The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Mish.El // Shutterstock Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Montgomery buyers Redfin Real Estate economists say the recent dip in mortgage rates gives serious house hunters a window of opportunity to lock in a lower monthly housing payment. The daily average mortgage rate dropped to 6.57% on August 4th – the lowest level in 10 months. That's down from a peak of 7.08% in May, giving buyers some relief after months of higher rates. In Montgomery, where the median sale pri...
Mish.El // Shutterstock Mortgage rates fall to 10‑month low, offering relief for Tuscaloosa buyers Redfin Real Estate economists say the recent dip in mortgage rates gives serious house hunters a window of opportunity to lock in a lower monthly housing payment. The daily average mortgage rate dropped to 6.57% on August 4th – the lowest level in 10 months. That's down from a peak of 7.08% in May, giving buyers some relief after months of higher rates. In Tuscaloosa, where the median sale pri...
7 easy ways to start saving for Christmas The holidays are a time to celebrate. It's a great idea to go into the festive season with a plan to save and spend your money wisely, avoiding the need for debt relief next year. There are plenty of ways to start saving for Christmas this year that don’t bring on financial stress, and there’s no time like the present to start, Freedom Debt Relief explains. Key Takeaways: - Decide how much you want to spend on holiday expenses and open a Christmas sav...
Dogs and their people: Companions in cancer research After a train carrying chemicals derailed and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, in 2023, residents were exposed to carcinogens such as vinyl chloride, acrolein and dioxin. Since tumors are typically slow to develop, it could take decades to know what that did to the locals’ cancer risk, but there may be a quicker route to an answer: The residents’ dogs were also exposed, and dogs develop cancer more quickly. Studying dogs and their can...
How AI can make infectious disease surveillance smarter, faster, and more useful Public health agencies are under pressure to move faster, detect threats earlier, and make better decisions, even as their funding is cut and their authority reduced. While most public health agencies will have to do less with less, artificial intelligence systems provide an opportunity to maintain and possibly improve performance in one critical area: infectious disease surveillance. Healthbeat reports that even...
Transpacific shipping rates hold steady as tariff uncertainty keeps importers on the sidelines Reciprocal tariffs are back, rates are back to 2024 levels — for now — and more. Last week, global trade policy was dominated by sharp escalation in U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration. On July 31, a sweeping executive order set new reciprocal tariffs, ranging from 15 % baseline to as high as 50% on imports from countries like Canada, Brazil, India, Taiwan, and Switzerland, scheduled to take...
What is contributing to rising college costs? Higher education tuition has doubled in the last 20 years, with some institutions today hitting the $100,000 mark for a four-year degree. These escalating costs have discouraged many prospective students from taking the leap into academia, as well as those experiencing waves of ballooning debt. However, it’s not only students who feel the pinch. As costs rise, higher education institutions and communities feel it, too. The prospect of federal f...
The average cost of private sports coaching: What families should expect Private sports coaching has become a growing fixture in youth athletics — offering personalized, game-changing benefits. With demand surging, families across the country are curious: What’s the typical cost in today’s market? Most private coaching lessons range $40–$120 per hour, depending on the coach’s experience, credentials, and the region’s cost of living. - Entry-level coaches, like high school or college players, of...
Ghosting: The modern dating dilemma You're staring at your phone screen. It's been hours, maybe days. The last message you sent sits unopened. There's no reply, no read receipt, just … silence. This is the experience of digital ghosting, when someone cuts off all communication suddenly with zero explanation, leaving the other person bewildered, anxious, and often hurt. These days, most conversations happen through texts, DMs, and dating apps, so it's no surprise that ghosting is everywhere. B...
How vacant marketing roles are costing businesses billions The modern economy runs on digital presence. From brand awareness to direct sales, marketing is the engine driving growth for countless businesses. Yet, an often-overlooked threat is quietly undermining this vital function: the prolonged vacancy of key digital marketing roles. These vacancies aren’t just human resources headaches; they are silent growth killers, with financial tolls compounding daily, impacting everything from revenue p...
Cities with the most available housing inventory Potential homebuyers are seeing a healthy increase in housing inventory after nearly unprecedented lows in late 2021 and early 2022. From fewer than 400,000 listings in January 2022 to more than one million today, the U.S. housing inventory is continuing its climb to pre-pandemic numbers. December 2019 was the last month prior to May 2025 with more than 1 million national listings. The recovery in inventory, however, has been disproportional...
