Consumer Issues / Public News Service

One of the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth and Family Services members stated all five Behavioral Health Managed Care Organizations fell short of their requested rate increase by more than 25%, meaning this provider is not being compensated for the true cost of care. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Report: PA Behavioral health rate hikes essential for vital provider services

Behavioral-health providers in Pennsylvania face financial instability because of inconsistent rate increases, affecting staff recruitment and …

Responding to California's troubled community college transfer system, Merit America travels to job fairs around the state, offering certificate programs in cyber security, data analytics, IT support, UX design and project management. (Merit America)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Audit: CA higher ed transfer portals too narrow

It is not easy for California students to transfer between community colleges and the California State University and University of California systems…

Statistics from the ALICE in Arkansas initiative show a significant increase in the number of ALICE households following COVID. (Zadvornov/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

AR business owners collaborate to help ALICE residents

By Daniel Breen and Josie Lenora for Little Rock Public Radio.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for the Little Rock …

According to federal data, North Dakota is home to 146,837 total Medicare beneficiaries. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Through Medicare enrollment, older ND residents can improve their daily lives

Medicare open enrollment is underway, and North Dakota seniors are encouraged to weigh the various plans. Advisors said it is important to consider …

More than 20 standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are available in all New Hampshire counties for the state's more than 300,000 Medicare recipients. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Medicare open enrollment in NH runs through Dec. 7

Medicare open enrollment is underway and New Hampshire seniors are encouraged to weigh the various plans. Advisors said it is important to consider …

More than 55% of agricultural lands in South Dakota, or 24 million acres, are dedicated to animal production, according to the Governor's Office of Economic Development. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Sustainable meat industries could use boost from billionaires

Since 1964, per capita meat consumption has doubled and environmental advocates cautioned it is unsustainable. And there are more billionaires…

Medicare payment rates have fallen by 29% over the last two decades, when adjusting for the costs of running a practice, according to the American Medical Association. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Medicare payment cuts leave New England private practices in critical condition

Ongoing cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates are leaving New England private practices in critical condition. Doctors said the outdated payment …

There are multiple coverage options available with Medicare. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Tips for Idahoans: Picking the best Medicare plan

It is the time of year when people can shop around and make sure they are signed up for the health coverage that makes the most sense for them…

According to KFF data, in 2024, Illinois had almost 2.4 million total Medicare beneficiaries. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Medicare plan for IL residents has changes

Open enrollment for Medicare ends on Dec 7. The federal health insurance program is for anyone aged 65 or older. Some people younger than 65 with …

Eligibility for Medicare typically starts at age 65. (STOATPHOTO/Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Oregonians have chance to evaluate, change their Medicare plans

It is the time of year when people eligible for Medicare can shop around and make sure they are signed up for the health coverage that makes the most …

Under WA Cares, workers pay 58 cents for every $100 they make to fund long term care benefits for themselves. (wladimir1804/Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

WA voters to decide future of long-term care program

Ballots are showing up in people's mailboxes and one of the measures Washingtonians will decide on is the fate of a long-term care program in the stat…

Early voting in Minnesota began in late September. And if you're heading to the polls soon, officials remind people worried about their voter registration status to bring along a current billing statement to help update your registration on the spot. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Billing statements could be your gateway to voting in MN

More than 3.6 million Minnesotans are registered to vote this fall. But if you're worried that something will get you turned away at the polls…

Moloka'i residents have some of the lowest power consumption rates in the Hawaiian Archipelago and the state's highest energy costs, including the nation's most expensive fee per watt. Many of the 7,300 residents often forgo reliable power, opting to live off the grid as self-sufficient homesteaders.(Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

A solar transformation for Moloka'i

By Naoki Nitta for Grist.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Hawaii News Service reporting for the Grist-Solutions Journalism Network-Public News S…

More than 160,000 Vermont residents received Medicare in 2024, and many will benefit from a new $2,000 out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs starting January 1, 2025. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Monday, October 21, 2024

Open enrollment brings changes to VT Medicare Advantage market

Vermont seniors are encouraged to weigh their health plan options during the Medicare open enrollment period, which runs through December 7. Many …

