Steve Hahn

With vacation season in full swing, you may be looking to book vacation rentals for your summer trips. Be careful as you make these reservations – scammers are ready with fake vacation rental ads to steal your money and leave you stranded on vacation. Scammers may place real homes on vacation rental sites without the consent of the homeowner, and change the contact and payment information to their own. They may also make up nonexistent properties and advertise them with great prices or amenities.

The right to vote, along with full and fair representation, is the most basic of all political rights. AARP North Carolina is against the effort for a state constitutional amendment (HB1092) that would, in practical terms, reduce voter participation by inhibiting basic American voting rights. We urge legislators and voters to oppose any constitutional amendment for new identification requirements.

RALEIGH – To recognize their integral work to support family caregivers in North Carolina last year, AARP named Governor Roy Cooper, State Senators Warren Daniel and Paul Newton and State Representatives John Szoka, Gale Adcock, Beverly G. Boswell, Donna McDowell White as “Capitol Caregivers."

NEW -- PLEASE WATCH: NC fraud fighters give you tips on spotting, preventing and reporting home contractor scams.

RALEIGH -- Lowering your monthly health care insurance premium sounds pretty good. But what if your new coverage doesn't cover preexisting conditions, caps your coverage or charges you more because your older or work in an occupation that requires physical activity? What if the company or association you bought your policy from is no longer solvent and can't pay your claim?

CHARLOTTE -- Former Director of Legislative Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety Lara J. Cole has joined AARP North Carolina as Associate State Director in the Charlotte Region.

Before you vote, take the time to get to know where the candidates stand on issues that matter the most to AARP members and their families. This guide helps explain more about the top federal voting issues for older adults, as well as some guiding principals when it comes to the future of our health care and economic security. For more information on any of these voting issues, go to www.aarp.org/vote.

ASHEVILLE – At a regional fraud prevention event held by elder advocates across the Mountain Region, AARP volunteer Betsy Cantrell was presented with the AARP Andrus Award for her outstanding contributions to improving the lives of adults as they age.

GREENSBORO, NC – With nearly a quarter of the state’s residents expected to be age 60 or older by the year 2030, Guilford County took an important step to become a better place for people of all ages. The County recently applied for the World Health Organization’s status of “age-friendly” by joining the AARP Network of Age-Friendly Communities.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC -- In a new program entitled “Booming,” airing in May on UNC-TV, and the NC Channel, viewers will learn how, four different programs are creating community and are building healthy and active opportunities for older adults to engage with others.