The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Federal interest rates have sat at a 24-year high for more than a year, making borrowing money the most expensive in decades. That, however, is poised to change, as the Federal Reserve announced a long-awaited cut to its federal funds rate this month. Wealth Enhancement analyzed resources from federal institutions, including the Federal Reserve, FINRA, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, to explain how lower interest rates can influence the returns expected from common investments. The a...
By now, the headlines are likely familiar: The "most unusual job market in modern American history." The "Great American Labor Shortage." The massive disruption to the job market wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic, when by the latter half of 2021 almost half of American companies were reporting a worker shortage, impacted every corner of the nation. Since then, however, the job market has shifted back to more typical levels of employment, giving many Americans a renewed sense of normalcy. But...
September 17, 2024 – Montgomery – retired longtime state legislator Priscilla Dunn (D-Bessemer) passed away she was age 80. On Thursday, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) spoke on the House Floor to honor the life and legacy of former State Senator Dunn. "A lifelong educator and trailblazing public servant, Senator Dunn dedicated her life to the betterment of her community and the State of Alabama," said Rep. Sewell in her House floor speech. "In 1961, she graduated from Abrams High School in...
Every 23 seconds, a fire department responds to a fire. Fear of fire at your small business is justified. And prevention, as well as commercial fire insurance, could help. A lot of commercial fire insurance protection comes from the right commercial property insurance. But when you dig into the details of fire insurance for your small business, you may need to go beyond a commercial property policy. NEXT explains what to know when looking for fire insurance and ways to prevent a fire at your...
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) wants you to help combat infant mortality by joining the #ClearTheCrib #SafeSleepAL challenge. Sleep-related infant deaths are still a major problem in Alabama. Of the 391 babies that tragically died in 2022, 105 are counted as Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths (SUIDs). SUIDs include deaths with the following causes listed on the death certificate: sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidental suffocation or strangulation in bed, and undetermined....
September 20, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington announced today that Alabama's labor force participation rate for August is unchanged at 57.5%. The percentage of prime-age workers increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 79.4% over the month. Over the year, this number increased by 1.6 percentage points from 77.8%. Prime-age workers are those aged 25-54 years. "Prime age workers are continuing to do their part here in Alabama," said W...
September 20, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) congratulated 13 Alabama students, whom she nominated, on their acceptance to United States service academies starting this fall semester. The service academies include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and U.S. Air Force Academy. "On behalf of the people of Alabama, it was truly an honor to nominate these outstanding young men and women to attend o...
When Minneapolis' housing authority put out a request to build affordable housing at scale across the city, eight teams of designers, developers and architects submitted proposals. The winning bid: a plan for modular housing. What set modular construction apart from the pack? It delivered on speed, Minneapolis Public Housing Authority officials say, saving it time and money and helping it shorten the city's nearly 7,500 person waitlist for affordable units. Next City reports that within 14...
September 20, 2024 - Washington D.C. – Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL07) condemned the illegal seizure of the Vulcan Materials plant by the Government of Mexico. Rep. Sewell led 13 of her colleagues, including every member of Alabama's House delegation, in a bipartisan letter to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai requesting that USTR take action to address the seizure and make clear to the Mexican Government that there will be harsh repercussions should they proceed. The l...
More than a dozen states are now seeing gasoline prices below $3 per gallon as costs have continued their decline in recent months, according to AAA data. Even with the switchover to winter blends this month—a nationwide practice that results in cheaper fuel that works well in cold weather—gas prices have been declining at a faster rate than they did at this time last year. That's in part due to a glut of domestic supply and lower demand for gas from American drivers than in 2023, according to...
September 20, 2024 – Winfield – State Representative Tracy Estes (R-Winfield) presentative had a protection order filed against him accusing him of making violent threats. Estes was booked for a misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. The charges were made by his wife – Christina Estes. Christina Estes, said in a legal filing that Rep. Estes cursed her during an argument at their home on Friday. She then locked herself in her room. He then spent two hours beating on the dorr and threa...
September 22, 2024 – Birmingham - 21 people were shot – four of them fatally – in a mass shooting at a night club at Birmingham's Five Points South. Congresswoman Terri A Sewell (D-AL07) released a statement following Saturday night's shooting. "I am heartbroken by last night's horrific mass shooting in Five Points South," said Rep. Sewell. "I join in extending my sincere condolences to the families whose loved ones were lost, and I pray for a full and speedy recovery for those injured." "We a...
