The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Gas prices have gone up by 16 cents per gallon since the beginning of last month but are still down by nearly 30 cents compared to this time last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.26, with McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.66 and Santa Rosa, California, with the most expensive at $5.23. After issuing multiple pauses on tariffs against Canadian and Mexican imports since taking office, President Trump on Wednesday announced a sweeping 10%...
Gas prices have gone up by 16 cents per gallon since the beginning of last month but are still down by nearly 30 cents compared to this time last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.26, with McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.66 and Santa Rosa, California, with the most expensive at $5.23. After issuing multiple pauses on tariffs against Canadian and Mexican imports since taking office, President Trump on Wednesday announced a sweeping 10%...
Gas prices have gone up by 16 cents per gallon since the beginning of last month but are still down by nearly 30 cents compared to this time last year. The national average fuel price is about $3.26, with McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, seeing the cheapest metro-area prices at $2.66 and Santa Rosa, California, with the most expensive at $5.23. After issuing multiple pauses on tariffs against Canadian and Mexican imports since taking office, President Trump on Wednesday announced a sweeping 10%...
Many government and financial websites are still difficult to use for people with disabilities, especially during tax season. From confusing navigation to inaccessible forms and documents, these barriers make it hard to file taxes or manage finances independently. Tax season is often a source of stress and confusion—from navigating complicated forms to tracking down essential documents. For many Americans, the process has gone digital in recent years, with everything from tax filing to p...
For the past decade, college enrollment has steadily declined; at the same time, students' career aspirations have undergone a dramatic transformation. Long considered the gateway to financial stability, a college degree is no longer viewed as the only—or even the best—path to success. Freshman enrollment fell 5% this fall compared to last year, according to data released in October 2024 by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. This decline particularly concerns working-class adu...
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 are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
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 are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
Pop culture presents the usual suspects when it comes to canine companions. Golden retrievers, German shepherds, Labradors, and poodles, to name a few, are easy to spot and name both on screen and on sidewalks. While no one dog breed should get more love than another, human nature can lead us to play favorites. With 201 registered breeds, some inevitably fall to the bottom. To help understand what guides our choices, Stacker broke down the 50 least popular dog breeds in America in 2024 based on...
Life insurance policies play a significant role in providing financial security for beneficiaries. Over $202 billion dollars is paid out over the course of a year in the United States, according to estimates from the American Council of Life Insurers. But the extent of these payouts and the prevalence of policies vary greatly depending on state. To better understand these trends, SmartAsset examined life insurance data by state, examining average payouts, the number of policies in force per...
In early 2024, the bird influenza that had been spreading across the globe for nearly three decades did something wholly unexpected: It showed up in dairy cows in the Texas Panhandle. A dangerous bird flu, in other words, was suddenly circulating in mammals—mammals with which people have ongoing, extensive contact. "Holy cow," says Thomas Friedrich, a virologist at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. "This is how pandemics start." This bird flu, which scientists call highly pathogenic avi...
It probably seems like, every day, you're reading a new headline about a recalled food item, like onions on McDonald's hamburgers, baby carrots, and Boar's Head cold cuts. You're not imagining that influx. According to a February 2025 report from the compliance company Traceone, the total number of food recalls issued by the Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture grew 15% between 2020 and 2024. Experts suggest this could be due to a variety of factors, including advancements...
Of the lucky pups who were adopted last year, it seems more have found their forever homes: The number of dogs surrendered by their owners has decreased by about 4.5% since 2023, according to a 2024 report from Shelter Animals Count. Collecting data from 13,527 animal shelters and rescues in the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories, the SAC report also found that the overall dog adoption rate has dipped by about 1% from 2023. However, it's worth noting that when this figure is broken down by the t...
Despite the sometimes gray skies of April, many of us feel a familiar lift in spirits. That post-winter mood boost isn't just your imagination—there's fascinating biology at work, centered around a crucial nutrient that nearly half of Americans don't get enough of. The Winter-Spring Mental Health Connection If you've ever felt like a different person once spring arrives, you're not alone. What many experience as winter blues transforms into a natural mood elevation that mental health p...
On Saturday night at the Delta Center, country-pop musician Kelsea Ballerini went through four outfit changes, played around two dozen songs and danced her way through confetti explosions and pyrotechnics happening around her on stage. But she—along with her fans—also crossed something off their shared bucket lists: Performing (and seeing her perform) at her first arena show in Utah, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "I've had the pleasure of playing around Salt Lake for the last 10 years," Bal...
