Page 56 - Consumer Issues News Today

After receiving several texts from people posing as Chase Bank employees warning her of fraudulent purchases, Rose wired $6,000 to scammers.

Minnesotas legislative session is scheduled to end in less than two weeks, and government workers are still seeking final approval of their latest contract. The labor agreements, which affect tens of thousands of state workers, include a 2.5% pay raise retroactive to July 1 of last year. Megan Dayton, statewide president of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, said with the House already approving the agreements, it is time for the Senate to do its part. ...

Minnesota officials announced this week that frontline workers can likely start applying for hero checks sometime in June. As those plans take shape, advocates for nursing home staff hope lawmakers come through with additional support. The bonus checks were recently approved during the legislative session, with eligible workers in line to receive $750 each. ...

Pennsylvania lawmakers and community leaders gathered in Montgomery County Wednesday, urging the General Assembly to use $204 million in unspent American Rescue Plan funds to help older adults through property tax and rent rebates. Pennsylvanias Property Tax Rent Rebate Program has delivered more than $7 billion to older adults and people with disabilities for more than 50 years. Rep. ...

President Joe Biden used his trip to Illinois Wednesday to tout several new initiatives he said will support American farms. The presidents trip comes as the cost of groceries remains high across the nation. The White House plans to increase funding for domestic fertilizer production, and increase access to farm-management tools. ...

The calendar indicates it is early May, but many Minnesotans are experiencing summerlike temperatures this week. As residents crank up the air conditioning, clean energy nonprofits hope more people give thought to installing systems providing more efficiency. The industry said air source heat pumps are equipped with improved technology and now work better in colder climates. ...

More than 100,000 lower-income Tennessee residents who paid for online-tax prep services advertised as being free may be eligible for payments, as part of a new nationwide settlement with Inuit, the owner of TurboTax. Samantha Fisher, communications director for the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office, said people who used TurboTax for tax years 2006 through 2018 may be eligible for payments of around $30 for each year they paid for services, but would have qualified for the free edition. &...

Older Nebraskans will be keeping more of their hard-earned Social Security benefits even sooner, after Gov. Pete Ricketts signed Legislative Bill 873 into law. All state income taxes on Social Security checks will now be eliminated by 2025, five years earlier than outlined in a measure passed last year. ...

Your Alternative FREE Local News Source

The bigger bite taken out of Minnesotans paychecks by higher consumer costs is being seen in multiple ways - including the possibility of corporate profiteering. A new report from the Groundwork Collaborative said corporations are taking advantage of the pandemic to drive up costs for things such as prescription drugs, groceries and diapers. The authors pointed to corporate earnings calls in which some CEOs openly boast about their price hikes. ...