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The Federal Trade Commission said the reported losses from investment scams grew in 2023 to $4.6 billion, although not all victims report their losses. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 19, 2024

Impostor schemes on the rise in North Carolina

April is Financial Literacy Month, when the focus is on learning smart money habits but also how to protect yourself from fraud. One problem on the …

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

According to the Federal Trade Commission, the vast majority of fraud cases are most likely not reported and they estimate the overall cost of fraud to older consumers could be as high as $48 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Protecting older NC adults from financial scams

From impersonations to investment schemes and AI, scammers appear to be targeting older adults in North Carolina and across the country more than …

The average debt in America is $103,358, including mortgages, auto loans, student loans and credit cards. (Adobe Stock)

Expert offers tips for a stronger financial year ahead

Debt in North Carolina and across the nation is rising and experts are offering tips to help people to make a shift in their finances. The average …

North Carolina's public schools earn failing grades in national report

North Carolina's public school system is facing a crisis, according to the recently released "Public Schooling in America 2024" report. It ranks the …

About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. Only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization services each year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. (Marina Gordejeva/Adobe Stock) About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. This means that only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization se

NC nonprofit helps families in need save on energy bills

By Elizabeth Ouzts for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism…

House Bill 951, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, requires the North Carolina Utilities Commission to review and renew the Carbon Plan every two years, updating it to reflect changes in available technologies and energy sources. (Adobe Stock)

Group empowers NC residents to advocate for sustainable future

A North Carolina nonprofit focused on climate justice wants to help people advocate for their views about Duke Energy's proposed Carbon Plan…

Americans generate about 6.9 million tons of e-waste each year. (Adobe Stock)

Microsoft extends support for Windows 10 to prevent e-waste

Tech giant Microsoft has responded to concerns about the environmental impact of discontinuing support for Windows 10 by offering extended security up…

The latest America's Health Rankings report showed 11% of people avoided care because of a lack of insurance between 2021 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Depression rates on rise in North Carolina

Depression is on the rise in North Carolina, based on the latest America's Health Rankings data. Between 2018 and 2022, mental distress increased by …

According to TheWorldCounts.com, more than 48 million tons of electronic waste have been thrown out, a growing issue because of the toxic chemicals that can have dangerous health impacts such as birth defects and kidney damage. (Adobe Stock)

NC lawmakers push for repair scores to reduce electronic waste

Legislators in North Carolina and across the country are demanding more information for residents about longevity and repairability of tech devices…

North Carolina is one of 41 states to expand Medicaid since 2014. (Adobe Stock)

Officials urge NC residents to enroll during Medicaid expansion

North Carolina is pushing to expand health care to those who need it most and officials from UnitedHealthcare are urging residents to take advantage o…

According to data by SCORE, 75% of small business owners donate an average of 6% of their profits to charitable organizations each year. (Adobe Stock)

The importance of 'shopping local' for sustainable NC business growth

Small Business Saturday has come and gone and the North Carolina Sustainable Business Council urged people to keep "shopping local" this season…

The Farm Credit System is cumulatively the largest lender to the agricultural sector, making about 45% of all agricultural loans, with $350 billion in assets. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increasing accountability, sustainability in Farm Credit System

A new report is calling for greater accountability in the system providing funding to farmers in underserved communities. The research takes a dive …

KFF research suggests that Medicaid expansion has helped reduce disparities in coverage by income, age, marital status, disability status and, in some studies, race/ethnicity. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolinians gain greater access to health care with Medicaid expansion

Starting Friday, North Carolinians will have greater access to health care as the long-awaited Medicaid expansion is launched. Medicaid will …

According to the 2022 BBB scam tracker, online purchase scams comprised 31.9% of all scams reported in 2022, with 74% reporting money loss. (StratfordProductions/Adobe Stock)

BBB warns NC about Cyber Monday scams, offers tips on safety

It is Cyber Monday, which means you will likely find great deals on your holiday shopping but the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Carolinas …

In 2023, the Carolinas Credit Union Foundation awarded students a combined total of $589,000 in scholarship funds. (Adobe Stock)

NC credit unions help students break barriers with scholarships

College application season is in full swing, when prospective students are focused not only on where to enroll but how to pay for it. College can …

The Inflation Reduction Act and other federal legislation are putting hundreds of billions of dollars toward programs to spur clean energy usage, but many energy companies aren't using the money. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: NC utility slow to shift away from fossil fuel dependence

New data from the Sierra Club shows Duke energy is slow to reduce fossil fuel dependence and lower costs for customers. The utility and its …

