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In the relatively affluent Milwaukee suburbs of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, Rochelle Gamauf said each week she is seeing new faces at her food pantry, Friends With Food, which she started during the pandemic. The organization has gone from giving out around 420,000 pounds of food in 2022 to over a million pounds in 2023. “I’m seeing people that have never visited a food pantry in their life,” Gamauf said. In Michigan, Phil Knight, executive director of the Food Bank Council of Michigan, said he’s also seeing more regulars. Even then, he said there are times when they run out of food with hundreds of people still in line.

Persons: Ken Estelle, “, ”, Estelle, “ We’ve, Joe Arthur, —, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Trump, Rochelle Gamauf, ” Gamauf, “ It’s, Arthur, “ We’re, ” Arthur, Melody McCurtis, she’s, McCurtis, Heidi Gould, ” Gould, Gould, Phil Knight, he’s, That’s, Gamauf Organizations: America, Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, ”, Jewish Community, Food Bank Council of Locations: Michigan, America West Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, ” Michigan, Milwaukee, Waukesha County , Wisconsin, Lancaster County, Dauphin County, Harrisburg, Metcalfe, Food Bank Council of Michigan, Dairy State, Waukesha

☆ Newly jobless hurricane survivors would exhaust aid sooner without Disaster Unemployment Assistance
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Currently, the jobless in North Carolina can only receive up to 12 weeks of state unemployment benefits, among the skimpiest in the nation. (Applicants must first exhaust their state unemployment benefits.) Plus, disaster jobless benefits are available to many types of workers who don’t qualify for state unemployment insurance, such as gig workers, farmers and the self-employed. Still, it can be difficult for the newly jobless to secure either state or disaster unemployment benefits, particularly those whose homes and businesses have been heavily damaged or destroyed by storms. It took Miranda Escalante five days to apply for unemployment assistance.

Persons: Jen Hampton, Helene, Asheville’s, Hampton, we’re, ”, “ We’re, ” Michele Evermore, Roy Cooper, Miranda Escalante, Hurricane Helene, Escalante, Alex Smith, we’ll, ” Escalante, Evermore, — Asheville’s, “ Organizations: CNN, Asheville Food, Beverage United, “, Unemployment, The Century Foundation, state’s, Employment Security, Gov, Emergency Management Agency, Center, Budget, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Asheville Locations: North Carolina, ”, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina’s, Asheville

“Losing the workers would devastate our companies, our industry and our economy.”‘The math is just not there’There is evidence that foreign-born construction workers help keep the housing market in check. “Immigrant construction workers in Sun Belt metros like Raleigh, Nashville, Houston, and San Antonio have helped these cities sustain their housing cost advantage over coastal cities despite rapid growth in housing demand,” the authors wrote. Undocumented workers would likely flee ahead of any national deportation effort, Hetrick said, even though many have been in the U.S. for well over a decade. Past as prologueLast year, the state’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, enacted a series of restrictions and penalties to deter the employment of undocumented workers. Many immigrant workers hastily left the state even before the policies took effect, with social media videos showing some construction sites sitting empty.

Persons: Trump, You’d, couldn’t, Stan Marek, Marek, “ You’d, ” Bryan Dunn, ”, “, Trump’s, ” Taylor Rogers, Karoline Leavitt, ” Tobin, Jim Tobin, ” Marek, George W, Bob Croslin, Ron Hetrick, Hetrick, Ron DeSantis, Luciano, Taylor, Rick Roth, weren’t, Dunn, ” Dunn, he’s “, Kamala Harris, ” Taylor Organizations: Republican, Trump, Companies, Big, Republican National, National Association of Home Builders, Bush Institute and Southern Methodist University, U.S, Sun, NBC, Workers, NBC News Republican Locations: Texas, an, Arizona, Southwest, Greenland, Aurora , Colorado, U.S, Raleigh, Nashville, Houston, San Antonio, Tampa, Fla, Florida, Mexico, South Florida, Tempe, “ Arizona

☆ Biden and Harris step up public engagement about the dangers of Hurricane Milton
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Later Wednesday, the White House said Biden had spoken by phone with officials in Florida in advance of Hurricane Milton making landfall. Harris’ visible role on the storm response comes as Hurricane Helene and now Milton have become part of the 2024 campaign, with less than four weeks to go before Election Day. She’s been making statements on issues that don’t typically fall under the purview of her official role as vice president. Her campaign has been consumed in recent days by the latest hurricane as it is working to evacuate staff, pause voter outreach across Florida and keep an eye on potential early voting ramifications following Hurricane Helene in a battleground state like North Carolina. It’s looking like the storm of the century,” Biden said during the briefing.

