Page 26 - Consumer Issues News Today

As summer reaches its peak, Connecticut is working to keep seniors safe from intensifying heat. Although summer can be fun, the rising temperatures can prove lethal. A recent study found an average of 31 deaths are attributed to extreme heat during Connecticut summers. ...

Community groups in Massachusetts are calling for an end to armed police response to mental health-related 911 calls. The majority of calls are for nonviolent emergencies, yet the response of armed police can often make a behavioral or mental health-related crisis worse, particularly in marginalized communities. Corinne Espinoza, co-director of the Cambridge Holistic Emergency Alternative Response Team, said civilian first responders are better trained to deescalate what is often someone havin...

New federal data show inflation is cooling off in a big way. The relief comes on the heels of a Minnesota policy report detailing how rural areas experienced the situation when consumer prices were peaking. The Consumer Price Index rose 3% in June, the smallest 12-month increase since early 2021. ...

After years of grassroots advocacy, Maine will become the 13th state in the nation to adopt a mandatory paid family and medical leave program. Employers and employees will split a 1% payroll tax to fund the program, allowing many workers to take up to twelve weeks of paid leave each year to care for a newborn or a sick family member. Bridget Quinn with AARP Maine lauded the new program for its generous definition of "family member," which acknowledges it can sometimes mean a ...

A Virginia program is helping older workers launch their "second act" in the workforce. The Northern Virginia Senior Community Services Employment Program, run from Fairfax County, aims to provide people over 55 with the training they need for positions like working at senior centers and office administrators. A 2022 statewide community needs assessment found having job skills for the current workforce and looking for work are the biggest challenges for the 55+ age group. .....

Despite the roller coaster housing market over the past few years, a recent Gallup Poll reported nearly 28 million Americans, including people in Arkansas, said they want to buy a home this year. However, only 21% believe its a good time to buy. Nadeska Alexis, host of Chase Banks Beginner to Buyer podcast, is helping people navigate the home buying process from start to finish. ...

A free 12-week program is aiming to help Hispanic youths and their families in the Vegas Valley achieve better mental health. Familia Adelante, or Family Forward, is helping families find useful and beneficial mental-health strategies to help their children grapple with mental distress. Margarita Romano, founder and head therapist of Fuente De Vida, said the program is centered on not only facilitating a safe space to talk, but being able to do so in Spanish or English. ...

Help for mental-health problems just got easier to find in California with the launch of a new podcast and the expansion of the Parent & Youth Helpline. The first episode of the podcast, called Breaking the Stigma, is available today - and features influencers from the music industry talking about their struggles with mental health. Lisa Pion-Berlin, president and CEO of Parents Anonymous, is co-hosting the series. ...

The next time a scammer tries to target you, it might not be through a text message with a harmful link. The Internal Revenue Service says bad actors are using the mail delivery system to prey on people by telling them theyre owed a refund. Officials say the mailing comes in a cardboard envelope from a delivery service. ...

As North Carolina faces an increasing number of overdose-related deaths, there are new calls urging the state to update and expand its Good Samaritan law. More than 4,000 fatal overdoses were reported last year in North Carolina and the latest numbers show almost 400 deaths, in May alone, this year. So, Randy Abbott - North Carolina outreach director with the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse - said he is pushing for improved legislation along with other advocates and parents...