Page 55 - Consumer Issues News Today

Ahead of North Dakotas June 14 primary, a civic engagement group is crunching numbers and maintaining talks with county and state election leaders in hopes of expanding access for Native American voters now and in the future. A record number of Native American candidates are seeking various offices in North Dakota, including nine for legislative seats. Nicole Donaghy, executive director of North Dakota Native Vote, said their latest work involves creating maps and compiling data that measure...

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will soon hand down a decision on whether absentee ballot drop boxes are permitted under state law. Ahead of that decision, voting-rights advocates are highlighting the importance of the drop boxes and why theyre an essential route to cast a ballot. Anita Johnson, outreach and education specialist with Souls to the Polls, said at a news conference yesterday that permanently removing the drop boxes is effectively voter suppression. ...

The Maryland Democratic Party is asking for the state to be considered for an early primary for the 2024 presidential election. The party submitted a letter of intent as a potential early primary state to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Yvette Lewis, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, said as a state with suburban, urban and rural communities, she sees it as "America in miniature." It is also now the most diverse state on the East Coast, according to U.S. ...

Women ages 50 and over cast a big chunk of ballots, with a big impact in American elections, and a new poll looked at what they want. Findings in the AARP survey of likely voters done in February and March underscored why they are important, as well as what motivates them. Stacy Larsen, communications director for AARP Oregon, said they make up more than a quarter of all registered voters, and are 15% more likely to vote than the population at large. ...

An official plan to expand broadband in Texas is due out June 15, after state officials traveled near and far to collect public comments on internet access and affordability. Tim Morstad, associate state director for AARP Texas, said the pandemic highlighted equal access to high-speed internet is critical and no longer a "nice-to-have" luxury. "Weve got to get access to high-speed internet, and weve got to make sure its affordable, and weve got to make sure people ha...

North Dakota has seen recent examples of staffing shake-ups among certain employers where a toxic environment was cited. It coincides with rhetoric about the need for companies and agencies to offer a more compassionate work setting. Earlier this year, Fargo Police leaders publicly responded to reports of low morale among officers. ...

About half of Latinos either lost a job or had their wages cut during the pandemic,according to a recent survey from Pew. Now, AARP is offering a free new program - called "Lets Talk Dinero" - designed to help Latinos get back on their feet. Today, the program will host a webinar on the cost of caregiving. ...

During the first year of the global pandemic, medical consumers in Colorado received more than one million low-value healthcare services - diagnostic tests, screenings and treatments where the risk of harm outweighs any likely benefit to the patient. Cari Frank, vice president for communications with the Center for Improving Value in HealthCare - the group behind a new report, said consumers and insurers paid $134 million for these services in 2020. "Even in spite of COVID, when peop...

Both banks told her the other bank had to fix the mistake. Four months later, she was still out $1,770. She called WFMY 2 Wants To Know to fix it.

Groups advocating for older New Yorkers say a bill passed by the New York State Senate would help level the playing field for utility customers. Currently, when utilities go to the New York Public Service Commission to request a rate hike, they can apply to be reimbursed for items like expert witness fees and other costs associated with the proceedings. Bill Ferris, state legislative representative for AARP New York, said the legislation would give the same option to groups of ratepayers or no...