The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Retirement will likely be the most significant expense of your lifetime, which means saving for retirement is a big job. This is especially true if you envision a retirement that is rich with experiences such as traveling through Europe or spending time with your grown children and grandkids. A retirement savings plan can help you achieve these financial goals and stay on track. There are all types of retirement plans to help you build your wealth, from 401(k) to Individual Retirement Accounts,...
Many movies, cartoons, and television shows often depict pets in a lighthearted way, showcasing their cheerfulness and laissez-faire attitude. On the contrary, modern science suggests that pets possess a deeper level of intelligence than we ever dared to imagine, and they experience the range of feelings we once assumed were just felt by humans. "The visible expression of grief is widespread in the animal kingdom," Barbara J. King, author of "How Animals Grieve," told Stacker. "A cat wails in...
The older adult population in the United States is rapidly increasing as baby boomers continue to age. In 2020, the population of people over 65 grew almost five times faster than the total population during the century from 1920 to 2020, according to the 2020 Census. As more people contemplate old age, nursing homes or in-home care with trusted family members quickly come to mind. However, an alternative approach that began in San Francisco's Chinatown community is growing in popularity....
Car buyers weary of electric vehicles often share the same concern: "What if I run out of juice and there's nowhere to charge my car?" That was a fair question in 2007. At the time, there were only 139 public EV charging stations. But in the years since, public and private entities have invested billions into building out charging infrastructure to make EVs a more practical option. As of 2023, there are over 64,000 public EV charging stations across the U.S.—more than twice the number in 2020 an...
Financial scams are an unfortunate reality of life for consumers. According to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, Canadians reported $530.4 million (CND) in financial fraud losses in 2022, a 170.2% increase in just one year. And the situation in the U.S. is even bleaker, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting Americans lost more than $10 billion (USD) from financial fraud in 2023. While some scams are obvious, others can be rather convincing. It doesn't help that scams are constantly...
Voters decided on 12 education-related state ballot measures—the most in 18 years— on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election. Ballotpedia shares are some highlights: - Two ballot measures regarding school choice programs and one to repeal a school choice program were defeated. - One ballot measure to make school board elections partisan was defeated. - One measure to grant a local school board the authority to manage, sell, or lease land in their district was approved. Measures were on the bal...
If you live in a part of the country that sees a lot of snowfall every winter, then you're used to putting on your determined face and venturing out behind the wheel into the blustery, great white void. Careful, skilled driving sometimes only goes so far—sometimes a vehicle that's specifically fit for good all-weather driving performance is needed. Especially if plowing is a bit lacking in your area. Luckily, there are plenty of great SUVs on the market today that offer terrific performance f...
With interest rates reaching historic lows during the pandemic era, home prices skyrocketed—often creating highly competitive markets for first-time homebuyers. Prices generally plateaued as the Federal Reserve worked to counter inflation in 2022 by increasing interest rates. Now, the Fed has recently begun decreasing rates with a 50 basis point reduction in September. Despite lower inflation and interest rates, data suggests that home prices in some neighborhoods may continue to go up over t...
Traditionally, for Christian-Jewish families, the month of December is referred to as a "dilemma." This time of year brings discussion about whether to celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or both, which often centers on one key question: "To tree, or not to tree?" Of course, interfaith families negotiate these kinds of decisions all year round: Should we observe your traditions, my traditions, both, or neither? On some level, these are questions that any family—blood or chosen—has to navigate, eve...
From field to fork: how America's farming revolution affects your plate and wallet In an era of rapid technological advancement and environmental change, American agriculture is undergoing a revolution that reaches far beyond the farm gate. From the food on consumer plates to the economic health of rural communities, the transformation of U.S. farming practices is reshaping the nation's landscape in ways both visible and hidden. LandTrust explores how these changes impact everyone, whether they...
You've likely been planning your upcoming trip for a while, whether you're preparing to connect with loved ones over the holidays or getting ready for an extended vacation far from anyone you know. To give you peace of mind while you're away, you'll also need to make sure the home you're leaving behind is safe and secure. The chances of a break-in are highest if your home is empty for the entirety of your trip and if your travel is for an extended period of time. Per Forbes, at least 7 in 10...
