New Yorkers could see relief from medical debt if several national proposals move forward.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a new rule to eliminate medical debt from credit reports. Studies show medical debt does not predict whether a person can pay down a debt.

An Urban Institute report finds more than 740,000 New Yorkers have medical debt.

Ursula Rozum, health care campaign lead for the group Citizen Action of New York, said the change can remove the punitive aspects of medical debt.

"What we're talking about is relief for the 15 million Americans that have medical debt," Rozum pointed out. "As well as people who we know are skipping care or delaying care 'cause they're scared of the debt and what impact it would have on their lives."

Vice President Kamala Harris is supporting the bureau's proposal while considering other ways to cancel medical debt. Congressional Republicans such as Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., oppose the proposed change. Several House GOP members signed a letter to the bureau saying its proposed rule can negatively affect credit access and affordability for all consumers.

New York passed legislation prohibiting medical debt from being reported to credit agencies but it has not stopped medical debt disparities.

Christine Chen Zinner, senior policy counsel for the advocacy group Americans for Financial Reform, said communities of color often have the highest medical debt rates for many reasons.

"Black and Latine families are more likely to have jobs without access to health insurance, and so that would drive up medical debt," Zinner explained. "There's also been disparate health treatments for these communities."

Other causes for medical debt include growing facility fees. While New York passed legislation to reform the fees, studies show they are a bulk of what patients pay for. Between 2004 and 2021, facility fees grew 531%, surpassing professional fees for certain emergency department services.

Just as inflation starts to ease, Mississippi small businesses face another looming threat: the potential expiration of the small business deduction.

It is also called the Qualified Business Income deduction and if Congress does not renew it, it could affect nearly 266,000 small businesses in Mississippi, which employ more than 430,000 people.

Leah Long, Mississippi state director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said the Main Street Tax Certainty Act, which has bipartisan support, is set to expire in 2025. It is the law allowing small companies to deduct up to 20% of their qualified business income.

"It's a massive hit to their business, because they rely on that," Long stressed. "They're also facing issues like inflation, cost pressure and the uncertainty of the economy. So right now, the biggest focus is on that and getting the congressional members to sign on to support it, to reinstate it and make it permanent."

The Federation's August jobs report found 40% of small business owners had job openings they could not fill in August, up two percentage points from July.

Long pointed out if no action is taken by Congress, it would amount to a big tax hike for nine out of 10 small businesses nationwide, compromising their ability to grow and hire workers.

"When small businesses are doing well and they have more money, they're able to invest more into their business, they're available to best invest more into the economy and also in their communities," Long explained. "These small business owners are the ones that sponsor your kids' T-ball team."

She noted while measures like the Inflation Reduction Act have provided some aid, passing bills like the Main Street Tax Certainty Act will be crucial to support Mississippi business owners.


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A new report shows minimum wage increases have had little effect on the number of jobs in Maryland and nationwide.

While the rhetoric around increasing the minimum wage often comes with the caution it will reduce low-wage employment, a new review of decades of research showed most studies found no job losses after the state or local minimum wage is raised.

Ben Zipperer, senior economist for the Economic Policy Institute and the review's co-author, said raising the minimum wage has unquestionably benefited workers.

"Minimum wages very consistently have ended up raising the incomes of low-wage workers," Zipperer pointed out. "They have done so in a way that doesn't cause any big negative employment shocks or big disruptions in their local economy."

In Maryland, the state minimum wage increased to $15 an hour Jan. 1. The minimum wage in Montgomery County increased July 1 to $17.15 for large employers, and $15.50 for mid-size employers.

The latest numbers in Maryland show the state's job growth rate increased 1.2% in the first seven months of this year, exceeding the national average. The state's labor force participation rate also increased to 65.5%, the highest number since September 2020.

Zipperer noted the studies showed raising minimum wages has other benefits.

"What does happen is that employee turnover falls dramatically and that's because the job is suddenly more attractive to workers when you pay them more," Zipperer emphasized. "That's one of the reasons why you don't actually see big falls in employment after a minimum wage increase."

He added minimum wages are one of the most well studied topics in economics. Researchers built an online repository of studies going back to 1992, and will add new studies as they are published.


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Toledo's historic Dorr Street Corridor was once the beating heart of Black culture, wealth and business in the city. Now, community leaders and local politicians are striving to restore its former vibrancy.

Decades of urban renewal projects, including the construction of the interstate, eroded much of what was once known as "Black Wall Street."

Anita Lopez, a Lucas County Commissioner, emphasized the importance of economic development in revitalizing this historic area.

"When we have construction, we have businesses opening, that means jobs, jobs, jobs," Lopez pointed out. "And that's one of my promises, to help infuse employment opportunities and create opportunities for individuals to earn more money, and make money while doing construction."

Lopez's vision aligns with ongoing redevelopment efforts for the Dorr Street Corridor, with plans for new businesses and housing. However, some community members remain skeptical, questioning whether the project will truly benefit the local population or lead to gentrification.

Groups like the African American Legacy Project of Northwest Ohio are hopeful the area can return to its historic roots.

Charlesena Smith, a longtime Toledo resident and volunteer with the African American Legacy Project, is working to ensure redevelopment focuses on restoring Black ownership and creating a safe, inclusive environment for residents and visitors alike. Smith recalls the corridor's former glory and said she is hopeful for its future.

"I would like to see this place go back to what it used to be," Smith stressed. "Owning our own business, bringing the people that's coming through here (who) can stop by and feel safe. That's exactly what I think should happen."

The efforts are seen as steps toward reclaiming a part of Toledo's history while providing modern-day economic opportunities. As community members and political leaders push forward, Toledo's Black Wall Street could once again be a cornerstone of local wealth and culture.


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