The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Pressed for time? 7 smart tips for last-minute holiday parties, according to event planners While the holidays are a magical, albeit hectic, time to connect and celebrate with your community, pushing to meet your end-of-year goals can feel overwhelming—especially if your company get-together is still languishing on your to-do list. To help, event planning professionals Suzanne Zadeh, head of partnerships for TEDAI, and Ami Alexander-Ponce, events manager at San Francisco coworking space C...
What it takes to reach the top 10% in every state New state-by-state data reveals what it takes to reach the top 10% — and how living costs and inequality reshape what “rich” really means. An infographic on America's top earners showing data on the biggest paychecks by state, the top 10% vs. middle-class earnings gap." BuchhaltungsButler, DataPulse Research In the United States, a household needs anywhere between $198,000 and $387,000 in annual income to be considered among the top 10% earne...
PeopleImages // Shutterstock The truth about minimum coverage requirements in Alabama In this article, CheapInsurance.com dives into required minimum liability limits in Alabama and across the country. Those shopping for valid coverage, particularly in the context of financing or leasing a vehicle, should also note why simply meeting the minimum may be risky. What "Minimum Liability Coverage" Means and Why It Exists Every U.S. state, with one exception, requires drivers to carry a minimum level...
MONTGOMERY - A federal court based in Birmingham has ordered Alabama to hold future state Senate elections using a new map drawn by a court-appointed special master, following a ruling that the previous districts violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power in Montgomery. In a landmark decision issued November 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ruled that Alabama must adopt a new state Senate map for the 2026 and 2030 elections. The ruling stems from a 2021 lawsuit...
Alabama Farmers Federation Endorses Rep. Phillip Rigsby for HD 25 MADISON COUNTY - December 9, 2025 - The Alabama Farmers Federation has announced its endorsement of Rep. Phillip Rigsby for Alabama House District 25, which covers portions of Madison and Limestone counties. "We are proud to endorse Rep. Rigsby because he has a proven track record representing our district well," said Charles Butler, president of the Madison County Farmers Federation. "He is accessible and attentive to our needs...
The Alabama Farmers Federation made history Dec. 8 when farmer-delegates elected the organization's first female officer to its state board while honoring a longtime vice president. As Southwest Area vice president, Hope Cassebaum of Baldwin County will also serve on the Alfa Insurance state board. She replaces Jake Harper of Wilcox County, who served 32 cumulative years on the board and could not seek reelection due to term limits. "Thank you for allowing me this opportunity," Cassebaum said...
Few men are as stalwart, steady and straightforward as Jake Harper. The Wilcox County cattleman and timber landowner has offered his logical mind, plain speech and acumen for accountability to fellow farmers for decades, most recently as Southwest Area vice president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. "I want it right," Harper remarked in reference to his intense review of board minutes, financials, publications and Federation proposals, a faint grin slicing across his stoic...
Price too low to be true? The cost of using unlicensed bathroom renovation contractors The home improvement market is a resilient one, with spending projected to top $553 billion in 2026. Some homeowners choose the DIY route, even for major projects. However, complex jobs like bathroom renovations are typically handled by professionals. Industry standards typically require licensed professionals for electrical and plumbing work. The problem is that hiring bathroom renovation contractors can be...
The year-end builder rush: Why December deadlines can work in your favor Homebuyers looking for leverage in a still-tight housing market may find it in December, as builders step up efforts to meet fiscal-year targets, clear out quick move-in (QMI) inventory, and ramp up incentives to cap off the year. Housing activity tends to slow at the end of the year, according to the National Association of Realtors’ seasonal analysis. Buyer traffic typically falls from December through February, r...
December 9, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday announced pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new advanced manufacturing operation in Huntsville, where it will produce next-generation medicines. The global pharmaceutical giant also will bring 450 jobs to the region, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians. The Huntsville site will be a synthetic medicine active pharmaceutical ingredient facility, t...
Leonid Ikan // Shutterstock Coldest Decembers in Alabama since 1895 Stacker compiled a ranking of the coldest Decembers 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. December 1950 - Average temperature: 41.2°F - Monthly...
December 9, 2025 - WASHINGTON – Today, as Chairman of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Education and the American Family, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) led a hearing focusing on workforce development in the modern era. Two witnesses from Alabama participated in the hearing and offered solutions to meet the growing employment gap for high-demand industries. Earlier this year, President Trump signed an Executive Order that prioritizes apprenticeships and invests in skilled trade jobs. D...
December 10, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) yesterday joined the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, "Protecting Our Children Online Against the Evolving Offender," which focused on the growing threat of sextortion and other forms of child exploitation online. Witnesses included Tamia Woods, Co-Founder of the Do It for James Foundation, Jessica Lieber Smolar, a former Assistant United States Attorney, and Lauren Coffren, Executive Direcor of the Exploited Children...
