The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 2724
What’s behind your eye-popping power bill? Here are the reasons, region by region. It’s no secret that U.S. electricity prices have been rising over the last few years: The average residential energy bill in 2025 was roughly 30% higher than in 2021. This jump is largely in line with the overall inflation Americans have experienced during this period. As the cost of groceries, gas, and housing has increased, so too has the cost of electricity, Grist reports. But there are big differences from sta...
Witaya Proadtayakogool // Shutterstock Hottest Aprils in Alabama since 1895 In 2022, the continental United States experienced its third hottest July since 1895, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, while 20 states saw one of their 10 hottest days in the same month. The year prior, July marked the hottest month on record worldwide. Climate change is driving rising temperatures and more record heat. The Earth’s temperature has climbed each decade since 1...
What happens to bus ridership when gas prices spike Every time gas prices spike, Americans go through the same five stages. Disbelief at the pump. Quiet fury. Arithmetic. Googling. And then, for more of them than you'd expect, a decision that turns out to be more convenient than they expected. They get on the bus. As of March 20, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline sits at $3.84, up nearly 60 cents since the conflict in the Middle East disrupted Strait of Hormuz oil shipments...
Big beautiful refund? 5 tax code changes that may put more money in your pocket The days are getting longer and W-2s are blooming, which can only mean one thing — the U.S. tax season is here. Many Americans may receive a bigger tax refund than in previous years as a result of changes under what has been dubbed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a package of tax breaks and spending cuts that President Donald Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025. The act renewed tax cuts originally put in place in 20...
Independent contractor vs. sole proprietor vs. LLC: What's the difference? For many entrepreneurs, the legal aspects of starting a business loom large. One of the first things you’ll have to figure out when opening your business, and reconsider as you grow, is your business structure. If you’re comparing a limited liability company (an LLC) versus a sole proprietorship, this can be an important choice. This explainer from ERGO NEXT shows it’s not as complicated as it might sound. The differences...
Tiny surgical robots are bringing AI inside the human body, and they're closer than you think Tiny surgical robots are learning to make decisions inside the human body, using AI to interpret complex biological environments in real time. Unlike traditional minimally invasive procedures, where precision occurs at the tip of a rigid instrument, these microrobots navigate through tissue, gather data, take biopsies, and deliver treatment. The challenge is not just building devices small enough to...
Paying cash for healthcare: Can it save you money? You don’t need health insurance to access healthcare. In fact, you can pay out of pocket for healthcare even if you have insurance. Sometimes, doing this will cost less. GoodRx, a platform for medication savings, explains more about what’s known as cash-pay healthcare. Key takeaways: - Cash-pay healthcare means accessing medical treatment, preventive medicine, and wellness services without insurance. This is also known as paying out of poc...
What type of asthma inhaler is right for you? In the U.S., 25 million people are affected by asthma. That’s roughly 1 in 13 adults and children. Asthma can be mild or severe. Some people with asthma have symptoms every day. Others have symptoms that only kick in when they experience triggers. Since asthma is a lung issue, it’s often treated with medications that you breathe into your lungs. These medications are given using an inhaler. This guide from GoodRx, a platform for medication sav...
yul38885 // Shutterstock Coldest Aprils in Alabama since 1895 Stacker compiled a ranking of the coldest Aprils 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. April 2018 - Average temperature: 59.5°F - Monthly high...
How to generate passive income by selling digital products and growing your online audience Passive income gets talked about a lot, but it’s rarely explained in a way that feels realistic. For creators, freelancers, coaches, and small business owners, digital products are one of the most practical ways to do this. They allow you to turn knowledge, experience, or creative output into something that can be sold again and again, without needing to be delivered manually each time. In this a...
Media_Photos // Shutterstock Movies and TV shows casting across the US 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...
Why $4 gasoline is the tipping point for EVs Even as the U.S. and Israel reached a fragile two-week ceasefire with Iran, gasoline prices show no signs of a quick retreat. As of April 8, the national average stands at $4.16 per gallon, more than a dollar higher than at the start of the conflict. That's beyond a tipping point that experts say could push consumers toward electric vehicles, Grist reports. When gas prices top $4 per gallon, BloombergNEF estimates that the total cost of ownership for...
Tax season comes with a deadline. For people with disabilities, it also comes with a wall. Every year, millions of Americans sit down to file their taxes online. It's become the default, with roughly 94% of returns now filed electronically according to a federal review of the 2025 filing season, which means for most people, tax season looks something like this: pull up a website, enter some information, hit submit. It's not anyone's favorite task, but it gets done. For the roughly 70 million...
