Agriculture Under-Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager has announced the recipients of grants to make repairs and improve housing conditions for low- and very-low-income rural residents-- and one local group will benefit!

"For many rural residents, maintaining a home with basic features such as indoor plumbing and safe electrical wiring is often unaffordable," Tonsager said. "This program supports basic repairs to improve living conditions for rural residents with extremely limited incomes."  

Self-Help Enterprises received $85,000 of the $4.4 million in funding provided through the USDA Rural Development's Housing Preservation Grant program.

The groups will then distribute the funds to homeowners and owners of multi-family rental properties or cooperative dwellings who repair dwellings occupied by low- and very-low-income residents.

Self-Help serves families in Fresno, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare Counties.

Looking to buy or rent a fun Halloween costume this season? You're not alone.

According to the National Retail Federation, a record 170 million Americans will spend close to $8 billion on candy, pumpkins, decorations and costumes - both for them and for their pets. Canadians will spend even more...about $75 per person (most of it on costumes).