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In the midst of a political battle over funding for the United States Postal Service, it appears the Department of Veterans Affairs has been looking into alternative delivery services.A veterans group called Disabled Vets of America posted a statement to their website explaining the situation, after they had approached the VA about concerns their members had shared.¡°The VA has now confirmed to us that the United States Postal Service (USPS), which is responsible for delivering about 90% of all VA mail order prescriptions, has indeed been delayed in delivering these critical medications by an average of almost 25% over the past year, with many locations experiencing much more significant delays,¡± the statement posted to the DAV¡¯s website states.The VA acknowledged it was looking into delivery services outside the USPS in an email exchange with the DAV, according to CNN.¡°To help mitigate these postal delays, the VA has been forced to switch to alternative delivery services in a number of areas across the country and is taking other actions to expedite processing and delivery of prescriptions,¡± the statement from DAV reads.The VA has had an increase in demand for mail-order prescriptions during the coronavirus pandemic, they told CNN. Explaining that the VA has always used a ¡°variety of prescription delivery methods to ensure timely delivery.¡±Spokesperson Christina Noel said they monitor prescription delivery times throughout the country. 1467

In the middle of a pandemic, 13-year-old Jade stood in her kitchen with her phone in her hand, listening intently to the instructions coming from the other end of her Zoom call.It was her first time attempting to make Rice Krispies Treats.¡°Cooking is one of my favorite things to do, but I still have a lot of things to work on,¡± she explained as she mixed a small cup of marshmallow with the cereal she¡¯d already poured into a bowl.For Jade and countless other kids across the country, the COVID-19 pandemic has meant a sudden absence of social time with friends who they¡¯d typically see at school. For Jade, the pressures of the pandemic can often be incredible loneliness, even with her grandma, grandpa and mom living at home with her.¡°Two months ago, we were all hanging out. Now we¡¯re all home. It¡¯s really hard, but I¡¯m getting used to it now,¡± she said.Before the pandemic began, Jade was enrolled with the group Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts. In an effort to make sure Jade is handling the pressures of the pandemic, Jade¡¯s ¡°Big Sister¡± and mentor Angela Potts has been scheduling weekly Zoom calls.From the very start of quarantine, the pair decided baking would be the way they would bond from afar.¡°It keeps your mind off of everything negative that¡¯s going on in the world,¡± Angela said from her kitchen as she added chocolate chips to the Rice Krispies Treats that she was making.Each week, the pair chooses a recipe, then they schedule a time to cook together. Even though they aren¡¯t meeting in person, it still gives Angela a chance to check on her mentee.¡°If she needs someone to talk to, to reach out to, I¡¯m here for her and I hope she knows that,¡± Angela added.Across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters has turned to virtual meetups to make sure vulnerable kids and teens are still getting one-on-one time with mentors.¡°Now is the time that kids need that extra support. The world is just in chaos, so we¡¯re letting them know they aren¡¯t alone,¡± said Courtney Evans who works for the nonprofit.Until Big Brother and Big Sisters can meet with their mentees again safely in person, the organization says virtual meetups are making sure kids don¡¯t slip through the cracks. 2221