Persons: Milton, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, “, we’ve, ” Biden, “ We’ve, Kamala, Harris ’, Hurricane Helene, Federal Emergency Management Agency — Biden, Harris, CNN’s Dana, ”, Biden —, Roosevelt, Biden, Hurricane Milton, She’s, ” Harris, Bash, Donald Trump, I’m, –, ABC’s, Trump, – Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, That’s, Helene, MJ Lee, Donald Judd Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, White, Weather Channel, Angola —, White House, Trump Locations: Florida, New York, Germany, Angola, Hurricane, “, North Carolina, ”, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia

It’s not unusual for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to have to respond to rumors surrounding any given natural disaster. This week, President Joe Biden requested a memorandum from his team on the federal government’s digital response, including how officials were remediating misinformation, a senior administration official told CNN. “The contours of this misinformation are unlike anything we’ve seen before,” a senior administration official told CNN. CNN previously reported that there were 30 midair near-collisions involving noncommercial flights in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Saturday, September 28. FEMA personnel on the ground receive threatsThe snowballing of false information on the heels of Hurricane Helene has also directly affected those on the ground.

Persons: Hurricane Helene, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, It’s, Joe Biden, Hurricane Milton, Biden, Trump, we’ve, ”, “, Pete Buttigieg, CNN’s John Berman, ” Buttigieg, Musk, Buttigieg, “ We’re, Helene, Chuck Edwards, ” Edwards, Steve Reaves, ” Reaves, Reaves, Sandy, Maria, Alejandro Mayorkas, ” Mayorkas, ” John Cohen Organizations: CNN, Biden, White, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Hurricane, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Department of Transportation, Twitter, SpaceX, Trump, FEMA, North Carolina Division of Aviation, Asheville Regional Airport, GOP, Republicans, House Homeland Security, Congress, American Federation of Government Employees, Homeland, Wednesday, DHS Locations: Hurricane, Florida, it’s, North Carolina, Asheville, Rutherford, Western North Carolina, Fort Worth , Texas, Carter County , Tennessee

☆ What to know about FEMA’s $750 hurricane disaster payments
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

This is the first hurricane season where the $750 payment plan has been in effect, so it’s also not something officials and people in hurricane zones are familiar with. “I worry that they won’t apply for assistance, which means I can’t get them the necessary items they need.”Here’s what to know about FEMA’s assistance programs:What is the $750 FEMA payment to disaster survivors? This $750 payment is thanks to a relatively new federal program, implemented in March of this year. And counter to rumors, this money is not a loan; it is for disaster survivors to keep and spend. Rothenberg also stressed the $750 from FEMA is not a loan and is for disaster survivors to keep and spend.

Persons: Donald Trump, –, it’s, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, “, ” It’s, Jaclyn Rothenberg, “ It’s, Trump, Biden, Hurricane Helene, ” Trump, Rothenberg Organizations: CNN, FEMA, North Carolina Locations: Butler, Pennsylvania, Hurricane

☆ Fact check: Six days of Trump lies about the Hurricane Helene response
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-06 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump has delivered a barrage of lies and distortions about the federal response to Hurricane Helene. Over a span of six days, in public comments and social media posts, Trump has used his powerful megaphone to endorse or invent false or unsubstantiated claims. Monday: Trump falsely claims Biden hasn’t answered calls from Georgia’s governorDuring a visit to Georgia on Monday, Trump said of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp: “He’s been calling the president, hasn’t been able to get him.”It was immediately clear that Trump’s claim was false. He added, “Think of it: We give foreign countries hundreds of billions of dollars and we’re handing North Carolina $750.”Trump’s claim is wrong.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hurricane Helene, Trump, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Biden hasn’t, Brian Kemp, “ He’s, hasn’t, Kemp, Biden, ‘, we’ve, “, ” Trump, Roy Cooper, Harris, Harris “, Henry McMaster, Pete Buttigieg, McMaster, Deanne Criswell, “ Kamala, —, they’re, They’ve, ”, Harris ’, ” It’s, Buttigieg, “ Kamala wined, Helene, Becca Gallas Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, Georgia Gov, Biden, Federal Government, Democrat, State, North Carolina Gov, Democratic, Republican South Carolina Gov, Transportation, FEMA, US Customs, Department of Homeland Security, White, Congress, North Carolina, North Carolina Trump, North Carolina National Guard, Washington Post, National Guard, CNN, North, North Carolina’s Division of Aviation Locations: Georgia, Atlanta, North Carolina, Carolina, Asheville, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Hurricane, California, San Francisco, North Carolina’s

