North American Network

As children head back to school—with their backpacks full of new supplies—fake goods pose a constant danger. That’s why “U-S Customs and Border Protection”—or “C-B-P”—continues to raise awareness about counterfeit products. John Leonard is with its “Office of Trade”… “Last year, ‘C-B-P’ seized 25-million fake items—worth about three-billion dollars. These fakes included back-to-school staples like...

With summer nearing its end, parents are ready to send their children back to school. And, there’s an added layer of concern if your child has allergies or asthma. Doctor Kathleen May is an allergist—and president of the “American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology”… “It’s time to check in with your allergist, to ensure [that] your child has current prescriptions; this includes allergy-med...

-- :60 -- “Last year, New Mexicans lost over 38-million dollars to fraud. And, the most-common scam in the state is the ‘imposter scam’—where someone pretends to be someone else to get your personal information. To help fight this type of fraud, ‘A-A-R-P New Mexico’ offers these tips: First, be suspicious of anyone who suddenly contacts you and wants to chat—especially if they suggest a new place...

Back-to-school shopping is in full swing—but it’s also a time for scammers to peddle potentially harmful fake-goods. That’s why the “U-S Chamber of Commerce”, “U-S Customs and Border Protection”, and “Amazon” are getting the word out to warn Americans about the risks that counterfeit goods pose—and how to avoid them. Tom Quaadman is the executive vice-president at the “U-S Chamber’s ‘Global Innova...

Millions of Americans can’t afford comprehensive dental-care. Yet, good oral-health can lessen the risk of disease, such as heart-disease and diabetes; it can even improve life-expectancy. That’s why “Dental Lifeline Network” is asking dentists and their teams—throughout both New Jersey and Pennsylvania—to volunteer for their “Donated Dental Services”-program. Doctor Mark Vitale [“vy-tal-ee”] is a...

(These three soundbites are from Charles Farmer, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s vice president of research and statistical services. For more about the study, visit iihs.org.) “Since 1989, we’ve calculated driver death-rates by make and model—offering another way for consumers to understand the relative risk of dying in different vehicles. And this year, for the first time, we’ve als...

Floridians who are blind or visually impaired can get help finding a career, or advancing in the workforce—thanks to the “Florida Division of Blind Services”, within the “Department of Education”. Robert Doyle is its director… “We offer customized services to ensure that blind or visually impaired Floridians can achieve success—both personally and professionally. These services often include: job-...

Adult-education programs unlock the door to new opportunities, to a new job, to financial independence, and so much more. Adult-education courses help you with reading-, writing-, math-, and English-language-skills. This summer, the “Florida Department of Education” is reminding Floridians about the programs offered year-round in your community. Bureau-chief of adult- and career-education, Doctor...

Volunteers with “A-A-R-P New Mexico” were recently joined by Attorney-General Raúl Torrez in a so-called “reverse boiler-room”—taking the common tactic of cold-calling, and reversing it to proactively give tips on how to spot and avoid scams. The group’s Beth Velasquez explains why the event was held… “Last year, New Mexicans lost over 38-million dollars to fraud—with an average loss of 700 dolla...

The vast majority of Michigan’s small-business owners want more done to support workers saving for retirement. That’s according to a new survey on behalf of “A-A-R-P Michigan”. The group’s Melissa Seifert [“sy-fert”] explains… “More than 40-percent of Michigan’s private-sector employees do not have access to a retirement-savings plan at work. These are workers at all levels of earnings, education,...

Each year, the “Division of Vocational Rehabilitation” within the “Florida Department of Education” helps more than five-thousand people find gainful employment. Brent McNeal is the division’s director… “Our main mission is to help Floridians with disabilities find and maintain employment—while also enhancing their independence. This, in turn, benefits families, communities, and Florida’s overall...

Big changes in “small-cell lung-cancer” give patients options they never had before. “Small-cell lung-cancer” is the deadliest of all the types of lung-cancer; lung-cancer kills more people than breast-, prostate-, and colon-cancer, combined. The good news? Because of research, there are more targeted and personalized treatments. “Small-cell lung-cancer” is different from the most-common form of l...

-- Version #1 (:30) -- “If you’d like to improve the quality-of-life for residents of all ages, ‘A-A-R-P Mississippi’ urges you to volunteer. Through advocacy, outreach, a speakers-bureau, a phone-team, events, and service, you can share your wisdom; benefit from training and education; enjoy challenges; meet new people; and know that you’re making a difference. To learn more, visit ‘a-a-r-p’-dot-...

