The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 1223
Canva Movies and TV shows casting in Birmingham The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows...
How to be debt-free by retirement Retirement can be a time to pursue hobbies, spend more time with the people you love, and travel whenever the mood strikes. Carrying debt into retirement may not be ideal, especially if it prevents you from doing what you want. You don’t have to be debt-free by the time you retire. But paying off debt before you say goodbye to the job for good could bring you peace of mind and greater financial security. Here, Freedom Debt Relief takes a deep dive into whether y...
8 ways to prepare your anxious dog for fireworks Most people love a fireworks display, but many of our furry friends don’t. The loud bangs and crackling sounds can trigger anxiety symptoms in dogs, like pacing, panting, and excessive drooling. It’s hard to watch your pup go through this. Fortunately, you can take steps to calm their anxiety and give them a sense of peace during a noisy night. What can I do ahead of holiday fireworks to help calm my anxious dog? The best way to deal with your dog...
The hidden dangers in your home: What the data says about furniture and appliance injuries Home might feel like your safe space, but the numbers tell a different story. In the past five years, tens of thousands of injuries have been linked to everyday items like kitchen appliances and furniture. These aren't always caused by misuse. They often stem from normal use, unexpected failures, or hidden hazards. As homes get smarter, it's easy to overlook the potential risks. But devices like ovens,...
How to write a corporate credit card policy (with template and best practices) As more employees begin using company cards, even minor policy gaps can quickly escalate into larger issues, such as missing receipts or unclear spending guidelines. A corporate credit card policy helps close those gaps by setting clear expectations around how cards are issued, used, and monitored. Whether you're using legacy corporate cards or modern spend management platforms, clear policies ensure everyone understa...
These 4 states were caught sharing personal health data with Big Tech State-run health care websites around the country, meant to provide a simple way to shop for insurance, have been quietly sending visitors’ sensitive health information to Google and social media companies, The Markup and CalMatters found. The data, including prescription drug names and dosages, was sent by web trackers on state exchanges set up under the Affordable Care Act to help Americans purchase health coverage. The e...
This is how you stop data trackers from sucking up your health data In April, The Markup and CalMatters found that Covered California, the state of California’s healthcare exchange, was sending its users’ personal health information to LinkedIn. The news triggered a class-action lawsuit and questions from federal lawmakers. In June, a Markup investigation further revealed that exchanges maintained by four other states have also leaked visitors’ sensitive health data. Readers have asked: Is th...
High mortgage rates are still impacting home sales in 2025 Spring usually brings with it open houses, moving vans and new mortgages. But for many would-be homebuyers, this year’s homebuying season felt more like Groundhog Day. Ever since interest rates for mortgages climbed from 3% following the COVID-19 pandemic to over 6% starting in late 2022, home sales in the U.S. have cooled to a level not seen in decades. Over the past 30 years, it's been typical for more than 5 million homes to change h...
These are the most popular cars in music Cars and music are woven into the fabric of American culture. Artists have sung about cars and the open road since the early 1900s, and, regardless of genre, cars — and trucks — still serve as musical metaphors for freedom, ambition, and self-expression. But we wanted to know: Which cars get the most love in songs? Edmunds analyzed song lyrics from more than 1 million songs from the last 10 years, across multiple genres, to learn which makes, models and b...
Financial literacy in America: Why the knowledge gap still costs us Financial illiteracy costs the average American $1,015 a year. This isn’t just some abstract statistic — it’s real money lost to bad budgeting, high-interest debt, and missed chances to grow wealth. Every day, people make financial decisions like picking health plans, managing credit cards, or trying to save for retirement. But many don’t feel equipped to handle them. Studies show that even basics like interest rates, inflati...
Nearly 19 million people in the US live in a food desert: Here’s what that means We talk a lot about eating healthier — more greens, less sugar, fewer processed foods. But what if access to those healthier choices isn’t actually a choice for everyone? Obesity is an increasingly common health issue in the U.S., and it’s linked to higher risks of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. While personal habits matter, access to nutritious food — or the lack of it — plays a huge r...
Weight-loss injections are dominating the market: Where will GLP-1 pills fit in? Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) medications have emerged as powerful tools for weight loss. So far, injectable options like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide) have led the way. And their benefits go beyond weight loss alone — as they’ve shown to improve heart health, kidney health, and even sleep apnea. But injectable medications aren’t right for everyone. That’s where a new wave of oral GLP-1 medicat...
A woman looking at the older woman sitting in front of her. They are in the office with files in the background and a plate of vegetables and fruit on the desk. amenic181 // Shutterstock Demand for dietitians is growing as Americans crave healthier lifestyles. Here's what the job entails. In an era of social media influencers endorsing fad diets, questionable cleanses, and quick weight loss fixes, registered dietitians are arguably more valuable than ever in helping to cut through...
