The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Rural healthcare is in the red as Trump withholds Medicaid payments to Minnesota Governmental action (or inaction) that affects America at large often has an outsized impact on rural residents. At the end of February, the Trump administration announced it will withhold millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements to Minnesota, citing concerns about fraud. This comes on the heels of GOP cuts to Medicaid in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill and an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act...
How much is a dollar worth? Why the weakening US currency matters for your wallet Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but for every dollar you earn, there are a number of different factors eating away at it. There are taxes, for one, not far away with April 15 on the horizon. Then there is inflation: Even though it has moderated from the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still eroding the value of our money to the tune of almost 3% a year. And now there is a new worry: The U.S. dollar,...
How much of your income should you spend on housing? Looking to cut costs? Why not start at the top? In the typical American household, nothing takes a bigger bite out of the budget than housing costs. While that’s a burden, it also means that housing expenses are where cost-cutting has the biggest potential to help make ends meet. Experts say you should spend no more than 25% to 30% of your income on housing—rent or mortgage payments plus utilities—for financial stability. If you do that,...
Auburn's return to postseason play comes with a familiar twist: an in‑state showdown. As the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament, the Tigers will host South Alabama in the first round at Neville Arena, a matchup that blends regional pride, contrasting résumés, and a chance for Auburn to reset its season after narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff is set for Tuesday at 9 p.m. CT on ESPN2. Auburn's Road to the NIT Auburn enters the tournament at 17–16, a recor...
On March 14, 1780, the Gulf Coast became a decisive front in the American Revolutionary era as Spanish forces under Governor Bernardo de Gálvez captured Fort Charlotte in Mobile, Alabama. This victory-achieved after a two‑week siege-eliminated the last British frontier post capable of threatening New Orleans, securing Spain's hold on the western Gulf and reshaping the balance of power in the Southeast. The Strategic Setting on the Gulf Coast By 1780, the American Revolution had expanded far be...
PeopleImages // Shutterstock Stop doing everything: How small business leaders in Alabama can reclaim 75 workdays each year Leaders in small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operate under constant pressure to deliver results with limited time, budgets, and staff. In a volatile market, they're expected to balance immediate execution with long-term strategy, often without the layers of support available to larger organizations. As a result, many leaders step in wherever the business needs...
How to become a general contractor (if you don’t have experience) Nobody starts working as a licensed general contractor right away. Learning how to become a general contractor with no experience may feel overwhelming — but with the right plan in place you can jumpstart your general contractor career. Most general contractors begin in entry-level roles, learn the trades and gradually build the skills required for licensing. If you’re starting from scratch, ERGO NEXT provides this primer on ho...
The hidden infrastructure behind every prescription drug in 2026 A customer steps up to the counter at a neighborhood pharmacy. An insurance card is scanned. A pharmacist asks if there are any questions. A small paper bag with the medication inside slides across the counter. What most of us don’t see is the vast system that made that moment possible. Before a prescription drug reaches a shelf in your town, it has passed through research laboratories, clinical trial sites, regulatory review t...
Americans' average debt keeps rising, but pace of growth has slowed, according to Intuit Credit Karma data In the fourth quarter of 2025, Americans’ average total overall debt increased to $58,712 from $55,879 in the fourth quarter of 2024, a 5% year-over-year gain, according to an analysis of 99.5 million Intuit Credit Karma members with a combined overall debt of more than $9.9 trillion. That’s almost the same as 2024’s year-over-year average debt gains (4.9%). However, in the last quart...
H-1B lottery history and data: Selection rates 2008-2026 Every year, thousands of skilled workers compete for a chance to work in the United States. This is the H-1B lottery. By law, the government can only approve 85,000 new H-1B visas each year: 65,000 for general workers and 20,000 for those with advanced degrees from a U.S. institution. The lottery was created to parcel out these limited slots. But the demand and the rules have shifted since its inception. Data on H-1B visas goes by fiscal...
March is when Alabama's gardens shift from winter recovery to full spring momentum. Soil warms, daylight stretches, and both cool‑season and warm‑season crops begin overlapping. For gardeners across the state-from the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast-March is one of the busiest and most rewarding months of the year. 🌱 The Seasonal Shift: Why March Matters in Alabama March marks the true beginning of spring growth. Cool‑season vegetables thrive, fruit trees break dormancy, lawns begin to wake...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — March 13, 2026 — Huey Magoo’s, the fast‑casual chicken brand known for its bold flavors and premium hand‑crafted tenders, has officially opened its newest restaurant in Montgomery, marking the company’s 87th location nationwide and its latest expansion into Alabama’s growing food scene. The new 2,400‑square‑foot restaurant, located at 2930 Carter Hill Road, brings Huey Magoo’s full menu of fresh, made‑to‑order chicken tenders, house‑made sauces, and customizable meals to the heart of the capital city. The brand’s signatu...
