Neil Shultz News Today

Although many small businesses in Connecticut have weathered the pandemic, it has not been the easiest of circumstances. And how are they doing now? Small businesses make up almost half of Connecticuts economy, and they needed more than $14 billion in support from the Small Business Administration to stay afloat. Despite these tough years, said Catherine Marx, district director of the SBAs Connecticut district office, shes been inspired to watch how well theyve dealt with this call to action. ...

Health care can be expensive, and sometimes Arizonans get a bill thats more than they can afford. Unpaid medical bills can reduce a persons credit score, but that may be changing. The major credit bureaus - Equifax, Experian and TransUnion - have voluntarily agreed to new regulations to lessen the impact unpaid medical bills can have on a persons ability to borrow. ...

In the coming weeks, applications could become available for student loan forgiveness under the new Biden administration plan. In states like Wisconsin, borrowers might have to make note of some tax implications. The Biden plan, which includes income requirements, provides loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 for federal Direct loans, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients. ...

A statewide tour to help Iowans sharpen their fraud protection skills kicks off today. Organizers say perpetrators will never give up in trying to steal peoples hard-earned money. The Fraud Watch tour is being led by AARP and will feature voices from the states law enforcement community. ...