Last year, CCF estimated that as many as 6.7 million children could experience a period of uninsurance as a consequence of the unwinding. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

North Carolina Children at Risk of Losing Health Coverage

Right now, many North Carolina Medicaid participants are up for redetermination - and experts are concerned about the number of North Carolina …

El a�o pasado, el CCF calcul� que hasta 6.7 millones de ni�os podr�an experimentar un periodo de carencia de seguro como consecuencia de la eliminaci�n. (Adobe Stock)

Niños de Carolina del Norte en riesgo de perder cobertura médica

En este momento, muchos participantes de Medicaid de Carolina del Norte están listos para una redeterminación y los expertos están …

About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills in the collections process. (Adobe Stock) About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills that are in the collections process. (Adobe Stock) About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills that are in the collections process. (Adobe Stock)

NC Foundation Helps Erase $2.2 Million in Medical Debt

The burden of medical debt is not so heavy anymore for some lucky North Carolina residents. The Coastal Credit Union Foundation partnered with the …

The North Carolina Department of Commerce provides free small-business advisors to help people who want to start/expand a business or have a general business question in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

Smaller Companies Struggle to Access Funding from Federal Economic Bills

In the quest for economic growth, some small businesses in North Carolina are facing challenges in accessing funding from federal economic stimuli…

More than one in 13 student loan borrowers is currently behind on other payment obligations. (Adobe Stock)

As Federal Student Loan Repayments Resume, Tips to Prepare

As summer comes to an end, kids and adults alike are headed back to school. But for college graduates, this also means it's time to resume payments …

The CDC Foundation, a nonprofit that supports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimates that each month in the United States, consumers purchase 11.9 million in disposable e-cigarettes. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

A Push to End Disposable Vape Sales in NC

Disposable vapes are posing a growing environmental threat in North Carolina and across the country, according to a new report. The U.S. Public …

Aspartame was approved for use as a sweetener in the United States in 1974. (Adobe Stock)

Dueling Reports about Aspartame Leave Consumers Confused

Recent news headlines about the possible cancer risks from using the common artificial sweetener aspartame might have alarmed people who eat and drink…

Statewide enrollment grew 36% during the pandemic, with more than 797,000 people newly qualifying for coverage from March 2020 until last April. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Redetermination in NC: Thousands at Risk of Losing Coverage

North Carolinians face a significant challenge as the federal provision preventing states from removing Medicaid participants from their coverage in t…

In 1789, the first postmaster general presided over a system with 75 post offices and 2,400 miles of post roads, serving a population of 4 million people. A lot has changed since then! (Adobe Stock)

Staffing Shortages Highlighted on National Postal Worker Day

You might want to thank your letter carrier this weekend, as part of National Postal Worker Day on Saturday. It's an occasion to recognize the …

Farmers in North Carolina lose crops worth roughly $79 million as a result of equipment breakdowns. (Alexey Zarodov/Adobe Stock)

Tractor ‘Right to Repair’ Could Save NC Farmers $103 Million a Year

North Carolina farmers are calling on lawmakers to address manufacturer-imposed repair limitations on tractors, and minimize disruptions on their …

Credit unions are member-owned nonprofit financial cooperatives that provide services to members similar to retail banks, including deposit accounts, loans and other financial services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Credit Unions Gaining Ground Amid Banking Uncertainty

More North Carolinians are considering investing their money in credit unions as the nation's banking system continues to receive scrutiny after sever…

The National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions reports 122 million Americans are credit-union members. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NC Credit Unions Position Themselves as Banking Alternatives

People who are nervous about where to put their money based on recent bank failures in the news are taking a closer look at credit unions. There …

In 2022 there were over 37,000 dollar stores in the United States, up by 1,500 from the previous year, according to the website Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Opposition to Dollar Stores Grows in Rural NC

Last year, nearly half of new stores that opened their doors nationwide were chain dollar stores, and in rural North Carolina, residents are …

In 2009, through what is known as the CARD Act, Congress mandated that fees be

CFPB Proposal Would Lower Credit-Card Late Fees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations on credit card late fees, which could save Americans billions of dollars…

U.S. consumers received more than 50 billion robocalls in 2022, according to data from YouMail Inc. (Adobe Stock)<br />

North Carolina Clamps Down on Robocalls

North Carolina's Attorney General Josh Stein recently won a lawsuit shutting down a massive robocall operation out of Texas. According to the …