☆ House GOP chairman demands FEMA accountability for Hurricane Helene after flooding claims more than 200 lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Laura Strickler | Laura Strickler Is A Senior Investigative Producer | Reporter For Nbc News. She Is Based In Washington. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The chairman of a House Homeland Security subcommittee is asking the Federal Emergency Management Agency to detail what it did to prepare for Hurricane Helene after it became clear there would be catastrophic flooding. Helene made landfall in Big Bend, Florida, on Sept. 26, causing flooding that devastated North Carolina, Tennessee and other Southern states and claimed more than 200 lives. D’Esposito, R-N.Y., cited a local official from Buncombe County, North Carolina, who claimed that water was requested before the storm started but was delayed, further exacerbating the water shortage in Asheville. Post-landfall, it “surged capacity to where it was needed the most.” She noted that western North Carolina has now been identified as the area that was hardest hit. More than 6,400 federal personnel, including FEMA staff, are deployed in the affected areas.

Persons: Helene, Anthony D’Esposito, Deanne Criswell, ”, Hurricane Helene, Liz Sherwood, Randall, “, Donald Trump, Sen, Thom Tillis, Chuck Edwards, ” Edwards Organizations: House Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Management, Technology, FEMA, NBC News, North Carolina Republicans, Republican, Management Locations: Big Bend , Florida, North Carolina , Tennessee, Hurricane, Buncombe County , North Carolina, Asheville, Bend , Florida, North Carolina, Buncombe

☆ Fact check: Amid bipartisan praise for Biden hurricane response, Trump falsely claims reviews are ‘universally’ negative
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The Biden administration’s response to the hurricane has received bipartisan praise from political leaders in affected states. But Trump’s assertion that reviews for the Biden administration’s handling of the crisis have been entirely negative is not true. And this is just the latest Trump false claim on the subject of the administration’s hurricane response. Brian Kemp hadn’t been able to get Biden on the phone, though Kemp had said the same day that he had already spoken to Biden. Praise from Republican governorsVarious Republican governors in the southeastern states hit by Hurricane Helene have praised the Biden administration’s response, sometimes naming Biden in particular.

Persons: Donald Trump, Hurricane Helene, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris “, Trump, Biden, Brian Kemp hadn’t, Kemp, Trump baselessly, Roy Cooper, Henry McMaster, “, Pete Buttigieg, Deanne Criswell, Glenn Youngkin, Bill Lee, Lee, North Carolina Cooper, Cooper, “ We’re, ” Cooper, Harris, Esther Manheimer, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, Georgia Gov, Democratic, Republican South Carolina Gov, Transportation, McMaster, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Republican Virginia Gov, FEMA, Republican Tennessee Gov, North, MSNBC Locations: Hurricane, North Carolina, Carolina, Asheville

☆ Electric bill: Home heating costs expected to rise this winter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Consumers who heat with electricity will be hit the hardest, with their costs projected to rise 13.6% to $1,208 for the winter season, the association found. The expense of maintaining and upgrading the electric grid is driving up costs, particularly in the West, where fires have ravaged the grid and electric heating costs could soar nearly 23%. The price tag for heating with propane will rise 7.3% to $1,442 this winter, while natural gas users will see a 7.2% increase to $644. Natural gas prices have stabilized but are expected to rise over the winter as US exports increase, said Mark Wolfe, the association’s executive director. But those who heat with oil will catch somewhat of a break after a pricey heating season last year, with costs expected to rise only 6.1% to $1,963 this winter.

Persons: Mark Wolfe, Wolfe, ”, “ Organizations: CNN, Northeast, National Energy Assistance, Association, Consumers, Low Income, Energy Assistance Locations: Midwest

ASHEVILLE, N.C. —A historic village in western North Carolina is under water after bearing the brunt of devastating flooding damage from Hurricane Helene. Tree branches, logs and a dumpster floated across Asheville’s Biltmore Village, renowned for being built and owned by a single individual. A tree had fallen on Hazel Mill Road, blocking all travel along a central route to West Asheville during Tropical Storm Helene. Jacob Biba / Asheville Citizen Times / USA Today NetworkGeorgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and South Carolina will receive a variety of federal assistance from the government after the storm made landfall as a highly destructive Category 4 hurricane. Biden has also ordered more than 1,500 federal personnel to be deployed to the region, including search and rescue teams, medical teams and power restoration teams.

