Consumer Issues / Public News Service

EducationData.org reports 16% of borrowers owe less than $5,000, almost 23% owe $20,000 to $40,000, and 1.55% owe more than $200,000. (Adobe Stock)

IN students face uncertainty on loan repayments

Due dates for student loan repayment remain uncertain for many Indiana students amid changes at the federal level. For those who were not granted …

Colorado is now the 10th least affordable state in the country for housing, slightly better than eighth in last year's

Report: Colorado workers must earn $36.79 per hour to afford housing

Minimum wage workers in Colorado have to work two full-time jobs, or 82 hours per week, to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to a new report …

The Alaska Energy Authority has funded three large solar energy projects in the largely rural state, efforts that could be derailed under changes in the new Trump administration budget. (Adobe Stock)

Federal budget hobbles Alaska wind and solar industries

Rural Alaska power customers are likely to pay higher electricity rates as a result of the elimination of incentives to switch away from traditional f…

Microgrids can provide up to 10 megawatts of power, enough to power approximately 2,000 homes, and can be equipped with batteries for storage. (Oulailux/Adobe Stock)

Landmark microgrid legislation boon for rural Oregon

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed into law the first set of statewide policies in the country supporting community-owned microgrids. Microgrids are …

Consumer site WalletHub reported 97% of credit card holders have an annual income of $100,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

New scam tricks IN buyers using fake credit card decline messages

Americans have approximately 631 million credit card accounts, with nearly four cards per person. The accounts can be a payday for con artists who …

California's Proposition 12 requires producers to give laying hens one square foot of space each, and breeding sows 24 square feet each. (Krustovin/Adobe Stock)

Congressional hearing challenges CA animal welfare laws

Pork producers are expected to argue against California's animal welfare laws at a hearing Wednesday before the House Committee on Agriculture…

Research shows nearly 60% of Washington residents have avoided seeking medical treatment or modified their use of prescriptions in the last year because of the cost. (Kanokwan/Adobe Stock)

WA law wipes medical debt from credit reports

While a new ruling by a federal judge allows medical debt to remain on Americans' credit reports, Washington residents will be protected from the …

A 2023 study from the University of Nevada, Reno found that Lake Tahoe has the third-highest concentration of microplastics among the 38 lakes studied worldwide. (Carl Mazur Photo/Adobe Stock)

During Plastic-Free July, NV scores just 1.5 of 5 on antipollution efforts

Nevada receives extremely low marks in the fight against plastic pollution. This is Plastic-free July and a report called The United States of …

Indiana University's Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis and Maurer School of Law in Bloomington combined enrollment in the juris doctorate program in 2024 totaled 415 students. (Adobe Stock)

New charter school hopes to help ease IN attorney shortage

A new charter school with a unique mission plans to open next year in Indianapolis. Its goal is to interest more kids in the legal profession…

Beth and David Chase at their new Home in Sisters, OR last fall. (Habitat for Humanity, Sisters)<br />

OR funding for affordable homeownership dwindles

The latest round of state-funded LIFT Homeownership grants will fund 239 new affordable homes across Oregon. Previous LIFT grants totaling over $100…

According to CalRecycle, 2.6 million tons of plastic packaging and foodware end up in California landfills every year. (Erik/Adobe Stock)<br />

During Plastic-Free July, CA a pioneer in anti-pollution efforts

California receives high marks in a report on the fight against plastic pollution. This is Plastic-free July and the United States of Plastics report…

Just 30% of U.S. solar and 57% of wind projects are expected to survive under the new GOP tax and spending law signed by President Donald Trump. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cuts to clean energy will cost Colorado $7.3 billion in GDP

More than $7 billion in Colorado's GDP and 9,600 jobs are projected to be lost under President Donald Trump's signature tax and spending bill which cu…

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles generated about $25 million in revenue from selling driver data two years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana BMV cashes in on driver data

Indiana lawmakers will not study the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' practice of selling driver data this summer but some legislators said the issue deserve…

The CEO of Arkansas-based Jenkins Enterprises said he is concerned many of his retail customers will cancel orders because of high tariffs. (AkuAku/Adobe Stock)

AR business owner says tariffs could affect your Christmas

Jenkins Enterprises in North Little Rock is one of many small businesses across Arkansas facing extra costs from tariffs issued by President Donald Tr…

The Washington State Health Care Authority estimated rebalancing spending for state workers and school employees through Senate Bill 5083 could save the state over $400 million by 2029. (stokkete/Adobe Stock)

