The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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College comes with a lot of expenses. On top of tuition, fees, books, and housing, students also want to go out and have fun. But going shopping, to see a movie, or to meet friends for lunch or dinner isn't always easy on a student budget. Fortunately, there are widely available deals and discounts designed just for college students. Here's a roundup of student discounts from SoFi. Key Points - Major retailers like Amazon and Sam's Club offer special pricing and membership benefits to college...
Key Takeaways - Laxatives are designed for constipation, not weight loss, and can lead to serious side effects and dangerous complications when used incorrectly. - When you lose weight on laxatives, it's from water weight and stool, not body fat. This weight loss is temporary, and you'll likely regain the pounds once you rehydrate your body. The use of laxatives for weight loss is one of those diet fads that never seem to go away. They've been touted by celebrities, on TV, and in film as a way...
Quick question: How long does it take you to look at an email after you receive it? Okay, now how about a text message? For most, it's no contest; we check our emails when we get around to it, but we'll typically look at a text right away. That's why many people are receiving a lot more marketing texts lately. Companies have discovered that texts are a powerful way to reach customers and, more importantly, to get a response. Unfortunately, scammers and hackers have learned this, too, so understa...
The holiday shopping season in the United States has steadily shifted earlier each year, with consumers now seeing Christmas decorations, holiday discounts, and seasonal marketing campaigns as early as September or October. This trend, often referred to as Christmas creep, has altered the retail landscape significantly, influencing consumer behavior and shaping retail strategies for major supermarket chains. A range of studies have explored these trends, providing valuable insights into the...
In 2024, staying small on purpose seems to be paying off big for small businesses. They're keeping operations small and targeting niche, highly specialized customers. And some business owners find this strategy results in more time, energy, and money to intentionally capitalize on unique, small cap opportunities. The data tells the story of growth in small businesses for the year. According to NEXT, the Small Business Administration (SBA) reports awarding 38,000 SBA 7(a) loans under $150,000:...
December 2,c 2024 - MONTGOMERY, AL - Wes Allen, Alabama's Secretary of State, will host the 2024 Meeting of the Electors to cast their votes for President-Elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect JD Vance on December 17, 2024. Under state and federal law, the electors for President and Vice President of each State meet and give their votes on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December next following their appointment. The 2024 Meeting of the Electors will convene at 12:00 noon...
Inflation has strained consumers' finances in recent years. It is also having an impact on the charities that depend on donations to do their mission-driven work. Even as charities feel the economic squeeze, however, those in the grant-giving, civil rights, social causes, and educational sectors have seen substantial growth in donations over the last year. Windfall analyzed Giving USA data, a collaborative study between Bank of America and Indiana University, as well as its own proprietary data...
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...
December 2, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C.- the day after President Joseph R. Biden Jr. pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) released a statement condemning the move by the lame duck President. "This is yet another blatant broken promise by President Biden and exemplifies why he has been the most unpopular president in modern U.S. history," said Sen. Britt. "From concerned parents at school board meetings to President Trump, the Biden Administration has spent four years...
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...
ALABAMA SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS SELECTS GARLAN GUDGER AS ITS NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE Members of the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus on Tuesday elected Sen. Garlan Gudger (R - Cullman) as their official nominee to replace Greg Reed (R - Jasper) as the chamber's president pro tempore. "I appreciate the trust and confidence my fellow Republican senators have offered and will ensure that everyone has a voice in how the Senate operates," Gudger said. "If we bring everyone together, put...
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...
December 3, 2024 - WASHINGTON D.C.- On Wednesday December 4, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall will attend oral argument at the United States Supreme Court in U.S. v. Skrmetti. In this case the Biden Harris Administration is using its' Department of Justice to challenge the state of Tennessee's law imposing age restrictions on sex-change procedures. Attorney General Marshall has filed an amicus brief with the Court in which he claimed that the medical community has conspired to advance...
December 3, 2024 – MONTGOMERY, AL - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) joined a coalition of 30 current and future state attorneys general urging the United States Senate to swiftly confirm former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as the 87th United States Attorney General. "President Trump made an incredibly wise decision by appointing Pam Bondi as the next United States Attorney General," said Attorney General Marshall. "I have known Pam for a long time, and she possesses the h...
December 3, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) met with both Representative Elise Stefanik (R-New York), President Donald J. Trump's (R) nominee to be Ambassador to the United Nations, and Fox News host Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense. In both meetings, Sen. Tuberville discussed President' Trump's America First agenda and policy priorities for the upcoming administration. "Enjoyed meeting with Rep. Elise Stefanik this afternoon to...
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...
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 4, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement following today's oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in United States v. Skrmetti. Attorney General Marshall was at the court to support Tennessee's defense of its law imposing age restrictions on irreversible sex-change procedures. The Biden administration and the ACLU challenged the law, arguing that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. "Alabama is proud to h...
December 4, 2024 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) spoke on the Senate floor about the urgent need to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA – like the budget – is supposed to be passed before the start of the fiscal year – October 1; but yet again Congress as a whole and especially the Senate has not done their work and gotten this done. In his speech, Sen. Tuberville highlighted key conservative wins in the NDAA, inc...
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...
December 5, 2024 -SAN FRANCISCO, AL ‒ USA Today is reporting that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck near the town of Petrolia in California. Southern Oregon to San Francisco is under a tsunami warning. The quake occurred near California's sparsely populated northern coast. The quake struck on the San Andreas fault, which runs along the coast line. The quake was felt by people across Humbolt County, CA. "Move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and i...
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...
