The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Texas passed a Bible-themed curriculum. But many districts aren’t using it This coming school year, the Fairfield, Texas, school district, about halfway between Dallas and Houston, will roll out a new K-5 reading program that includes multiple biblical references, The 74 reports. But the staff, hoping to avoid debates over families’ religious beliefs, has chopped roughly 30 sections out of the curriculum, including a kindergarten lesson on the Golden Rule featuring Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and...
How is severance pay taxed: 2025 guide Hearing the words, "you're being laid off," can bring on one of the worst feelings in the world. After all, if you're like most people, you probably count on your job to provide you with a paycheck, not to mention health insurance and other valuable benefits. Without work, you may fear you'll end up borrowing and needing debt relief down the line. When you find yourself in this tough situation, you have a lot of practical things to think about, including fi...
What a Fed rate cut could mean for your wallet Eight times a year, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve meets to assess the economy and determine whether it should adjust the federal funds rate. That may not sound like something that would affect you, but it certainly does. The Fed’s benchmark rate is used by banks when they borrow and lend money to one another overnight, and the domino effect impacts everything from how much it costs to finance a car to how much i...
Costs of extreme weather: How to stay powered and protected year-round Extreme weather events can come with a hefty price tag. From power outages and frozen pipes to spoiled food and damaged electronics, the costs of being unprepared can add up quickly. Whether it’s a summer heatwave, a winter blizzard, or a powerful hurricane, these events can disrupt daily life and create unexpected expenses. The U.S. Census Bureau reports 28.3% or 1 in 4 households will experience a power outage in a year. T...
How to start a rental property business: A complete step-by-step guide Starting a rental property business sounds exciting. It can lead to steady monthly income and a chance to build financial freedom for generations. But let’s be real; most people who talk about buying real estate get stuck before even acquiring their first property. It isn’t easy, and the process can be intimidating. From establishing the right legal structures to securing financing and ensuring tenant occupancy, the pro...
Smart home facial recognition: How it works and what to know Your front door’s new digital bouncer Imagine this: You’re juggling groceries, your toddler’s backpack, and your phone is somewhere in the abyss of your bag. As you walk up to your front door, it scans your face and clicks open. No keys, no codes, no hands. Just a glance. This isn’t science fiction. Thanks to advances in facial recognition technology and edge computing, your smart home now has a new kind of welcome mat. Facial recogni...
It's back-to-school time: Home maintenance for busy families The back-to-school season is a busy time for families, from having to gather school supplies to figuring out a new schedule for picking up and dropping off kids. As summer comes to a close, it’s also an important time for home maintenance tasks due to seasonal weather. Certain tasks are crucial to ensuring that your home and its systems continue working as expected to help avoid costly repairs. This home maintenance checklist from H...
America’s nostalgia economy lifts sales of music, games and more From classic rock vinyl to anime-inspired video games, collectibles are enjoying a resurgence. Fueled by fandom, nostalgia, and even social media buzz, buyers are seeking out physical media and memorabilia — and increasingly finding them on digital marketplaces. Analysts estimate the global collectibles market has topped $496 billion in 2025, driven by cross-generational appeal, scarcity, and the thrill of the hunt. The U.S. col...
What Trump's national housing emergency would mean for new homebuyers Will President Donald Trump attempt to remedy the housing crisis with a plan of attack? It’s beginning to look that way. On Sept. 1, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the Trump administration is mulling the declaration of a national housing emergency to address high housing prices and limited inventory. What it means: While details are still vague, any decrease in the purchase cost of a new home is welcome news. H...
Kids playing soccer in park. BAZA Production // Shutterstock Best suburbs to live in America Suburbia is deeply ingrained in American culture, growing in popularity alongside the country's love affair with cars and its network of highways. As early as the 1830s, Brooklyn Heights laid claim to the title of the first suburb when it became connected to Manhattan by steam ferries. A little over 100 years later, Levittown became the new model of suburban development, offering affordable,...
Why your AI-generated content sounds like everyone else's and 4 ways to fix it There’s a challenge brewing for businesses everywhere. Content is becoming virtually indistinguishable online, and it all boils down to the latest industry disruptor: AI. It’s no secret that AI adoption is reaching top speed across many aspects of life and work. Statista predicts that by the end of this year, 378.9 million people will be using AI. While these tools are more accessible than ever, this also defines a g...
