Updates from Organizations - Government agencies - Advertise Various Artists

USDA Applauds Housing Eligibility for Temporary Farm Workers

(Washington, D.C., July 10, 2018) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released internal guidance on changes made to farm labor housing eligibility. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 amended a section of the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the Farm Labor Housing tenant eligibility to agricultural workers legally admitted to the United States and authorized to work in agriculture. Due to this rule change, domestic farm laborers legally admitted into the country under an H-2A work visa are now eligible for this state-inspected housing.

“Finding suitable housing for temporary agriculture workers has always been a challenge faced by our farmers and producers,” Secretary Perdue said. “The seasonal workers coming to the United States do tremendous work for American agriculture. I am pleased that USDA programs can now better assist farmers needing to provide housing while they’re here. I thank Congress for addressing this issue in its most recent funding bill and hope to continue the conversation on farm labor for our agriculture industry.”

USDA has released internal guidance for implementing this new rule.

The application period is now open, with a deadline of August 27, 2018. 

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 4 Ways To Plan For Rising

Healthcare Costs In Retirement

What keeps you up at night? For millions of Americans, it’s the question of how they will fund their healthcare expenses in retirement.

A survey from Franklin Templeton Investments about retirement costs found that Americans are most concerned about how they’ll cover medical and pharmaceuticals bills. Those fears are well-founded, given the high costs of nursing homes, assisted living, hospitalization and prescription drugs.

Even a healthy retirement could have a hefty price tag; an analysis from Fidelity Investments estimated that a healthy 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need $280,000 to cover their health costs in retirement.

“Knowing your options and planning financially for them well ahead of retirement is  crucial,” says Eric Kearney  (www.erickearneyadvisor.com), an investment advisor for Retirement Wealth.

“With proper planning, healthcare costs in retirement are within the means of average and wealthy Americans, provided they are able to afford a Medicare supplement policy.

“But you have to understand how the Medicare system works and what you can expect to pay in out-of-pocket costs throughout your retirement. You must budget for them. For retirees who have enjoyed strong employer health benefits and are unprepared for retirement, the out-of-pocket cost difference can cause an uptick in blood pressure.”

Kearney explains the costs and coverages of different parts of Medicare:

• Medicare Part A. Part A was the original Medicare, covering hospitalization. There are no monthly premiums, although a $1,340 deductible applies as of this year. “After 60 days of hospitalization, the patient becomes responsible for a $335/day coinsurance,” Kearney says. “After 90 days, the coinsurance goes to $670/day. After 60 more days, the patient’s coverage runs out.”
• Medicare Part B. The optional Part B covers doctor and treatment costs. “Premiums average $134 per month and patients are responsible for 20 percent coinsurance,” Kearney says. “And with a 20-percent Part B coinsurance, many seniors can expect to pay several thousand dollars or more out of pocket each year. If you have long-term conditions requiring extensive care, it is easy to see how Part A and Part B out-of-pocket costs can eat away even a large nest egg.”
• Medicare Parts C and D. Part C, also called the Medicare Advantage plan, is run by private companies and requires a larger premium. “It provides more coverage options such as vision, dental, pharmaceutical, and wellness programs,” Kearney says. “Part D covers prescription drugs, and the older we get, the more likely we are to need them.”

• Medicare Supplement Policy. “Without this, the assets you worked all your life to accumulate could disappear,” Kearney says. “Since a long-term hospital stay or chronic illness could send your medical bills into the five or even six figures, you stand to lose some or all of your assets if you do not protect them with a Medicare supplemental policy.” Also known as Medigap policies, these are offered by private insurance companies to supplement expenses that Medicare Parts A and B do not typically cover.

“If a stress-free, comfortable retirement is your goal,” Kearney says, “you need to prepare for healthcare expenses, and it’s never too early to start.”

About Eric Kearney

Eric Kearney (www.erickearneyadvisor.com) of Retirement Wealth, with Florida offices in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda and Bonita Springs, has been helping clients reach and maintain their financial goals for more than 16 years. Eric co-authored a book with Forbes Media Chairman/Editor-in-Chief Steve Forbes, Successonomics. His professional licenses include a Series 65, Series 7 Securities License and a Life and Health Insurance License. He teaches successful pre- and post-retirees a wealth management course titled “Rejuvenate Your Retirement” at Florida SouthWestern State College and Florida Gulf Coast University.