Persons: Tree, Jacob Biba, I’m, “ It’s, Hurricane Helene, Joe Biden, Helene, Biden Organizations: NBC News, River Arts, Asheville Citizen Times, USA, Network Asheville, Arts, Network Locations: ASHEVILLE, N.C, —, North Carolina, Hurricane, Asheville, Charlotte, ”, Georgia, U.S, South Carolina, North Carolina , Georgia, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, Hazel, West Asheville, Tropical, Network Georgia, Florida , Alabama, North Carolina , Tennessee

Hurricane Helene killed at least 22 people and left millions without power across the Southeast before weakening on its way north Friday morning, officials said. Hurricane-felled trees caused two deaths in Anderson County, South Carolina, officials said. Debris left by Hurricane Helene in Cedar Key, Fla., on Friday. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo / AFP - Getty ImagesMeanwhile, more than 4.3 million people are experiencing power outages in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility data. At 11 a.m., the storm was 30 miles southwest of Bryson City, North Carolina, moving northward with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph.

Persons: Helene, Floridians, Jamie Cruse, “ We’re, ”, “, Bruce Rector, NBC’s, Megan Varner, Brian Kemp, Ron DeSantis, Roy Cooper, Hurricane, Miguel J, Rodriguez Carrillo, Ana Gibbs, Ronda Bell, Mike Stewart, Joe Biden, Deanne Criswell Organizations: National Hurricane Center, NBC, ” Clearwater, Georgia Gov, Florida Gov, Gov, North Carolina, Highway Patrol, AFP, Getty, Florida, & Light Company, Duke Energy Florida, Duke Energy, Federal Emergency Management Locations: Big Bend, Florida’s, Perry , Florida, Clearwater, Gulf Coast, Atlanta, Georgia, Pinellas County , Florida, Florida, Dixie County, North Carolina, Catawba County, Charlotte, Anderson County , South Carolina, Cedar Key, Fla, South Carolina , Georgia, Virginia, Valdosta, Ga, Carolinas, Charleston, Wilmington, Raleigh, Norfolk, Bryson City , North Carolina, Georgia , Florida , Alabama, South Carolina

☆ Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says baseless claims about Haitian immigrants are 'garbage'
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Summer-Concepcion-Byline-Jm.Jpg | Summer Concepcion | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Mike DeWine on Sunday decried former President Donald Trump's baseless claims that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were eating dogs and other pets as "garbage," but stopped short of directly condemning the former president and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, for spreading the false claims. There’s no evidence of this at all,” DeWine said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week” when asked whether it’s responsible for Trump to push those false claims. Springfield Mayor Rob Rue has slammed the false claims and urged the public, especially prominent public figures, against amplifying them further. “Springfield is a beautiful community, and your pets are safe in Springfield, Ohio,” Rue told MSNBC’s “Katy Tur Reports” last week. We don’t need this misinformation.”Vance on Sunday pushed back on claims that the fringe online conspiracy of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating pets is false, claiming that he has heard concerns from constituents on the matter.

Persons: Mike DeWine, Donald Trump's, Sen, JD Vance, “, ” DeWine, DeWine, ”, Fran, we’ve, Trump, Vance, “ I’ve, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Springfield Mayor Rob Rue, ” Rue, MSNBC’s, Katy Tur, “ We’ve, ” Vance, Union ”, Biden, Margaret, Kamala Harris ’, I’ve Organizations: Gov, Trump, Republican, Springfield Mayor, Sunday, NBC, Press, CNN’s, Union, CNN, CBS Locations: Springfield , Ohio, Springfield, “, Haiti, “ Springfield, CNN’s “ State, Ohio

☆ Some baby boomers are burning through their retirement savings to pay for cancer treatments. Then they have to go back to work.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-15 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

AdvertisementIt's a story all too familiar for some older Americans: An unexpected health crisis derails their retirement planning. With insufficient help from health insurance or Social Security, medical bills eat up any savings or income they have. Jones, who gets $2,200 a month in Social Security, has had to take on part-time work, which made her ineligible for some federal assistance. She paid for chemo out of pocket, spending her way through her retirement savings and maxing out her credit cards. Amend said it's crucial for older Americans to believe everything will be OK, noting "your mindset perpetuates what your outcome will be."