December is not just reserved for Santa and his reindeer. It's also the month when some of the year's must-see films premiere in theaters, and 2024 is no exception. Way.com brings you what's cooking at your local cinemas—and on your smart TV. Dec. 6: 'NightBitch' Amy Adams stars as an overwhelmed stay-at-home mom in "NightBitch," who seems to turn into a canine at nightfall. The film is a hybrid dark comedy-horror, and Adams tells Variety it's an in-depth look at motherhood. "It deals with f...
Edwin Lindo used to see new electric vehicle chargers as a sign he was about to be priced out of his neighborhood. "Communities who have been historically gentrified, historically marginalized," he says, "we don't typically get opportunities to access beneficial technologies." Two EV chargers are now in front of Estelita's Library, the Seattle community library and bookstore Lindo cofounded. One can be used by anyone, and the other is reserved for a rentable wheelchair-accessible EV owned by...
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 movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
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 movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a...
Where premium brand automakers' opulent station wagons and sedans once reigned supreme, a substantial selection of compact and midsize SUVs have taken over. In fact, today's new car market in general is dominated by SUVs—luxury or not—even if they aren't the most value-minded approach to everyday transportation. Mix in some leather seating, LED lighting, and a BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or Cadillac badge, and even less so. Finding a new luxury SUV that fits everyday consumers' budgets can be challengin...
Health care is rapidly evolving as 2025 approaches, and nurses are at the center of it all. As the backbone of the healthcare system, nurses are often impacted by industry changes long before many other healthcare professionals. They must be prepared to face the challenges that shifting trends might create and quickly grasp the changes needed to overcome them. Nurses can expect technology to play an even bigger role in how they do their jobs in the coming year. Vivian Health examined five trends...
More than 1 million Americans live with human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, with tens of thousands of new diagnoses each year. But with earlier diagnoses and advances in treatment, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has become far more manageable. Death rates among diagnosed individuals have dropped, even as recently as the past five years. Stacker analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to better understand drops in HIV-related deaths nationally and among certain...
Smartphones already make day-to-day life more convenient. Soon, they may be widely used to prove identities. Nine in 10 Americans own smartphones to stay connected, find information, track exercise, play games, capture life's moments, and more, Pew reported in June. Increasingly, smartphones also store highly personal information, like credit card numbers, personal health data, bank accounts, and investment portfolios. Most people still carry around a physical driver's license or state ID to...
"Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority," wrote Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens in a 1995 ruling affirming Americans' constitutional right to engage in anonymous political speech. That shield has weakened in recent years due to advances in the surveillance technology available to law enforcement. What used to be a manual process is becoming increasingly automated, making mass deanonymization of protesters, even those taking active steps to hide their identities, possible....
Sameerah Abdullah sends her three school-aged kids to a cyber charter school for some of the same familiar reasons that other families across the nation do, including the flexibility and personalization. For financial literacy class, they go to the bank to open an account. For science class, they head to a museum. On nice days, they try to get out of the city and into the woods. But her motivations are also deeply personal, cultural, and, in some ways, unique to Philadelphia, Chalkbeat reports....
Business expenses are the ordinary and necessary costs required to run a business. Any money spent in the name of doing business can be categorized as a business expense. Every company incurs expenses in the course of doing business. Common examples of business expenses include the cost of goods and services, everyday operating expenses like payroll and rent, and countless others. Organizing all your expenses into business expense categories ensures you know exactly how your business spends...
Florida is attracting lots of Americans. After accounting for households that moved out of the state, Florida gained 125,316 households from other states in the 2022 tax year. And most of the households coming in are bringing higher incomes than those leaving. This influx of new residents can give Florida economic momentum. With this in mind, SmartAsset evaluated the latest IRS data to see which households from different states are moving into Florida—and which states Floridians are r...
The average square footage of a house in the United States is 2,430 square feet, according to the National Association of Home Builders. That figure varies significantly from state to state, however, with averages ranging from 1,164 square feet all the way up to 2,800 square feet. Average home sizes tend to be larger in areas where prices are lower and smaller in more expensive locales, though other factors also come into play. Understanding the average square footage of houses in your area can...
According to recent research from experts at the University of California, Los Angeles and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, higher temperatures brought on by anthropogenic climate change have turned an ordinary drought in the American West into the "exceptional" category, with greater evaporation contributing more than a lack of rainfall. The study, published in Science Advances, found that evaporation accounted for 61% of drought severity in the West from 2020 to 2022,...
