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Average student loan debt recently topped $25,000, up 25 percent in 10 years. Some of the borrowers are Baby Boomers, near or at retirement age.

Suffolk County wants to spread out the cost of rising pension benefits over 10 years as one way to help slash a budget deficit, estimated to reach $530 million by the end of 2013.

Alaska's Senate Finance Committee is proposing saving $2 billion and putting another $1 billion toward unfunded pension liabilities.

Municipal union workers say they've been backed into a corner by the consent deal that would nullify recently ratified pay, benefits and pension concessions.

California has been hard hit since the economy took a dive in 2008. Pension reform tops the list of items that would save both local and state governments money.

Virginia, which is running a $24 billion deficit in its retirement fund, plans to move new hires to a hybrid, 401(k)-styled system.