Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

‘The sadness is for those people’: Education employee speaks out after job cut

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · 14d

We spoke with a former federal worker from the U.S. Department of Education. She discussed the layoffs this year and her concern for the people she worked hard to help...student loan borrowers.
www.investigatetv.com/2025/09/24/s...

A reduction in federal staffing has affected agencies that handle consumer complaints, including those filed by student loan borrowers. Consumer Investigator Caresse Jackman looks at what happened whe...

Financial expert: It’s time to readjust retirement expectations

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · 16d

Read @ire.org’s full statement regarding pentagon press freedom constraints.

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 18

Financial expert: It’s time to readjust retirement expectations www.investigatetv.com/2025/06/18/f...

According to the Social Security Administration, you can start receiving benefits as early as age 62, but how many Americans are truly financially ready to retire? Consumer Investigator Caresse Jackma...

‘The law is crystal clear:’ Federal consumer safety watchdogs reinstated to jobs as commissioners

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 13

“This ruling is a victory for American families, especially children, because so much of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s work has safeguarded infants and young kids,” said Courtney Griffin, Director of Consumer Product Safety at the Consumer Federation of America. @consumerfed.bsky.social

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 13

BREAKING: U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox ordered that Commissioners Trumka, Mary Boyle and Alexander Hoehn-Saric be reinstated. The latest on @investigatetv.com
www.investigatetv.com/2025/06/13/l...

A judge determined that the Trump administration's firing of three commissioners for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was unlawful and ordered their immediate reinstatement.

‘The law is crystal clear:’ Federal consumer safety watchdogs reinstated to jobs as commissioners

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 13

BREAKING: U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox ordered that Commissioners Trumka, Mary Boyle and Alexander Hoehn-Saric be reinstated. The latest on @investigatetv.com
www.investigatetv.com/2025/06/13/l...

A judge determined that the Trump administration's firing of three commissioners for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was unlawful and ordered their immediate reinstatement.

Reposted by CaresseJ

Consumer Federation of America @consumerfed.bsky.social · Jun 11

“That’s a big #tax increase.”

CFA’s Thomas Gremillion sits down with @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social of @investigatetv.com to discuss the impacts of #tariffs on #grocery prices.

Full video here: www.investigatetv.com/video/2025/0...

Watch: In a ‘Dead Zone,’ Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach - KFF Health News

Reposted by CaresseJ

Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · Jun 4

Thank you for being a joy to work with @hannahnorman.bsky.social.

Hannah Norman @hannahnorman.bsky.social · Jun 3

Millions of rural Americans live in counties with doctor shortages and where high-speed internet connections aren’t adequate to access advanced telehealth services.

My latest @kffhealthnews.org video with @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social: kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Chief rural health correspondent Sarah Jane Tribble explains how millions of rural Americans live in counties with doctor shortages and where high-speed internet connections aren’t adequate to access ...

kffhealthnews.org

Expert advice to protect elderly loved ones from financial abuse

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 4

WATCHING YOUR WALLET: Expert advice to protect elderly loved ones from financial abuse. @investigatetv.com
www.investigatetv.com/2025/06/04/e...

Scammers are cashing in on America’s aging population and it’s not always strangers doing the stealing. Consumer Investigator Caresse Jackman shares how to spot elder fraud and protect the people you ...

In a ‘Dead Zone,’ Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 4

Be sure to watch this! From the amazing @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social !

Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · Jun 4

The battle continues. Sens. Schumer, Cantwell, Luján sent a letter to Trump's administration last week demanding the immediate release of $42 billion.

YouTube video by KFF Health News

youtu.be

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Jun 2

NEW INVESTIGATION: Fired federal safety watchdogs claim dangerous toy, battery and baby rocker regulations in jeopardy.
@investigatetv.com
www.investigatetv.com/2025/06/02/f...

Fired federal safety watchdogs claim dangerous toy, battery and baby rocker regulations in jeopardy

A directive by the White House in May to fire the three Democrats on the 5-member U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has left an untold number of proposed safety rules in limbo.

Flawed Federal Programs Maroon Rural Americans in Telehealth Blackouts - KFF Health News

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · May 30

After the White House fired 3 out of 5 commissioners in the CPSC, an untold number of proposed safety rules are in limbo as meetings have been pushed back and staffing is uncertain. In CLASH OVER CONSUMERS, we speak to the fired commissioners, lawmakers and ask the CPSC about future plans.

Reposted by CaresseJ

The Rural Impact Podcast @ruralimpactpodcast.bsky.social · May 22

NEW! @mrbimpact.bsky.social‬ talks with @KFFHealthNews.org @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social‬, @InvestigateTV.com @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social‬, and NTCA's Joshua Seidemann to discuss rural communities disconnected from high-speed internet and the impact on access to care & health outcomes.

2 2

Reposted by CaresseJ

Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · May 15

Would the 68-year-old stroke survivor use telehealth if she could? Yes.