Persons: —, Kimberly Mullen, Mullen, She's, she'll, Nancy Altman, Saul Martinez, Karen Knudsen, they've, Uber, Wendy Jones, it's, she's, Jones, Teresa Ghilarducci, , Ghilarducci, Rebecca Buffum, Buffum, I'm, Andrew Whitaker, Marion, Robert Papalia, Papalia, Leonard Bianconi, Bianconi, Gallup, Monique Morrissey, haven't, Harris, Morrissey, Frank, Weeks, he's Organizations: Service, Business, Social Security, American Cancer Society, Social, Walmart, Medicare, New School for Social Research, Schwartz, for Economic, Kaiser Family Foundation, BI, Institute, Biden, American Heart Association Locations: Kentucky, North Carolina

Crews battling three major California fires could get some relief from record heat and help from the weather as a cooldown preceded minor containment for the blazes. Hot, flame-fanning winds from the desert are dissipating, and the cooler temps may help firefighters give the blaze their best. Firefighters cut and extinguish a fire in a tree as the Bridge Fire burns in the Big Pines hills near Wrightwood, Calif., on Thursday. He also said mutual aid from Washington, Utah, and North Dakota, including firefighters, were sent to Southern California. The weather outlook should give firefighters the weekend and beyond to battle the three fires without unforgiving temperatures.

Persons: Crews, Craig Covey, ” Covey, Etienne Laurent, Anthony Marrone, Kristian Litz, Litz, Jeremy Pierce, Pierce, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, San Bernardino, Fabian Herrera, Gavin Newsom Organizations: California Department of Forestry, Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange County Sheriff's Department . Authorities, AFP, Getty, Angeles County Fire, The California Department of Forestry, Fire Protection, Firefighters, National Guard, National Weather Service Locations: California, Trabuco, Los Angeles, Rancho Santa, Orange, Riverside County, San Bernardino, San Gabriel, Nowhere, Big Pines, Wrightwood, Calif, Angeles, Mount Baldy, Big, San Bernardino County, Highland, San, Washington , Utah, North Dakota, Southern California, San Diego, Los Angeles County

Di Bari is one of thousands of residents attempting to rebuild her home and business amid a flurry of instability. Courtesy Qiana and Michele Di BariToday, many Lahaina residents who lost their homes are still displaced as they scramble from one temporary shelter to another. “The true thing about Lahaina people is you cannot take Lahaina people out of Lahaina,” Nahoo’ikaika said. A man walks past wildfire wreckage in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 9, 2023. A rainbow is seen from Put Kukui mountain over burned cars and buildings in Lahaina, Hawaii, on Aug. 13, 2023.

Persons: restauranteur Qiana Di, Michele, Di, Qiana Di, Pepe, Michele Di Bari, ”, Jamie Nahoo’ikaika, Sale Pepe, Jaret, Levi, King Kamehameha III, Di Bari, Baris, Nahoo’ikaika, James Tokioka, Tiffany Kidder Winn, Lisa Grove, —, Josh Green, Kalama McEwen, he's, McEwen, Mengshin Lin, Cindy Canham, you’ve, Canham, Whaler’s, Jimmy Carter, she'll Organizations: Di Bari, NBC, FEMA, NBC News, Tourism, Maui, Hawaii Department of Business, Economic, Rural Health Association, The Washington, Getty Locations: Lahaina, Hawaii, restauranteur Qiana Di Bari, Maui, Italian, Di Bari, Paradise , California, Qiana Di Bari, New York, “, Lahaina , Hawaii, Hawaiʻi, ”, Texas, Kihei

☆ What two assassination attempts in two violent elections in the 1870s warn about today
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Dana Bash | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The Civil War was over, and Black men were legally allowed to vote and helped Republicans win in 1870. Two years later, Louisiana Democrats were determined to take back the state by preventing Black men from voting through intimidation and voter suppression. On Easter Sunday morning, White supremacists stormed the building and went on a killing spree, brutally murdering some 150 Black men. Another disputed election, more political violenceAs for the gubernatorial election dispute in 1872, it happened again in 1876. And while violence should never be the answer, it has occurred more than any of us would want to admit.