How much car can I afford? As if car shopping weren't challenging enough already, figuring out how much to spend on a car is a moving target even among financial experts. Some believe that, all combined, automotive expenses, including gas, insurance, car payments and maintenance, should not exceed 20% of your pretax monthly income. Other experts say that a vehicle that costs less than half of your annual take-home pay may be affordable. Some frugal personal finance gurus say you should spend no...
Ace the test: How to boost credit scores Every American knows how critical their credit score is. Or at least, they should. A high score unlocks a whole host of financial opportunities: Lower car payments, cheaper mortgages, or even approval for that new rental apartment or job you’ve been eyeing. But here’s something you may not know: Some parts of the country are doing better than others when it comes to boosting credit scores, reports Current, a consumer fintech banking platform. The fin...
Unlocking the benefits of affordable insurance Insurance is one of those financial products that often feels like a burden until you need it. Whether you are protecting your car, home, or personal belongings, having the right coverage in place can make the difference between a manageable situation and a financial disaster. But the word “affordable” often raises eyebrows. Does affordable insurance actually offer enough protection? Or does it just mean cutting corners? The good news is that aff...
muratart // Shutterstock 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...
Media_Photos // Shutterstock 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...
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock Best private K-12 schools in the Birmingham metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private K-12 schools in the Birmingham metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses five weighted factors for its rankings: top colleges score, college enrollment, culture & diversity grade, parent / student surveys, and student teacher ratio. You can read more about the methodology here. GUNDAM_Ai // Shutterstock #15. Tabernacle Christian School - Location: Garde...
SeventyFour // Shutterstock Best private K-12 schools in the Huntsville metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private K-12 schools in the Huntsville metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses five weighted factors for its rankings: top colleges score, college enrollment, culture & diversity grade, parent / student surveys, and student teacher ratio. You can read more about the methodology here. DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock #13. Huntsville Christian Academy - Location:...
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock Best private K-12 schools in the Mobile metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private K-12 schools in the Mobile metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses five weighted factors for its rankings: top colleges score, college enrollment, culture & diversity grade, parent / student surveys, and student teacher ratio. You can read more about the methodology here. Anna Jurkovska // Shutterstock #12. Central Christian School - Location: Robertsdale, AL -...
Roman Kosolapov // Shutterstock Best private K-12 schools in the Montgomery metro area Stacker compiled a list of the best private K-12 schools in the Montgomery metro area using data from the Niche. Niche uses five weighted factors for its rankings: top colleges score, college enrollment, culture & diversity grade, parent / student surveys, and student teacher ratio. You can read more about the methodology here. panitanphoto // Shutterstock #15. Lowndes Academy - Location: Lowndesboro, AL -...
Super-resolution microscopes showcase the inner lives of cells Using a tiny, spherical glass lens sandwiched between two brass plates, the 17th-century Dutch microscopist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to officially describe red blood cells and sperm cells in human tissues, and observe “animalcules” — bacteria and protists — in the water of a lake. Increasingly powerful light microscopes followed, revealing cell organelles like the nucleus and energy-producing mitochondria. But by 1873...
Drive-through window in a fast-food restaurant in Redding, California. Tada Images // Shutterstock 50 lowest-paying jobs in America Inflation in the United States has skyrocketed in recent years, and though nationwide rates sit at 2.7% as of July 2025, the cost of living is only expected to increase in the coming months. As President Donald Trump imposes tariffs against key trade partners like Canada, Mexico, and China, American consumers should expect to see much higher price tags. In the...
1 of the most fuel-efficient cars of 2025 Car ownership records remain one of the top data points people search to verify personal information. In 2025, choosing a fuel-efficient car isn’t just about saving money — it’s a matter of lifestyle, values, and identity. With rising gas prices and growing environmental concerns, drivers are turning to cars that deliver maximum miles per gallon and minimal emissions. The General takes a look at some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles of the year,...
Overhead view of two successful colleagues discussing financial papers with diagrams and charts at a work meeting. Pressmaster // Shutterstock 50 highest-paying jobs in America Many American workers dream of landing a six-figure job. Believe it or not, data suggests such high-paying roles are more common than most think. According to a November 2024 study from ADP Research, more than 1 million jobs in the United States pay upward of $500,000. Of course, most workers aren't anywhere near that...
States with the highest and lowest property taxes As you may well know, paying property taxes is one of the more frustrating parts of home ownership. Whether you’re a homeowner, a real estate investor, a landlord with many units, or a retiree, recurring property taxes may feel like an endless strain on your wallet. However, property taxes play an essential role in the community and can vary significantly from state to state, with some states pushing taxes to the threshold while others find w...
