The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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When "Game of Thrones" debuted on HBO in 2011, it ignited a national phenomenon. The show was beloved by critics and audiences alike for its intricate plotlines and grand scale. Some viewers found such inspiration in the series that they began to name their children after its characters—unusual as some of them are. Data from the Social Security Administration shows that between 1880 and 2011, not a single girl born in the United States was named Khaleesi. Since then, there have been 4,689. T...
How efforts to cut long prison sentences have stalled When a 2016 California law made it possible for Lance Gonzalez to shorten his prison sentence by completing more rehabilitation programs and education, he hit the ground running. Gonzalez "poured hundreds of hours into self-help groups, including courses on victim impact and cognitive behavior," KQED reported this week. He taught classes, worked as a mentor, and earned seven associate degrees. His efforts seemed to pay off. Under the law, the...
October 4, 2024 - Birmingham - Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) announced that more than $24.7 million in federal funding from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to address crime and public safety across Alabama's 7th Congressional District and in the State of Alabama. Sewell said that this comprehensive investment will support law enforcement, crime prevention, victim assistance, and emergency management programs across the Northern District of Alabama. "I am thrilled to announce...
October 4, 2024 - Fairfield, AL – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) was joined by Miles College President Dr. Bobbie Knight to announce $850,000 in federal funding to improve public safety resources on the campus of Miles College and the surrounding community. The funding will be used to increase safety lighting on campus, procure upgraded security cameras, invest in broadband-enabled security devices, and purchase new public safety vehicles. This is part of the $13.1 million that Rep. S...
October, 4, 2024 – Washington, D.C. – Vice President Kamala Harris (D) was in North Carolina with FEMA administrator Denne Criswell to survey storm damage. The Biden – Harris administration, stung by criticism of the Hurricane Helen disaster response – emphasized that they are continuing search and rescue efforts in the region while the federal response and recovery efforts across the Southeast for the survivors have already surpassed $110 Million. The White House said that FEMA remains committ...
Unemployment rates have continued to rise across U.S. metropolitan areas, provoking alarm throughout the nation and guiding the Federal Reserve's decision to cut interest rates last month. As of August, unemployment rates had increased from the previous year in 315 out of 389 U.S. metros areas—including 45 of the 51 largest metros, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest u...
Gas prices remain at their lowest level in years, on average, as more states are seeing prices below $3 per gallon. "Despite the threat of war and a hurricane season that is still percolating, domestic gasoline prices are edging lower," AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross said in a statement. Analysts are watching for potential impacts on gas prices as oil prices respond to the rising conflict between Israel and Iran. What's more, although Hurricane Helene didn't affect oil and gas infrastructure, the...
County election departments across Texas are trying to reassure voters amid a flood of formal challenges questioning whether their registrations are valid. Votebeat reports on the situation and what state and federal protections are in place. The challenges, filed by conservative groups and individual activists, seek to remove tens of thousands of voters from the rolls on the grounds that they don't live in the county, are not citizens, or have died. Election officials say the challenges are...
The holiday season is a busy time for charities. Driven by the spirit of the season, tax incentives, and reflections on achievements and how to give back, estimates show nonprofits earn up to nearly a third of their revenue in December. When it comes to giving back, Americans are among the most generous people in the world. According to the Charities Aid Foundation, 3 in 5 (61%) Americans donated money to a charity in 2021, placing the country third on the World Giving Index for charitable...
In today's fast-paced world, transportation plays a crucial role in our daily lives. As cities continue to grow, traffic congestion and accidents have become increasingly prevalent. This has led to a surge in car insurance premiums, placing a financial burden on drivers. One potential solution to these challenges lies in the development of intelligent transportation systems, or ITS. By leveraging advanced technologies, ITS can improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and potentially reduce car...
We've arrived at the tipping point where it's probably easier to list the manufacturers that don't make an electric car, rather than those that do. It's amazing to consider that it was only 12 model years ago when you could first purchase an electric vehicle from a mass-market automaker in the United States. And in the intervening years, at least three startup car manufacturers have emerged, one of which sells over 300,000 zero-emissions cars a year. That alone is incredible. 25 years ago, most...
In the classic sci-fi series "Star Trek," humans often relied on their tricorders—handheld devices capable of diagnosing nearly any ailment in seconds. People have long dreamed of a world where machines could identify our medical problems with certainty. While such technology is still far in the future, recent advances in artificial intelligence have made this vision seem less fantastical. Take, for instance, the recent rise of large language models, or LLMs, such as those that power chatbots l...
