Page 39 - Consumer Issues News Today

A grant program that helps with projects that benefit local communities is back. The AARP Community Challenge program selects projects for small, one-time grants. The aim is to fund projects that will make cities and towns better for people of all ages - with an emphasis on folks age 50 and older - and can be completed in a few months time. ...

AARP Maine said it is hopeful lawmakers will find common ground on issues to support older Mainers this legislative session, including establishing a paid family and medical leave policy. Surveys show more than 75% of Mainers support a plan to help those providing unpaid care to older parents or spouses while often working full-time jobs or raising children themselves. Noël Bonam, state director of AARP Maine, said a paid family and medical leave program is needed so caregivers do not hav...

Arizonas blood supply is at its lowest level in a year. Vitalant is encouraging Arizonans of all blood types to donate blood, especially universal donors, those with the O-blood type. Sue Thew, communications manager for Vitalant Arizona, said the nonprofit community blood provider, which provides blood to about 90% of all Arizona hospitals, has struggled to keep up with demand as many organizations have shifted to remote work, meaning fewer blood drives are being hosted at workplaces. ...

An Oxfam report released this week shows the richest 1% of individuals have gotten richer since the pandemic, capturing almost two-thirds of all new wealth. The report calls for a 5% tax on the worlds multimillionaires and billionaires. The finding comes as one state lawmaker pushes for reinstating the states graduated income tax on Kentuckys highest earners. ...

Starting in April, an estimated 2-3 million people could be dropped from Medi-Cal, the states health insurance program for low-income people. For three years during COVID, terminations were halted, but Congress recently voted to de-link the program from the Public Health Emergency. So California will have 14 months to re-evaluate eligibility for almost 15 million people. ...

West Virginias teachers union warns that new proposed tax cuts will further shrink school budgets and drive more educators out of the profession. A crippling number of vacancies are straining school operations, and the number of non-certified teachers that have left their jobs has doubled since 2018, according to the states Department of Education. Dale Lee, West Virginia Education Association President, said he welcomes the governors 5% pay raise for state employees, but added it is not enoug...

AARP Maine will sponsor an online workshop this week on long-range planning for health equity, with a focus on housing, community services and safe streets to ensure everyone has a say in the future design of their cities and towns. Compared to other states, Maine has the oldest population per capita in the U.S., and tens of thousands of Mainers are expected to retire in the coming years. Erik Calloway, managing director of ChangeLab Solutions, the group moderating the discussion, said plannin...

Marylands health officials are appealing to the public to take precautions as the states hospital bed availability is once again strained. Many hospitals are over 90% full, with some closer to 100% of capacity. While COVID continues to increase demand on hospitals, the problem is not as severe as it was at this time last year, but hospital staffing shortages are much worse than they were before the pandemic. ...

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social Movement Support Lab data showed money spent on police departments, court systems, and corrections departments in Texas five largest cities was much higher than the amounts spent on such services as affordable housing, parks and recreation, and mental health programs. Christopher Rivera, criminal injustice outreach coordinator for the Texas Civil Rig...

Wisconsin lawmakers are back in session and have a large budget surplus to work with. Advocates for the states older residents hope any spending plan prioritizes certain needs for this population, and those who care for them. The Legislature is being asked to reconsider the idea of a Caregiver Tax Credit. ...