The Easter Bunny is a much celebrated character in American Easter celebrations. On Easter Sunday, children look for hidden special treats, often chocolate Easter eggs, that the Easter Bunny might have left behind. Folklorist Tok Thompson, a professor of anthropology and communications at USC, writes for The Conversation on the origins of the long and interesting journey this mythical figure has taken from European prehistory to today. Religious role of the hare Easter is a celebration of...
At the Crown Heights, New York, Whoopsie Daisy bar in Brooklyn, on a sunny fall afternoon, patrons drank natural wines while their children ran around the outdoor garden. Little dogs peeped out from under tables or the tops of backpacks. Modish twentysomethings took turns playing music on their cellphones. While the location was a bar, the snacks on offer were not nachos or day-old pretzels. Patrons feasted on exquisite vegan cardamon rose baklava and saffron ice-cream sandwiches. The chef...
On Jan. 27, 2025, the White House issued a late-night directive that paused federal grants and funding in order to locate and eliminate "woke" government spending. The pause seemingly included funding for public schools, such as the Farm to School Program that provided schools with locally sourced food. It wasn't long before Jared Cordon, superintendent of a rural school district in Roseburg, Oregon, started receiving calls from concerned community members. "If kids can't eat, where can I drop...
Of the lucky pups who were adopted last year, it seems more have found their forever homes: The number of dogs surrendered by their owners has decreased by about 4.5% since 2023, according to a 2024 report from Shelter Animals Count. Collecting data from 13,527 animal shelters and rescues in the U.S., Canada, and U.S. territories, the SAC report also found that the overall dog adoption rate has dipped by about 1% from 2023. However, it's worth noting that when this figure is broken down by the t...
In the past, finding a private sports coach often meant word-of-mouth referrals, expensive training facilities, and time-consuming scheduling. But as technology continues to reshape the way we work, learn, and connect, the world of youth sports training is getting its own upgrade. Just as Airbnb revolutionized travel and Uber reimagined transportation, new digital platforms are now decentralizing the $20 billion youth sports industry, giving families more direct access to qualified...
For affluent individuals, building and preserving wealth involves more than picking the right stocks or stashing cash in savings accounts. It requires intentional, strategic investing that accounts for the unique opportunities and challenges of high-income earners. With elevated income levels come tax implications, portfolio considerations, and the need for sophisticated wealth management strategies. This is where advanced investment approaches like Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) and tax-loss...
In the modern job market, salary has long stood as the holy grail of employment decisions. Yet, in an age where medical bills can spiral into bankruptcy and health crises strike unexpectedly, a different factor has emerged as a silent but potent influence: healthcare benefits. Whether it's a routine doctor visit or catastrophic medical care, the cost-sharing structures employers offer can deeply affect employees' lives—and influence whether they accept, stay in, or leave a job, explains S...
Mother's Day is an opportunity to recognize the presence, love, and influence of mother figures in all their forms—from biological mothers and grandmothers to stepmothers, chosen family, and mentors. And while no single gift can ever capture all they do, jewelry offers a timeless way to honor their impact and celebrate their style. This year, instead of one-size-fits-all suggestions, VRAI, a fine jewelry brand specializing in lab-grown diamonds, suggests considering jewelry that feels as intenti...
The 2025 tax season is in full swing, and IRS data is beginning to paint a clearer picture of how business owners are faring. 95% of U.S. business owners pay their business taxes through personal tax returns, known as "pass-through entities," and only 5% pay their taxes at the "business level." Refunds are down compared to 2024. Filing is slower, and many business owners are taking a wait-and-see approach. These numbers also provide an opportunity to plan smarter and avoid costly mistakes. Every...
Leveraging its in-house global trade and compliance expertise, Passport breaks down how the April 2 and subsequent tariff announcements are creating new challenges for international e-commerce—and what brands can do to adjust their strategies. The Trump administration has announced major changes to U.S. tariff policy throughout April 2025—making waves across global e-commerce. A 10% blanket tariff on all imports, the end of de minimis for China and Hong Kong, and escalating reciprocal tar...
A $100,000 salary may sound like a comfortable income but how far it goes varies largely depending on where you live. Earning $100,000 places an individual tax filer at the upper limit of the 22% federal tax bracket. On top of that, FICA taxes for Social Security and Medicare apply, and depending on where you live, state and local income taxes could take another bite. But taxes aren't the only factor. The cost of living varies widely across the country, affecting how much purchasing power...
