Latest news with #Britt
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Health
- Business Insider
Living on $3,400 a month: How one couple pays the bills while juggling medical debt and saving for gender-affirming surgery
Last year Alex Mixson and his wife Marley Britt were having a string of medical crises. She was unable to work because of an undiagnosed illness, and he had to have an appendectomy. "We couldn't afford Columbus anymore," Mixson said of the Ohio city where they lived. Multiple emergency medical visits drained their savings and racked up thousands of dollars in debt. Mixson, a trans man who's been transitioning for eight years, put off his top surgery to focus on saving money and helping his wife, who had been suffering from undiagnosed Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome — a condition that causes dizziness and lightheadedness that was making it difficult for her to work. "I'd rather take care of my wife than be comfortable in my skin," said Mixson, who is 26. The couple moved back to West Virginia, and both of them are employed, earning about $3,400 a month total. Mixson is building savings to have top surgery in the next few months. Britt and Mixson are part of a cohort of about 91 million Americans who cannot afford or don't have access to quality medical care. A study from the UCLA Williams Institute also found that while transgender people have high rates of enrollment in health insurance, 1 in 3 avoid seeking healthcare because of the cost. "It's a lot to struggle with, and it's hard," Mixon said, of his journey to afford surgery, "but it's so rewarding at the same time to just wake up and not feel so shitty about yourself." Finding community and fundraising for gender-affirming medical care Mixson works as a front desk receptionist, and his wife is a remote IT worker. Since spiraling into debt, the two have had to cut amenities like eating out and have chosen to prioritize rebuilding their emergency savings over paying back their medical bills. The two spend over half of their combined monthly paychecks on rent, transportation, utilities, and food, leaving them with about $100 a month to set aside for savings. "I haven't paid a medical bill. I just kind of let it sit on my credit," Mixson said. Britt was finally diagnosed with POTS this past month and is receiving proper treatment for it while working remotely. The newfound stability has allowed the pair to schedule Mixson's top surgery this summer. Mixson estimates that if insurance doesn't cover his top surgery, he'll be on the hook for another $10,000. He has saved some of that amount and started a GoFundMe to raise an additional $3,500. Mixson said it's been hard to fundraise from the small queer community in his hometown, as he said most are also struggling to make ends meet. Mixson has been posting to Reddit forums about his fundraiser in an attempt to reach a wider audience online and garner more support. As of March 31, he's only raised $980 toward his goal. He said that his close friends have been pivotal in helping him figure out things like insurance and extending cash in times of need, including $200 when he moved, so he and his wife could buy groceries. For Mixson, top surgery is a matter of safety in being able to pass as a cisgender man. Since starting testosterone, he said, few people recognize him from before his transition, but in the small city, word spreads quickly. There are moments when Mixson is afraid he'll be recognized. He's even more worried since the election, given that the Trump administration has pulled funding from institutions that work on DEI-related projects and purged inclusive language and mention of transgender people on federal websites, saying it promotes "woke" ideology. "I need to do what I need to do, keep my head down and come home," Mixson said. His wife has asked him to carry pepper spray in his car in case he is attacked. Research from the Williams Institute at UCLA in 2021 found that transgender individuals are four times as likely as their cisgender peers to be victims of violent crime. Despite the financial challenges, getting the surgery is important to Mixson. From a young age, he has struggled with body dysmorphia — feeling that his gender identity didn't match the gender he was assigned at birth. Mixson has been taking testosterone for five years and flattens the appearance of his chest using a compressive top, but that has also led to other kinds of discomfort. "I've been binding for years and it's at a point now that my back is almost always hurting," Mixson said, adding that his transition has brought positive changes to his mental health. "I am definitely more outgoing than I used to be. I feel stronger."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Burdensome tariffs weigh heavily in an Upstate defined by ‘Liberty'
