The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Renting vs. buying: How housing costs compare across America The cost of housing isn’t just limited to the price tag of your monthly rent or the cost of financing the purchase price of your home. On the rental side, the cost of utilities can add a consistent, considerable amount to your costs. For homeowners, mortgage costs are padded not only by utilities but homeowners’ insurance, property taxes and maintenance costs. These hidden costs can add up and change the dynamics of trade-offs between...
Future-proof your body: Beginner biohacks that could add years If you’ve paid attention to health and wellness culture, you’ve likely encountered the word “biohacking” at least once. The term can mean different things to different people, but the gist is this: Making small but strategic tweaks to your health to help you live a longer, healthier life. For some, “biohacking” is all about tech, with an emphasis on data, wearables like Whoop or the Oura Ring, and specialized equipment like sleep-...
Prepping your air conditioner for the summer With warmer weather comes swimming in the pool, eating ice cream, and basking in the hot sun. But all that outdoor fun also brings the responsibility of ensuring your air conditioning is operating efficiently. An air-conditioning tune-up is an important part of your summer preparation to make sure your system is ready for when the heat arrives. Temperatures are rising, and it’s time to consider turning on the AC. With your system lying dormant for s...
Canva Movies and TV shows casting in Huntsville 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 ar...
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...
What fees should you pay with a new car? You've skillfully negotiated the price of your new car, and you're confident you're getting a good deal. But when you see the contract, the total is much higher than what you planned on paying. Then you see the problem: The contract contains fees you didn't know about. It leaves you wondering if these new-car fees are legitimate. To answer that question, Edmunds has created a chart with the most common fees you may encounter when you're buying a new car....
Aerial view of San Francisco skyline in California during sunrise. Engel Ching // Shutterstock Best-paying U.S. cities for engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers and more Various dynamics can impact the cost of filling specific roles in the labor market. When demand for certain goods and services outpaces the local supply of resources, the wages for skilled professionals in those fields may be higher—and vice versa. Similarly, the labor supply can shape pay trends for certain. For example, a c...
How people are preparing for retirement: Survey insights Retirement is an important financial milestone that typically takes decades of planning and saving to reach. And there are many decisions to be made along the way: When should you start saving? How much will you need? How much should you set aside each month? When should you retire? Uncertainty about the market and a rising cost of living can turn up the pressure and further complicate the process. So how are we doing? SoFi surveyed 500...
A car agent helps a woman look for a car to purchase. wedmoments.stock // Shutterstock The latest trends in auto loan rates and financing for 2025 The average car loan interest rate is 6.35% for new cars and 11.62% for used cars, according to Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report from the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024. If you're thinking about buying a car in the near future, understanding the auto financing market can help you better evaluate your options. Here are the latest...
How to tell the difference between defamation, slander, and libel Defamation, slander, and libel are terms that are frequently confused with each other, LegalZoom says. They all fall into the same category of law and have to do with communications that falsely debase someone’s character. What is defamation? Defamation is a false statement presented as a fact that causes injury or damage to the character of the person it is about. An example is “Tom Smith stole money from his employer.” If this...
Pharmacies and pharmacists play a critical role in our healthcare system. They dispense prescription and over-the-counter medications, provide immunizations, and counsel patients on medication side effects, interactions, and regimens. These essential services ensure patient safety and help patients take their medications as prescribed, ultimately improving the overall health of our communities. In an ideal world, everyone would have convenient access to necessary health services like pharmacies....
Seasonal employment: 7 tips for small businesses hiring for the summer For many small business owners, the busy summer season brings both increased profits and staffing headaches. Instead of hiring permanent employees, seasonal employment can be a flexible solution to keep your operations running smoothly during your busiest months. However, hiring seasonal employees can be tricky. To help, NEXT researched the pros and cons of seasonal employment, tips for hiring and retaining summer workers,...
7 health insurance options to consider before leaving a job and coverage expires Employment-based health insurance is the most common type of coverage in the U.S., so quitting a job is likely to affect your insurance status. It’s a good idea to explore your insurance options before you quit your job and your coverage expires. If you don’t plan properly, you could have a gap in coverage. You could also face high out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits, prescriptions, and emergency care—or delay...
