North American Network

Big Bear City’s “Community-Services District” is rolling out new recycling-carts, for 12-thousand households—as it launches an expanded collection-service. That’s thanks to an investment from an initiative that aims to reduce the beverage-industry’s plastic-footprint. Rick Rivas is the vice-president for California, at the “American Beverage Association”… “America’s leading beverage-companies—incl...

A nivel nacional, el consumo de calorías en bebidas ha bajado en un 10 por ciento, desde 2014. Esto según la más reciente evaluación de un compromiso de la industria de bebidas, negociada por la “Alianza para una Generación Más Saludable”—que está trabajando para lograr una reducción de un 20 por ciento. Junto con las principales compañías de bebidas de Estados Unidos, la alianza está ayudando a l...

Nationwide, calorie-consumption from beverages has decreased by 10-percent, since 2014. That’s according to the latest evaluation of a public commitment by the beverage-industry, brokered by the “Alliance for a Healthier Generation”—which is working toward a goal of a 20-percent reduction. Kathy Higgins is “Healthier Generation’s” C-E-O… “We’ve worked with America's leading beverage-companies, to...

(The following statements are from Matthew Brumbelow, a senior research engineer at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, who conducted the study. The full report is at https://www.iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2239.) “Driving at night is three-times as risky as driving during the day. And, this is the first study to document how much headlights that provide better illumination can help r...

A new study finds that the “U-S Postal Service” has used its taxpayer-supported advantages in ways that are inconsistent with its mission to deliver the mail nationwide. Specifically, privileges that have been allotted for mail-service—such as tax-exemptions, Treasury-loans, and monopoly-access to mailboxes—have, instead, become resources for supporting the “Postal Service’s” parcel-business—in co...

After a storm, Louisianans attract more attention from repair-companies—including both reputable contractors and scammers. Kevin Gamble, of “State Farm”, says that patience and diligence are needed… “Work with your insurance-company, secure a settlement, and then find a contractor to help with the repairs. Take all the time you need, to thoroughly evaluate your options. And, don’t have any work st...

Medicare’s annual open-enrollment period is underway—which means that Medicare-related scams are on the rise. Jamie Harding—of “A-A-R-P Alabama”—explains what to look out for… “Scammers are calling or even going door-to-door—offering free gifts or limited-time offers. Others might call and claim that you’re due a refund of premiums that you’ve supposedly overpaid. Giving out your Medicare-number o...

Many Alaskans who are at the highest risk for “COVID-19” are now eligible to receive a booster-shot of the “Pfizer”-vaccine—if they completed both of their initial doses at least six months ago. That’s why “A-A-R-P Alaska” is providing up-to-date information about who’s eligible—and how to set up an appointment. Teresa Holt is the group’s state-director… “The ‘C-D-C’ now recommends a booster-dose...

As part of this year’s “Digital Inclusion Week” [October 4th through 8th], “A-A-R-P Alabama” is calling attention to the thousands of residents—throughout the state—who still lack access to high-speed Internet. The group’s Jamie Harding explains… “Even before the pandemic, too many Alabamians were on the wrong side of the ‘digital divide’: In fact, the state ranks 47th in the nation, for Internet-...

Almost two-thirds of Virginia’s likely voters are concerned about being able to afford prescription-drugs—even more so among those who live in Southwest Virginia, and in rural communities. That’s according to a new survey from “A-A-R-P Virginia”—which also finds broad support for proposals to rein in prescription-drug costs. Jim Dau is the group’s state-director… “Virginians from all walks-of-life...

While 90-percent of Minnesota’s seniors have been vaccinated against “COVID-19”, not all of them are returning to their pre-pandemic activities at the same rate: A survey from “Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota” finds that one-in-five vaccinated seniors have yet to visit with any family or friends—while two-in-five still don’t feel comfortable socializing with unvaccinated grandchildren. “Bl...

(The following statement is from the American Petroleum Institute’s president and CEO, Mike Sommers.) “Members of ‘The Environmental Partnership’ are taking action to reduce emissions in America’s natural-gas- and oil-industry, through a growing range of initiatives—including a new program on reducing flaring. From 2019 to 2020, participants in that program reported a 50-percent reduction in flare...

The pandemic has made it clear that North Carolina’s most-vulnerable populations are often most at-risk for negative health-impacts; in fact, the state ranks 31st, in both health-outcomes and maternal health. Michelle Bucknor is the chief medical-officer for United-Healthcare’s “Community Plan of North Carolina”… “Health-equity is about helping people of all backgrounds live their healthiest lives...

