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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WI: Consumer

Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping states accelerate efforts to boost access to high-speed internet. That includes the approval of Wisconsin's vision for creating digital equity. (Adobe Stock)
WI poised to break through digital equity logjam

Wisconsin has announced a big development in trying to establish more digital equity around the state. Gov. Tony Evers and the Public Service …

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According to the World Resources Institute, more than 1,200 electric school buses are operating in the United States, with several thousand more either on order or being delivered. (Adobe Stock)
Electric bus movement looks to accelerate

Most school and transit buses on the nation's roadways these days are still powered by diesel engines but in Wisconsin and elsewhere, there is hope …

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The 2024 tax filing season kicked off in late January, with this year's April 15 deadline falling on a Monday. (Adobe Stock)
Overwhelmed with tax filing costs? WI service sites are back

Many Wisconsinites have received their income documents for filing taxes. A long-standing program geared toward low to moderate-income adults is …

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According to services company Custody X Change, most Midwestern states don't provide judges with a clear formula for helping establish alimony payments. (Adobe Stock)
Report calls for more consistency in alimony laws

Wisconsin is among the states without a defined formula for deciding alimony payments through divorce court proceedings. A new report says without …

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According to the advocacy group Kids in Danger, there were 100 children's product recalls in 2022, the highest number since 2013. (Adobe Stock/Generated with AI)
Did your child receive a 'smart toy'? Experts urge parents to research them

The "smart toy" market is now a more than $16 billion industry, and is expected to double by 2027, and this holiday season, experts are warning …

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According to United Health Foundation's latest America's Health Rankings report, Wisconsin is 26th in the nation when it comes to adult tobacco use. (Adobe Stock)
WI in top half for health rankings, but resources low for public outreach

Wisconsin ranks 22nd in the country when it comes to a range of health measuring sticks, and local public health officials said more resources could …

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In a new AARP survey, one in four consumers said they have either given or received a gift card with no monetary value on it. Experts said card manipulation by scammers is one factor at play. (Adobe Stock)
During holiday crunch, fraud awareness data raises concerns

Consumer advocates warned more people report being targeted by scammers as key information to protect their financial identity is not always getting t…

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Around 74% of adults age 55 and older are susceptible to scams, losing an average of $350 per scam in 2022. (Adobe Stock)
WI ‘grandparents scam’ case prompts safeguard reminders

A Connecticut man has been indicted by a Wisconsin grand jury on wire fraud charges over accusations he scammed older residents. It's the latest case …

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Health coverage assistance groups and providers warn that if you wait until the last minute and rush your enrollment for an insurance plan, you could end up in the wrong program or with benefits that don't suit your needs. (Adobe Stock)
Health coverage experts: Sidestep intimidation, prepare to enroll

The fall season is here, meaning many Wisconsinites will soon make decisions about their health coverage. Experts say early preparation with trusted …

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Student loan payments begin in October, as the federal pause initially prompted by the pandemic ends, and interest on those payments has already resumed. (Adobe Stock)
As Student Loan Payments Resume, New Federal Relief Takes Shape

The pandemic-related pause on student loan payments is ending, and as Wisconsin borrowers resume efforts to chip away at their balance, they're urged …

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As of Aug. 15, 2023, the federal government lists 75 disasters in the U.S. and its territories, compared with 55 in the same period last year. Senior advocates under climate change threats, more older adults need to be prepared for a disaster. (Adobe Stock)
Survey Indicates More Older Adults Need Disaster Readiness Plans

Most older adults are not as prepared as they should be to respond quickly in the event of natural disasters, which can strike with little notice…

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As more traditional automakers bring electric vehicles to the market, industry analysts say it's going to be a learning curve for dealerships with little EV sales experience to become effective in marketing them to customers. (Adobe Stock)
Electric Vehicle Sales: Fact vs. Fiction in WI

The auto industry has been dealing with challenges lately, such as higher interest rates, but analysts said there are nuances, and they stressed …

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