September 19, 2024 – Washinton, D.C. - Congressman Barry Moore (R-AL02) released a statement after voting in support of a continuing resolution that would have kept the government funded for six months and includes the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act amends the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require proof of United States citizenship to register an individual to vote in elections for Federal office. Rep. Moore is a co-sponsor of this legislation. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris A...
Audiences know them from long-running TV series, big-time movie openings, and indelible stage performances. They've made viewers laugh, cry, and jump from their seats in fright. The best actors in the world have the power to move audiences in ways that few others can—which is why making a list of the absolute best is never an easy task. To determine American audiences' 50 favorite actors who are men, Stacker analyzed data from YouGov, current as of June 2024. The list was ranked by the p...
Where college students went in 2024 It's that time of year again: back to school. Once college students are done unpacking their Target wares into their tiny, tiny dorm rooms, they're ready to get out and around campus—increasingly, via rideshare. Over the past two academic years, rides going to/from colleges/universities increased by 32%. But not all students go to the same places. Some love to hit the gym; others, fast food joints. Some spend their time admiring art; others, getting a pint. Ly...
Secretary of State Wes Allen is making Alabamians aware that the sample ballots for the November 5, 2024 General Election are now available on the Secretary of State's website: www.AlabamaVotes.gov. "Sample ballots for all 67 counties have been made publicly available on our website, www.AlabamaVotes.gov. I would encourage all Alabamians to review these sample ballots as they get ready to head to the polls on November 5." Allen said. The Secretary of State's website has several features for...
Home costs are at record highs, with mortgages costing double what they did in 2020. Building new housing could help minimize the price crunch that's ballooned median home prices to $419,300 and make housing accessible to more Americans. Where is it already happening? It's a simple case of supply versus demand: if you want affordable home prices, you want more housing supply. With added competition, buyers win. To discover which US cities are doing the best to build new homes, moveBuddha...
September 23, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – This week, the Alabama League of Municipalities is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Certified Municipal Official (CMO) program. In 1994, the League launched its voluntary CMO program under the leadership of its former executive director, Perry Roquemore Jr., making it the second oldest elected municipal official training program in the country. The first session of the CMO program was held at the Adams Mark Hotel in Mobile on September 22, 1994. Nearly 2...
Where veterans are buying the most homes Through their service, veterans earn certain benefits for home buying not available to the general population, including special loans facilitated by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). These VA loans can enable prior service members to purchase homes more easily than with a conventional or even FHA loan—often with a 0% down payment. With these benefits in mind, SmartAsset ranked the 40 largest metro areas based on demand among veteran homebuyers, u...
Student debt is taxing young people's mental health As the first person in her family to go college, Catherine fought hard to get her bachelor's. After transferring from community college to a four-year university, she worked as a barista and a line cook, trapped in a cycle where she'd take on extra hours to cover her bills, then feel too tired to study. But it still wasn't enough. She regularly felt desperate for money. She put books and necessities, like hygiene supplies and food, on credit...
September 23, 2024 - MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) announced that she is appointing Chris Beeker, III, to serve on the Alabama Public Service Commission, Place 2. Beeker will finish the unexpired term of his father, Chris "Chip" Beeker, Jr., who announced his decision to step down from his seat on the Public Service Commission due to health challenges. The junior Beeker served for four years as USDA Rural Development Director for the state of Alabama under President Donald J. Trump...
September 23, 2024 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Tim Kaine (D-Virginia.), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) introduced the Defending American Property Abroad Act in retaliation to efforts on the part of the Mexican government to seize a port owned by Alabama based Vulcan Materials. The Defending American Property Abroad Act would impose retaliatory prohibitions against the Government...
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $362,143 in August, 2.5% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, with prices even declining in some places. But some areas are still seeing price jumps compared to the year before. Stacker compiled a list of cities...
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $362,143 in August, 2.5% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, with prices even declining in some places. But some areas are still seeing price jumps compared to the year before. Stacker compiled a list of cities...
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $362,143 in August, 2.5% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, with prices even declining in some places. But some areas are still seeing price jumps compared to the year before. Stacker compiled a list of cities...
