The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Ivanko80 // Shutterstock Are homes selling in Montgomery in 2026? The U.S. housing market has been uncharacteristically slow since the pandemic, when buyers and sellers jumped on ultra-low mortgage rates. Since then, high prices and economic uncertainty have scared many consumers off, leading to multiple years with home sales near 30-year lows. This slowdown hasn't played out evenly across the country, though. As buyers searched for affordability, some lower-cost areas heated up and have become...
This year offers a meaningful opportunity for reflection. As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Taiwan marks the 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election--a historic milestone that reflects the democratic aspirations of the Taiwanese people and the shared values that continue to connect our two societies. The relationship between Taiwan and the State of Alabama is not merely one of economic exchange. It is a deep-rooted partnership built on...
The Vatican has reaffirmed that the homily at Mass is reserved exclusively for ordained ministers, rejecting a recent request that sought permission for lay Catholics to preach during the Liturgy of the Word. In a formal response issued June 23, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments stated that the restriction is not a disciplinary rule that can be waived, but a matter rooted in the very nature of Catholic liturgy and the sacrament of Holy Orders. The ruling came...
Jeff Couch Food Images // Shutterstock Stars, stripes and shopping carts: What Americans buy for the Fourth of July in Alabama Few holidays show up in Instacart orders quite like the Fourth of July. Fire up the grill, open that bag of chips, and pack the cooler because Independence Day is summer at its peak, filled with plenty of food and festive traditions. Instacart looked at what Americans in Alabama buy across thousands of grocery categories and the result is a primo backyard cookout shoppin...
I spent nearly 40 years coaching football, including more than two decades as a head coach in the SEC, the Big 12, and the American Athletic Conference. I recruited thousands of student-athletes, worked with university presidents, athletic directors, conference commissioners, and NCAA officials. Along the way, I learned a thing or two about the rules and regulations around govern college sports. When I retired from coaching in 2016, I thought my days of working in college athletics were over....
Alabama the Beautiful, is known for being the single state within the USA that has the most navigable inland waterways. For Alabama has over 1,400 miles of commercially navigable channels. Along with 132,000 miles of rivers and streams that wind their way throughout Alabama. Such river systems are an ecological gem for Alabama. As they lead to Alabama having more native types of freshwater crayfish, fish, turtles, snails, and mussel species than any other state in the USA. According to the Alaba...
Authorities have recovered the body of William R. "Bill" North, a longtime assistant district attorney for the Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff, after he fell into the water during a sailing event on Logan Martin Lake. North, 64, was participating as a spotter for a weekend regatta when the accident occurred, prompting an overnight search that drew multiple agencies from across St. Clair County. The incident happened around 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, near the Pell City Sail Club's race...
June 29, 2026 – The Alabama Republican Party released a statement following the decision to reject a primary contest against John Wahl by the Alabama Republican Candidate Committee without holding a formal challenge hearing. The Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) Candidate Committee met on Sunday to review the primary election contest filed by Jarrod Schulte challenging the candidacy of John Wahl to be the Alabama Republican Party nominee for Alabama Lieutenant Governor. The ALGOP in a statement s...
June 29, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The two veterans who are suing to prevent U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) from being Governor of Alabama agreed to release Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) from their lawsuit. Secretary Allen's had argued last week that neither Allen nor his office wee proper to parties to the suit. The plaintiffs "In dismissing the claims against Secretary Allen, Plaintiffs acknowledge his stated position that neither he nor his office are proper parties to thi...
The Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 after the Sons of the American Revolution refused to admit women into their organization. Some of the original co-founders of the DAR included a great-grandniece of George Washington, Eugenia Washington. With Caroline Lavina Scott Harrison, the wife of President Benjamin Harrison, being interested in historic preservation, Caroline served as the DAR's first President General. Using her position in the organization to help establish...
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance." - Psalm 33:12 History records the rise and fall of kingdoms, empires, and republics. Ancient Greece gave civilization democracy but could not preserve it. Rome built the greatest empire of the ancient world, yet eventually collapsed under the weight of its own excesses. Great powers have risen, flourished, and disappeared into history, leaving behind little more than monuments and memories. Yet this...
Google’s AI search era could leave businesses fighting for fewer clicks Generative AI has rearranged how people find what they want online, and many businesses are learning that the search tactics they relied on for years no longer behave the way they expect. For nearly three decades, the arrangement between Google and the companies that depended on it was relatively simple. Businesses climbed the rankings, Google sent visitors to their websites, and those visitors often became customers. But G...
US new home sales outlook: Housing market trends and what the latest data signals for 2026 A SoFi analysis of new home sales data suggests the U.S. housing market may be showing early signs of stabilization. Current indicators, including steadying interest rates and a gradual softening of new home sales prices, point to a potentially more consistent environment in 2026. New home sales provide critical insight into the overall U.S. housing market. The data is telling of real estate market...