New law will lower health care costs for WA state employees

As federal Medicaid cuts loom, consumer advocates are celebrating Washington's new bill limiting hospital prices for state and public school …

The shift to cage-free eggs has accelerated after 11 states, including Colorado, set regulations on so-called conventional eggs, and the recent bird flu crisis, which led to the loss of more than 125 million U.S. hens. (Adobe Stock)

'Compassion Calculator' helps CO meat eaters offset animal welfare effects

A new "Compassion Calculator" launched by the charity portal FarmKind aims to help Coloradans who eat meat improve their animal welfare footprints by …

The Feeding Texas network said despite federal cuts, the organization stands united in its commitment to fight hunger but food banks cannot fill the gap left by the cuts. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Food banks across Texas prepare to help the needy despite federal cuts

Almost 3.5 million Texans utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase food. The budget reconciliation bill recently signed …

Nearly 30% of Americans said they have not taken their medication as prescribed due to high drug prices, according to a 2024 report by the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock/Nuttapongpunna)

New online portal allows New Mexicans to compare prescription costs

Nearly 1,000 New Mexicans have already accessed a new online portal which provides transparency about how much the cost of prescriptions and medical p…

As of 2022, the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative in Taos, New Mexico, has reached 100% daytime solar energy, something operators say would not have been possible under their contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Colorado electric co-op goes independent

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

Consumer Reports says muzzling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would leave Americans more vulnerable to fraud and abuse. (Adobe Stock)

New budget could put Arkansas consumer protections in danger

The budget reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump not only affects Medicaid and SNAP, and Arkansans could pay the price. Consumer …

Close to half of all American whiskey, bourbon and rye is sold internationally, primarily to Canada, Mexico and the European Union. (Adobe Stock)

Hoosier businesses face fallout from tariff shake-up

Hoosier businesses across the state are feeling the ripple effects of rising tariffs and shifting trade policies, especially in farming, …

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

The new tax cut and spending law contains the largest federal cuts to SNAP benefits in the nation's history. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

AR hunger rating could worsen under new federal budget

Now that President Donald Trump's big budget bill has been signed into law, Arkansas nonprofits that rely on federal funding to help people in need …

Iowa generates 59% of its electricity from wind, the highest share of any state. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa solar industry threatened by tax incentive cuts

Iowa is among the nation's leaders in wind energy production, and the state is looking to follow suit with solar power. But Congress has eliminated …

Indiana has 814,438 renter households in Indiana according to research site Eviction Lab. (Adobe Stock)

IN tenants bound by evictions can pursue confidential records

A new law on the books will help Hoosier renters saddled with an eviction on their record get some relief. Senate Bill 142, which took effect July 1…

Arizona is among the top five states in the nation for solar energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Tax incentive cuts could dim Arizona solar investment

As part of the Trump administration's new budget, Arizona's burgeoning solar industry faces the elimination of tax incentives that have encouraged …

New Mexico homeowners planning to install solar will have to act quickly to take advantage of tax credits soon to be phased out under the

NM renewable energy advocates decry 'herky-jerky' policies

Renewable energy got short shrift in the budget bill passed by Congress last week and a New Mexico trade association said companies and their employee…

The Public Interest Research Group said around one-third of Americans live in a state with a Right to Repair law. The policies are designed to make it easier for independent repair shops and customers to access parts and other materials from manufacturers. (Adobe Stock)

Assessing compliance with MN's Right to Repair law one year in

New Minnesota laws take effect this week but consumer and environmental watchdogs are looking back on one from last year designed to bolster product r…

The Citizens Utility Board says more than 91,000 Minnesota households had their utility service shut off for nonpayment last year. The board cited new research warning there would be more pressure on ratepayers if clean energy incentives are eliminated at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Under federal budget bill, how would your electricity bill fare?

If the federal government finalizes the budget reconciliation bill in play, pro-consumer voices in Minnesota warn the changes will not be friendly to …

The growing demand for artificial intelligence specialists has prompted more universities to offer specialized AI degrees. (MissIrine/Adobe Stock)

NM university to offer state's first artificial intelligence degree

Artificial intelligence is expected to significantly change people's lives and New Mexico State University is meeting the challenge by offering the st…

Homelessness among children in Ohio has increased by 10% since January 2020 and family homelessness has risen 11%, highlighting deepening housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio mayor says rising rents drive 'hidden homelessness'

As housing costs continue to squeeze Ohio families, Youngstown's mayor warned out-of-state landlords are pushing many out of their homes, undermining …