President Donald Trump's new executive order on regulating elections is striking for the way it asserts broad powers for the executive branch that go far beyond what's prescribed in the Constitution or sanctioned by courts. Experts expect the order to face legal challenges for that reason. But what's also striking about the order is how it seeks to dictate some arcane details of the way voting systems work in some of America: Specifically, it bans the machine-readable barcodes or QR codes that...
Retirement savings can serve as a key indicator of financial stability, reflecting not only a household's ability to set aside money but also shaping retirement timelines and broader workforce and economic dynamics. Across the United States, the average retirement savings per household is estimated to be $114,435—but this figure varies significantly by state, ranging from less than half to double that amount. These disparities can significantly impact when and how comfortably Americans retire. E...
While inflation metrics may show broad trends across the U.S., costs of individual necessities like housing, groceries, utilities, transportation and medical expenses may see wider price volatility from city to city. Many dynamics may help influence price differentials across the country, such as geographical location—which may impact the availability and import cost of raw materials—and demographics, which often influences demand for goods and services as well as the supply of labor. Reg...
Though many out-of-work Americans currently face a slower search for employment, the nation's job market remains relatively robust, with 177,000 new workers added in April 2025. For comparison, an average of 166,000 new jobs were gained every month in 2024. Overall, the number of jobs in the U.S. is expected to grow by 4% across all occupations by 2033. But, according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many jobs that pay over $100,000 a year on average are expected to grow at...
We all know that spending too much time on screens is unhealthy, but do different screens have different impacts on our mental health? The answer, according to a 2025 Hers study, is yes. In fact, one simple question, "Do you prefer streaming TV or scrolling social media?" reveals key differences in our self-perceptions, emotional stability, mental wellness, and more. So which one is better? Well, it's complicated. When it comes to screen time, binge watching Netflix and scrolling TikTok are not...
Mental health conditions affect millions of people worldwide, but harmful stereotypes—like the idea that people with mental illness are dangerous or weak—still shape how these conditions are understood and treated despite growing awareness and education. Mental health stigma can have serious consequences. A 2016 report shows that stigmatization of mental illness not only fuels social exclusion but also prevents people from seeking help when they need it most. And mental health stigma doe...
Retirement savings can serve as a key indicator of financial stability, reflecting not only a household's ability to set aside money but also shaping retirement timelines and broader workforce and economic dynamics. Across the United States, the average retirement savings per household is estimated to be $114,435—but this figure varies significantly by state, ranging from less than half to double that amount. These disparities can significantly impact when and how comfortably Americans retire. E...
For weeks, headlines centered on the mysterious deaths of 95-year-old Gene Hackman, who had advanced Alzheimer's disease, and his wife and primary caregiver, Betsy Arakawa. They were found days after Arakawa's sudden death from the rare hantavirus; Hackman was left alone without essential care like food and medication. He died of heart disease a few days later. The tragedy cast a harsh spotlight on America's invisible workforce of family caregivers, a vital but often unsupported part of the...
Small businesses are mighty. They're considered the backbone of the American economy and the heartbeat of many communities. While they're particularly vulnerable to market headwinds—think the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and the impact of tariffs on parts and labor—small businesses are also more nimble than their behemoth counterparts. And unlike corporate giants like Target and Walmart, which sell the same products from coast to coast, small businesses can cur...
sirtravelalot // Shutterstock Best private high schools in the Mobile metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in the Mobile metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock #22. Safe Haven Christian Academy...
LightField Studios // Shutterstock Best private high schools in the Montgomery metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in the Montgomery metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock #21. FRUITFUL GROUND...
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock Best private high schools in the Huntsville metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private high schools in the Huntsville metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses seven weighted factors for its rankings. A majority of the score is based on academics, but other factors include culture and diversity; sports; clubs and activities; resources; and surveys of parents, teachers, and students. Tyler Olson // Shutterstock #19. Union Chapel Christian...
