A plan from the Social Security Administration that would have ended certain telephone services as of today was canceled late last week, due largely to public pressure. While it may be a win, advocates for Wyoming seniors are still concerned about services. The change would have affected access to benefits for retirees, survivors, spouses and children, people with disabilities and others. Over 60 members of the U.S. House of Representatives penned a letter to the Trump administration opposing the move.

Tom Lacock, associate state director of communications and state advocacy with AARP Wyoming, said Americans also piped up, sending more than one million emails, texts and letters to Congress.

"This is one of those things where you kind of have to keep up the pressure a little bit. You want to make sure that the folks who are taking care of your money understand that this is your money, that you're entitled to, and it's important that you're able to get the best customer service possible," he explained.

Customer service had declined at the Social Security Administration even before this near-miss. In March, Lacock says, one out of three callers got a pre-recorded message saying the lines were busy and were then disconnected, and there were five outages to the online portal.

The administration has said the changes were an attempt to prevent fraud.

Sam Shumway, AARP Wyoming state director, pointed out that sweeping changes can be an opportunity for fraud.

"Anytime there's high-profile changes in government, fraudsters pounce on that," he explained. "And they start making what are called 'imposter scams,' where they will call and say, 'We're from the Social Security Administration, we need to get some information,' or, 'We need to charge you some amount of money to do something.' "

More than one-in-five Wyomingites received Social Security benefits in 2022, or nearly 120,000 residents, according to AARP Wyoming.

As the Appalachian Trail turns 100, conservation groups are sounding alarms over federal funding freezes and staff cuts.

The trail runs through the broader Appalachian region, including parts of southern Ohio and is a popular destination for thousands of Ohio hikers. Conservation groups warned recent layoffs at the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service could slow maintenance and repair work on the 2,200-mile trail.

Hawk Metheny, vice president of trail management for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, said Federal funds remain tied up in Congress, leaving local volunteers to carry the weight.

"We're carrying on. We've been here 100 years and we'll endure through this," Metheny emphasized. "It is the people's trail, the citizens' trail, so it's an all-hands effort."

More than 3 million people visit the Appalachian Trail each year. In Ohio, the outdoor recreation economy supports more than 125,000 jobs and brings in $11.8 billion annually, according to the Outdoor Industry Association.

Metheny noted recent extreme weather, such as flooding from Hurricane Helene, has damaged hundreds of trail miles. Volunteers have stepped in to relocate or reinforce affected areas but long-term stability requires federal support for land conservation and public access.

"It's an important resource for scenic values, recreational values, wildlife habitat, biodiversity protection," Metheny outlined. "The AT provides all those values across the entirety of the Appalachians from Georgia to Maine."

Several Ohio-based groups, including the Buckeye Trail Association, said public lands and trail systems provide vital health and tourism benefits. Events along the Appalachian Trail this summer aim to raise awareness and celebrate a century of stewardship and public access.

The dismantling of the 30-year-old AmeriCorps national service program by the Department of Government Efficiency will have significant effects in New Mexico.

Last year, AmeriCorps recruited more than 4,500 participants in the state to help meet local needs and strengthen communities. Program grants are administered by the Serve New Mexico Commission, working under the Department of Workforce Solutions.

Kristin Hsueh, executive director of the commission, said funding was eliminated for a planning grant and six of 10 operational programs, leaving only four still functioning.

"These program were offering services to the communities, everything from tutoring to after-school programming, mentorship, trail restoration," Hsueh outlined. "It's a significant cut, it's almost about two-thirds of our programs."

New Mexico has joined 24 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit suing over the Trump administration's cuts. The state's Attorney General said the action will hurt students, families and underserved communities. In New Mexico, a fourth of all AmeriCorps workers identify as Hispanic or Latino, the highest percentage in the nation.

Hsueh pointed out at least 84 AmeriCorps members in New Mexico were affected immediately, and 100 who were expected to participate this summer have been notified their positions have been defunded. She noted members and senior volunteers have previously served at more than 300 locations across the state.

"They are gaining a lot of experience," Hsueh observed. "They are serving something that's greater than themselves, which is really what AmeriCorps is all about, dedicating a portion of your life to make sure that you are improving the lives of others."

Initially known as Volunteers in Service to America or VISTA, AmeriCorps was created by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 and renamed under President Bill Clinton. Nationwide, more than 75,000 people work in service each year, with land trusts, schools, public agencies and community and faith-based groups. Funding made up less than 1% of the federal budget.


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Results of a new survey of nearly 900 small business owners across the country show they are concerned about an uncertain economy, including the owners of small mom and pop operations in Nebraska.

The survey, conducted by Small Business for America's Future, shows that nearly 70% of small business owners think the Trump administration fell short on economic leadership during its first 100 days.

They cited tariffs as a key factor in creating instability.

Gladys Harrison, owner of Big Mama's Kitchen and Catering in Omaha, said the tariffs will affect the cost of the imported seasonings she uses for her family's oven-fried chicken recipe.

"They're telling me," said Harrison, "that they could see a 25% to 145% increase with these tariffs in what they're going to charge me for my seasonings."

The Trump administration has said it is imposing tariffs in an effort to create more U.S.-based jobs and improve the domestic economy.

Harrison said she is thinking of ways to avoid closing her doors or passing the price increases on to her loyal customers, many of whom have been eating Big Mama's fried chicken for generations.

"And we don't want to have our food so expensive," said Harrison, "that the people who live and work in our community can't come and spend their money with us."

Harrison said higher costs will also hinder her ability to be involved in the community, a tradition she said her mother and grandmother taught her was critical to any small, family-owned business.




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