Florida is recruiting “certified nursing-assistants” to work in skilled-nursing centers. Kristen Knapp is with the “Florida Health-Care Association”—which supports the “Caregivers-F-L Career Program”… “Working as a ‘certified nursing-assistant’—or ‘C-N-A’—is challenging, but also rewarding. Advantages include a steady, stable career, with both guaranteed hours and a flexible schedule—along with th...

June 12th through the 16th is this year’s “Protect Week”. And, both consumer-groups and government-agencies, statewide, are reminding Marylanders that seniors are vulnerable to financial abuse—by loved-ones and strangers, alike. Hank Greenberg is the state-director of “A-A-R-P Maryland”—which helps lead the coalition… “The ‘Federal Trade Commission’ says that Maryland had more than 40-thousand fra...

Individuals with disabilities have had to face many challenges, when it comes to saving for their future. John Finch—director of “ABLE United”—is here to discuss the state of Florida’s disability-savings program, and how they are leveling the playing-field for this community… “‘ABLE United’, managed by the ‘Florida Prepaid-College Board’, offers tax-free savings- and investment-accounts called ‘AB...

-- :60 -- “As we age, we become more vulnerable to abuse, neglect, and financial-exploitation. Elder-abuse is indeed a serious issue that affects many older adults—throughout Pennsylvania. And, while it can happen to anyone—anywhere—it’s often hidden from view. That’s why we must all work together—to raise awareness, and protect our loved-ones from these dangerous situations. Here are three tips,...

When it comes to safe and affordable financial-services for “Main Street”, what’s the best option? It very well might be America’s credit-unions. Dan Berger is the “National Association of Federally-Insured Credit-Unions’” president and C-E-O… “Credit-unions remain safe, secure, and reliable—even during tough economic-times: No-one has ever lost a penny of an insured deposit at a credit-union. And...

• Patient-concerns continue to grow over ever-increasing healthcare-costs. But, there are some solutions that the overwhelming majority of Americans agree on. That’s according to Reid Porter—the senior director of public affairs at the “Pharmaceutical Research and Manufactures of America”, or “PhRMA”… “TOO MANY AMERICANS STRUGGLE TO ACCESS AND AFFORD HEALTHCARE. AND, OUR RECENT POLL FOUND THAT MOS...

May is “National Asthma- and Allergy-Awareness Month”—a great time to evaluate whether your asthma is under control. Doctor Kathleen May is the president of the “American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology”… “Many people don’t know that board-certified allergists specialize in asthma-care—and that they can help get symptoms under control. While asthma can’t be cured, it can be controlled....

“Mother’s Day” is May 14th—which means it’s time to start thinking about that perfect gift for all the mom-figures in your life. Amanda Gizzi, with “Jewelers of America”, talks about the latest trends in jewelry-gifts… “Pearls are always in style—whether in necklaces, bracelets, rings, or earrings. But, they also happen to be on-trend. Personalized options—like initial-necklaces, birthstone-jewelr...

The updated rankings for all states—plus D.C.—are available at https://www.hospitalsafetygrade.org/your-hospitals-safety-grade/state-rankings. -- Soundbite about the top-ranked state (from Leah Binder [like “bind”, not “bin”], The Leapfrog Group’s president and CEO) -- New Jersey: “‘The Leapfrog Group’ is pleased to announce that New Jersey now ranks first in the nation for hospital-safety grades;...

The average risk of three healthcare-associated infections spiked to a five-year high in America’s hospitals, during the pandemic. That’s according to “The Leapfrog Group’s” latest round of hospital-safety grades: the “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, or “F” grades given to every general hospital, twice a year. Leah Binder [like “bind”, not “bin”] is “Leapfrog’s” president and C-E-O… “‘The Leapfrog Group’ is al...

As more and more environmentally conscious consumers consider electric vehicles, one auto-company says we should look at all the choices on the market for lowering emissions. Toyota executive vice-president, Jack Hollis, explains… “As we await the expansion of the electric-vehicle charging-infrastructure, consumers have multiple options today to help clean the air—and reduce carbon. Gas/electric h...

On Saturday [April 15th], “C-S-X” and “City Year” hosted a day of volunteer-service—to complete improvement-projects at Baltimore’s “Curtis Bay Elementary School”. Around 50 employees of “C-S-X” joined members of the “City Year ‘Care Force’”-team, and school-representatives, for the event. The company’s Bryan Tucker explains… “Volunteers spent the day painting interior corridors and lockers, const...