‘I’ll never have enough’: Why Americans feel broke despite making smart financial decisions A new Intuit Credit Karma/Harris Poll study finds 78% of Americans don't feel financially secure — and doing everything right is not enough. Most Americans believe they’ve made smart financial decisions, but doing the “right thing” doesn’t always feel like enough. Many believe that even if financial success exists on paper, it doesn’t guarantee that it will translate to comfort in real life. According t...
Your complete guide to buying an electric vehicle in 2026: What US consumers need to know Electric vehicles (EVs) are here to stay, and 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting years for the EV market yet. With expanding model choices, evolving incentives for drivers, and changing federal policy, choosing the right EV isn’t just about selecting a car. It’s about understanding the costs, charging options, and long-term value ina shifting landscape. The General has pulled together a c...
Robots that can build colonies on Mars are already practicing in California You can't joystick a robot on Mars in real time. Radio signals from Earth take up to 22 minutes to arrive. This simple fact has stalled space construction for decades. The dream of building in space has long remained just that: an aspiration, a vision of an extraterrestrial jumping-off point for exploring the cosmos. But the gap between dream and reality is narrowing, driven by rapid advancements in AI and robotics....
Best affordable luxury SUVs of 2026 Finding an affordable luxury SUV that mixes practicality with high-end amenities and expressive design doesn’t have to be a budget-busting exercise. Using Edmunds’ rankings and a $50,000 budget — including mandatory destination charges — here are 10 of the best affordable luxury SUVs on the market today. The top pick, the BMW X1, edges out its rivals, but only by a smidge. You really can’t go wrong with any of these right-priced luxurious crossovers and SUVs,...
How to find debt relief for seniors Seniors face unique challenges when it comes to debt. Often, seniors are on a fixed or limited income. For many, managing debt gets tougher as we age. You're not alone. Nearly everyone with serious debt issues is eligible for help. And age is no bar. There are ways to tackle debt at any age and find financial peace of mind. Freedom Debt Relief explores the debt relief options available to you. We’ll help you understand how each one works and how to choose the...
Breach of fiduciary duty penalties explained: Fines, sanctions, and how to avoid them Breach of fiduciary duty penalties can range from six-figure financial judgments to prison time, depending on the severity and intent behind the violation. If you're a financial advisor, this isn't something you can afford to treat as abstract legal theory. Every advisory relationship is built on a legal and ethical obligation to put your client's interests ahead of your own. When that obligation gets...
Who gets the house? Legal battles over property between long-term live-in partners rise in urban real estate markets Domestic arrangements are shifting as marriage rates stagnate, but the financial leap into homeownership is not slowing down. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2025 report, 13% of homebuyers in the 25-34 age demographic are now unmarried couples—a "tipping point" that reveals a massive cohort of buyers entering the market without the legal protections a...
How AI is changing Alzheimer’s and dementia care For the 11 million Americans caring for a loved one with dementia, the journey is rarely about “big news.” Instead, it is defined by the long, difficult wait between doctor appointments and the search for answers that often come too late. When we discuss the “next generation” of Alzheimer’s and dementia care, the conversation usually focuses on a new pill or a laboratory breakthrough. However, the true challenge of the 2026 healthcare landscape i...
5 mistakes to avoid when consolidating credit card debt Consolidating your credit card debt can help simplify your monthly payments. Unfortunately, there are a few things that can derail your progress. If you are considering debt consolidation for your credit cards, experts at Accredited Debt Relief highlight five mistakes you should avoid. 1. Not Changing Your Financial Habits and Taking on New Debt Consolidating debt won’t solve the problem if spending patterns stay the same. Taking on new b...
6+ social media marketing FAQs, answered by experts You’re Googling social media marketing questions at 10 p.m. because your boss asked about ROI and you didn’t have an answer. Or maybe you’re a business owner staring at flatlined engagement, wondering if any of this actually works. Either way, you need answers. Not “it depends.” Real answers you can actually use. Well, without further ado, WebFX compiled 60+ social media marketing FAQs about strategy, platforms, content, paid ads, costs, an...
Why your dog suddenly refuses to move in the middle of a walk George is not budging. A neighbor has stopped by to let him outside, but he refuses to move. We won’t go so far as to call George stubborn, but he is never going to get off this couch. Ever. This golden retriever gets it — he’s at the beach and sees no reason to leave, so he’s not moving either. And when this beagle plopped down and refused to finish her hike, she got her own personal Uber. Every pet parent has experienced it: You...
How outdated tech is draining billions in American small business profits Somewhere in America, a dentist's office is paying $200 a month for a phone line that exists for one reason: to send and receive faxes. The office manager knows it is expensive. She has mentioned it more than once. But the insurance companies they work with still require faxed claims, and the oral surgeons they refer patients to still send records by fax, and nobody has had time to figure out what the alternative would...
