Prescription drug spending doubled in less than a decade

Over the last 10 years, the percentage of Americans who took at least one prescription drug in the past month increased from 44% to 48%, says a federal government study. Use of two or more drugs increased from 25% to 31%, and the use of five or more drugs increased from 6% to 11%, according to the analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The study also found that 20% of children and 90% of…

Summer jobs hit all-time low for youths

The worst summer on record for young people who wanted a job is staggering to an end this Labor Day weekend. Only 47.6% of people ages 16 to 24 had jobs in August, the lowest level since the government began keeping track in 1948, the Labor Department said Friday. By comparison, 62.8% of that age group was employed in August 2000. The ongoing recession hit young people especially hard this summer, sending many back to school with fewer dollars to spend. The unemployment rate averaged a record 18.3% during June, July and August for those…

Two lawmakers among six dead in Mexico plane crash

OAXACA, Mexico (AP) — A plane crash in southern Mexico killed all six people on board Friday, including two federal legislators and two mayors-elect. Oaxaca state Public Safety Secretary Javier Rueda said the aircraft went down as it neared the airport in the Pacific coast beach town of Huatulco. Reps. Guillermo Zavaleta and Juan Huerta were killed along with the mayors-elect of Huatulco and Juquila, another town in Oaxaca state, Rueda said. Zavaleta and Huerta both belonged to the National Action Party of President Felipe Calderon, who issued a statement sending his condolences to the families. The pilot and a local coffee grower were the other two people …

Weakening Hurricane Earl takes aim at New England

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — A weakening Hurricane Earl roared past North Carolina before daybreak Friday on its way up the East Coast, flooding parts of some barrier islands and knocking out electricity but staying farther offshore than feared. There were no immediate reports of any injuries. Tourists heading to the barrier islands for a Labor Day beach vacation received the welcome news Friday as Earl left a mild impact on the Outer Banks. “There were no injuries; it was a quiet night,” said Dorothy Toolan, spokeswoman for Dare County Emergency Management. Dare County on Friday lifted part of an evacuation order issued Thursday that affected all visitors to the barrier islands. Visitors are now welcome back to points north of Oregon Inlet…

Hurricane Earl set to pound N.C. Outer Banks

KILL DEVIL HILLS, N.C. — Dana Beasley and his parents have been through this before, so as Hurricane Earl approached the family crab business here on Thursday, they knew the drill. Beasley, 39, and his two brothers had gone out in their boats Tuesday to start pulling 600 crab traps out of the water. On Thursday, he said, “We’ve got to tie everything down and get the boats out of the water.” The storm threatened to slash the North Carolina Outer Banks early this morning and barrel north toward…

Hurricane Earl forces evacuations in North Carolina

Evacuations will begin today in part of North Carolina as Hurricane Earl gathered steam in the Atlantic, threatening East Coast residents and Labor Day weekend travelers. Federal officials warned of more possible evacuations. The storm’s uncertain track and high speed as it moves up the coast may force emergency management planners to issue evacuation orders even if they’re not sure the storm will move on shore, said Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We do not have a forecasted landfall, but this is a very large storm, and we do…

Hurricane Earl forces evacuations along East Coast

Evacuations will begin today in part of North Carolina as Hurricane Earl gathered steam in the Atlantic, threatening East Coast residents and Labor Day weekend travelers. Federal officials warned of more possible evacuations. The storm’s uncertain track and high speed as it moves up the coast may force emergency management planners to issue evacuation orders even if they’re not sure the storm will materialize on shore, said Craig Fugate, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “We do not have a forecasted landfall, but this is a very large storm, and we do expect impacts along the coast,” Fugate said. “Evacuations may be…

Hurricane watch issued in N.C. as Earl approaches

Category 4 Hurricane Earl continues to gather steam in the Atlantic and is expected to start a dash north along the East Coast later today. The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane watch for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent a team to North Carolina and will have teams ready to fly into New England Wednesday, says FEMA Director Craig Fugate. “We do not have a forecasted landfall but this is a very large storm and we do expect impacts along the coast,” Fugate said. “Evacuations may be required if the storm does not move to the north or to the east.” Late Tuesday afternoon, Earl’s center…

3 die in medical helicopter crash in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A helicopter ambulance crashed early Tuesday amid the hills of central Arkansas, killing three crewmembers who were trying to reach a person injured in a traffic accident. The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter went down near the Scotland community in Van Buren County at around 4 a.m., according to the company and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Bell 206 helicopter, built in 1978, was registered to Air Evac EMS Inc., based in West Plains, Mo., according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Air …

As economy seeks balance, businesses hold key

The nation’s economy floats on a $35 trillion sea of debt. And in the debt market, only one thing matters: your ability to repay your loans. Despite record federal debt, Uncle Sam isn’t having any trouble staying afloat. Neither are most large corporations. But consumers and homeowners are drowning in the USA’s great ocean of debt, thanks to a poor economy, stagnant wages and their own greed. Those who can’t pay down their debts are going under at record rates. Those who can pay their debts are focusing on doing just that: Consumer credit card balances have shrunk by $131 billion since 2008, or 13.8%, according to the Federal Reserve. …

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