But she can't. Our latest "Dead Zone" story out of West Virginia explains why.

Tagging my partners @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social @hollyhacker.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Taxpayers — through federal infrastructure programs — have paid billions of dollars to internet companies to hook up rural Americans. Some communities have nothing to show for it, leaving medically vu...

kffhealthnews.org

Reposted by CaresseJ

Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · May 13

Tomorrow, our "Dead Zone" investigation continues. This time @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social and I take you to West Virginia to meet Ada Carol Adkins. We look at why it's taking so long to get connectivity despite billions in federal infrastructure dollars.

@investigatetv.com
@kffhealthnews.org

3 5

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · May 13

WEDNESDAY: Our Dead Zone investigative series with our partners @kffhealthnews.org continues. In this story, we travel to West Virginia and investigate why sufficient high-speed internet is still lagging for many people living in Appalachia.
@investigatetv.com
@sjtribble-reports.bsky.social

‘See you in court’: Consumer Product Safety Commission members say they are being fired by President Trump

Reposted by CaresseJ

Cody Lillich @codylillich.bsky.social · May 9

‘See you in court’: Consumer Product Safety Commission members say they are being fired by President Trump
www.investigatetv.com/2025/05/09/s... @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social @investigatetv.com

The three Democrats who serves on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced they were fired by President Donald Trump but say he has no authority to do so.

Unfiltered Access: Teens are bypassing age restrictions on buying e-cigarettes

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 28

Unfiltered Access: Teens are bypassing age restrictions on buying e-cigarettes. Great work by my colleagues @dailydaniela.bsky.social and Rachel Depompa.
@investigatetv.com
www.investigatetv.com/2025/04/28/u...

More teens are obtaining vapes illegally, purchasing them online and through social media. InvestigateTV uncovers loopholes retailers are exploiting.

Can the Feds garnish my wages over defaulted student loans? [April 2025 Update]

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 25

Student Loan Borrowers are at risk of having their wages garnished. We spoke with the Student Borrower Protection Center to talk about what you need to know if you're concerned about this new announcement. @investigatetv.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOev...

YouTube video by InvestigateTV

www.youtube.com

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 17

The Tennessee Black Caucus is speaking out after some lawmakers have been gifted physical whips after being named Deputy Whips for the Tennessee House Republican Caucus by Majority Whip Johnny Garrett. @wsmv.com
www.wsmv.com/2025/04/17/t...

TN Black Caucus responds to ‘lack of awareness’ after whips gifted to state reps

“When legislation is introduced to dismantle programs that promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—programs designed to address long-standing inequities— it reveals a troubling disregard for our shar...

www.wsmv.com

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 9

Our national investigative team reached out to U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, who represents Greene County and many rural areas in Alabama.
She issued the following statement.
Watch full story here: www.investigatetv.com/2025/04/09/d...
@investigatetv.com
@kffhealthnews.org

Rural Hospitals and Patients Are Disconnected From Modern Care - KFF Health News

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 9

People with chronic illnesses are waiting for adequate healthcare to reach their rural hospitals.
Our partnership with @kffhealthnews.org continues.
Read @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social's amazing reporting- and watch our story...as we meet people caught in the middle of this broadband disconnect.

Sarah Jane Tribble @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social · Apr 9

While a federal $42 billion broadband program faces uncertainty, we visited a rural hospital waiting for a fast-enough connection.

NEW TODAY: Our latest w/ @kffhealthnews.org @investigatetv.com, @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social

kffhealthnews.org/news/article...

Technological gaps handicap rural hospitals as billions in federal funding to modernize infrastructure lags. The reliance on outdated technology and piecemeal systems challenge staffs and erode patien...

kffhealthnews.org

Mass layoffs at HHS: Latest news on the moves at CDC, NIH and FDA; live updates

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 8

Tomorrow: We continue our “Dead Zone” series. In collaboration with @kffhealthnews.org, we highlight how lack of high speed internet is impacting our rural hospitals. An issue that leaves people already battling chronic illnesses at a disadvantage. @investigatetv.com @sjtribble-reports.bsky.social

3 4

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Apr 1

Mass layoffs began Tuesday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the Food and Drug Administration, the first steps in a plan to cut 10,000 jobs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

Layoffs of 10,000 Health and Human Services employees begin. Agencies devoted to seniors, minorities and HIV prevention closed

www.usatoday.com

CaresseJ @caressejbskysocial.bsky.social · Mar 27

Americans borrowed an estimated $74 billion to cover medical expenses, according to a West Health-Gallup survey.
Now, an effort is underway to reverse a rule set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would remove medical debt from credit reports. www.investigatetv.com/2025/03/26/a...

Americans’ medical debt crisis: Fight over credit report protections intensifies

Americans borrowed an estimated $74 billion for medical bills last year, according to a West Health-Gallup survey. And now an effort is underway to reverse a rule that would remove medical debt from c...