Persons: William Pitt Kellogg, Charles R, Railey, “, scoundrel, ” Railey, Kellogg, David Fisher, Donald Trump, Abraham Lincoln, James A, Garfield, William McKinley, John F, Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry S, Truman, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, John D, McEnery, McEnery’s, ”, wasn’t, White supremacists, Stephen Packard, Francis T, Nicholls, Packard, Ulysses S, Grant, William Weldon, Frank Hudson, Weldon, ” Packard, Jim Crow Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Gov, American, Republican, Black, Republicans, Louisiana Democrats, Blacks, The White League, Philadelphia Press Locations: Louisiana, New Orleans, Colfax, Grant Parish , Louisiana, Washington

☆ A French Museum Collides With New Jersey Politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Zachary Small | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Plans to build an outpost of the Pompidou Center in the heart of Jersey City were put on hold after the State Legislature voted last week to rescind $24 million in funding for the Paris museum’s project. Another $34 million in state and federal assistance for what would have been the Pompidou’s first satellite location in North America was also put in jeopardy by the vote. Tim Sullivan, chief executive of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, addressed a letter to museum officials saying that the project was called off. “Due to the ongoing impact of Covid and multiple global conflicts on the supply chain, rising costs, an irreconcilable operating gap and the corresponding financial burdens it will create for New Jersey’s taxpayers, the Legislature has rescinded financial support,” Mr. Sullivan wrote, “leaving us to determine that this project is unfortunately no longer feasible.”

Persons: Tim Sullivan, ” Mr, Sullivan, “ Organizations: Pompidou Center, State, Paris, New, New Jersey Economic Development Authority Locations: Jersey, North America, New Jersey

☆ Here's how inflation has ratcheted up the cost of basics like housing and food for families across the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

ALICE Americans make above the federal poverty level but not enough to comfortably afford all their daily expenses, often making too much to qualify for government assistance. The ALICE Essentials Index, which includes housing, childcare, food, transportation, healthcare, and technology costs, has risen by a projected 7.3% annually from 2021 to 2023; comparatively, CPI has risen by 6.1%. The ALICE Essentials Index for rural areas was slightly higher than that for urban areas, at 7.5% and 7.2%, respectively. "Long before everybody else was upset about inflation, ALICE was dealing with inflation," Hoopes said. Still, ALICE Americans tend to be overrepresented in these roles, as many pay below the ALICE threshold of about $55,000 a year.

Persons: —, ALICE —, ALICE Americans, ALICE, Stephanie Hoopes, United For ALICE, Hoopes, There's Organizations: Service, Business, CPI, United For, United Locations: West, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Midwest, Northeast

☆ Fact check: Trump rewrites Wisconsin history in rally filled with false claims
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-19 | by ( Daniel Dale | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —Former President Donald Trump made more than two dozen false claims at his Tuesday campaign rally in Racine, Wisconsin, including two significant attempts to rewrite Wisconsin history. “By the way, you know, Kenosha: I saved Kenosha, do you know that? Evers, not Trump, deployed the Wisconsin National Guard during the rioting in Kenosha — and Evers first deployed the Guard the day before Trump publicly demanded that Evers do so. Evers continued to deploy more Wisconsin National Guard troops in the coming days, and he also accepted National Guard troops from three other states; they were never federalized. Other Trump false claimsTrump made lots of other false claims during the Racine rally.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Tony Evers, ” Trump, “ Kenosha, wouldn’t, I’m, Evers “ wouldn’t, “, Evers, Tim Walz, Walz, Jacob Blake, Evers wouldn’t, Racine, Here’s, Al Capone, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama —, Biden Organizations: Washington CNN, Wisconsin, Gov, Democrat, Kenosha, Wisconsin National Guard, Kenosha —, Guard, Democratic, National Guard, CNN, Trump, US Marshals Service, FBI, White, Republicans, Capitol Locations: Racine , Wisconsin, Wisconsin, Kenosha, Minnesota, Minneapolis, Washington, DC, China, Syria, Turkey, Ottoman Empire

☆ New York City briefly opened its housing voucher waitlist. But getting that assistance is as unlikely as getting into Harvard.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Finding an affordable apartment in New York City has become ever more challenging for low-income people — and an expansion of key federal assistance isn't likely to help much. Ultimately, though, it will only issue 20,000 new vouchers, bringing the total number of vouchers up from about 96,000 to about 115,000, the New York City Housing Authority said. AdvertisementNew York City has the largest housing voucher program in the country, but it still falls far short of need. Discrimination against housing voucher holders by landlords is pervasive, even in places that prohibit it. Fully funding housing vouchers is key.