Open enrollment for Medicare runs now through Dec. 7. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobestock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Medicare open enrollment now through Dec. 7

Nearly 6.5 million Californians on Medicare can change their plan during the open enrollment period, which just got underway and runs through Dec. 7…

Starting in January 2025, Medicare Part D enrollee out-of-pocket costs will be limited to $2,000 per year. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Medicare open enrollment brings Mainers new savings on prescription drugs

Medicare open enrollment is underway and Maine seniors are encouraged to weigh the various plans. Advisors say it's important to consider both …

Rural voters will go to the polls with specific needs in mind. Early voting in Arkansas starts Oct. 21. (Adobe Stock/Val's World)

Poll: Rural voters in AR want candidates to put workers first

Rural voters in Arkansas and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. According to a …

Around 25% of older voters identify as family caregivers, according to the poll. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Older AZ voters will be decisive in this year's election

Arizona voters 50 and older are "extremely motivated" to vote in next month's election, now less than 20 days away. And while most have already made …

The Gavin Coal Plant in Gallia County is responsible for emitting nearly 10 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, a level comparable to emissions from 3.1 million cars driving for an entire year. (Rosemarie Mosteller/Adobe Stock)

Gavin coal plant sale leaves Ohio communities in limbo

The sale of Ohio's Gavin coal-fired power plant is sparking uncertainty among residents and energy experts alike. The plant, which has been one of …

Households with incomes in the top 1% will receive an average tax cut of more than $60,000 in 2025, compared to an average tax cut of less than $500 for households in the bottom 60%, according to the Tax Policy Center (Adobe Stock)

Trump's 2017 tax code up for renewal next year, draws criticism in AZ

Arizona workers, retirees and small business owners say they'll be left to pick up the slack when the wealthy and big corporations don't pay their …

According to the U.S. Energy Administration, Illinois is the nation's sixth-largest energy-consuming and eleventh-largest energy producing state. (Adobe Stock)

Passive House standards: a solution for highly efficient affordable housing

By Audrey Henderson for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network…

According to a 2022 Pew survey, kids spend on average more than 91 minutes a day on TikTok. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky sues TikTok over child harm, consumer protection violations

An analysis of court documents by Kentucky Public Radio revealed the social media company TikTok knew users can become addicted to the platform in und…

The auto industry remains male dominated. In 2019, 23.6% of workers employed by automotive manufacturers were women, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Weber State University preps auto techs for dynamic industry

The automotive industry is changing, and one Utah university is reimagining how to prepare new and current auto technicians to meet the demands of …

Nearly 67,000 schools participate in Farm-to-School programs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Michael Chamberlin/Adobe Stock)

Program helps build bridge between local farms, school cafeterias

This October, schools in Georgia are celebrating National Farm to School Month by serving local produce in their meals. The U.S. Department of …

The Annual Election Period for Medicare enrollment changes is Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 each year. (HeungSoon/Pixabay)

VA seniors urged to review Medicare plans during open enrollment

Medicare's open enrollment period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 allows Virginians covered by Medicare to reevaluate their health coverage options and select …

Adrian Sinclair is the plant manager at the 1839 Cherokee Meat Co. in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. (Ben Felder/Investigate Midwest)

OK tribes' meat processing plants reverse historic ag consolidation

By Ben Felder for Investigate Midwest.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Oklahoma News Service reporting for the Investigate Midwest-Solutions Jo…

If a person filed their 2021 taxes but did not claim any enhanced tax benefits, their tax return can be amended to claim those benefits. (Adobe Stock)

CT groups help people get unclaimed COVID-era relief money

Several Connecticut groups are partnering to help people claim COVID relief money. The Get Your Refund Campaign aims to help more than 45,000 …

Lead pipes were banned in Kentucky in 1998, according to the Northern Kentucky Water District. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA: Kentucky lead pipes on the way out

Utilities in Kentucky will soon begin replacing lead pipes that supply drinking water to homes, after the Environmental Protection agency announced …

In 2024, 450,374 West Virginia residents relied on Medicare for health coverage, according to the health care advocacy group KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare open enrollment: Tips to help older West Virginians select plans

