North American Community Hub Statistics
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
About 450,000 federal student loan borrowers could have debt canceled under a $23 billion legal settlement involving people who say their colleges misled them. The latest figure expands on our earlier reporting about the 170,000 borrowers whose relief moved forward after a federal appeals court blocked another delay. Those borrowers form part of the wider … Read more
Americans who collect Social Security and continue working can earn more in 2026 before the government begins withholding part of their retirement benefits. The main limit is $24,480 for people who remain below full retirement age throughout 2026. A higher limit of $65,160 applies to people who reach full retirement age during the year. Workers … Read more
SNAP recipients and some households that do not receive food assistance could get an extra $60 each month to buy fruits and vegetables under a bill introduced in Congress. The Fresh Bucks for Fresh Produce Act would create a five-year pilot program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. States selected for the program would send … Read more
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income provide monthly assistance under separate federal programs. Both programs can support people with qualifying disabilities, but their financial rules, eligibility standards, and payment calculations differ considerably. SSDI is an insurance program connected to a worker’s employment history and Social Security tax contributions. SSI is a needs-based program … Read more