Consumer Issues / Public News Service

Data from the State of Supplemental Income report shows paying down debt, paying off student loans, saving for major life goals and covering living expenses are the top reasons for working multiple jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, February 6, 2025

The benefits, pitfalls of juggling two jobs

Americans working two jobs to help with living expenses and cover some extras has become the norm. A study conducted by the company My Perfect …

According to the mental health advocacy group Inseparable, insurance companies force patients to go out-of-network much more often for behavioral health care because of limits on the number of available providers and lower reimbursement rates. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, February 6, 2025

Advocates: Unfair insurance policies causing DE mental health crisis

Mental health advocates in Delaware and beyond are concerned certain practices by insurance companies are creating a crisis by hindering many patients…

Currently, insurance companies get to decide how much of a public ambulance service's rate to pay, which can lead to patients being charged the unpaid balance. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, February 6, 2025

CO lawmakers aim to close ambulance surprise-billing gap

Colorado lawmakers are working to ensure all Coloradans with health coverage for ambulance services are not hit with surprise bills or charged higher …

According to the nonprofit Feeding Texas, one in six households in the state are food insecure. (Stella/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

$450 million available to feed Texas kids this summer

The final deadline is approaching for members of the Texas Legislature to decide on participating in the Summer EBT program, which provides grocery …

The Outer Banks is a 200-mile stretch of barrier islands spanning three counties. (oldmn/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Outer Banks officials want to make tourism more sustainable

By Taylor Haelterman for Triple Pundit.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netw…

Researchers at Yale University recently forecast under an escalated trade led by the Trump administration, Americans could see their annual purchasing power go down, with losses ranging between $1,900 to $7,600 per household. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Experts have consumer tips on navigating tariff scenarios

States like North Dakota could see unique effects under President Donald Trump's approach to tariffs. Uncertainty lies ahead, but one expert said …

Rental application fees alone create $276 million in profits for landlords each year, far above the actual cost of background checks and processing applications, according to a Biden-era report. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Cost of living tops Denver lawmaker’s priorities

Addressing Colorado's rising cost of living and protecting clean air and water are priorities for Democratic Representative Emily Sirota of Denver in …

According to Edmunds, EVs and PHEVs combined made up 8.5% of the vehicles sold in May 2024, while gas-powered vehicles made up 82.4% of the market that same month. (Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Survey: NC drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

Americans continue to say improved fuel economy is the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products…

Statewide, Medi-Cal provides medical and dental benefits for 38% of the population, or 14 million people. (Carlos/Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

New report shows big racial gaps in use of Medi-Cal dental benefits

A new report shows what it calls a "dental divide" in the Los Angeles area - finding that only 20% to 25% of people on Medi-Cal actually use their den…

Infrastructure experts say there is a $1 trillion dollar need for drinking water, stormwater and wastewater improvements over the next 20 years in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

An Environmental Protection Agency rule, finalized near the end of the Biden administration, calls on states and cities to replace all lead pipes in …

Private health insurance administrative costs in the U.S. are nearly six times higher than the costs of Canada's single payer system. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Universal ‘Medicare for All’ bill advances in CO legislature

As health insurance premiums keep rising, Colorado lawmakers are advancing a bill to look at a universal Medicare for All option. A 2020 report in …

Houses are most likely to catch fire from the top down because of falling embers. (Jamie Hooper/Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Simple ways to protect OR homes from wildfires

As Los Angeles starts to recover, residents across the Pacific Northwest are being reminded of the risks wildfires pose. Timothy Ingalsbee, …

A planned battery system in Texas would reduce carbon emissions by more than 150,000 tons per year. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Possible funding freeze sparks uncertainty in TX energy projects

The back and forth over President Donald Trump's federal funding freeze raises questions about Biden-era investments in energy infrastructure in 23 st…

Patients are nearly nine times more likely to go out of network to meet with a psychiatrist, according to research from the nonprofit RTI International. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Insurance ‘clawbacks’ hurt MD mental health specialists

Some mental health care providers said a number of insurance company practices are driving them out of the insurance network, including the little-…

