $24,600 or 17% of Arkansas households, while ALICE households were between that amount and $46,812, or about 24%. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of impoverished households in Arkansas increased by 6,141 (remaining at 16% of all households).

During the same period, the number of ALICE households increased by 4,813 (remaining at 31% of all households), continuing a more than decade-long trend in the growth of this population. In 2022, of the 1,201,499 households in Arkansas, 562,879 - 47% - were below the ALICE threshold. This brings the total number of households living paycheck to paycheck to 562,879-representing 47% of the state's population, according to the latest update from ALICE in Arkansas, in partnership with United For ALICE.

The reports show that while wages were increasing, so were costs. For a family of four with an infant and a preschooler, the basic costs to live and work in Arkansas, excluding tax credits, rose from $54,948 in 2021 to $71,052 a year later. Compounding the issue in 2022 was the loss of up to $15,000 in federal child tax credits and stimulus payments that families had access to in 2021.

"There is no doubt, bigger paychecks helped, but inflation and the loss of pandemic support converged to keep ALICE trapped," said Delta Dental of Arkansas Foundation Executive Director Sharon Lanier. "This latest data is a reminder that while we have made some progress, we must continue to work together to address the challenges ALICE face."

In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 70% of Arkansas's 20 most common occupations were still paid less than $20 per hour. Of the workers in these 20 most common occupations, 31% lived below the ALICE survival budget in 2022.

"As we gather to share this critical report and announce steps that our Arkansas banks and financial institutions are taking, we urge community leaders, businesses, and nonprofits to join us in addressing the pressing issues of child care, debt, and housing-the three primary budget busters impacting ALICE families," stated Mollie Palmer, vice president of communication and engagement for the Heart of Arkansas United Way. "Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are essential to our local communities and state economy."

In response to these challenges, Encore Bank, Southern Bancorp, and Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union have officially joined the ALICE@Work initiative to support struggling ALICE employees and families. This effort exemplifies how employers across Arkansas can invest in ALICE workers and foster impactful partnerships within the community.

ALICE@Work is part of the broader ALICE in Arkansas initiative led by the Arkansas Asset Funders Network-a regional grantmaker chapter focused on improving opportunities for low- and middle-income families to build economic well-being. The initiative includes a variety of methods, such as individualized data reports, extensive course curricula, and self-guided action plans, to help businesses understand their employees' daily challenges and then take action for change.

"We are proud to participate in the inaugural ALICE@Work cohort," said Phillip Jett, CEO of Encore Bank. "By investing in the financial health of ALICE employees, we're not only empowering individuals but also strengthening the resilience and vitality of our communities."

The ALICE in Arkansas initiative encourages community leaders, business owners, and nonprofit organizations to engage with ALICE, highlighting the critical issues of childcare, debt, and housing-the three primary budget busters affecting ALICE families. Legislators are also urged to address these pain points in their budgets, ensuring comprehensive support for those in need.

For more information on ALICE and the ALICE@Work initiative, please visit aliceinar.org.


Wesley Brown wrote this article for the Arkansas Delta Informer.


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There is promising news at the national level and in Minnesota in trying to lower workplace injuries and illnesses. A key labor organization is happy with the results but worries about the obstacles some workers face in being compensated.

Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry's latest survey data show the state's rate for nonfatal workplace injuries decreased last year by almost a full percentage point, to 2.9%, which mirrors similar movement with the national rate.

Brad Lehto, secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO, said the numbers are encouraging but other findings stand out.

"It's good that injuries are down," Lehto acknowledged. "But are people getting benefits is the question."

For injured workers, Lehto feels the levels of benefit claims denied by insurance companies are too elevated. He noted it is complicated because of all the "third-party experts" hired by employers for such cases. Lehto wants more transparency, given all the hoops people have to jump through to file claims, including gathering documents. He does credit some employers, including bigger chains like Costco, for making a serious effort to protect workers.

Health care settings, including state government hospitals, are among the workplaces with higher numbers of reported injuries. Lehto pointed out it is not surprising.

"They're being asked to take care of too many patients and work too many hours," Lehto observed. "You're going to get hurt at that point."

He added a legislative push last year to address staffing levels for nurses stalled at the end of the session. As for worker's comp denial rates, they began to rise after the start of the pandemic, reaching 24% in 2021, excluding non-COVID cases. The numbers began to fall in subsequent years.