Atlanta is embracing a cheap, effective way to beat urban heat: ‘cool roofs’ Walk outside into 100-degree heat wearing a black shirt, and you’ll feel a whole lot hotter than if you were wearing white. Now think about your roof: If it’s also dark, it’s soaking up more of the sun’s energy and radiating that heat indoors. If it were a lighter color, it’d be like your home was wearing a giant white shirt all the time. This is the idea behind the “cool roof.” In June, Atlanta joined a growing...
Hiring globally? Key considerations for choosing where to hire One of the most powerful advantages of global hiring is access. Hiring across borders gives you access to a larger pool of skilled workers, new markets for expansion, and greater operational and financial flexibility. But with that access comes a different kind of challenge: choice. If you can hire anywhere, where do you start? How do you evaluate one country over another? And how do you make sure the decision you make today...
Why business automation won’t be optional in 2026 The companies that will thrive in 2026 have one thing in common: They’re automating the time-drains holding others back. Business automation uses technology to handle repetitive tasks automatically—without human intervention—so your team can focus on higher-value work. Your ecommerce team spends precious hours every week on tasks that could run automatically: order fulfillment, rate comparisons, invoice handling—these necessary but repetitiv...
Grusho Anna // Shutterstock Movies and TV shows casting in Birmingham The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which...
Grusho Anna // Shutterstock Movies and TV shows casting in Huntsville The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which...
What’s the average house price in the USA? Some property market questions have simple answers, others have complex ones. Defining the average house price in the USA involves a combination of both, as the answer can be concise or detailed, providing a clear understanding of the market. Whichever solution you’re looking for, this is the right place to find it. The Offerpad team has compiled all the information on average American property prices you could possibly need, from current data to the...
Top 10 US towns where vacation homes dominate the market In some American towns, nearly every house sits empty for part of the year. Whether it’s a beachside bungalow, a mountainside chalet, or a lakeside estate, these seasonal homes are usually owned by part-time residents — and in the most extreme cases, they make up over 98% of all housing in town. From coastal escapes in Delaware to ski havens in Colorado, Redfin Real Estate shares the 10 U.S. towns with the highest share of seasonal hom...
The state of AI in sales in 2025 The strange thing about revolutions is that you often don't notice when you're in the middle of them. Consider the iPhone. When it first came out, many consumers thought it wasn't that big of a deal. (Investors felt the same — one even called it "dead on arrival.") But within weeks, that sleek little gadget stopped being a novelty and became a default. Most users now think in "iOS" — calendars, maps, messages, ideas — all neatly organized in their pockets. Apoll...
Money in motion: 5 key personal finance trends reshaping 2025 Inflation and job market jitters are changing how Americans handle their finances. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index is up 2.7% over the last year, while wages have risen just 3.6%. That means costs are creeping up faster than paychecks. But instead of panicking, people are adjusting. Key behaviors are on the rise: “revenge saving,” more mindful spending, diversified investments, and extra inc...
Aerial view of Madison city downtown in summertime. marchello74 // Shutterstock Best-run cities in America Cities and towns throughout the United States vary drastically in terms of how well they are managed and operated on a daily and yearly basis. Those that work efficiently and effectively usually have stronger economies, lower crime rates, and higher median annual incomes. However, it's important to note that tried-and-true strategies for city management could soon change. A 2025 report...
Can family caregivers get paid through Medicaid? When a relative can no longer shower safely or forgets to take their medications, you may step in to provide care. As a family caregiver, you may assist with bathing, dressing, and eating. These tasks are known as activities of daily living (ADLs). Caregivers may also help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as cooking, cleaning, and shopping. About 1 in 4 Americans serves as a family caregiver. That’s about 63 million p...
What is Agentic AI? And how you can start using it Agentic AI is a system made up of multiple, connected AI agents working together to autonomously carry out complex, multi-step goals with minimal human involvement. Agentic AI is the latest attempt to create a framework for what AI tools would look like and how they could safely operate. Here, Zapier explores what agentic AI is, how it works, and some real-world examples of agentic AI workflows you can start experimenting with today. What is...
How much does it cost to install kitchen cabinets in 2025? A kitchen needs storage as much as appliances, so it’s reasonable to expect that when the time comes to add, update, or outright replace the cabinetry in the heart of your home, there’ll be a literal price to pay. As with any question of home improvement pricing, there’s a spectrum of costs to consider when installing kitchen cabinets. How much you’re willing to spend is just one of many factors that influence the final total. Rather...
Grusho Anna // Shutterstock Movies and TV shows casting in Birmingham The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which...