Nine organizations, throughout Tennessee, will receive a total of 99-thousand dollars, in grants—to promote livable communities, with an emphasis on the needs of older residents. The grants are from “A-A-R-P Tennessee”—as part of the national “Community Challenge”-program. Rebecca Kelly is the group’s state-director… “We’re incredibly proud to collaborate with these organizations, as they work to...

Recent studies from “A-A-R-P” show that 40-percent of Black and Latino adults, nationwide, have been targeted by a scam—while 20-percent have lost money because of one. What’s more, nearly 60-percent of those who’ve lost money to a scam have done so more than once. Charles Williams is a volunteer-member of “A-A-R-P Kentucky’s” executive-council… “Both communities are most-often targeted by governm...

With the Legislature now holding a special session about the state’s fiscal challenges, “A-A-R-P Alaska” and the “Alaska Municipal League” are sponsoring weekly, online events about various revenue-options. Teresa Holt is “A-A-R-P Alaska’s” state-director… “Without enough oil-revenue or state-savings to draw from, Alaska is considering additional cuts—plus new ways to raise revenue—in order to hel...

America’s nursing-home industry has set a goal of having at least three-fourths of each facility’s staff-members vaccinated against “COVID-19”. But, “A-A-R-P’s” latest analysis finds that only eight-and-a-half-percent of Mississippi’s nursing-homes have met that goal. That’s why “A-A-R-P Mississippi’s” state-director, Kimberly L- Campbell, wants them to require all of their staff—and residents—to...

Did your child recently miss a checkup, or a “C-D-C”-recommended vaccination? Doctor Ericka Russell-Petty has an important message… “As a pediatrician in Georgia, I have seen how devastating vaccine-preventable diseases can be, to the health of our children. Across the United States, there’s been a decline in routine vaccinations administered to children, since March 2020—compared to the previous...

A recently introduced bill, in both houses of Congress, would create a tax-credit—to encourage the conversion of empty or obsolete office-buildings, into residential, retail, or mixed-use spaces. David Downey is the president and C-E-O of the “International Downtown Association”—and a member of the “Revitalize Our Cities Coalition”… “The ‘Revitalizing Downtowns Act’ is a commonsense legislative-so...

Nebraska-voters who are 50 or older overwhelmingly want elected-officials to ensure that high-speed Internet is available to all residents—throughout the state. This includes most of them supporting the development of partnerships—plus incentives for providers to expand high-speed Internet to unserved, rural areas. That’s according to a new survey from “A-A-R-P Nebraska”; Todd Stubbendieck [“stew-...

Starting next Tuesday, August 10th, “A-A-R-P Alaska” will host a series of free webinars—to help veterans, throughout the state, better-understand the various benefits that they might be eligible for. Madeline Holdorf [as in “hold”] is the group’s state-president—and a member of the Auxiliary at “The American Legion’s” “Jack Henry Post One”… “Over the next couple of months, our webinars will cover...

Many Marylanders lack access, right now, to affordable, high-speed Internet—or are struggling to afford it. But, the “Emergency Broadband Benefit”—a temporary, federal program—could help. That’s according to Hank Greenberg—“A-A-R-P Maryland’s” state-director… “If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that access to high-speed Internet is a necessity—not a luxury. Without it, Marylanders are be...

If you’re struggling to afford health-insurance, you’re not alone: As many as 363-thousand Pennsylvanians, ages 50 to 64, could potentially be helped by a special enrollment-period that’s now available through the state’s health-insurance marketplace—called “Pennie”. Joanne Grossi [as in “grow”] is “A-A-R-P Pennsylvania’s” state-president… “Your health matters to ‘A-A-R-P Pennsylvania’. We encoura...

(The following statement is from API Pennsylvania’s executive director, Stephanie Catarino Wissman. For the full “Energy Builds America” report, visit https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/american-energy/energy-builds-america-jobs-economy-environment-all-50-states.) “This analysis underscores the importance of the natural-gas- and oil-industry, for Pennsylvania’s post-pandemic economic recov...

(The following statement is from the American Petroleum Institute’s Gulf Coast region director, Gifford Briggs. For the full “Energy Builds America” report, visit https://www.api.org/news-policy-and-issues/american-energy/energy-builds-america-jobs-economy-environment-all-50-states.) “This analysis underscores the importance of the natural-gas- and oil-industry, for Louisiana’s post-pandemic econo...