The Liberty Bridge is a 345-foot-long, 12-foot-wide suspension bridge over Reedy River at Falls Park in downtown Greenville, S.C. (Photo courtesy of VisitGreenvilleSC) When President Trump's top trade adviser attacked BMW in Greer, the local reaction was swift and fierce. 'He's divorced from reality,' said Spartanburg County Council Vice Chair David Britt, speaking of that top official, Peter Navarro. 'He has a twisted view of the United States. He lives in the '70s.' Ouch. But there's more: 'This is why you don't let people and passengers on a plane fly it,' Britt added. In other words, Britt was inviting Navarro, architect of Trump's controversial tariff policies, to kindly butt out of the Upstate's business. In ruby red South Carolina, that's some tough talk directed at Trump's influential trade adviser. What prompted the strong reaction from Britt and Upstate business leaders was Navarro blasting BWM and Mercedes for importing car parts to make finished vehicles in South Carolina. 'This business model where BMW and Mercedes come into Spartanburg, South Carolina, and have us assemble German engines and Austrian transmissions — that doesn't work for America. It's bad for our economics. It's bad for our national security,' Navarro said. Navarro was referring to BMW's sprawling manufacturing facility known as Plant Spartanburg. But he got the Mercedes plant location wrong. It's near Charleston, not Spartanburg. Navarro believes Trump's tariffs will force auto companies to manufacture all car parts, 'from bolt to body,' here in the U.S. 'Peter Navarro is out of touch,' Britt said. 'He needs to visit Plant Spartanburg with BMW if he really wants to see what's going on. My blood boils when this sort of thing happens.' The strong reaction by Britt and Upstate business leaders was really not surprising. The not-so-secret reality of the Upstate economy is that it's driven by massive foreign investment and strong international imports and exports. The globalization goose lays the golden eggs. Or call it a Carolina wren. The Upstate economy is internationally connected. Tariffs raise costs, obstructing the smooth and successful operation of South Carolina's top manufacturers. Those higher costs are passed on to the American consumer in the form of higher prices. In the Lowcountry, meanwhile, David Wren reports in the SC Daily Gazette that Volvo Cars has halted production at its Ridgefield plant because of a parts shortage caused at least in part by Trump's fluctuating tariffs. Trump, it seems, is a president who likes walls, whether on the southern border or in the form of trade barriers like tariffs. The average U.S. tariff rate is 17.8%, more than seven times the 2.5% Trump inherited, the Financial Times recently reported. But the Upstate's iconic symbol is not a wall but a bridge. Aptly named 'Liberty Bridge,' the expansive footbridge towers over the beautiful Reedy River Falls near downtown Greenville. The modern miracle of Greenville — and if you've been around at least three decades or so, you know what a miracle it is — is built on trade freedom, not on trade war. Washington speaks of economic adversaries. The Upstate seeks out economic partners. With classic Southern hospitality, the Upstate has welcomed hundreds of international businesses such as Germany's BMW (more than 11,000 workers), France's Michelin (more than 9,000 workers), Sweden's Eloctrolux, Switzerland's Nestle, Japan's Fujifilm, and Germany's ZF, Bosch, Adidas, and Draexlmaier, just to name a few. The Greenville Area Development Corporation points out that South Carolina as a whole frequently ranks as the No. 1 state for attracting jobs through foreign direct investment per capita. More than 250 international firms from 28 countries have a major presence in the Upstate. 'We welcome this melting pot of residents and visitors with open arms,' the Greenville development corporation says. In a joint statement, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and OneSpartanburg rose to the defense of BMW, drawing attention to the Upstate's diversified and globalized economy: 'BMW Group's Plant Spartanburg drove Upstate South Carolina's transformation from a declining textile economy to a thriving center of advanced manufacturing.' BMW packs an economic wallop, employing more than 11,000 workers and providing a $26.7-billion impact for South Carolina. The plant is the largest exporter of vehicles by value in the U.S., shipping 225,000 vehicles worth more than $10 billion in 2024, Upstate business leaders said. BMW has produced 5 million vehicles in Greer since the plant opened in 1994. U.S. Rep. William Timmons, who represents Greenville and Spartanburg counties in Congress, and Gov. Henry McMaster also added their support for BMW's policies. 'I can assure you that BMW is good for South Carolina and America,' Timmons said. The SC Daily Gazette's Jessica Holdman provided a detailed and in-depth report on how Trump's tariffs could cause serious harm to South Carolina's thriving auto industry. Tariffs raise prices on imported car parts and potentially undermine car exports from South Carolina. Trump has scaled back some of his disruptive auto tariffs, but not permanently. Globalization doesn't deserve all the credit for the Upstate's bustling and ever-growing economy, but international investment and free trade have been an unambiguous godsend for the region and the entire state. Upstate businesses will weather the storm, knowing that the nation eventually will return to its free-trade foundation. After all, the Upstate's defining symbol is a bridge, not a wall.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Britt's move triggers special Spartanburg County Council election in November