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WI solar project invests in rural youth, community

A 100-megawatt solar project in rural Polk County set to begin operating this year has a unique focus on investments in youth. Developers said the …

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for electric vehicle-related manufacturing jobs, with more than $3 billion invested in recent EV and battery projects, according to EV Jobs Hub. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio manufacturer warns federal rollbacks could stall EV progress

Ohio's fast-growing electric vehicle sector could face serious setbacks if proposed changes to federal clean energy tax credits move forward…

The smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. (Adobe Stock)

Relentless AZ summer is here with higher energy bills

Temperatures are on the rise across Arizona and so are energy bills. The anti-poverty nonprofit Wildfire and the Arizona Public Interest Research …

The Montana Nurses Association said the decision from Providence Health Services to close St. Patrick Hospital's maternity center lacked

Negotiations begin next week on Montana maternity center closure

The multistate Providence Health System announced it will close the maternity center at one of its Montana hospitals in October. Opponents are …

Meals are free to kids in Texas during the Summer Food Service Program. They are paid for by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX summer meal programs keep kids fed while out of school

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger. Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the …

In Pennsylvania, EV advocates rallied support for cleaner transportation. They're urging U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick to protect federal funding for EV infrastructure and tax credits. (Courtesy of Rachael)

PA leaders urge Congress to safeguard EV tax credits, citing savings, clean air

Federal tax credits for electric vehicles are helping drive clean transportation in the Lehigh Valley, but advocates warn they're at risk of being …

The study found 51% of Medicaid recipients connected to small businesses are children of owners or employees. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV small business labor force at risk from Medicaid cuts

A new report says cuts to Medicaid will weaken the small business workforce nationwide, potentially shrinking local economies in rural states like …

Agriculture advocacy group Farm Action says the federal government's support of corporate farms over smaller, family producers means less healthy food is available to American consumers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government action needed to help WV farmers produce healthier foods

A group of farmers says government policies need to change to support farms in West Virginia and elsewhere in cultivating foods that will improve Amer…

The National Centers for Environmental Information reports 27 U.S. climate disasters in the past year caused at least $1 billion in damages, making it the fourth-costliest year on record. (USGS.gov)

New Mexico joins state consensus that FEMA assistance is essential

The Trump administration has floated the idea of downsizing or even eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but a new poll shows the …

In 2023, rural hospitals in Pennsylvania created $17 billion in economic impact and supported more than 80,000 jobs statewide. (Alexander Raths/Adobe Stock)

PA rural hospitals, seniors at risk if Congress cuts Medicaid

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has hit a roadblock. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a key Medicaid provider tax change violates chamber …

In May, protesters in Hanford rallied against Medicaid cuts. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that almost 8 million people would lose Medicaid under the Republican

During Pride Month, CA LGBTQ+ advocates fight proposed cuts to Medi-Cal

June is Pride Month, and people who fight for LGBTQ+ health care are speaking out against huge proposed cuts to Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in the …

During Pride Month, LGBTQ+ organizations say it's important to draw a distinction between businesses that openly express support for the community and those releasing statements of solidarity but failing to be an ally throughout the year. (Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ organizations in SD team up to land more business allies

As Pride Month winds down, LGBTQ+ support groups in South Dakota said they are strengthening a resource tool detailing which businesses are willing …

American Indian and Alaska Native Coloradans paid higher monthly and out of pocket health care costs, even with insurance, compared to their white peers, research shows. (Adobe Stock)

Health gaps persist for American Indian, Alaska Native Coloradans

American Indian and Alaska Native communities in Colorado continue to face significant gaps in health care access, quality and outcomes, according to …

A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center suggested a number of ways to strengthen primary care outcomes in Medicare, including enabling federal tracking and target-setting to report on primary care spending across federal health care programs. (Maha Heang 245789/Adobe Stock)

Alternative payment models better for WA patients and providers

Adopting alternative payment models for people receiving primary care through Medicare is better for providers and patients, according to a new …

The cost of care for dementia patients varies widely by state. At $55,000 per year, care for patients in California is slightly more expensive than the national average.(Ocskay Bence/Adobe Stock)

Study: CA families shoulder sky-high costs of dementia care

In California, families shoulder most of the burden of dementia care, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Washington found …

It is estimated one young child goes to the emergency room every nine minutes because of medication ingestion. (Adobe Stock/AI)

KY child overdose cases highlighted during National Safety Month

June is National Safety Month and experts are highlighting medication safety for Kentucky kids. Kentucky has seen a steady increase in pediatric …

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