November 9, 2025 – MONTGOMERY - This is the Christmas season and most Alabamians are focused on family, parties, football, college basketball, and the miracle of Jesus's birth in a manger. For politicos this is when campaigns are won and lost. Money is virtually everything in politics. Money buys ads in publications like the Alabama Gazette, TV commercials, radio spots, direct mail, and pays campaign staff. Even though qualifying with the major parties does not begin until next month, c...
December 10, 2025 - MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday announced that Bad Boy Mowers plans to invest $10.5 million in a new tractor assembly plant in Monroeville. The Batesville, Arkansas-based company will create 50 jobs at the operation, which is being established in the former Vanity Fair distribution center. "Bad Boy Mowers setting up shop in Monroeville with this $10.5 million investment is a big win for Monroe County and for rural Alabama," said Governor Ivey. "These 50 new, g...
Higher-for-longer: How 2026’s mortgage rates may shape your homebuying plan If you’ve been waiting for mortgage rates to drop significantly, 2026 may not bring major relief — but there is good news. Zonda’s economists forecast that rates will stay in the low-6% range for most of 2026. That’s higher than the ultra-low rates of 2020–2021, but lower than the 7%+ levels that made headlines in 2023 and parts of 2024, NewHomeSource reports. This “higher-for-longer” environment has become one of t...
2 side hustle ideas to make extra money during the holidays and in 2026 The traditional path of working a full-time job until retirement is changing. More people are now exploring creative, flexible ways to earn extra income and build financial freedom on their own terms, especially as holiday expenses approach and a new year brings fresh goals. That's where freelance side hustles come in. A side hustle is like your own small business you manage alongside your regular part-time or full-time...
Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) took to the House floor this week to present the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, highlighting sweeping reforms to Pentagon acquisitions, historic investments in servicemember quality of life, and a sharpened focus on countering threats from China in the Indo-Pacific. "This is a good product that was worked in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion," Rogers said, u...
Birmingham, Ala. – After weeks of speculation and encouragement from supporters, ESPN and SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum has decided against entering the political arena. Finebaum, 70, confirmed on December 2 that he will not run for the U.S. Senate seat soon to be vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is pursuing a bid for Alabama governor. "I have been deeply moved by so many people in Alabama who have reached out encouraging me to run for the United States Senate," Finebaum said in a s...
December 10, 2025 – GUNTERSVILLE – On Tuesday Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth (R) hinted on social media that he might be looking at entering the race for the open Senate seat currently held by "Coach" Tommy Tuberville. "Hearing from a lot of people that the U.S. Senate race seems wide open right now. What do you think?" said Ainsworth on Facebook. Results were mixed with some Facebook followers enthusiastic about the move and others voicing their support for the candidates already in the rac...
December 11, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM - In a scenario that could reshape Alabama's economic landscape, Senator Tommy Tuberville has announced that Fannie Mae, the government‑sponsored enterprise central to America's housing finance system, will relocate major operations from San Francisco to Birmingham. "This is going to be hundreds of jobs," said Sen. Tuberville in a call with Alabama reporters. Tuberville said that he has been quietly fighting behind the scenes for Birmingham to be the site of F...
How to reclaim financial confidence even with student debt Student-loan debt in the U.S. has now crossed the $1.8 trillion mark. That magnitude means one thing: you’re not alone. Debt doesn’t define you. But how you deal with it absolutely can. Borrowers who take one small, proactive step—by checking their rate, exploring refinancing, or simply understanding their options—often describe the same feeling afterward. Relief. Clarity. Control. And while refinancing a federal loan means giving...
Holiday spending growth by state It’s that time of year when many households assess their budgets surrounding holiday parties, gifting and sales events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Local businesses, ecommerce businesses, and even governments collecting associated sales tax benefit from these end-of-year purchases. To accommodate the seasonal surge in spending, businesses must often plan ahead to account for increased traffic to stores and attractions during this time of year, making it i...
December 10, 2025 - WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The House passed the NDAA by a vote of 312–112, authorizing $900.6 billion in defense spending. Included in this legislation is Rep. Aderholt's DUAL (Defense United Access to Learning) Act and a proposal to support America's domestic textile industry. The FY26 NDAA also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all service members, funds the controversial Golden Dom...
December 11, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission issued three of the four statutorily required dispensary licenses to in-state businesses earlier today. The Darren Wesley "Ato" Hall Compassion Act tasked the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission with issuing dispensary licenses to qualified operators across the state. These licenses authorize approved companies to sell regulated medical cannabis products, including oils, capsules, topicals, and other permitted forms,...