9 Investor Insights Survey: 68% plan to expand or shift strategies While it’s true that the last few years have been challenging in terms of inflation, geo-political turmoil, and higher-than-average interest rates, in good news, the majority of investors who responded to SoFi’s 2025 investing survey revealed some strong, forward-looking sentiment. Of the 1,000 investors we surveyed, close to 90% invested money in their portfolios over the past year. In addition, nearly two-thirds (65%) said t...
How to reduce student loans If you've got student debt to repay, you're not alone. An estimated 42.7 million Americans are in the same boat. It's easy to stress over student loans, but take a deep breath. You just need a plan to pay them off — ideally sooner rather than later. In addition to showing you how to lower personal loan costs, Achieve looks at how to reduce student loan debt and unburden your budget. Key takeaways: - Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans can help you pay less toward y...
Coco Gauff lifting her 2025 French Open trophy Clive Brunskill // Getty Images Top-earning women's tennis players of all time In 1968, professional tennis entered the Open Era. With the introduction of the four Grand Slam tournaments—the U.S. Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon—the division between pros and amateurs finally ended. But there was still the matter of male versus female players. In 1973, Billie Jean King famously beat Bobby Riggs in "The Battle Of The Sexes," win...
The evolution of design thinking: From products to problem-solving across industries Once a niche process used mostly in product design, design thinking has become a flexible, people-first framework for solving problems across business, education, entertainment, and more. This story, based on information gathered by Lazzoni, follows the five classic stages of design thinking — empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test — and shows how major innovators have used it to shape everything fro...
Konstantin L // Shutterstock Cities with the most expensive homes in Alabama Purchasing a home is one of the most important investments there is. More than a place to live, homeownership is an asset with the potential to tremendously rise in value. But with home prices reaching record heights, affordability plays a huge role for buyers. The typical home value in the United States was $366,289 in May, 0.4% higher than the year before. High mortgage rates are also making monthly payments more...
How rising home prices are influencing furniture choices As home prices continue to climb across the United States, many Americans are re-evaluating not just where they live, but how they furnish their homes. House of Leon explores the intersection of real estate trends and home decor preferences, which reveals a shift toward more intentional, adaptable, and value-driven furniture purchases. The escalating cost of homeownership In the first quarter of 2025, the median sales price of houses sold...
5 surprising stats on alcohol use disorder Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious and often misunderstood condition affecting millions of people in the United States. Despite alcohol’s cultural normalization, AUD contributes to a staggering number of deaths each year and poses a major public health threat. Stigma, misinformation, and a lack of access to care continue to obscure who is affected, the role of co-occurring mental health conditions, and what treatment and recovery can look like. A...
Happy Together // Shutterstock See the most extreme temperatures in Alabama history On July 9, 2021, California's Death Valley reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to an automated measuring system there, representing one of the highest temperatures ever recorded on the planet. The world record, also recorded at Death Valley, was 134 degrees in July 1913. More than 210 degrees Fahrenheit separates the highest and the lowest temperatures on record in the United States, the third-largest...
Young woman lying on sofa with closed eyes and holding her stomach. Africa Studio // Shutterstock Digestive issues are on the rise in the US. Here are 5 of the most common conditions. By some estimates, a whopping 66% of Americans live with gut issues—and some medical professionals think gastrointestinal conditions are becoming more common, such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and colorectal cancer. There's also evidence that many people aren't aware of the importan...
5 surprising opioid use disorder statistics Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious and complex condition affecting millions of people across the country and contributing to a national public health emergency. Yet stigma and misinformation about addiction continue to obscure who is affected and what recovery can look like. In reality, the rise in opioid misuse since the 1990s has paralleled a pharmaceutical-driven surge in opioid prescriptions despite growing awareness of the risks. OUD also...
Wellness consumers have $1 trillion to spend The wellness economy is evolving. Fitt Insider shares details and trends. Big spender. U.S. consumers prioritizing well-being wield $1.1 trillion in spending power, per Circana’s latest report, highlighting unmet demand for emerging categories. Building blocks. Physical health remains foundational, with exercise and nutrition leading the way. Reflecting consumer goals, sales of protein, energy, weight management, and gut health supplements rose YoY. M...
High mortgage rates are still impacting home sales in 2025 Spring usually brings with it open houses, moving vans and new mortgages. But for many would-be homebuyers, this year’s homebuying season felt more like Groundhog Day. Ever since interest rates for mortgages climbed from 3% following the COVID-19 pandemic to over 6% starting in late 2022, home sales in the U.S. have cooled to a level not seen in decades. Over the past 30 years, it's been typical for more than 5 million homes to change h...
