Cash-strapped Americans turning to Payment Advances and Prepaid Cards

People across America, who are cash-strapped, anxious for tax refunds have been turning to costly services like payment advances and prepaid cards when it comes about getting tax preparation help, as per new federal data raising concerns among regulators about whether customers have information about the fees.

Regulators across the country have been planning to increase oversight of tax preparers in the middle of rise in ‘refund anticipation checks’, which is famous among low-income families who receive federal government’s $65 billion cash benefit program, Earned Income Tax Credit. The advances like ‘refund anticipation checks’ have been marketed as a method to fast and easy refunds.

Researchers develop Novel Device to Control Light

Researchers from the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP) and at the University of Central Florida (UCF) unveiled that they have developed a device, which can guide light beams around tighter curves. In this process, the integrity and intensity of beam remains intact.

The research published in the journal Optics Express has revealed about a new way to transmit data on an electronic circuit boards using light in a more effective manner.

Not sending information on electrical signals but on light beams, the data was able to be transmitted thousands of times more rapidly. But the researchers also added that problems are faced when it comes to controlling the light beams without losing their energy.

North Dakota attracts Drone Manufacturers

Air Force bombers aren’t flying over the Grand Forks Air Force Base anymore, but a buzz is being created by drones, say backers of the first unmanned aircraft business park in the US. The Grand Sky grounds will start witnessing the construction during May.

U.S.-based and international companies have already started applying for position in the 1.2 million-square-foot park, which is near the former alert pad where bombers and tankers were poised for takeoff on a moment's notice.

Testing of unmanned aircraft in North Dakota makes it one of six sites to do so. Research is on to develop drones for a wide range of applications, like farming, law enforcement, energy, infrastructure management, public safety, coastal security, military training, search and rescue and disaster response.

100 bison to be moved to New Home in Western Alaska

On Sunday morning, a move to transport 100 bison to a new home started at the Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage.

Over the next few days, the bison will be placed in specially made crates at the center and then they will be flown to the village of Shageluk in Western Alaska. There was a time when these animals used to freely roam in Alaska, but 150 years back, they became extinct, said the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Cathie Harms.

Now, an effort is being made to bring them back that were present in the state for thousands of years. “And the really exciting thing is, in the United States, this is the last big species we lost in the 1800s that we can bring back. And it’s pretty cool from a conservation project standpoint”, said Harms.

States identifying new Diabetes cases after expanding Medicaid Programs

A new study has found that number of cases of diabetes identified among poor Americans have increased in the states that expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The numbers have not surged in states that did not embrace ACA, as per the study.

The study also suggested that the health care law could be helping many people get earlier treatment for diseases that are among the country’s costliest medical conditions.

According to reports, one in ten people in the United States have diabetes, and about one third of the diabetes cases have not been diagnosed. According to medical experts, it is important to treat the disease as it could cause heart attacks, blindness, kidney failure and foot amputations if not treated at time.

Breast Cancer Patients’ Choice of Surgeons and Hospitals Varies: Study

A new study has revealed that breast cancer patients of different races and ethnicities may not pick surgeons and hospitals in the same way.

As per the study Black and Hispanic women were less likely to make choices factoring doctor and hospital’s reputation as compared to White women.

Researchers for the study, whose findings were published in JAMA Oncology, involved 222 White women, 142 Black women and 136 Hispanics women. All these women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2011.

The study showed that the most common reason for selecting a particular doctor was reference by someone. But researchers also found that minority patients were less likely to factor reputation of hospital or doctor.

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