David Britt's departure from Spartanburg County Council means there will be a special election on Nov. 4. Filing for candidates to replace Britt as the council member from Spartanburg County Council District 3 will take place from 12 p.m. on June 6 until 12 p.m. on June 14, according to John Baucom, the county's director of Voter Registration and Elections. The filing fee is $741.51. Britt was sworn in on May 20 to represent Spartanburg County and much of Greenville County on the South Carolina Public Service Commission. The commission has oversight over utilities, including setting rates for natural gas, electric, water, and wastewater companies. It also regulates telecommunications companies. Britt had served on the county council since 1991. He was heavily involved in economic development. At his swearing-in ceremony at the Spartanburg County Courthouse, Britt received praise from OneSpartanburg President and CEO Allen Smith for his role in bringing numerous manufacturing companies to the area. He was reelected to his council seat in 2024. If two or more Republicans or two or more Democrats file to run for the open seat, there will be a primary on Aug. 5. Any necessary runoffs would occur on Aug. 19. In addition to Britt's departure, Spartanburg City Council member Rob Rain was recently appointed to the South Carolina Ports Authority. More: Spartanburg county, city council members to resign, accept state positions Rain announced his move at a city council meeting earlier in May, but Baucom said he hasn't yet received an official letter of resignation from Rain. A special election for Rain's seat would also take place on Nov. 4. City council members are elected on a nonpartisan basis, so there would be no need for a primary. This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Special election set to fill empty seat on Spartanburg County Council
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
GOP senators launch new push to back mothers with MOMS Act
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., will put forward the MOMS (More Opportunities for Mothers to Succeed) Act on Tuesday, aiming to provide critical support to America's mothers, both prenatal and post-partum, as Mother's Day arrives Sunday. Britt said the number of births in the U.S. in 2023 was the lowest since the Carter administration, citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "The Republican Party is the party of life, the party of parents, and the party of families," she added to Fox News Digital. "At the heart of the MOMS Act is building a comprehensive culture of life to give moms, children and families the support system they need to thrive and live their American Dream." 5 High Tech Mothers Day Gifts That Show You Really Care "As a mom myself, I don't have to wonder what other moms are facing – I'm living it. I know firsthand that there is no greater blessing in life than our children and I also understand the types of challenges that women face during their pregnancy journeys and while raising their kids. I'm proud to support women throughout these seasons of motherhood, and the MOMS Act is part of my continued commitment to fight on their behalf. Read On The Fox News App Britt is joined on the bill by Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and several dads as well, including Sens. Jim Justice, Steve Daines, R-Mont., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., David McCormick, R-Pa., Charles Grassley, R-Iowa and others. McCormick told Fox News Digital he was proud to join such a "pro-family effort," while warning that the U.S. birth and fertility rates have been "alarmingly low" for some time. For Mother's Day, A Virginia Mom's Stunning Discovery Reminds Her Of God's Loving Presence "I'm proud to join [my] colleagues in this pro-family effort to help ensure new and expecting mothers can access the resources they need for the long-term health and well-being of themselves and their children," he said. The MOMS Act would establish a new "pregnancy-dot-gov" for expectant and post-partum mothers as well as those with young children, in order to increase access to adoption agencies, pregnancy resource centers and other assistance by ZIP code. For states like Alabama, where rural communities are especially in need of such support, it would establish a grant program that would help assuage the more than 20 counties in the Yellowhammer State alone that are considered "maternity care deserts." Britt's last attempt at putting forward MOMS Act legislation was blocked by Democrats whom she said had erroneously characterized the bill as creating a federal pregnancy database, among other "outlandish" claims. The 2025 version also includes Cramer's Unborn Child Support Act to allow state governments to apply child support obligations during gestation. While no Democrats have yet come out in public support, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine recently co-sponsored the Child Care Availability and Affordability Act with Britt to strengthen tax credits aimed at lowering the cost of day care and the article source: GOP senators launch new push to back mothers with MOMS Act
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Grand jury report: Nonprofit head acquired kids' tickets for scam
A grand jury's investigation alleges Hope 4 Johnstown Executive Director Quan Britt was among six people involved in a sophisticated racketeering scheme that acquired thousands of free sporting event tickets for fellow conspirators to sell for profit. Britt, 46, of Johnstown, was reportedly paid in cash and counterfeit goods for his role, according to Pennsylvania State Police. Investigators said he acquired 536 of those free tickets, worth more than $16,700, for at-risk children in 2024 and instead handed them over to Pittsburgh conspirators who used trusted scalpers and other methods to sell them. Sometimes tickets were sold outside stadiums, the 22-page report shows. Britt and his co-conspirators now face numerous felony counts for their alleged role in the scheme. The Allegheny County Grand Jury learned that the investigation was launched after an individual involved with a nonprofit notified Pittsburgh