October 7,2024 Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen (R) issued a statement to remind Alabamians to register to vote before the General Election. Alabama does not have election day voter registration. Secretary of State Allen is reminding Alabama citizens that the deadline to register to vote before the November 5, 2024 General Election is Monday, October 21, 2024. Voters who register on October 22 are not going to be able to participate in this year's presidential election. "The right of...
October 7, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) condemned Hamas' year-long war against Israel and the continuous captivity of hostages, including several Americans. She emphasized her unwavering commitment to standing with Israel and bringing every hostage home. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced a resolution along with Sens. Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama). and all the Senate Republicans supporting the forever survival of Israel and calling...
October 7, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring U.S. Navy Lieutenant John Vick of Andalusia as the October "Veteran of the Month." John is the founder of the Covington Veterans Foundation, which pays tribute to veterans in Covington County. "When you ask John Vick of Andalusia where his desire to serve in the military began, he traces it back to when he was just seven years old," said Sen. Tuberville. "Growing up near a depot in the small t...
October 7, 2024 - WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning the brutal attack on Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. The resolution reiterates the United States' commitment to "ensure the forever survival of Israel; destroy the ability of Hamas to reconstitute any leadership role in the region; and safely release and return all United States hostages." A year ago today, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists launched an unprovo...
The 5 p.m. mass on a recent Sunday found Isela Castro selling beef nachos at Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Jesuit parish in San Diego. Castro cooked the nachos in the parish kitchen while her husband, niece, and nephew ferried plates outside to hungry congregants. All told, the sale raised over $600 to help fund the church's migrant ministry. Castro is the ministry's volunteer coordinator—itself a volunteer role—and organized the event to provide reusable water bottles for men staying at the shelter,...
Amid shrinking households and declining birth rates, one family member is increasingly taking center stage: the pet. In fact, half of Americans consider their pets to be as much a part of their family as human members, according to research from the Pew Research Center. Alongside their elevated status, pets are enjoying elevated living: American Pet Products Association data shows the American pet industry has surged from $90.5 billion in 2018 to an estimated $150.6 billion in 2024. Part of...
Cracks are beginning to appear in how consumers handle their debt as higher costs of living and inflation take a toll on consumers—and they're most pronounced among younger borrowers. Netspend analyzed Federal Reserve Bank of New York data to illustrate how different generations handle debt payments amid higher prices and high interest rates. While it may seem counterintuitive, debt can be a useful tool. It allows consumers to bridge financial gaps in an emergency or invest in a home with the c...
October 9, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday led a letter, with 24 other governors, to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to express strong concern over the Biden-Harris Administration's Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV) asylum program, and demanding details of location and status of those granted asylum under the program. "The impact of this 'parole' program has been the sudden influx of foreign nationals throughout our states and c...
The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Milton is currently a strong category 4 storm and is on a track to hit the west-central coast of Florida on Wednesday. The National Hurricane Center report that Milton has winds that have increased to 150 mph. To be category 5 then sustained winds strength would have to reach at least 157 mph. At one point on Monday Milton was clocked with sustained winds of 180 mph but there was some weakening overnight. "Milton has the potential to be one...
Alabama is the #7 state for fatal car accidents in America, experiencing 1.8 fatal crashes per 10,000 residents in 2022. Overall, 988 people died in Alabama car accidents that year. Truck Parking Club used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to rank the cities in Alabama with the highest accident rates as part of a larger national analysis. Rankings are based on the rate of accidents per 10,000 residents in 2022. Ties were broken by the total number of fatal accidents,...
October 8, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) says that the Biden-Harris Administration's FEMA is "Worried more about diversity, equity, inclusion, and climate change than they are helping the people of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia." Tuberville made these comments when he joined Larry Kudlow's program on the Fox Business Network with guest host David Asman to discuss the Biden-Harris administration's FEMA response. Critics of the Adm...
October 8, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) in a bicameral amicus brief requesting the Appeals Court uphold the U.S. District Court decision that ruled the Biden-Harris administration's final rule is illegal. Tuberville claimed that the rule is dysfunctional and would impose a one-size-fits-all requirements on how state departments of transportations (DOT) and cities report and mea...
Far from the Southern border states of previous elections, a rush to court Latino votes ahead of Nov. 5 is concentrating in Pennsylvania's hotly contested "Latino Belt"—and both camps have firmly planted their flags. In June, the Trump campaign opened an outreach office in Reading, Pennsylvania, home to one of the largest Latino populations in the Keystone State. Nearly 7 in 10 residents of the former factory town are Latino, with many of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent. "Latino Americans f...
