Spotlight
Income levels adjusted for property tax breaks
State lawmakers made themselves popular earlier this year by expanding Washington’s senior property tax exemption and deferral program for low-income senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and veterans. Senior advocates such as AARP joined others in praising Senate Bill 5160, which the Legislature passed during its 2019 session. Beginning with tax collections in 2020, the legislation makes it easier for property owners to reach the qualifying income thresholds for exemptions and deferrals by eliminating the current flat income rate.
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News
A new report from the AARP Public Policy Institute examines changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) supplemental benefit policies and the implications for people with Medicare. MA plans have long been able to offer benefits beyond what is required by law. However, the Balanced Budget Act of 2018 and recent regulatory decisions, including those in the
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COMMENTARY: Now more than ever, public libraries matter
Occasionally, someone unfamiliar with King County Library System (KCLS) will say to me, Why do we need libraries when we have the Internet? I actually love that question because there are so many compelling answers. Libraries, as repositories of knowledge, have been around for about 5,000 years, dating back to ancient Middle Eastern civilizations that
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Social Security Retirement 2020,” a free presentation for anyone anticipating their benefits in the year ahead and those currently receiving benefits, will be held Oct. 21 at 4 p.m. at Brookdale Allenmore Independent Living, 2010 S. Union Ave. in Tacoma. The presentation will be by Kirk Larson, a public affairs specialist for the Social Security
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A 24-hour hotline for mental health crisis services is offered in Pierce County through a partnership between Beacon Health and Washington State Healthcare Authority. By calling 1-800-567-7764, Pierce County residents can talk to someone about urgent situations such as behavior that’s reckless, violent or substance-related, and request referrals to a mental health professional for stress,
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Lifestyles
TECHNOLOGY: Personal emergency systems can be hacked, but their positives outweigh negatives Retirement doesn’t have to mean sitting at home and passing time on the porch. As they age, Americans are staying active, engaging in new hobbies, traveling to wish-list destinations, and living life to the fullest. Technology is helping to facilitate active lifestyles by providing a safety net inside and outside the home. New technologies are enabling
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Food
Cheat occasionally but eat ‘clean’ rest of the time An overall healthy diet allows for the occasional indulgence. It not only promotes a healthier relationship with food, but studies have found that people who let themselves cheat on their overall healthy diet once in a while are more likely to achieve their weight-loss goals. So have the cookie for Sunday dessert, or enjoy every
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Adventures
Set sail on a moving theme park Were you in Seattle this summer? Did you see that gigantic cruise ship sitting so elegantly at the dock at Bell Harbor? The Norwegian Bliss is 20 decks tall, 1,094 feet in length, weighs in at 168,028 gross tons has 2,200 staterooms to carry 4,000 passengers plus additional cabins for the crew of 1,700. She
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Health & Fitness
Take charge of your body and mind through self-care While you aim to live a full, happy life, achieving it starts with protecting your most valuable asset: Your health. Though the pace of life and other external variables can hinder you from putting your health first, self-care should not be ignored. Proactively taking care of your physical and mental health is one of the
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Business/Personal Finance/Products
Women worry most about healthcare costs Large numbers of Americans 60 and older are concerned that healthcare costs prescription drug costs are outpacing retirement savings—something women worry about more than men, according to a new survey by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) on financial-related issues. “All too often, older women are feeling the very real consequences of the income gap
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