The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 35 - 59 of 2167
From budget cuts to public distrust: Exploring the challenges facing local health departments As CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, Lori Freeman spends much of her time on the road talking with the people on the front lines of public health. It’s been a challenging year for local health departments. The federal government in March announced it was pulling back $11.4 billion in funding allocated across the nation for pandemic response and infrastructure, an a...
2 side hustle ideas to make extra money during the holidays and in 2026 The traditional path of working a full-time job until retirement is changing. More people are now exploring creative, flexible ways to earn extra income and build financial freedom on their own terms, especially as holiday expenses approach and a new year brings fresh goals. That's where freelance side hustles come in. A side hustle is like your own small business you manage alongside your regular part-time or full-time...
How to reclaim financial confidence even with student debt Student-loan debt in the U.S. has now crossed the $1.8 trillion mark. That magnitude means one thing: you’re not alone. Debt doesn’t define you. But how you deal with it absolutely can. Borrowers who take one small, proactive step—by checking their rate, exploring refinancing, or simply understanding their options—often describe the same feeling afterward. Relief. Clarity. Control. And while refinancing a federal loan means giving...
Holiday spending growth by state It’s that time of year when many households assess their budgets surrounding holiday parties, gifting and sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Local businesses, ecommerce businesses, and even governments collecting associated sales tax benefit from these end-of-year purchases. To accommodate the seasonal surge in spending, businesses must often plan ahead to account for increased traffic to stores and attractions during this time of year, making it i...
How to care for elderly loved ones at home Taking care of elderly parents at home can be rewarding. Many seniors prefer to age in a familiar place, encouraging adult children to have aging parents live at home instead of residential care facilities. However, caregiving encompasses huge responsibilities. Your loved one’s degree of mobility and independence impacts the type of work to expect. You typically need to assist with their daily activities, offer emotional support and manage medical n...
Got the flu? Here’s how long you’re contagious When the flu strikes, one of the biggest concerns is how long you might be contagious. Knowing this can help protect your family, friends, and coworkers from catching the virus. This guide from Doctronic.ai breaks down exactly how long you can spread the flu and what you can do to minimize the risk. It is crucial to recognize that the contagious period can vary significantly among individuals, influenced by factors such as age, overall health, and...
China-US freight shipping rates stabilize at lower levels as December bookings slow This week, global trade policy saw several notable developments suggesting a turning point in how major economies manage supply chains, resource dependencies, and trade imbalances. The EU’s push to reduce dependency on Chinese raw materials and China’s simultaneous move to streamline rare-earth exports reflect a recalibration of trade flows, away from old dependencies and toward diversification and res...
1 answers that could save a life: Organ donation explained Teenagers aren’t supposed to struggle to breathe. But two years ago, Micah Clayborne, a then-active 13-year-old middle school tennis player, knew something was wrong. Still, he pushed through the symptoms — persistent sweating and shortness of breath — for six months before finally telling his parents. They rushed their son to the hospital. Within days, doctors diagnosed Micah with Danon disease — a genetic condition that thicken...
Schools that are good at teaching math are also good in reading — and vice versa Many people prefer restaurants that specialize and perfect a certain type of cuisine — they don’t want their barbecue restaurant to offer sushi, and see extensive menus as a worrisome sign of mediocrity. On the other hand, they may not want a hotel that excels in only one area — they want every hotel they stay at to have clean sheets and towels, hot water and a quiet environment. What about schools? Are they more li...
How can I avoid capital gains tax without a 1031 exchange? Understanding capital gains taxes from a property sale and the legal strategies you can pursue to manage tax liabilities from selling an asset can help you preserve the wealth you’ve built in your property. Although you may have heard of using a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains tax from real estate sales, do you have other options for avoiding capital gains tax without a 1031 exchange? In this story, 453 Trust Powered by P...
