The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
Sorted by date Results 751 - 775 of 2526
While it may not seem obvious at first, the obesity epidemic and economics have a direct connection to each other, especially when it comes to spending categories like healthcare, food, and fitness. One study places annual healthcare costs related to obesity at $173 billion. But the rise of weight loss medications could shift these economic trends. The use of semaglutide as treatment for obesity has skyrocketed over the last five years, which could mean major changes in how people spend and...
Think you can pull over and park in a bus lane to grab your morning latte? Think again—at least in cities using computer vision technology to catch and fine drivers who block bus lanes. As cities across the U.S. invest in new bus lane infrastructure to speed up travel times and prevent delays, drivers continue to flout the red (or green) paint, Next City reports. One 2023 study from Philadelphia's SEPTA recorded 36,000 violations during a 70-day pilot on two bus lines, with half of all bus s...
When immigration agents raided chicken processing plants in central Mississippi in 2019, they arrested nearly 700 undocumented workers—many of them parents of children enrolled in local schools. Teens got frantic texts to leave class and find their younger siblings. Unfamiliar faces whose names weren't on the pick-up list showed up to take children home. School staff scrambled to make sure no child went home to an empty house, while the owner of a local gym threw together a temporary shelter for...
December 30, 2024 - MONTGOMERY, AL - In accordance with the Presidential Proclamation, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced that she has authorizied that flags be flown half-staff within the state of Alabama for 30 days to honor the service of former President Jimmy Carter (D) who passed away on Sundat, December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2024/12/flags-lowered-for-former-president-jimmy-carter/ "A native of Plains, Georgia, approximately 40 miles from...
In 2016, ads for a new car-sharing service called Gig Car Share began popping up. The service allowed users to pick up a car with an app or a physical card, drive it anywhere within a designated "home zone," and leave it at a streetside parking spot, Next City notes. The idea was that this type of free-flow car-sharing could complement public transit, bike-share, and ride-hailing, ultimately helping reduce car ownership. Over the next few years, Gig expanded its home zone, launched in two more...
Throughout his campaign, President-elect Donald Trump has made big promises on issues of enormous consequence to Americans, from the economy to reproductive health care—but offered few details on how he would see those promises through. What he's said in his campaign and what he did during his first term offer some clues, as does Project 2025, the blueprint for a second Trump term written by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Though Trump has distanced himself from Project 2025, saying he h...
December 30, 2024 – MONTGOMERY, AL – authorities are still doing damage surveys after severe weather struck Alabama on Sunday. Straight line winds and tornados are being credited with being responsible for damage in Limestone, Macon, Morgan, and Montgomery counties. The National Weather Services (NWS) is reporting that an EF-1 tornado hit the Athens, Ala. Area around midnight and was on the ground for five minutes. The storm uprooted a 100-year-old tree in front of the Limestone County Cou...
December 31, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed a proclamation to set special election dates for Alabama Senate District Five. This seat was previously held by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed, who is newly appointed as Governor Ivey's Senior Advisor to Workforce Transformation. Governor Ivey set the special primary election for Tuesday, March 11, 2025; the special primary runoff, if necessary, for Tuesday, April 8, 2025; and the special general election for T...
A direct lending program providing financial relief after a natural disaster could be eliminated if President-elect Donald Trump follows the recommendations of the conservative Project 2025 playbook, The Daily Yonder reports. Eliminating loans provided through the Small Business Administration, or SBA, would be particularly harmful to rural communities that are disproportionately affected by natural hazards, according to one economic expert. "Rural communities are more exposed to natural...
January 1, 2025 – a motorist intentionally plowed into a crowd of New Year's revelers Tuesday night in New Orleans. The murderer then began firing a weapon before being killed on the scene in a shootout with police. Authorities are describing the attack as an act of terrorism. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell called the incident a "terrorist attack" at a news conference on Wednesday. FBI Special Agent Aletha Duncan said that that the incident is "not a terrorist attack" after Mayor C...
January 1, 2025 – NEW ORLEANS, LA - Federal law enforcement agencies investigating the New Orleans mass casualty event have identified the assassin as Shamsud-Di Jabbar, age 42. Jabbar is a U.S.-born citizen from Texas. FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said that law enforcement do not believe Jabbar acted alone and that the FBI is searching for potential other suspects. He did have an ISIS flag in his truck. The FBI reports that improvised explosive devices were found in t...
January 1, 2025 – numerous Alabama elected officials expressed their condolences to the families of the persons slain in the New Orleans terrorist attack that killed 15 people in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Another 30 people were injured/wounded when a truck plowed into pedestrians celebrating the New Year on Bourbon Street. Some of them remain in serious condition in the hospital. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) said on his X social media account, "Last night's attack in N...