Americans lost more than $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, the most recent FBI data available. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

NE lawmakers look at tougher regulation of 'crypto kiosks'

Nebraska lawmakers are considering a bill to implement consumer protections and license requirements for the cryptocurrency industry, and they're …

Many Americans with a minimum wage or low-paying job often need a second job to make ends meet. (Seika/AdobeStock)<br />

Study reveals pros, cons of New Mexicans juggling two jobs

Millions of American workers are now juggling two jobs to make ends meet, while some moonlight to pay for extras such as vacations or hobbies…

The survey reveals that car buyers want improvements in purchase price, maintenance costs, infotainment systems and cargo space. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

Survey: PA drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

Americans continue to see improving fuel economy as the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products…

Among respondents to a Consumer Reports survey, 95% said fuel economy is at least somewhat important when buying a vehicle. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Virginians want better fuel economy standards

A new survey finds the vast majority of Virginians want automakers to continue improving their vehicles' fuel efficiency. Large majorities of …

We Don't Waste serves more than 100 hunger relief organizations across Denver, and has so far saved 220 million servings of food. (Galatas)

Denver nonprofit tackles food waste, hunger

By Taylor Haelterman for Triple Pundit.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-P…

President Donald Trump's proposed $79 billion in higher tariffs would result in an average annual tax increase of $625 for the average U.S. household, according to estimates from a Tax Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Trump’s proposed tariffs could cost Wyomingites, Americans

New research details the major impacts for Americans if President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs take effect. A Tax Foundation report finds tariffs …

Study finds juggling two jobs has benefits, pitfalls

Americans working two jobs to help with living expenses and cover some extras has become the norm. The U.S. Census shows that 25% of Midwest women …

According to Edmunds auto data, EVs and plug-in hybrid EVs combined made up 8.5% of the vehicles sold in May 2024, while gas-powered cars made up 82.4% of the U.S. market in the same month. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Georgia drivers say carmakers should continue to improve fuel efficiency

Americans continue to see improving fuel economy as the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products…

A Tax Foundation report estimated President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs would cost the U.S. 142,000 full-time jobs. Overall, it says the policies would add up to $79 billion in tariffs. (Adobe Stock)

NY, U.S. face high costs if Trump’s proposed tariffs take effect

New research details the major potential changes for New York and the nation if President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs take effect. A Tax …

A new Ohio State University study found Ohio households paid an estimated $1.2 billion more over the past decade by choosing retail electricity suppliers instead of staying with the utility's default service. (Adobe Stock)

Study reveals market failures in Ohio electricity

Ohioans have long had the ability to choose their electricity providers but new research highlighted the financial consequences of such decisions…

Research firms said staffing shortages and not enough technology upgrades are making it harder for state and local governments to keep up with fraudsters eyeing services funded by taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

SD among states debating tricky issue of combating government fraud

A South Dakota legislative committee Monday debated proposals designed to help combat government fraud and there were clear differences of opinion on …

Last year, Press Forward funded 205 local publications. (DN6/Adobe Stock)

Press Forward supports small-town CO newsrooms

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

A Virginia Healthcare Association survey found that burnout and stress are major reasons for staff members leaving their jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Nursing home staffing shortages key focus for VA senior advocates

What is the quality of Virginia's nursing homes? If you ask one advocate, he says "bad." Jared Calfee, state advocacy director for AARP Virginia…

Washington state currently ranks among the lowest in the nation in serving people with mental health challenges. (Talia Mdlungu/peopleimages.com)

Regulating insurance companies may help WA mental health care ‘crisis’

Washington state mental health care providers are rallying behind a new bill, aimed at addressing what they are calling the mental health care crisis…

The COVID-19 pandemic increased backlogs in nursing home inspections and created further staffing shortages, according to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Adobe Stock)

Assisted living facility oversight major focus for MD senior advocates

A number of bills in the Maryland legislature are looking to increase the quality and accountability of the state's nursing homes and assisted living …

Ohio has nearly 750,000 lead service lines, the third-highest number in the U.S. out of over 6 million such lines still in use nationwide, according to the EPA. (PikePicture/Adobe Stock)

