North American Community Hub Statistics
A routine driver’s license renewal became simpler for hundreds of thousands of older Illinois residents on July 1, 2026. Drivers ages 79 through 86 no longer have to complete a behind-the-wheel test merely because they reached a certain birthday. A trip to an Illinois DMV is still required. Applicants in the affected age range must … Read more
The United States has returned about $100 billion collected through the Liberation Day tariffs, sending large payments to companies months after the Supreme Court ruled that the administration lacked authority to impose the duties under emergency-powers law. Importers paid roughly $165 billion before the ruling. About 60% has now been refunded, according to a federal … Read more
Farmers, ranchers, cities and tribal communities in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico could receive federal money for reducing their use of Colorado River water under a program planned for 2027 and 2028. The four Upper Basin states are preparing separate conservation programs supported by $100 million that the Bureau of Reclamation intends to provide. … Read more
Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause. Hormone levels begin to fluctuate during this stage, menstrual cycles may become irregular, and symptoms can appear several years before periods stop completely. Menopause is confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. Declining estrogen and progesterone levels can affect temperature regulation, sleep, mood, energy, … Read more
A dangerous fungus that can survive for weeks on hospital surfaces and resist standard treatment has been reported in 23 states during 2026. Federal surveillance recorded more than 3,000 clinical cases of Candida auris by July 18. Texas led the country with 706 cases, followed by Michigan with 503 and Illinois with 366. The rising … Read more
A Pennsylvania woman recently opened her mail and found a genuine-looking U.S. Treasury check for $405.04. The envelope contained no letter explaining the payment, leaving her unsure who had issued it or whether she should deposit it. Federal agencies use the Treasury Department to send tax refunds, benefit payments, reimbursements and payment corrections. The agency … Read more
Automated license plate cameras are spreading quickly across the United States, giving police a faster way to find stolen cars, missing people and vehicles linked to crimes. Flock Safety says its network now includes about 120,000 cameras across 49 states. The cameras are used by police departments, local governments, businesses and homeowners associations, creating a … Read more
A new Social Security bill would change how annual cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, increase benefits for current recipients and collect additional taxes from people earning more than $400,000. The Social Security 2100 Act was introduced in the House on June 29 and announced jointly by Rep. John Larson of Connecticut and Sen. Richard Blumenthal in … Read more
Eli Lilly is creating a formal path for a small number of patients to receive retatrutide before the experimental obesity drug is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Eli Lilly retatrutide early access program is intended for adults with severe obesity who have serious related health problems, have not responded adequately to … Read more
Twenty-five states have sued the Trump administration over a new round of tariffs covering imports from 59 countries and the European Union. The duties range from 10% to 12.5% and apply to most goods arriving from the affected trading partners. The administration says the tariffs are intended to pressure foreign governments to block products made … Read more