The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Survey: Small business profitability forecasts dropping nearly 50% year over year Since the COVID-19 pandemic, small businesses have been tackling a growing number of challenges outside their control. Prices keep climbing, consumer appetites keep changing, and the labor market is evolving rapidly, thanks in part to artificial intelligence. To understand how small business owners (SBOs) are feeling during a difficult time for small businesses across the country, Bluevine conducted a survey of...
Inflammation: The hidden driver of heart disease you need to be testing for Most adults know the drill before an annual physical: routine blood work, a few numbers to scan, and hope nothing jumps out. These tests are meant to catch serious illness early. But when it comes to cardiovascular disease—the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women—standard screenings still miss critical risk factors. The problem starts with how doctors typically test for heart disease. Tra...
Snowfall records by county During the week starting Jan. 26, a massive winter storm swept across much of the United States, blanketing regions from Texas to the Northeast with heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice, often exceeding 12 inches of precipitation. High snowfall can cause a variety of productivity disruptions, from the closing of schools and workplaces to costly interventions to clear infrastructure — especially in places unaccustomed to snowfall. Slippery roads and visual i...
Digging out: 6 things homeowners should do right after a blizzard A massive snowfall that blankets the world in white and cancels everything for a day (or a few) can be magical — especially for kids. But for homeowners, snowstorms can be stressful. That stress doesn’t end when the snowfall stops — and not just due to the thought of having to clear all that snow. Hopefully, you safely endured the massive snowstorms that whipped across the U.S. in recent weeks, freezing cities in their tracks as t...
Can a 50-year mortgage fix housing affordability? The data says mostly no Longer loan terms could open the door to home ownership for 1 in 85 renters in America’s 100 largest cities, but not all will benefit equally. A 50-year mortgage term could reduce monthly payments by an average of just around $84 while ballooning interest by roughly $561,000 on an average home in each of America’s 100 largest metros. That’s a controversial proposition. Nevertheless, at the end of that lengthy term, buyer...
Students’ skills and interest in science tumble in first post-COVID-19 test U.S. eighth graders are less prepared to be the scientists of tomorrow than they were before the pandemic. In the first nationwide test of students’ science knowledge since 2019, the percentage of students scoring at the proficient level fell to 29%, down from 33%, and the average score dropped back to levels last seen in 2009, when a new version of the test was introduced, according to the National Assessment of Educati...
Protect your heart and your money this Valentine’s Day Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? While you may want to open your heart, you need to be careful when it comes to your finances. Unsuspecting consumers have lost millions of dollars through romance scams, in which criminals use fake online personas to gain trust and then manipulate victims for financial gain. For example, in December 2025, an Ohio grand jury indicted a member of a criminal network that defrauded elderly victims out of...
Love, history and harmony: Valentine’s Day then and now Valentine’s Day is widely associated with romantic expression, though its origins and modern significance reflect a blend of ancient ritual, literary tradition, and changing social customs. In this article, PrayerSong examines how the holiday evolved and why music continues to play a role in how people mark romantic milestones. From pagan ritual to poetic romance Valentine’s Day did not begin as a celebration of love, but its roots can be t...
How to get your tax refund faster and be smart about spending it If you feel like you’ve been living paycheck to paycheck, you’re certainly not alone. But take heart that there’s some good news looming on the horizon. Tax refunds are on the way, and they will likely be even larger than usual. The final average for the 2024 tax year was $3,151, a sum that’s big enough to move the needle for many households. For the 2025 tax year, it’s expected to be even higher than that, potentially by up to...
Profitable businesses to start in 2026 These suggestions are based on recent business trends and do not guarantee a profitable outcome. Running your own business can be an appealing prospect. Working for yourself comes with a number of benefits, from setting your own schedule to seeing your income grow along with your business. But how do you decide on the best type of business for you? The good news is that, while having a passion project is great, you can pursue your entrepreneurial dreams...
The demand illusion: Why home prices are falling in these 9 growing US cities In a normal housing cycle, “more people moving in” should mean “prices go up.” But the post-2022 market has produced a counterintuitive pattern in several large U.S. metros: Prices are sliding even while the headcount grows. This isn’t magic—it’s a math problem. When supply rises faster than effective demand, or when buyers can’t (or won’t) pay yesterday’s prices because financing, insurance, taxes, or job growt...