Persons: isn't, Gothamist Organizations: Service, New, New York City Housing Authority, Harvard University, of Housing, Urban Development Locations: New York City, York City, New York

Many forms of help are tied to the federal poverty line, which is calculated using a formula that has largely not been updated since the 1960s. The poverty line is calculated in an outdated wayThe current federal poverty line for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, is $15,060 a year for one person, $20,440 for a family of two, and $31,200 for a family of four. Courtesy of Melissa HeddenMuch of the resistance to changing the federal poverty line could stem from the government's desire not to inflate the number of people in poverty overnight. AdvertisementRep. Kevin Mullin, a Democrat from California, has introduced legislation — called the Poverty Line Act— that would modernize the federal poverty line, taking into account actual costs of goods and how prices differ across regions. Do you make above the poverty line but not enough to meet your daily needs?

Persons: —, Jason Hopkins, Hopkins, he's, He's, doesn't, ALICE —, Nyx, Beth Jarosz, Kyle Ross, ALICE, Mollie Orshansky, Jarosz, Stephanie Hoopes, United For ALICE, they've, Melinda Binkley, Ryan Arbuckle, Louis, Oleg Parubin, Parubin, Melissa Hedden, Melissa, Ross, Biden, Kevin Mullin, Mullin, Michael Tubbs, Tubbs Organizations: Service, Business, America, Center for American Progress, Bureau of Labor Statistics, of Health, Human Services, Assistance, Women, Children, United For, SNAP, Bills, Senate Locations: Illinois, Washington, DC, Stillwater , Minnesota, St, Manhattan, Airbnbs, North Carolina, California, Stockon , California, Illinois —

☆ Summer heat will likely bring higher electric bills amid rising temperatures
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Many Americans may get hot under the collar when they open their electric bills this summer, but for some, the consequences of rising utility costs can be a lot more serious. He pointed to the National Weather Service’s prediction that much of the country will probably have above-normal temperatures this summer. The difference in projections stems from the association assuming higher rates of usage because of hotter temperatures, Wolfe said. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, known as LIHEAP, has $4.1 billion to help consumers with heating and cooling costs, down from $6.1 billion in the prior fiscal year. “Because of the lack of a coherent policy to address summer cooling, people will die this summer from heatstroke,” Wolfe said.

Persons: Mark Wolfe, ”, Wolfe, Diana Hernandez, Hernandez, “, ” Hernandez, arrearages, ” Wolfe Organizations: CNN, National Energy Assistance, Association, Center for Energy, US Energy Information Administration, Department of Health, Human Services, Energy, Columbia University, Income, Energy Assistance, US Census Bureau, District, Columbia, National Weather Service Locations: Pacific, Chicago, heatstroke

They came from across the country to walk the halls of Congress and show lawmakers the human cost of the U.S. nuclear weapons program. They call themselves “downwinders” — a global community of people who lived near nuclear testing sites. In America, more than 100 nuclear devices were exploded in aboveground tests in New Mexico and Nevada between 1945 and 1962. The 1990 legislation has provided billions of dollars to people exposed to harmful radiation during U.S. nuclear tests or while mining uranium. A bill currently stalled in Congress would extend the law and expand compensation to nearly all Americans whose documented health struggles are linked to the nuclear weapons program.

Persons: they’ve, Robert Oppenheimer’s Organizations: Capitol, U.S, White House Locations: America, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, Utah , Nevada, Arizona

☆ A 62-year-old employed 'peak boomer' in California makes too much for affordable housing but lives in her car: 'I'll work until I drop'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Cheryl Simmons, a parking lot attendant, lives in her car but makes too much for affordable housing. She lives in her car, even though she makes about $42,000 a year. She makes slightly too much for a single-room occupancy unit in affordable housing and exceeds the income limit for food stamps and other government assistance. AdvertisementSimmons is one of the 30 million "peak boomers" entering retirement age in the next few years, but most are not financially prepared to retire. A new report from the Alliance for Lifetime Income's Retirement Income Institute found that 52.5% of peak boomers have below $250,000 in assets.

Persons: Cheryl Simmons, Simmons, —, she'll, she's, ALICE —, ALICE, it's Organizations: Service, Alliance, Lifetime, Assistance, Food Locations: San Diego, Albuquerque, California, Texas

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