Medicare open enrollment begins today and for West Virginians over 65, this season is a time to reconsider their health care needs. More than 450,000…

Gas stoves emit toxic pollutants in the home, including nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide, and have been attributed to 15% of childhood asthma cases in Massachusetts, according to a study from the Rocky Mountain Institute. (Adobe Stock)

More MA communities strive for building decarbonization

By Sarah Shemkus for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Maine News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

Cost remains the primary barrier for Coloradans to seek health care, with 83% percent of reporting they worry about being able to afford it. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers urged to address 'hidden' hospital fees

"Facility fees" originally meant to help struggling hospitals keep emergency room doors open 24 hours a day are now being applied to outpatient servic…

Candice Griego, the new director of Tribal Relations for Roadrunner Food Bank, wants to help New Mexico's Indigenous communities develop food sovereignty. (Courtesy Roadrunner Food Bank)

NM food bank goes the distance to reach Indigenous communities

A New Mexico food bank has expanded outreach to the state's Indigenous communities by hiring a Director of Tribal Relations. Candice Griego will …

After Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, officials set aflame 116,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the region, citing explosion risk. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA to consider vinyl chloride ban; public comments through Oct. 23

The Environmental Protection Agency began an in-depth review of the health risks of vinyl chloride last year, part of a process required to limit or …

Suzanne Craig receives her award from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. In 2020, more than 42% of U.S. adults reported not visiting a dentist or dental clinic in the past year, according to the CDC.(Adobe Stock)

Western KY dental clinic a lifeline for many unable to access care

A community dental clinic in Owensboro has helped more than 25,000 low-income residents access dental care. Suzanne Craig - the public health …

About 21% of Mississippi residents are Medicare beneficiaries, or about 625,000 people. That's higher than the national average of 19%. ((JLco/Julia Amaral/Adobe Stock)

Report: MS seniors to benefit from Medicare drug price cap

Mississippians on Medicare could see big savings next year, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. More than 19,000 Mississippi residents will …

Beyond monthly heating bill aid, Minnesota's Energy Assistance Program also provides funds for those who can't afford re-connection fees charged by their utility provider. (Adobe Stock)

New MN law, heating aid take the chill out of energy burdens

Minnesota is in its first cold snap of the fall season, and a new law aims to protect renters from thermostat hang-ups with their landlord. It …

New York State has one of the highest rates of lead pipes in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

NY begins work to remove lead pipes under new EPA rule

A new Environmental Protection Agency rule means New York and other states will have ten years to remove all lead service lines. The Lead and …

The financially beleaguered U.S. Postal Service expects to save billions of dollars by using electric rather than gas-powered mail delivery trucks. (USPSoig.gov)

NM streets will be quieter, cleaner when USPS electric mail trucks arrive

Neighborhoods across New Mexico and other states will soon be cleaner and quieter as the U.S. Postal Service rolls out its new electric mail-delivery …

The Inflation Reduction Act allocates more than $369 billion in funding through tax breaks, incentives and grants to combat the climate crisis, addressing the increasing toll of extreme weather and worsening air quality on communities. (Adobe Stock)

Savannah climate resilience efforts get boost from federal investments

Savannah's leaders are pointing out the ways federal dollars are being used to boost the area's resilience against climate change. In the aftermath …

Around 90% of young voters in Arizona say the cost of living is a serious concern to them, followed by affordable housing (86%) and protecting the water supply (81%), according to Arizona State University. (Adobe Stock)

AZ voting advocates switch focus to voter education

Now that the deadline to register to vote in Arizona has passed, voting-rights advocates are switching their focus to voter education. Today…

In 2022, 563,512 or 39% of Connecticut's 1.4 million households were below the ALICE threshold. (Adobe Stock)

New data show CT families struggle to afford the basics

New data show many Connecticut residents can't afford daily life. This year's ALICE update shows the number of asset-limited, income-constrained …

Water purification in Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System involves three steps: microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation. (Adobe Stock)

CA facilities could turn sewage into tap water, but public acceptance lags

By Matt Vasilogambros and Kevin Hardy for Stateline.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Jour…

