The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Have you ever opened your monthly electricity statement and thought, "This can't be right"? If so, you're in good company. Arbor surveyed 500 American homeowners and renters and found that 71% of Americans doubt the accuracy of their electricity charges, and nearly 70% admit they don't fully understand how their bill is calculated. It's no wonder power bills are soaring to the top of the list of monthly financial stressors, second only to rent or mortgage payments. The trust gap: So many feel...
California lawmakers want to stop artificial intelligence from ripping you off. In recent weeks they introduced five bills to address the issue, making predictive pricing based on a customer's personal information one of the most popular tech policy concerns in the Legislature this session, reports The Markup. Ride-sharing apps, travel companies, and retail giants such as Staples, Target, and reportedly Amazon have engaged in the practice, which can set different prices for customers based on...
Gasoline prices are down several cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.12, with Mississippi seeing the cheapest state-level prices at $2.66 and California with the most expensive at $4.65. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs on the two...
The online dating market in the U.S. is projected to reach $3.17 billion in 2025 and has revolutionized how we meet potential partners—or has it? While swiping left and right have become synonymous with dating culture among younger generations, a 2025 Hims study found that the vast majority of people, young and old, are meeting in real life (IRL). 82% of Americans Met Their Partners In Person, Not Digitally 82% of men and women in the U.S., ages 18-65, who report either being married or in a r...
A staggering 45% of small business owners don't know they have a business credit score, according to the Native American Dream Gap survey. Even more surprising—this number could be silently impacting your business right now, affecting everything from your loan terms to your relationships with suppliers. Most business owners understand personal credit scores, but business credit scores play by a different set of rules. It's not just about the numbers being different (they are), or how they're c...
The vast majority of America's local election administrators would not encourage their children to do the same job, and a shrinking share of them say they would be proud to tell others about their work, Votebeat reports. The findings come from a survey conducted every federal election year by the Elections & Voting Information Center, an academic research group. While it contains small bright spots—election administrators largely find the job personally rewarding, for example—the number wil...
From compact crossovers in California to full-size trucks in Texas, Edmunds shoppers have a wide variety of favorite vehicles. Edmunds users' preferences were analyzed to determine the 10 most favorited makes and models of 2024, also looking at favorite model years and regions where shoppers were based. Takeaways? Honda and Toyota dominated with sensible, reliable sedans and crossovers; Ford and Chevrolet trucks remain perennially popular; and the Jeep Wrangler still inspires the daydreams of ma...
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 are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a l...
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 are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
Despite record-high annual percentage rates (APRs) for consumers, credit card debt grew at a slower rate in 2024 than it did in 2023. The total amount of consumer credit card debt in the U.S. grew 8.6% to reach $1.16 trillion as of the third quarter (Q3) of 2024, according to Experian data. Among those consumers who carry a balance—revolvers, in industry jargon—the average balance grew 3.5% to reach $6,730 as of Q3 2024. That increase from 2023 marks the slowest annual growth since the start of...
Many websites lose customers because confusing design and accessibility issues—like unreadable forms or missing labels—make it hard for people, especially those with disabilities, to use them. Fixing these problems not only helps users have a better experience but also helps businesses keep customers and avoid legal trouble. Every business wants its website to be a seamless, welcoming experience for customers. But too often, hidden accessibility barriers—unreadable forms, confusing menus, or po...
A community in Alabama may soon be forced to close its local police department. At the end of February, a grand jury recommended disbanding the Hanceville Police Department, concluding that it "recently operated as more of a criminal enterprise than a law enforcement agency." City officials have said they are considering the recommendation, but for now, the department is, in effect, shuttered. Five officers have been arrested, and the entire force has been placed on leave. One state away, a form...
The first jobs report fully under the new Trump administration showed a softening job market, with the unemployment rate ticking up to 4.1% in February, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures released March 7. Job growth increased but fell below expectations, one of several possible fissures appearing in the once rock-solid labor market. Businesses are pulling back on hiring as the economic forecast and policy outlook grow murkier due to volatile trade policies and large cuts to the...
Unlike a full-time employee whose taxes are deducted from their paycheck, if you're an independent contractor, it's your job to pay taxes on your own—and you'll want as many 1099 tax deductions as you can take, NEXT explains. You can claim numerous deductions when you file your taxes on tax day. Your 1099 independent contractor deductions lower the amount you'll ultimately have to pay in taxes as a self-employed contractor. "Not keeping good track of their business expenses is one of the b...
Over the past few months, protein-rich foods like eggs and beef have experienced significant price increases. The most recent U.S. government data showed a 53% increase in egg prices over the past year, the largest annual jump in two years. Cases of bird flu in recent months have exacerbated the issue, making eggs completely unavailable at some grocery stores. Three-quarters of Americans are very concerned over the cost of food and consumer goods, according to a Pew Research Center survey....
Republicans who control Congress are reportedly weighing cuts to Medicaid, the popular federal-state insurance program that provides health and long-term care to millions of Americans. Lawmakers have indicated the cuts would help pay for President Donald Trump's tax policy, which is expected to include permanent tax breaks for wealthy Americans. On Jan. 31, Trump said he would "love and cherish" Social Security and Medicare—two programs that disproportionately provide financial support and c...
The city of Reno, Nevada, is breaking records in ways it doesn't like: A 2024 analysis of 241 cities showed that Reno has heated up faster than any other city in the United States. While the country as a whole warmed by 2.6 F on average between 1970 and 2023, Reno saw an increase of 7.6 F. A heat wave that hit Reno in July 2024 made for the hottest month in the Biggest Little City's documented history, Knowable Magazine explains. Reno's heat is not evenly spread. In the summer, neighborhoods...
In January, Louisiana state troopers, alongside other state agencies, swept homeless encampments in downtown New Orleans and bused over 100 people to an industrial warehouse away from the city center in an effort to hide the city's homelessness crisis from Super Bowl tourists. The Louisiana governor's office told the Associated Press that people weren't forced to go to the center, but had to leave their encampment or could be arrested. But an unhoused person named Christopher Aylwen said in an...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
Gasoline prices have increased by just a few cents compared to this time last month, but the cost to fill up the tank has declined by nearly 40 cents per gallon since last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.16, with Lubbock, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.62 and Lihue, Hawaii, with the most expensive at $5.12. After a monthlong pause on tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, the Trump administration proceeded at the beginning of March to impose 25% tariffs...