January 2, 2025 - MONTGOMERY – Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday announced applications for the CHOOSE Act, the state's new Education Savings Account (ESA) program that supports the success of K-12 students across the state, are officially open. Families can now apply online for the 2025-2026 school year at the CHOOSE Act website. The application process will be open through April 7, 2025, with award notifications scheduled to be sent to families in May 2025. "Alabama families can start the new y...
'Tis the season again, and New Year's resolutions are back in full force. Even though the motivation for change and new goals are sky-high toward the end of a year, particularly in December, most New Year's resolutions don't last long—Way.com shares details What's the Story Behind New Year's Resolutions? There is no historical story that confirms itself as the only reason why New Year's resolutions exist. However, there are a few standout stories that have been passed down over the years and m...
Women's business ownership is a driving force in the American economy, creating millions of jobs and generating trillions in revenue. Beyond impressive numbers, women entrepreneurs bring unique perspectives and solutions to the table, addressing gaps in industries ranging from technology to education to health care. Yet these entrepreneurs face the same challenges as any other—especially when it comes to finding the money to start and grow a business. Grant funding can be an important r...
January 2, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) is proud to announce that Nandini Patel, a ninth grader at Fort Payne High School, has been named the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Alabama's Fourth Congressional District. Patel's app, Choice Bound, was selected for its innovative design and potential to positively impact users of all ages. Choice Bound is an intuitive app that guides individuals toward their ideal career paths and college choices. W...
January 2, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) released a statement honoring the memory of Drew Dauphin and Kareem Badawi, who were killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack: "As our nation continues to mourn following the terrorist attack in New Orleans, we now know this act of evil stole two of Alabama's own: Drew Dauphin, a native of Montgomery, and Kareem Badawi, a freshman at the University of Alabama. "Drew Dauphin was a beloved son, brother, and friend, a talented...
Just as inflation can drive up costs, macroeconomic shifts, layoffs, or industry downturns can lead to declines in household income, potentially posing challenges to families affording housing, groceries, and other necessities. For some, a dollar doesn't stretch as far when income drops faster than expenses increase. According to the latest Census Bureau data, household income changes can vary widely across cities, and while some cities see incomes outpace inflation, others may experience sharp...
Inflation regularly increases the prices of goods, services, and resources, making the cost of living less affordable with a dollar that does not keep up with that growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics clocked the 12-month inflation rate from the end of 2022 to the end of 2023 at 3.35%. Meanwhile, household income estimates shifted a median of 4.22%, but swung as much as multiples above or below that—depending on the city—offsetting or exacerbating the impacts of price changes. With this in...
January 3, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – a new Congress was sworn in and the first order of business following the swearing in was to elect the Speaker of the House. Republicans retained control of the House of Representatives in the 2024 election; but they did so by the slimmest of margins in the 119th Congress. This tiny majority meant that any splinter faction of disgruntled GOP Representatives can jeopardize the election of the Speaker. Representative Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) was elected to...
By now, there has been endless speculation about whether the incoming Trump administration might close the U.S. Department of Education. It remains just that: speculation. Congress would have to be involved, and even a Senate and House controlled by the same party as President-elect Donald Trump would not necessarily go along with this idea. However, in a statement about his nomination of Linda McMahon for education secretary, Trump underscored his campaign pledge to disband the department,...
What do Mary, Olivia, and Jennifer have in common? They've each had a turn as the most popular name for American girls born over the past 100 years. Many of today's most popular girls' names borrow heavily from decades—and centuries—past. To show this, Spokeo used data from the Social Security Administration on popular baby names to track the ups and downs of common girls' names in the United States over the past 120 years. In particular, this analysis focuses on how popular names from 100 yea...
Group exercise is very popular: Nearly 40% of regular exercisers participate in group fitness classes. In advance of the coronavirus pandemic, the American College of Sports Medicine predicted that group fitness would be one of the top three fitness industry trends in 2020—for good reason. Exercise has clear benefits for health and well-being, and the side effects—think lowered blood pressure, improved glycemic control, better sleep—are overwhelmingly positive. And exercising in groups may h...
It's November, and it's unseasonably warm as John John Brown, a Muscogee elder, works to replant peach saplings. "I haven't had much luck growing them from seed," he says. The reason, he thinks, is because peaches need lower temperatures. Around him, tiny peach trees the size of pencils stand above the browning grass underneath their parent tree. Brown harvested around 200 peaches this year from his small orchard—enough for his family and neighbors—but he had competition: A fox has been pok...
January 3, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (AL-03) announced that Haley Wilson has been promoted to chief of staff. Haley is a native of Montgomery, Alabama. She is a University of Alabama Graduate who previously served as a Rogers office intern. She joined Rep. Rogers office staff in 2012. She will be replacing Christopher Brinson, who served in the Rogers office for 22 years and as chief of staff since 2015. "I want to thank Chris for his years of service in my off...