Ohio communities look to update water systems

Lead contamination in drinking water continues to be a significant concern in Ohio. With new federal regulations to tackle the issue, local water …

The Episcopal Health Foundation in Texas wants to change the conversation and reshape the debate around health care to focus on the nonmedical drivers of health. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

TX lawmakers urged to make healthy living a priority during legislative session

The Episcopal Health Foundation wants Texas lawmakers to make health a priority during this legislative session. The nonprofit focuses on the …

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said farmers' investments in necessary equipment are substantial. Base model John Deere tractors range from $10,000 to $30,000. (Adobe Stock)

IL farmers: John Deere right to repair suit 'common sense'

Some Illinois farmers say a lawsuit against equipment manufacturing titan John Deere is long overdue, and they hope the outcome is not more laws but …

Factory farms are responsible for between 11% and 20% of global greenhouse emissions, according to the group World Animal Protection. (By Larry Rana-USDA, Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

UN Green Climate Fund invests in KY factory farming, report finds

By Sophie Kevany for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

A 2024 survey found one in five adults who were part of

NYers face insurance barriers to getting mental health care

More than 3 million New Yorkers have a diagnosed mental illness but only around one in three can get the care they need to treat it. The barriers …

The City of Dallas code states landlords must provide - and maintain in working order - heating equipment capable of maintaining an indoor temperature at least 15�F warmer than the outdoor temperature. (Nimur/Adobe Stock)

TX looks at ways to protect apartment tenants during extreme weather

Extreme weather has hit Texas over the last few weeks bringing snow to many parts of the state. During cold weather, landlords are required to …

Florida ranks fourth nationally in the share of children in rural areas covered by Medicaid/CHIP, with over 52% of rural children relying on the program for their health insurance. (Pixabay)

Medicaid cuts could devastate rural Florida, affecting children

A new report from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families highlights the significant role Medicaid plays in ensuring healthcare acc…

Health providers in rural Colorado, which operate on thin margins, could see more uncompensated care costs if proposed Medicaid cuts clear Congress. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts would disproportionately affect rural Coloradans

As the new Congress considers cutting Medicaid by more than $2 trillion, a new report details how the move would disproportionately affect rural …

Since 2022, nearly 135 million domestic birds in all 50 states have been affected by avian flu. <br />(hedgehog94/Adobe Stock)<br />

As more bird flu cases reach MI, infectious disease expert shares insights

Seven cases of H5N1 avian flu have been reported in Michigan since Dec. 16. The first case was discovered at a poultry facility in Ottawa County…

Ohio has the eighth-highest number of children that are covered by Medicaid in small towns and rural communities nationally. (IB Photography/Adobe Stock)

Ohio faces health care challenges as Medicaid funding wavers

As Congress debates potential cuts to Medicaid, a new report from Georgetown University sheds light on how these changes could disproportionately …

Forty states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Washington, D.C. have passed regulations on artificial intelligence. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT must consider legislation regulating AI

A new report examines how Connecticut should regulate artificial intelligence. The Connecticut Voices for Children report finds AI use is embedded in …

In 2023, more than 16 million workers were represented by a union, an increase of more than 190,000. (SEIU Local 49)

Union rep: SEIU joining AFL-CIO will help OR workers

The Service Employees International Union is joining the AFL-CIO, a move both groups said will make it easier for more workers to unionize. SEIU is …

One in five people in the United States lives in an area classified as non-urban. (BJP7images/Adobe Stock)

Report: Potential Medicaid cuts would hit rural MO hardest

The Medicaid and CHIP programs are vital to rural Missouri, according to a report that says reliance on this safety-net health coverage is much …

A new report from Georgetown University showed the effects a proposed cut to Medicaid would have on rural New Mexico, where residents already have worse health outcomes than those in cities. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico's rural families fear proposed federal cuts to Medicaid

With President Donald Trump back in office, Congressional Republicans are eager to extend his 2017 tax cuts, which likely means slashing the Medicaid …

The population of Kane County, Illinois, is about 500,000. Reducing rotting food in landfills will help the county achieve its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2019 levels by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Kane County uses $500,000 grant to reduce food waste

