| Getting a grip on that runaway spending habit
DURHAM -- How many times do you look into your purse or wallet and wonder where your money went? Most people want to save money for many different reasons. Unfortunately, the national trend is to borrow more and save less. Currently, the nation's personal savings rate is negative 5 percent, something that hasn't happened since the Great Depression. Americans love to spend their hard-earned cash and use plastic. A recent study commissioned by Consumer Credit Counseling Service revealed overall consumer debt increased by 38 percent for households at all income levels over the last year. UNH Cooperative Extension Family Resource Management is dedicated to helping individuals and families increase savings, decrease debt and increase confidence in managing their finances.
Homer City OKs 5-year contract with police
HOMER CITY--After several months of negotiations, Homer City Council Tuesday approved a new five-year contract with the United Mine Workers of America, covering wages and benefits for borough police officers. Although there are portions of the labor agreement that Homer City Mayor Michael Gaydosh doesn't agree with, he is relieved to have wrapped up talks, which began in December. "It can be a trying situation at times, but I think the general population would rather have a police force as opposed to not having one," Gaydosh said. "Now, we can move on and the people of Homer City Borough can count on five more years of police protection." The contract, which is retroactive to Jan. 1, calls for annual hourly wage increases of 60 cents for full-time officers and 40 cents for part-timers.
Bank threatens to sue over NK funds
HONG KONG, China (AP) -- A majority foreign-owned North Korean bank has threatened legal action if money it holds in a Macau bank is transferred to China, a report said Tuesday. Such a move threatens to derail a U.S.-North Korean deal that was crucial in getting the North to agree to start shutting down its nuclear program. Meanwhile, a senior U.S. Treasury Department official has met with North Korean officials to try to resolve the financial dispute, his spokeswoman said Tuesday. Daniel Glaser, deputy assistant secretary for terrorist financing and financial crimes, met with officials from the North Korean embassy in Beijing on Monday, his spokeswoman Molly Millerwise said. North Korea refused last week to return to nuclear disarmament talks until about $25 million of its funds frozen at a blacklisted Macau bank is transferred to the Bank of China.
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