Kevin was minister of education in a church I served. He’d often joke when asked what his job was by saying pastors and musicians get accolades after worship services, such as “Thanks for the wonderful sermon,” and “Thanks for the beautiful music.” But in contrast, church members would tell Kevin which toilets needed repairing. In another mission station, I didn’t have a minister of education to call when toilets needed repairing. I thought about Kevin when a lady stopped me before a service to tell me there was a toilet I needed to check. I...
Cutting costs to move forward: SoFi State of Small business 2026 survey How are America’s small businesses faring? In SoFi’s State of Small Business survey, 86% of small business owners report their business has grown or remained stable over the past 12 months, and 88% say they’re optimistic about success in 2026. At the same time, survey respondents are keenly aware of this year’s unusually strong economic headwinds. Two-thirds of them say high costs are the biggest external factors affecting t...
The role customer relationship management plays in small business growth and efficiency Small businesses (those with less than 500 employees) make up 99% of businesses in the U.S. and employ almost half of the country’s workforce. Unfortunately, most rely on outdated systems like spreadsheets for managing customer relationships. As a result, there’s a measurable difference in the cost and efficacy of customer data management between small and larger businesses. Customer relationship man...
fast-stock // Shutterstock Are homes selling in Florence in 2026? The U.S. housing market has been uncharacteristically slow since the pandemic, when buyers and sellers jumped on ultra-low mortgage rates. Since then, high prices and economic uncertainty have scared many consumers off, leading to multiple years with home sales near 30-year lows. This slowdown hasn't played out evenly across the country, though. As buyers searched for affordability, some lower-cost areas heated up and have become...
Nin2530 // Shutterstock Are homes selling in Gadsden in 2026? The U.S. housing market has been uncharacteristically slow since the pandemic, when buyers and sellers jumped on ultra-low mortgage rates. Since then, high prices and economic uncertainty have scared many consumers off, leading to multiple years with home sales near 30-year lows. This slowdown hasn't played out evenly across the country, though. As buyers searched for affordability, some lower-cost areas heated up and have become the...
fizkes // Shutterstock Are homes selling in Huntsville in 2026? The U.S. housing market has been uncharacteristically slow since the pandemic, when buyers and sellers jumped on ultra-low mortgage rates. Since then, high prices and economic uncertainty have scared many consumers off, leading to multiple years with home sales near 30-year lows. This slowdown hasn't played out evenly across the country, though. As buyers searched for affordability, some lower-cost areas heated up and have become...
Nin2530 // Shutterstock Are homes selling in Mobile in 2026? The U.S. housing market has been uncharacteristically slow since the pandemic, when buyers and sellers jumped on ultra-low mortgage rates. Since then, high prices and economic uncertainty have scared many consumers off, leading to multiple years with home sales near 30-year lows. This slowdown hasn't played out evenly across the country, though. As buyers searched for affordability, some lower-cost areas heated up and have become the...
June 26, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R‑Ala.) is celebrating a major bipartisan victory after President Donald Trump signed her legislation, Lulu's Law (S. 1003), marking the second bill she has successfully shepherded into law during the 119th Congress. The Senate passed the measure unanimously on July 8, 2025, and the House followed with overwhelming support, underscoring broad national agreement on improving beach safety. The achievement places Senator Britt among a s...
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to allow women to serve as ordained deacons during its 2026 General Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky. Meeting for its annual legislative gathering, the largest conservative evangelical Reformed denomination in the United States voted decisively to maintain its historical, complementarian stance on church office. The Decision on Overture 37 The floor debate centered on Overture 37, a proposal brought forward by the...
How controlled burns can help save taxpayers billions For decades, the U.S. Forest Service has actively managed public lands to reduce wildfire risks by clearing underbrush and trees, or employing prescribed burns — something Indigenous nations have practiced for centuries. Scientists have generally lauded the ecological benefits of what is also known as “fuel treatment.” Now, they say there’s another reason to support this approach: It saves money. According to a study published today in the...
Now rural communities are connecting, rather than just preserving, wildlife habitats One of the best things about rural living is sharing the landscape with wildlife. Peering out the window and seeing a moose in the yard. Walking in the woods and catching a fleeting glimpse of a bobcat. Prowling ponds after dark to view the spring salamander migration. Sometimes their presence is taken for granted, but keeping wildlife as visitors, especially for a developing area, can require knowledge and...
What is the difference between credit unions and traditional financial institutions? When you're choosing where to keep your money, the options can feel overwhelming. Should you go with a traditional financial institution or a credit union? At first glance, they seem nearly identical. Both offer checking accounts, savings accounts, loans and credit cards. But there's one fundamental difference that impacts everything from the rates you pay to the service you receive, and it's worth...