Kane County officials plan to launch four composting programs at large-scale facilities to reduce food waste, as part of meeting the county's climate …

Georgia's home energy rebate program is kicking off with a limited pilot phase. Approved contractors will work with their current clients to bring energy savings to eligible households. The full program rollout is set for early 2025. (Ramon Cliff/Adobe Stock)

Report highlights needs for GA energy efficiency

A new report from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy showed the Southeast, including Georgia, is not doing enough to invest in energy efficiency…

One in seven hospitalized patients will need a blood transfusion. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland needs more blood donors

This month is National Blood Donor Month, and blood donor groups are making sure people know the importance of giving blood. Blood can't be …

Coloradans are nine times more likely to be forced to choose an out-of-network provider for mental health care, than for primary physical care, which leads to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients. (Adobe Stock)

Insurance companies denying coverage for Coloradans' mental health care

More than 1 million Coloradans are living with a diagnosed mental health condition but insurance companies are denying coverage for care their policie…

Many rural residents in Alaska must travel long distances to see a doctor. Proposed cuts to the Medicaid program could slash funding for those trips, making access to care more difficult and expensive. (Adobe Stock)

Health care advocate says future of Medicaid critical for rural Alaskans

A new report finds that significant cuts proposed for Medicaid funding would disproportionately affect rural and small-town residents in Alaska and ma…

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Consumer

The benefits, pitfalls of juggling two jobs

Advocates: Unfair insurance policies causing DE mental health crisis

CO lawmakers aim to close ambulance surprise-billing gap

$450 million available to feed Texas kids this summer

Outer Banks officials want to make tourism more sustainable

Experts have consumer tips on navigating tariff scenarios

Cost of living tops Denver lawmaker’s priorities

Survey: NC drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

New report shows big racial gaps in use of Medi-Cal dental benefits

MN cities dig deep for safe drinking water, but can they meet goals?

Universal ‘Medicare for All’ bill advances in CO legislature

Simple ways to protect OR homes from wildfires

Possible funding freeze sparks uncertainty in TX energy projects

Insurance ‘clawbacks’ hurt MD mental health specialists

NE lawmakers look at tougher regulation of 'crypto kiosks'

Study reveals pros, cons of New Mexicans juggling two jobs

Survey: PA drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

Survey: Virginians want better fuel economy standards

Denver nonprofit tackles food waste, hunger

Report: Trump’s proposed tariffs could cost Wyomingites, Americans

Study finds juggling two jobs has benefits, pitfalls

Survey: Georgia drivers say carmakers should continue to improve fuel efficiency

NY, U.S. face high costs if Trump’s proposed tariffs take effect

Study reveals market failures in Ohio electricity

SD among states debating tricky issue of combating government fraud

Press Forward supports small-town CO newsrooms

Nursing home staffing shortages key focus for VA senior advocates

Regulating insurance companies may help WA mental health care ‘crisis’

Assisted living facility oversight major focus for MD senior advocates

Ohio communities look to update water systems

TX lawmakers urged to make healthy living a priority during legislative session

IL farmers: John Deere right to repair suit 'common sense'

UN Green Climate Fund invests in KY factory farming, report finds

NYers face insurance barriers to getting mental health care

TX looks at ways to protect apartment tenants during extreme weather

Medicaid cuts could devastate rural Florida, affecting children

Report: Medicaid cuts would disproportionately affect rural Coloradans

As more bird flu cases reach MI, infectious disease expert shares insights

Ohio faces health care challenges as Medicaid funding wavers

Report: CT must consider legislation regulating AI

Union rep: SEIU joining AFL-CIO will help OR workers

Report: Potential Medicaid cuts would hit rural MO hardest

New Mexico's rural families fear proposed federal cuts to Medicaid

Kane County uses $500,000 grant to reduce food waste

Report highlights needs for GA energy efficiency

Maryland needs more blood donors

Insurance companies denying coverage for Coloradans' mental health care

Health care advocate says future of Medicaid critical for rural Alaskans