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WATERPARKS

Release New Music Video For "We Need To Talk"

 

Entertainment

Out Now Through Equal Vision Records

 

Catch Waterparks All Summer on the Main Stage 

at Vans Warped Tour

 

Houston, TX - July 9th, 2018 - Waterparks have shared the new music video for "We Need to Talk" off their newest album Entertainment, released earlier this year through Equal Vision Records. Fans will notice a surprise at the end of the video, which will expand on the story told in their previous video for "Not "Warriors/Crybaby". Watch the video for "We Need To Talk" here: https://youtu.be/lfYqK0QlmEU

 

Waterparks has been rapidly on the rise since their 2016 Billboard chartingalbum Double Dare was released. Entertainment made an impressive debut on the Billboard Top 200, charting #7 Rock Albums, #5 Indie, #25 Top Current Albums, #18 Digital and #36 Physical. The record was named one of Alternative Press Magazine's Most Anticipated of 2018 and was produced by Benji Madden and Courtney Ballard (All Time Low, 5 Seconds of Summer).

 

Entertainment is available now on Spotify, Apple Music , and iTunes.

 

The band is set to play the main stage for the entirety of the final cross country run of the Vans Warped tour. A list of remaining dates can be found below.

 

Known for his signature eye-catching hair colors, lead singer Awsten Knight has released his own Manic Panic hair dye color "Knight Bright Purple", available exclusively at Hot Topic.

 

Waterparks is Awsten Knight (vocals, guitar), Geoff Wigington (guitar, vocals), and Otto Wood (drums, vocals). Since the release of Double Dare, the band has remained on the road, touring with the likes of All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Mayday Parade, and more - not to mention their most recent completely sold out UK tour in October 2017. Radio personalities such as Daniel P Carter (BBC Radio 1) have come forward as fans and the band has been featured on covers of magazines such as Alternative Press, Kerrang and Rock Sound.

 

Upcoming Tour Dates

7/10 - Nashville, TN @ Tennessee State Fairgrounds

7/12 - Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre

7/13 - Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion

7/14 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

7/15 - Hartford, CT @ Xfinity Theatre

7/16 - Burgettstown, PA @ Keybank Pavilion

7/17 - Toronto, ON @ The Flats at Budweiser Stage

7/18 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center

7/19 - Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center

7/20 - Detroit, MI @ Meadow Brook Amphitheatre

7/21 - Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

7/22 - Shakopee, MN @ Canterbury Park

7/23 - Milwaukee, WI @ American Family Insurance Amphitheater

7/24 - Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center

7/25 - Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake PAC

7/26 - Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

7/27 - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center

7/28 - Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Amphitheater

7/29 - Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion

7/30 - Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte

7/31 - Atlanta, GA @ Cellaris Amphitheater at Lakewood

8/2 - Jacksonville, FL @ The Old Cypress Lot Near Met Park

8/3 - Orlando, FL @ Tinker Field

8/4 - Tampa, FL @ Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater

8/5 - West Palm Beach, FL @ Coral Sky Amphitheater

 

For More Information, please visit:

Website: www.waterparksband.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/waterparks

Twitter: www.twitter.com/waterparks

 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/waterparks

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With gas prices falling over the past few months but remaining higher than they were last summer, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018's Best & Worst Cities to Drive in.

To determine the most driver-friendly places in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities across 29 key metrics. The data set ranges from average gas prices to annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter to auto-repair shops per capita.
 

Best Cities for Driving

 

Worst Cities for Driving

1

Raleigh, NC

 

91

Chicago, IL

2

Corpus Christi, TX

 

92

Los Angeles, CA

3

Orlando, FL

 

93

Newark, NJ

4

Greensboro, NC

 

94

New York, NY

5

Plano, TX

 

95

Boston, MA

6

Winston-Salem, NC

 

96

Seattle, WA

7

Durham, NC

 

97

Philadelphia, PA

8

El Paso, TX

 

98

Oakland, CA

9

Jacksonville, FL

 

99

San Francisco, CA

10

Tampa, FL

 

100

Detroit, MI

Best vs. Worst

• Greensboro, North Carolina, residents spend the fewest annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter, 4, which is 25.5 times fewer than in Los Angeles, the city where residents spend the most at 102.
   
• Gilbert, Arizona, has the fewest car thefts (per 1,000 residents), 0.49, which is 33.1 times fewer than in Oakland, California, the city with the most at 16.23.
   
• Oklahoma City has the lowest average gas price, $2.58 per gallon, which is 1.5 times lower than in San Francisco, the city with the highest at $3.85 per gallon.
   
• Riverside, California, has the lowest average parking rate, $1.43 per two hours, which is 19.2 times lower than in Buffalo, New York, the city with the highest at $27.44 per two hours.

To view the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-cities-to-drive-in/13964/