This year, the North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee reported bias and discrimination contribute to traumatic and near-death experiences. (Adobe Stock)

NC moms speak out on medical neglect in high-risk pregnancies

By Kylie Marsh for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North …

The American Clean Power Second Quarter 2024 Market Report ranked Ohio fourth nationally and first in the Midwest for clean power installations and first in the Midwest for utility-scale solar capacity this year. (AnnaStills/Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s clean-energy surge drives jobs, growth

As Ohio continues to embrace clean energy solutions, the debate over its economic and environmental impact remains a focal point for residents…

According to projections from the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation, the state's economy is expected to have 39,500 more jobs in 2032 than it did in 2022, an increase of 7.7%. (Adobe Stock)<br />

SD data show wind sector to lead job growth in coming decade

Projections of South Dakota's job growth could lead to more degrees from technical colleges, which are seeing increased enrollment. Occupational …

Keven Dardon was among the leaders on the negotiation team in Oregon during the largest health care strike in history. (SEIU Local 49)

Workers celebrate one year on from largest health care strike in US history

It's been one year since the largest health care strike in U.S. history, and union members say they've seen changes since their 2023 victory…

All Arkansas employers must display an approved Arkansas minimum-wage poster in a prominent place to inform employees about the minimum wage and their worker's rights under Arkansas labor law. GoodIdeas/Adobe Stock)

Study: Low wage workers in AR could benefit from minimum wage increase

A new study finds minimum-wage increases have little or no impact on job loss. The Economic Policy Institute study comes as federal lawmakers …

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Marcos/AdobeStock)

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - October 22, 2024

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Consumer

Report: PA Behavioral health rate hikes essential for vital provider services

Audit: CA higher ed transfer portals too narrow

AR business owners collaborate to help ALICE residents

Through Medicare enrollment, older ND residents can improve their daily lives

Medicare open enrollment in NH runs through Dec. 7

Sustainable meat industries could use boost from billionaires

Medicare payment cuts leave New England private practices in critical condition

Tips for Idahoans: Picking the best Medicare plan

Medicare plan for IL residents has changes

Oregonians have chance to evaluate, change their Medicare plans

WA voters to decide future of long-term care program

Billing statements could be your gateway to voting in MN

A solar transformation for Moloka'i

Open enrollment brings changes to VT Medicare Advantage market

Medicare open enrollment now through Dec. 7

Medicare open enrollment brings Mainers new savings on prescription drugs

Poll: Rural voters in AR want candidates to put workers first

Poll: Older AZ voters will be decisive in this year's election

Gavin coal plant sale leaves Ohio communities in limbo

Trump's 2017 tax code up for renewal next year, draws criticism in AZ

Passive House standards: a solution for highly efficient affordable housing

Kentucky sues TikTok over child harm, consumer protection violations

Weber State University preps auto techs for dynamic industry

Program helps build bridge between local farms, school cafeterias

VA seniors urged to review Medicare plans during open enrollment

OK tribes' meat processing plants reverse historic ag consolidation

CT groups help people get unclaimed COVID-era relief money

EPA: Kentucky lead pipes on the way out

Medicare open enrollment: Tips to help older West Virginians select plans

More MA communities strive for building decarbonization

Colorado lawmakers urged to address 'hidden' hospital fees

NM food bank goes the distance to reach Indigenous communities

EPA to consider vinyl chloride ban; public comments through Oct. 23

Western KY dental clinic a lifeline for many unable to access care

Report: MS seniors to benefit from Medicare drug price cap

New MN law, heating aid take the chill out of energy burdens

NY begins work to remove lead pipes under new EPA rule

NM streets will be quieter, cleaner when USPS electric mail trucks arrive

Savannah climate resilience efforts get boost from federal investments

AZ voting advocates switch focus to voter education

New data show CT families struggle to afford the basics

CA facilities could turn sewage into tap water, but public acceptance lags

NC moms speak out on medical neglect in high-risk pregnancies

Ohio’s clean-energy surge drives jobs, growth

SD data show wind sector to lead job growth in coming decade

Workers celebrate one year on from largest health care strike in US history

Study: Low wage workers in AR could benefit from minimum wage increase

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line