The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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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,...
China-US freight shipping rates stabilize at lower levels as December bookings slow This week, global trade policy saw several notable developments suggesting a turning point in how major economies manage supply chains, resource dependencies, and trade imbalances. The EU’s push to reduce dependency on Chinese raw materials and China’s simultaneous move to streamline rare-earth exports reflect a recalibration of trade flows, away from old dependencies and toward diversification and res...
How can I avoid capital gains tax without a 1031 exchange? Understanding capital gains taxes from a property sale and the legal strategies you can pursue to manage tax liabilities from selling an asset can help you preserve the wealth you’ve built in your property. Although you may have heard of using a 1031 exchange to defer capital gains tax from real estate sales, do you have other options for avoiding capital gains tax without a 1031 exchange? In this story, 453 Trust Powered by P...
VDB Photos // Shutterstock How Alabama ranks for most motorcycle fatalities The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that there are approximately 8.8 million motorcyclists on the road in the United States, according to active registrations from each state. This number marks a sharp increase since 2002, which had only 4.3 million motorcyclists. This growing number is a concern for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as they've found that 15% of all traffic fatalities...
Five ways to give your kids a financial head start this holiday season We’re fast entering the season of giving, with the year-end calendar crammed with one holiday after another. But in an uncertain economy, it’s important to get your giving right. That means avoiding the usual waste, like plastic toys that will get ignored or broken or discarded within days. In fact, last year Americans spent more than $10 billion on unwanted gifts, according to a survey by Finder. Instead, think about a gif...
Daniel Avram // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in the U.S. in the last week Dec. 15, 2025 CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in the U.S. using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. U.S. by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.91 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.6%) - Year change: -$0.12 (-3.9%) - Historical expensive gas price: $5.02 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.63 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.5%) - Year change: +$0.13 (+3.7%) - Historical expensive...
Elen Nika // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Huntsville in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Huntsville, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Huntsville by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.62 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.7%) - Year change: -$0.10 (-3.7%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.60 (6/14/22) - Diesel current price: $3.38 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.7%) - Year change: +$0.0...
Christian Mueller // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Birmingham in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Birmingham, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Birmingham by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.64 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.03 (-1.1%) - Year change: -$0.06 (-2.3%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.61 (6/13/22) - Diesel current price: $3.41 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.9%) - Year...
Rangsarit Chaiyakun // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Gadsden in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Gadsden, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Gadsden by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.55 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: +$0.02 (+0.9%) - Year change: -$0.08 (-2.9%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.55 (6/15/22) - Diesel current price: $3.27 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.8%) - Year change: +$0....
Daniel Avram // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Florence in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Florence by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.62 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.02 (-0.6%) - Year change: -$0.05 (-1.8%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.62 (6/10/22) - Diesel current price: $3.34 - Week change: +$0.00 (+0.1%) - Year...
Istvan Csak // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Daphne in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Daphne by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.57 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.06 (-2.4%) - Year change: -$0.12 (-4.6%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.68 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.37 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.5%) - Year change:...
Daniel Avram // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Auburn in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Auburn, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Auburn by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.58 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.9%) - Year change: -$0.06 (-2.4%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.64 (6/12/22) - Diesel current price: $3.32 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.8%) - Year change: +$0.08...
jittawit21 // Shutterstock How gas prices have changed in Dothan in the last week CheapInsurance.com compiled statistics on gas prices in Dothan, AL metro area using data from AAA. Gas prices are current as of December 15. Dothan by the numbers - Gas current price: $2.66 --- Alabama average: $2.61 - Week change: -$0.05 (-1.7%) - Year change: -$0.10 (-3.7%) - Historical expensive gas price: $4.67 (6/10/22) - Diesel current price: $3.51 - Week change: -$0.03 (-0.8%) - Year change: -$0.01 (-0.3%)...