It is a county-approved program that is supposed to help you pay for energy efficient home improvements, but some homeowners blame the program for big tax increases they cannot pay. At least three homeowners who received financing through the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program say they were misled. The PACE program allows you to pay for home improvements, like solar panels, through your property taxes.  Maria Silva said her Del Cerro home is her life. ¡°It¡¯s very important¡­ it¡¯s my home for 28 years,¡± Silva said.  It is a home she is in danger of losing. Silva said it started with a man coming to her doorstep about two years ago. Silva said he offered a deal on home improvement projects like double pane windows.  At first, she said no. However, she said the salesman was persistent. For Silva, it was more than a money problem.  She is legally blind. She wanted to wait for her son.  ¡°He told me well, this promotion ends,¡± Silva said of the salesman.  She said she told the man she was visually impaired, but he told her not to worry and he ¡°was going to read everything for [her].¡± She did not want to miss out on what she thought was a good deal. At the time, Silva said she was told she would be paying no more than ,000 a year. Silva said she understood the payment would be going on her property tax, but when she got the bill, it showed an increase of more than ,000 this year.  ¡°It seems very predatory,¡± said her son, Allan Silva.  On top of that, Allan Silva says the company who upgraded their air conditioning unit never removed the old one like promised. ¡°It kind of seems like some shady things happened to my mom,¡± Allan Silva said. Carolyn Reilly with Elder Law and Advocacy has heard of deception with this program.  ¡°They're telling them it's a free product, it's a free government program,¡± Reilly said. Reilly said loans are approved for seniors on fixed incomes who cannot afford them and she¡¯s handling many cases from the elderly who say financing was not explained.  ¡°They're desperate because at some point, it's going to lead to foreclosure for them,¡± Reilly said. One Poway woman, who did not want to use her name, said she wound up with a ,000 bill added to her taxes. She said A1 Solar sold she and her husband on solar panels, but she had no idea a lien would be placed on her home in addition to increased taxes. She also alleges that her husband was not the one who signed the documents. ¡°I was not happy with the salesman coming in and going to the computer and signing Jim's name to the documents. I don't think Jim fully understood what was happening,¡± she said. Her husband, Jim, is dealing with numerous medical issues. Michele Glen is their caretaker and also signed on with A1 Solar. Team 10 examined the contracts, which say the amount would be added to the homeowner¡¯s property tax. However, Glen said the salesman ¡°rushed [them] through it.¡± ¡°He says, everything is fine,¡± Glen said.  Team 10 called the salesman they say went to their home. He said he had nothing to do with A1 Solar and hung up before Team 10 could ask any more questions. According to the Contractors State License Board, A1 Solar¡¯s license was suspended for multiple complaints, including misrepresentation to obtain a contract. A lawyer who worked for the company says A1 Solar is now out of business. San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob said the PACE program has generated about 0 million in projects and has created thousands of jobs. She has received a few complaints, but believes overall, the program is working. ¡°Frankly, if there are bad apples in the barrel, you need to get them out of the barrels,¡± Jacob said. She told Team 10 the county will continue with the PACE program because overall it has ¡°been very helpful to a lot of people.¡± Experts at the Approved Home Pros, a contractor¡¯s association, say the PACE program can be a good fit for some homeowners, but it is important to be educated before committing to it.  Recently, Governor Brown signed legislation that aims to provide more oversight and strengthen consumer protections with the PACE program.     4297

In post-Brexit Britain, trips to the European Union will get a little more expensive for millions of Brits in search of a continental break.The European Commission confirmed on Friday that UK travelers will be required fill out an online form and cough up €7 (.90) for visa-free travel, which will be valid for three years.Natasha Bertaud, a spokeswoman for the commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker, likened the "simple form" to the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) scheme used by the United States -- which requires travelers to pay to apply for permission to enter the country.She also pointed out that the EU's version, called ETIAS, will be "way cheaper."But this all comes with a major caveat. If the UK crashes out of the EU with no agreement in place, Brits will be required to get a visa to travel to the EU, a commission spokeswoman told Reuters on Friday.ETIAS, which is expected to come into force in 2021, will apply to countries outside the EU whose citizens can currently travel in Europe visa free. There are currently 61 such countries, including the United States, Israel and Singapore.It will cover the so-called Schengen group of 26 European countries that share largely open land borders.The electronic visa waiver system was conceived to "identify any security or irregular migratory risks posed by visa-exempt visitors traveling to the Schengen area while at the same time facilitate crossing frontiers for the vast majority of travelers who do not pose such risks,"?according to the commission. 1554

It¡¯s the classic vision of Election Day ¨C head to your polling place, check in and vote.But this year, the tradition at the base of our democracy will look very different. Ballots will arrive in the mail for more people than ever due to the pandemic.So, how does the process work? It¡¯s streamlined and closely monitored.You, a voter, get your ballot in the mail. You fill it out and seal it in the provided envelope. It¡¯s crucial you don¡¯t forget to sign in the designated area.From there, you can add postage and drop it in the mail. Some cities have ballot drop boxes that go directly to the county with no stamp or post office needed.Once the state has your ballot, it goes through different stations where independent workers open the envelope, scan the ballot, and check to make sure everything is valid. That process is often open for public viewing, either in-person or streaming online.While that¡¯s meant to provide some transparency, mail-in voting is new to millions of people and some worry it¡¯s not safe and secure.The head of the Federal Election Commission recently tried to put worries at bay. She is quoted as saying ¡°there¡¯s simply no basis for the conspiracy theory that voting by mail causes fraud.¡±And the statistics back that statement up. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, found 143 voter fraud convictions out of 250 million mail-in ballots cast since 2000. That works out to about eight cases per year, nationwide.If you are voting by mail, there are three easy ways to make sure your ballot counts.1. Fill it out properly. Don¡¯t go outside the lines or make any stray markings on the ballot.2. Sign your envelope and make sure the signature matches what you have on file.3. And vote early. Experts say it¡¯s the best way to make sure your vote counts. 1801

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