National News

LENEXA, KAN. – This is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized stronger requirements for identifying and cleaning up lead paint dust in pre-1978 homes and childcare facilities. The final standards are the latest action in President Biden’s whole-of-government strategy to protect families and children from lead exposure. Children are especially […]

By Jackie Dover Things, they are a changing in Medicare, especially the prescription drug programs. Every year there are some changes to particular plans but 2025 will have big changes for Medicare Part D.   Open Enrollment for Medicare Part C and Part D plans is every year from October 15 through December 7 so

LENEXA, KAN – On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). The AEZ is an area surrounding outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This rule finalizes the agency’s 2023 proposed

Clarksdale, Miss. – The Delta Regional Authority (DRA), in collaboration with the state of Illinois, recently invested $1.5 million toward three projects in Southern Illinois through its States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) — one of DRA’s main investment tools.   A coordinated effort among DRA, its Board of Governors and Local Development Districts, SEDAP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5 percent in 2025, the Social Security Administration announced today.  On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January. Over the last decade the COLA increase has averaged

KANSAS CITY – Prices in the Midwest Region, as measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), were unchanged in September, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A 4.5-percent decrease in the energy index was balanced out by a 0.3-percent advance in the index for all items less food and

WASHINGTON – Kenneth R. Hartman Jr., a corn farmer from Waterloo, Ill., began his term this week as president of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). During meetings with the media, Hartman discussed the current economic challenges corn growers face and said he wanted to push for passage of a robust farm bill, expand markets and

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security Administration policy updates that expand access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in line with the law go into effect today.  The agency no longer includes food in In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM) calculations, has expanded its rental subsidy policy exception, and has expanded the definition of a public assistance household.