Trump appoints Kevin Warsh as Fed Chair: What it means for markets The surprise hawkish pick signals Fed independence and a market-first approach to monetary policy Many believe the Fed is the single most important actor in global markets. By setting interest rates for the world’s largest economy, the Fed influences the valuation of virtually every asset class. Range discusses what the appointment of Kevin Warsh as the next Fed chair could mean for markets. Who is Kevin Warsh? Warsh is a f...
Onishchenko Natalya // Shutterstock Coldest Februarys in Alabama since 1895 Stacker compiled a ranking of the coldest Februarys in Alabama since 1895 using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information. Rankings are based on the lowest average temperature in each month. For each of the coldest months listed below, we've included the average state temperature, state-wide highs and lows for the month, and the total precipitation. #10. February 2015 - Average temperature: 41.3°F -...
Elen Nika // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Daphne in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Daphne by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.56 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.00 (-0.1%) - Year change: -$0.20 (-7.4%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.68 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.32 - Week change: +$0.01 (+0.4%) - Year change:...
Christian Mueller // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Anniston in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Anniston-Oxford, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Anniston by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.47 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.00 (-0.0%) - Year change: -$0.35 (-12.5%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.61 (6/11/22) - Diesel current price: $3.27 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.7%) - Year...
Istvan Csak // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Decatur in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Decatur, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Decatur by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.47 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: $0.00 (0.0%) - Year change: -$0.30 (-10.7%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.59 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.24 - Week change: +$0.02 (+0.6%) - Year change: -$0.14...
Daniel Avram // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Montgomery in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Montgomery, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Montgomery by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.55 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: +$0.01 (+0.4%) - Year change: -$0.25 (-9.0%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.67 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.33 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.1%) - Year change:...
jittawit21 // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Florence in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Florence by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.53 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: +$0.03 (+1.3%) - Year change: -$0.32 (-11.1%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.62 (6/10/22) - Diesel current price: $3.32 - Week change: +$0.10 (+3.0%) - Year...
Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Tuscaloosa in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Tuscaloosa, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Tuscaloosa by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.50 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.1%) - Year change: -$0.31 (-11.0%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.63 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.33 - Week change: +$0.01 (+0.3%) - Year...
Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Auburn in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Auburn, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Auburn by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.48 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.1%) - Year change: -$0.27 (-9.8%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.64 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.24 - Week change: +$0.02 (+0.5%) - Year change: -$0.12...
jittawit21 // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Mobile in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Mobile, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Mobile by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.52 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.00 (-0.1%) - Year change: -$0.24 (-8.6%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.62 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.28 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.2%) - Year change: -$0.18 (-5.3%) -...
Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Gadsden in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Gadsden, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Gadsden by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.44 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.01 (-0.5%) - Year change: -$0.27 (-10.0%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.55 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.21 - Week change: +$0.02 (+0.6%) - Year change:...
Elen Nika // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Huntsville in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Huntsville, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Huntsville by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.53 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.00 (-0.1%) - Year change: -$0.29 (-10.5%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.60 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.28 - Week change: +$0.07 (+2.2%) - Year change:...
Elen Nika // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Dothan in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Dothan, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of February 2. Dothan by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.51 --- Alabama average: $2.52 - Week change: -$0.00 (-0.2%) - Year change: -$0.33 (-11.6%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.67 (6/10/22) - Diesel current price: $3.41 - Week change: +$0.04 (+1.0%) - Year change: -$0.20 (-5.6%) -...
Before special ed, there was the school-to-asylum pipeline. How one lawsuit helped end it The moment, Thomas Gilhool would tell a historian decades later, “seemed providential.” It was 1969. Two men from the Pennsylvania Association of Retarded Children made an appointment to meet with the young lawyer with a reputation for taking pie-in-the-sky cases more experienced attorneys wouldn’t touch. Gilhool was five years out of Yale Law School, practicing out of an office that was no wider than...
