Thursday, September 10, 2026
Entertainment
Entertainment
Washington Faces a New Round of High-Stakes Decisions
The political spotlight in Washington is turning toward a series of decisions that could shape the direction of national policy in the months ahead. Lawmakers are confronting disagreements over government spending, immigration, economic priorities, and the role of federal agencies, with competing political interests making compromise increasingly difficult.
Behind the political headlines, the decisions being debated could have practical consequences for households, businesses, local governments, and communities across the country. Questions about how public money should be allocated are being weighed alongside concerns about the national debt, infrastructure, public services, and the cost of government programs.
Political leaders are also looking ahead to the next major battles on Capitol Hill. Both parties are attempting to demonstrate progress on issues important to their supporters while avoiding decisions that could create...
(StatePoint) Just because fall is here doesn’t mean your backyard fun has to end! Fall is the perfect season to breathe in crisp air, sip something warm under the stars, watch an outdoor movie, and make the most of your outdoor setup. With the right tools and a few seasonal upgrades, your backyard can stay the place to be long after Labor Day. Here’s how.
Blow Away the Mess: “Leaf” It to the Pros
Those golden leaves look lovely on trees, not so much on your lawn. A good leaf blower (especially a cordless or battery-powered model) like the Greenworks 80V Cordless Leaf Blower can keep your yard tidy and pathways safe. But to take it up a level, look no further than the Mammotion Yuka robotic mower with sweeper kit. It doesn’t just trim your lawn, it also collects fallen leaves as it goes.
Bring the Heat: Stay Toasty on the Patio
With propane or electric patio heaters, you can keep the chill at bay and enjoy those al fresco dinners well into the season. Try the Dr. Infrared Heater...
(BPT) - No matter your stage in life's journey, it's never too early or late to make financial plans. For military families especially, planning helps you withstand major transitions and gives you confidence about the future. From your first Permanent Change of Station (PCS) to deployment and separation, you'll have many decisions to make and high-priority items on your to-do list, including managing your finances.
Financial Planning Month is the perfect time to work on setting goals for your financial future. Here are tips to get you started.
Begin with the basics: Savings
Developing a savings plan is a great place to start. Even when you're starting out in your career, developing the habit of setting money aside from each paycheck can help you build an emergency fund for unexpected events. One approach is to open a separate savings account for that purpose and have a small portion of each paycheck automatically deposited into that account, so you don't even have to think about it....
(BPT) - Close to 2 in 5 Americans (38%) say cash feels more "real" than digital money: It's a tangible reminder of value, and remains a permanent part of their financial toolkit (27%). Yet, new Empower research shows that in practice, physical dollar bills may be fading from daily life: 1 in 5 say they use cash only a few times per year, and just 18% use it daily. Still, a quarter often find themselves in situations where they wish they had cash on hand.
Its popularity may be dictated by what's going on in the economy, as a quarter (25%) view cash as a "safety net" currency in times of financial downturns, and 1 in 5 Americans have increased their physical cash holdings in the past year due to market uncertainty.
Cash in a digital age
While a third (35%) say they are mostly cashless, for close to 1 in 5 Americans (19%), dollar bills remain a trusted form of payment - something they actively use and keep in significant amounts. Overall, 40% of people feel safer keeping some cash on...