Median operating margins among rural hospitals were higher in expansion than non-expansion states in 2019, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

North Carolina lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that paves the way for an additional 600,000 residents to gain access to health cover…

Children aged 5 to 19 from low-income families are twice as likely to have cavities, compared with children from higher-income households, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Children’s Dental Health Month: Tooth Decay Warning Signs Explained

More than 20% of U.S. children 2 to 5 years old, and 52% of children 6 to 8 have dental cavities - according to a report published last year in the …

The United States is projected to spend $605 billion to $635 billion on medicine in 2025, according to career company Zippia. (Adobe Stock)

Eli Lilly Invests $450 Million in Jobs-to-Work Pipeline

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has announced a $450 million investment in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park to develop new drugs, and put more …

Anyone can get lung cancer from radon, including people who have never smoked. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

NC Officials Encourage Testing for Radon

As January comes to a close so does Radon Action Month, but officials want North Carolinians to test for the poisonous gas this winter. Radon is a …

National health spending is projected to reach $6.2 trillion by 2028, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

Task Force Makes Recommendations for NC Public Health

The North Carolina Institute of Medicine is making new recommendations to improve public health in the state. The suggestions focus on expanding …

The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2021, diesel fuel consumption spewed about 472 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. (Adobe Stock)<br />

North Carolina Seeks Input from Residents on Advanced Clean Trucks Rule

North Carolina's Department of Environmental Quality hosts a virtual public information session today on changes the state is considering to boost the…

spiked dramatically during the pandemic, and continues to rise, according to the Better Business Bureau. (Adobe Stock)">

How to Dodge Scams, Stay Financially alert in the New Year

Financial experts in North Carolina say credit card and online shopping scams are prevalent year-round, and recommend monitoring your bank account …

In 2021 U.S. supermarket and grocery stores made around more than $800-billion in <a href=

profits, more than double the amount generated in two decades ago, according to Statistia. (Adobe Stock)
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Farm Groups Say Grocery Chain 'Mega-Merger' Would Decimate Regional Food Markets

Two major U.S. grocery chains, Kroger and Albertsons, are seeking the green light from the Federal Trade Commission to merge their companies…

More than 574,000 students were enrolled last year in the North Carolina Community College System. (Zoran Zeremski / Adobe Stock)

Innovations in NC Higher Ed Helping Students Who Transfer

Research says 80% of community-college students intend to transfer to complete a bachelor's degree, but only 14% do so within six years. …

It's estimated between 18 million and 42 million Americans lack broadband internet access, according to the Foundation for Rural Service. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Dollars Could Help Pay NC Residents’ Internet Bills

A federal program offers monthly payments to low-income households to help them afford internet service, but enrollment is low. An event in Salisbury …

A 2021 report from the Energy Transition Institute puts the

Critics Say Utilities Panel Not Doing Enough to Shape NC Carbon Plan

Advocates are contending North Carolina state agencies are not doing enough to slow down the devastating impacts of climate change. Last year Gov…

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nationwide production value of broiler chickens, eggs, and turkeys in 2020 was $35.5 billion, down 11% from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Pressure Builds on Costco to Commit to Better Poultry Practices

Watchdog groups say chickens used by Costco are bred to grow so quickly, many of them cannot stand under their own weight, and recent lawsuits …

Falls among adults age 65 and older caused more than 34,000 deaths in 2019, making it the leading cause of injury death for this group, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Risk of Falling Increases with Age; Prevention Tools Can Help

One in four Americans age 65 and older takes an unexpected fall each year. During Falls Prevention Awareness Week, experts are encouraging older …

The U.S. Department of Education estimates Americans collectively owe more than $1 trillion in federal student loans. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Colleges Hope Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Plan Improvess Financial Literacy

Federal student-loan relief applications are expected to be online in a few weeks, and financial-aid offices say this also is an opportunity to …

Electric-car sales reached a record 3 million in 2020, up 40% from 2019, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

NC Pushes for Electric Trucks, School Buses to Cut Carbon Emissions

North Carolina businesses and advocacy groups want Gov. Roy Cooper to adopt new heavy-duty electric-vehicle rules by the end of next year. They say …

Under legislation passed in 2021, North Carolina has set goal to cut carbon emissions from energy plants owned and/or operated by Duke Energy by 70% from 2005 levels by 2030, and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Hearings Offer Chance to Comment on Duke Energy's Carbon Plan

A series of in-person hearings across the state in the coming weeks will give North Carolinians a chance for input on a proposal by Duke Energy to cut…

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