VDB Photos // Shutterstock How Alabama ranks for most motorcycle fatalities The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that there are approximately 8.8 million motorcyclists on the road in the United States, according to active registrations from each state. This number marks a sharp increase since 2002, which had only 4.3 million motorcyclists. This growing number is a concern for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as they've found that 15% of all traffic fatalities...
zhengzaishuru // Shutterstock Highest-rated Class of 2026 men's basketball recruits from Alabama From the roaring crowd to squeaking sneakers on the hardwood, high school basketball is a beloved American pastime. The sport's school roots date back to its 19th-century beginnings. After all, James Naismith invented basketball as a physical education activity. The concept of a state championship for high school basketball soon followed. Illinois, for example, held a state championship as early as 1...
Everett Collection // Shutterstock Most common jobs 150 years ago in Alabama At the time of the American Revolution, most of the job market in the U.S. revolved around agriculture or food acquisition in some way. Many individuals and communities farmed for subsistence, not even growing enough to have an excess to sell for profits. As the fledgling country grew, so did its economy, springing forth during the Industrial Revolution of the late 1700s and early 1800s, and inexorably shifting the...
Five ways to give your kids a financial head start this holiday season We’re fast entering the season of giving, with the year-end calendar crammed with one holiday after another. But in an uncertain economy, it’s important to get your giving right. That means avoiding the usual waste, like plastic toys that will get ignored or broken or discarded within days. In fact, last year Americans spent more than $10 billion on unwanted gifts, according to a survey by Finder. Instead, think about a gif...
Achieving lasting remission for HIV Around the world, some 40 million people are living with HIV. And though progress in treatment means the infection isn’t the death sentence it once was, researchers have never been able to bring about a cure. Instead, HIV-positive people must take a cocktail of antiretroviral drugs for the rest of their lives. But in 2025, researchers reported a breakthrough that suggests that a “functional” cure for HIV — a way to keep HIV under control long-term without...
6 things pediatricians want you to know about vaccines Back in the early 1900s, about one in five children died before entering kindergarten. The most common reason: infectious disease. Today, just one in 27 dies so young, most often because of an accident. Those saved lives are largely thanks to vaccines, which introduce weakened or killed viruses or bacteria into the body to trigger the body’s natural defenses and immune responses. Over the years, vaccines have prevented millions of h...
Daniel Avram // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in the U.S. in the last week Dec. 15, 2025 CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in the U.S. using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. U.S. by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.91 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.6%) - Year change: -$0.12 (-3.9%) - Historical expensive gas price: $5.02 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.63 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.5%) - Year change: +$0.13 (+3.7%) - Historical expensive...
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 December 15. Huntsville by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.62 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.7%) - Year change: -$0.10 (-3.7%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.60 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.38 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.7%) - Year change: +$0.0...
Christian Mueller // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Birmingham in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Birmingham, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Birmingham by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.64 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.03 (-1.1%) - Year change: -$0.06 (-2.3%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.61 (6/13/22) - Diesel current price: $3.41 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.9%) - Year...
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 December 15. Gadsden by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.55 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: +$0.02 (+0.9%) - Year change: -$0.08 (-2.9%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.55 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.27 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.8%) - Year change: +$0....
Daniel Avram // 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 December 15. Florence by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.62 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.6%) - Year change: -$0.05 (-1.8%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.62 (6/10/22) - Diesel current price: $3.34 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.1%) - Year...
Istvan Csak // 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 December 15. Daphne by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.57 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.06 (-2.4%) - Year change: -$0.12 (-4.6%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.68 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.37 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.5%) - Year change:...
Daniel Avram // 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 December 15. Auburn by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.58 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.9%) - Year change: -$0.06 (-2.4%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.64 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.32 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.8%) - Year change: +$0.08...
jittawit21 // 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 December 15. Montgomery by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.61 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.03 (-1.1%) - Year change: -$0.09 (-3.3%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.67 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.36 - Week change: -$0.01 (-0.4%) - Year change:...
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 December 15. Mobile by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.55 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.8%) - Year change: -$0.11 (-4.0%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.62 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.34 - Week change: -$0.04 (-1.1%) - Year change: +$0.08 (+2.5%) -...
