Press

AARP North Dakota is seeking nominations for its Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors North Dakotans 50 and older who share their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of others.

AARP is accepting applications for the 2019 Community Challenge grant program to fund “quick-action” projects that spark change in local communities. The grant program is part of AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities initiative, which aims to make communities great places to live for everyone.

Ellen Schafer of Bismarck has been appointed to the AARP North Dakota Executive Council, and Dr. Michael Worner of Fargo has been reappointed to the Executive Council for a second two-year term.

Pete Kuhn of Grand Forks has been named AARP Driver Safety State Coordinator in North Dakota effective Jan. 1, 2019.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is looking to expand its team of volunteers for the upcoming tax season. Tax-Aide offers free tax filing help to anyone, especially those 50 and older, who can’t afford a tax preparation service. Tax-Aide volunteers make a difference in their communities by assisting many older, lower-income taxpayers who might otherwise miss out on the credits and deductions they’ve earned.

Have a question for North Dakota’s candidates for the U.S. Senate?

AARP North Dakota is sponsoring candidate debates beginning Sept. 4 on Prairie Public Broadcasting.

Vel Rae Burkholder of Fargo will be presented with the 2018 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service during a volunteer recognition luncheon Oct. 4 in Fargo.

In a newly released AARP poll, North Dakota voters age 50 and over are united in their concern over health care and personal finance issues. The poll found that health care and Social Security are critically important issues to 50-plus voters as they cast their ballots this fall, and a strong majority (79 percent) believe it is unfair to deny coverage or charge those with pre-existing conditions more for health care.

Medicare contributes $1.3 billion to North Dakota’s economy, equivalent to 12 percent of state and local government spending in the state, according to a new report from AARP. Medicare also covers 116,951 beneficiaries in the state. Older Americans have said Medicare is one of their top issues in the 2018 mid-term elections, and AARP North Dakota is working to encourage voter participation this election season.