South Carolina has spent $1.6M to combat its huge measles outbreak, and it’s not over yet South Carolina has spent an estimated $1.6 million so far on public health efforts to combat its huge measles outbreak, according to information the state’s health department provided to Healthbeat on March 4. The outbreak, which began with just five known cases in October, surged in January following the winter holidays, and has slowed in recent weeks. The total number of people infected in the out...
March 13, 2026 - WASHINGTON - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that Iran's newly elevated Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been seriously wounded and is "likely disfigured," raising questions about his ability to lead the country amid nearly two weeks of sustained U.S. and Israeli military strikes. Hegseth's comments mark the most direct public assessment yet from the Pentagon regarding the condition of the 56‑year‑old successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed alo...
March 14, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters issued a formal notice to the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, stating that he will pursue legal action if the party does not require Tuberville to affirm under oath that he meets Alabama's constitutional residency requirements to run for governor. McFeeters' statement comes amid an ongoing dispute over whether Tuberville satisfies the Alabama Constitution's seven‑year r...
March 13, 2026 - LINEVILLE, Ala. - Rodney Walker, a businessman, cattle farmer, and Republican candidate for the United States Senate from Alabama, is urging Congress and federal regulators to act swiftly to close what he describes as a dangerous loophole in the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act (GENIUS Act). Walker argues the gap in the law threatens community banks, farm lending, and the ability of rural families to rely on cash. Walker said the issue...
For decades, Huntsville has been known as the Rocket City. Today, continued investment from GE Aerospace confirms a broader reality: North Alabama has become one of the nation's leading centers for advanced aerospace manufacturing and defense technology. The company's latest expansion at its Huntsville Jetplex Industrial Park facility represents another major investment in Alabama's future. As part of GE Aerospace's $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, the project will expand production...
The science of dog food palatability: Why your pup loves certain foods Ever wonder why one dog inhales their bowl in seconds, while another sniffs at it and walks away? Dog food palatability, or what makes food delicious to your dog, isn’t simply about taste. It’s also about evolutionary biology, sensory perception, and nutritional chemistry working together. he closer a dog’s meal resembles real meat—which is in their DNA to consume as descendants of wolves—the more it aligns with how dogs...
As I sit here having just completed my 65th trip around the sun, I get the opportunity to relax and reflect a lot. Because of age discrimination, once turning 65, me and hundreds of other guys around the country are forced to retire from the airlines and give up our flying careers to serve in the same capacity. Yes, many could go on to other flying gigs but most do not bother. Rehiring, retraining, requalifying, etc. “But Rob. At 65, you should be forced to retire. You are too old to fly a...
I believe you just answered a question on AI (artificial intelligence) relative to the legal field in December 2025. Are there other areas where AI has created cause for concern? AI, as I said in December is a hot topic. Technology has the ability to be so useful to humans. But three things often happen. Number one, its limitation may not be readily discernable, two- it may be used in ways that “machine learning” has not yet achieved and number three, there are too many bad people out there tha...
Amy Howe's Supreme Court strikes down tariffs, SCOTUSblog (Feb. 20, 2026, 11:00 AM), https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/02/supreme-court-strikes-down-tariffs/ was among the first to report on the SCotUS ruling on Trump tariffs, widely viewed as unconstitutional by those with a fundamental understanding US tariff history. In their ruling on presidential power, the Supreme Court struck down disuniform tariffs President Trump wrongfully imposed via executive orders. The 6-3 vote asserted these...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ka,e Bri/ (R-Ala.) joined The Takeout with Major Garre0 on CBS News. She discussed Trump’s State of the Union address and ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropria,ons nego,a,ons. On President Trump’s State of the Union and his revitaliza1on of hope for the country: “I think that this was the best State of the Union ... that we have seen in modern history. The reason I say that is President Trump did an outstanding job of reminding Americans where w...
Americans across the country are preparing for tax season as W-2s make their way to everyone’s mailboxes. People often compare filling out their tax forms to learning a new language because of how stressful and confusing it can be. However, this year, I’m proud to say that Alabamians will be bringing home more money than ever thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts — formerly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. From Marshall to Baldwin County, Alabamians in EVERY county will get to keep more of...
These are not my words, but something I recently came across and loved. So, I thought I’d share with you…”Jesus died at the age of 33. The human spine has 33 vertebrae. The same structure that holds us upright is the same number of years Jesus walked the earth. We have 12 ribs on each side, just like the 12 disciples and the 12 tribes of Israel. The vagus nerve runs from your brain to your heart and gut, calming the storm inside your body, just like Jesus calmed the storm. And guess what? Under...
In 1776 - 250 years ago - General George Washington made a decision that was both pragmatic and radical for its time when he integrated the Continental Army, allowing free Black men and later some formerly enslaved men to serve alongside white soldiers. But rather than being driven by enlightened ideas or progressive principles, Washington’s command decision reflected practical military necessity, political calculation, and an evolving understanding of liberty. Before the Revolution, Black m...
