The Postmaster General has proposed reduced delivery days and other changes starting next year which could particularly affect rural New Hampshire.
In addition to "Forever" stamp price increases, residents farther than 50 miles from a regional processing center could experience at least a one-day delay in mail delivery.
Annie Norman, campaign manager for the Save the Post Office Coalition, said mail is a virtual lifeline for medicines and needed farming supplies.
"We're talking about seniors and veterans, folks with disabilities, Indigenous communities," Norman outlined. "They all need the Postal Service to pay bills and get their Social Security checks."
Adjusting mail pick-up and drop-off times between post offices and New Hampshire's two processing plants to lower transportation costs is another idea under consideration. The changes could save the agency $3 billion annually. The Postal Service relies on postage and product sales and services to fund its operations.
The Postal Service has faced declining mail volume due to more online services. Rising fuel costs for delivery trucks have hurt its bottom line, as well as competition from private delivery companies. Norman acknowledged the Postal Service knows its traditional mail delivery model is outdated and officials should find more revenue streams to stay afloat.
"No one in this country's asking for slower mail service at higher prices," Norman pointed out. "One way that they can expand the revenue of the Postal Service and dig themselves out of a hole is to focus on new revenue, through services like postal banking, to places that really need it."
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics cites the average wage for a New Hampshire postal worker is nearly $57,000 a year. The agency is embracing partnerships with other package transport companies like Amazon to offer new services in hopes of generating additional dollars.
get more stories like this via email
Military borrowers pay higher costs and face greater financial risks than civilian borrowers when taking out credit to buy a car - according to a new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
The report found service members tend to borrow larger sums, at higher interest rates over longer terms.
Rosemary Shahan, president of the Sacramento-based nonprofit Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety, said yo-yo scams are common - where the victim signs an initial contract on good terms but then the dealer claims the financing fell through.
"And then they say, 'If you don't agree to sign this other contract where we're charging you for a lot of worthless add-ons you don't really want and a higher interest rate,'" said Shahan, "'then we'll report the vehicle stolen, and you'll be in trouble with your command, and it'll ruin your career.' "
The report finds many service members are young and far from family members who might help them negotiate a large purchase.
Last year under former President Joe Biden, the Federal Trade Commission finalized the CARS rule, which would combat dishonest sales tactics. Automakers sued and last month a federal judge put it on hold.
Shahan said the CARS rule would require dealers to tell you the price up front before you even go to the lot.
"It also has additional protections for military service members," said Shahan. "It prohibits car dealers from representing that they're somehow affiliated with the military, or have been approved by the military when that's not true, and would also require them to be more honest about the price of the add-ons and actually get your affirmative approval before adding them."
The Federal Trade Commission under the Trump administration will now have to decide whether to stand behind the rule and fight for it in court, or withdraw it.
Disclosure: Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Environmental Justice, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
Tax season is in full swing and locations are available across Idaho to assist people with preparing their returns.
The AARP Foundation's Tax-Aide program offers in-person help to people with low and moderate incomes. They don't have to be AARP members.
There are 27 sites available across the Gem State. Tax-aide State Coordinator for AARP Idaho, Karen Cummings, said the program can help people get back money they didn't know they were owed.
"It saves a lot of money and it refunds a lot of money from the IRS," said Cummings. "Some people wouldn't normally, maybe even go get a paid preparer, because it wouldn't be worth their time if they don't have a filing requirement. So, we help a lot of people."
Because filing taxes primarily involves computers now, Cummings said the tax-aide program is especially helpful for people who aren't very computer literate.
Last year in Idaho, volunteers filed more than 14,500 federal returns and nearly 14,000 state returns, with refunds totaling $16.7 million.
Cummings also noted that everyone involved gains something from the experience.
"We both benefit," said Cummings. "Both the volunteers feel good about helping the community and the community is extremely grateful that we're there to help them out."
Volunteers for the program pass IRS-certified tests. The program can help in most cases, although not complex ones.
Most sites will assist people through April 15.
Disclosure: AARP Idaho contributes to our fund for reporting on Consumer Issues, Energy Policy, Health Issues, Senior Issues. If you would like to help support news in the public interest,
click here.
get more stories like this via email
Colorado lawmakers are working to ensure all Coloradans with health coverage for ambulance services are not hit with surprise bills or charged higher out-of-network rates.
Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont, said when patients are in their most vulnerable moments, their focus should be on their health, not navigating coverage loopholes or worrying about affording a bill.
"When people call 911, they don't have a choice on who is going to show up," McCormick pointed out. "They don't have the ability to shop around."
The bill would close a gap in surprise-billing protections passed in 2019 to include the nearly 75% of Colorado ambulance services that are operated by cities, special districts and other political subdivisions. First responders and consumer advocates support House Bill 1088. Some insurance companies are lobbying against the measure and claimed it could lead to higher premiums paid by individuals and their employers.
McCormick underscored the measure would apply to people who already have coverage for ambulance services listed in their insurance plans.
"If indeed these services are covered, if (insurers) are saying it's going to raise premiums, it doesn't make any sense because they should have been covering it all along," McCormick contended. "We do have data that shows that it will not raise premiums."
McCormick noted the bill also provides assurances to ambulance agencies across the state by requiring insurance carriers to pay the full rates set at the local level by cities and other governing bodies. Currently, insurance companies get to decide how much of the rate to pay.
"This is very much a local control issue," McCormick stressed. "It will also create a public-facing website of rates that have been adopted by these political subdivisions."
get more stories like this via email