organization Tickets 4 Kids that they were approached about signing up for free tickets through a tickets for pay scam. Authorities discovered through the course of the investigation that officials with several Pittsburgh nonprofits and allegedly Hope 4 Johnstown – in this case Britt – were using their unique abilities to acquire the tickets needed to carry out the scheme. Tickets 4 Kids has operated for a decade in Pittsburgh and provided impoverished southwestern Pennsylvania youth the opportunity to attend games and special events that would otherwise be unaffordable, according to its website. That mission is carried out, in part, through partnerships with other at-risk youth-focused nonprofits, and has a detailed vetting process that requires organizations to apply to participate, investigators said. The process requires applicants to provide Employer Identification Numbers and other information to verify their legitimacy and good standing. If accepted, one person from each organization serves as the sole 'point person' for access to the Tickets 4 Kids ticket website and orders, the grand jury wrote. Britt served in that role, the grand jury wrote, and in doing so, the Pittsburgh ticketing charity required that he was solely responsible for requesting tickets and managing their usage. He was also required to complete an orientation program regarding the policies and procedures of T4K and sign agreement letters pledging to follow the charity's rules and guidelines. Stipulations required that tickets can only be used by children their nonprofit serves, as well as chaperones, 'and the tickets can never be used by organization employees, resold or given away,' the grand jury said. The organization required reports to be filed after each set of tickets were used to indicate how each experience went and whether children enjoyed it. Investigators said they observed Facebook messages where Britt was solicited about joining in the criminal ticket conspiracy – and was instructed on how to 'fabricate' reports that were later sent to Tickets 4 Kids. The grand jury alleges Britt often listed himself as the event's chaperone and forwarded tickets for redistribution to a Pittsburgh man, Jacob Mazzie, who operates the company Steel City Tickets. Mazzie is a ticket broker who allegedly worked with other people, but at times also sold tickets on the street, according to the report. Once an investigation was underway, Pirates game ticket purchases were arranged Sept. 10 and Sept. 11, 2024, with an undercover investigator arranging controlled purchases. One purchase was made at Mazzie's Greentree Road business for $200, Trooper Eric Guido told the jury. The grand jury alleges similar acts were occurring with members of Pittsburgh nonprofits, including Pittsburgh Mercy and, separately, the Center for Family Excellence, acquiring free tickets that were either being distributed improperly or being sold. The report alleges Center for Family Operations Mary Henning and co-conspirators were acquiring tickets as far back as 2013 under the organization, with Henning fraudulently listed as a chaperone for $207,000 worth of ticketed events. Britt, Mazzie and Henning are among a list of people now facing felony charges that include dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity, theft by deception and receiving stolen property, among other charges. They are also accused of participating in 'corrupt organizations,' a felony alleging they participated in a pattern of organized racketeering. Depending on several factors, including criminal history, sentencing guidelines can enable a sentence of up to 20 years in prison for that crime. Todd Anthony Hall, 55; Ramona Wilkes, 63; and Kevin Riley, 59, all of Pittsburgh, are also facing charges. accusing them of conspiring in the organization. Britt was not yet arraigned on his charges as of Friday morning, district court staff in Pittsburgh said. Britt has worked in various roles in Johnstown in recent years and is still listed as executive director of Hope 4 Johnstown, which operates as a community outreach organization to curb violence in Johnstown. In recent years, part of its mission has been to use evidence-based methods and local 'interruptors' with deep community roots who understand street violence, to go into neighborhoods and deescalate situations that could otherwise spark more violence. No other members of the Hope 4 Johnstown organization were named in the 22-page report. But the organization was among those named as a party and it was not immediately clear Friday if partner agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, were also investigating fraud allegations raised in the grand jury report. Alan Cashaw, Hope 4 Johnstown board chairman, said he couldn't comment on the situation at this time. However, he did confirm that Britt has not been released from the organization. 'We don't abandon our people,' Cashaw said. Pittsburgh-based Tickets 4 Kids released a statement to media Friday stating that they contacted state police as soon as they suspected tickets were being misused and that they have 'fully supported' the investigation. 'While we've always had strong safeguards to prevent this type of activity, those safeguards were bypassed by individuals acting outside our policies,' the organization told WTAE-TV news. 'In response, we've implemented new measures to protect our mission and ensure every child has access to the opportunities they deserve.' Joshua Byers is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5054. Follow him on Twitter @Journo_Josh.
