No more waiting for Social Security: Millions of Americans will benefit from the new online portal available 24 hours a day

Magnifying glass highlighting the Social Security Administration's online portal offering benefits information and application options.

Starting in mid‑July, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will keep its My Social Security portal open all day, every day, removing the nightly and weekend shutdowns that frustrated users. Need to update your direct deposit after work? Or grab a benefit letter before dawn? The new schedule aims to make that possible while easing pressure on overloaded … Read more

M&T Bank is giving away $200 in cash to Americans who do this: requirements and deadline to get it

Exterior view of an M&T Bank branch showing ATM machines and logo, offering a $200 cash bonus for new checking accounts opened by July 31.

New customers have just a few weeks to snag the cash before the promotion expires. Americans looking for an easy cash boost can still pocket $200 from M&T Bank, but the clock is ticking—applications must be completed by Thursday, July 31. The reward is tied to the bank’s MyChoice Premium checking account and hinges on meeting … Read more

Delta first-class passenger declines seat change request, sparks online applause

Passengers seated on a commercial airplane with flight attendants serving, representing airplane etiquette and seat assignments.

A calm but firm “no” shared on Reddit has travelers applauding and wondering where the line really is for etiquette in the sky. The internet loves determined travelers. On July 15, Reddit user u/Stealthytom told r/delta how a first-class passenger politely refused to switch her premium seat so a friend could sit closer. The post, … Read more

DHS confirm it: Salaries rise sharply as Homeland Security aims to recruit 10,000 ICE agents in four years

Badge of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer representing new recruitment and salary increases by Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is opening its wallet to staff up United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), rolling out pay boosts and fresh incentives as it looks to add 10,000 agents in the next four years. The move follows a reconciliation bill championed by former President Donald Trump that nearly triples ICE’s annual … Read more

It’s official: These are the new tax breaks awaiting American families following the passage of a major piece of legislation

U.S. Capitol building at sunset with dollar bills and Donald Trump representing new tax breaks for American families

Buckle up, taxpayers: the sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) that cleared Congress in July rewrites the playbook for 2025‑2028 returns, offering perks well beyond the headline “no‑tax on tips” provision. Who stands to gain, and when should you act? Below is a concise guide to the biggest changes—charitable write‑offs, vehicle interest deductions, and larger family credits—that could … Read more

A ship lost at sea and attacked by pirates in 1721 was discovered by chance: a treasure trove of more than 3,300 items has been recovered

Underwater view of the 1721 Portuguese shipwreck attacked by pirates discovered near Madagascar

A chance discovery near Nosy Boraha tells a swashbuckling story of storm damage, ruthless raiders, and a trove worth today’s fortune. The long‑lost Nossa Senhora do Cabo—Our Lady of the Cape—has finally been identified on the Indian Ocean seafloor, ending centuries of mystery about one of history’s boldest pirate hijackings. After weeks of careful dives, archaeologists from the Center for Historic Shipwreck Preservation … Read more

Good news for retirees: they could receive larger monthly checks in 2026, but healthcare costs will be higher

Donald Trump next to a Social Security card representing increased monthly checks and rising healthcare costs in 2026

Millions of retirees may see a slightly bigger cost‑of‑living adjustment next year, but some households could still struggle to keep pace with rising health costs. The federal government’s preliminary reading, released after June inflation data, suggests the 2026 Social Security COLA will land between 2.6 % and 2.7 %. That is a hair above the 2.5 % bump … Read more

Goodbye to these well-known supermarkets: they will close their doors this summer in three states, although employees will receive relocation offers

Exterior view of Harris Teeter supermarket store front, part of Kroger, closing locations this summer in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina.

The Kroger‑owned chain says the underperforming stores will shut by early August, but every employee will be offered a transfer instead of a pink slip. In a strategic trim that spares its workforce, Harris Teeter confirmed it will shutter five supermarkets across three mid‑Atlantic states between July 20 and August 4. The Charlotte‑based grocer, part of Kroger since … Read more

Social Security’s trust fund crisis: New bipartisan plan would invest in markets to save retiree benefits

Senators Bill Cassidy and Tim Kaine propose bipartisan Social Security investment plan with cash and Social Security cards background

New bipartisan blueprint aims to avert a 23 percent benefit cut by redirecting part of the trust fund into stocks and bonds. The Social Security Board of Trustees warns that the Old‑Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) reserve will run dry by 2033, slicing benefits to 77 percent of today’s promise. Senators Bill Cassidy (R‑La.) and Tim Kaine (D‑Va.) think … Read more

Confirmed: A new study reveals that employees who work remotely work 2.5 hours less per day than their office colleagues

Remote employee working from home on a laptop, highlighting flexible work environment

Fresh federal data confirm a yawning productivity gap, raising new questions about the future of flexible work. Office managers who suspected couch‑based coworkers were “working‑ish” were onto something. The latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures show on‑site staff average 7.79 hours per day, while colleagues at home put in just 5.14—a 2.65‑hour shortfall that … Read more

This chain is shaking up the pizza game with an affordable combo meal for $9.99, available nationwide this July

Little Caesars restaurant interior featuring new $9.99 affordable pizza combo meal menu available nationwide starting July

Starting July 7, the pizza chain is bundling fan favorites—think two large pies or a pretzel‑crust combo—for just $9.99, aiming to stay the nation’s go‑to value slice. Little Caesars, ranked America’s most affordable restaurant chain in Datassential’s 2024 report, has launched its nationwide “More for $9.99 Menu.” Each online‑only bundle pairs at least two signature items, giving … Read more

It’official: Four Missouri rural hospitals face closure risks as UNC study details financial strain

Emergency entrance of Scotland County Hospital, one of four rural Missouri hospitals facing closure risks according to UNC study.

UNC‑Chapel Hill researchers warn that facilities in Sedalia, Memphis, Bonne Terre and Lexington meet federal “at‑risk” criteria, threatening already limited rural care options. Rural Missourians could soon travel farther for emergencies. The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research has flagged four Show‑Me State hospitals after finding either extreme Medicaid dependence or three straight years of … Read more

Say goodbye to monthly pension payments: Social Security reserves will run out sooner than expected if the government doesn’t act

U.S. Capitol building with Social Security cards and dollar bills symbolizing federal benefits and financial assistance.

Millions of current and future retirees face smaller monthly benefits unless Congress acts soon. Social Security’s latest annual reckoning brings unsettling news: the 2025 Trustees Report projects that the Old‑Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund will run dry in 2034—one year earlier than forecast. If lawmakers stay on the sidelines, only about 81 percent of … Read more

Official: White House moves to bar undocumented immigrants from dozens of benefit programs

Donald Trump announcing restrictions barring undocumented immigrants from White House benefit programs.

New rules would shut out an estimated 1.4 million people from Medicaid and more than 15 other federal assistance programs, a shift the administration says will save $40 billion and curb fraud. The White House on Thursday unveiled sweeping restrictions designed to keep undocumented immigrants from tapping taxpayer‑funded aid. Officials say the changes—part of President Donald Trump’s … Read more

Free crullers for the first 100 early birds: The popular New York café opens today in Harvard Square

People gathered outside the newly opened Daily Provisions café in Harvard Square, Cambridge, enjoying opening-day specials.

Crullers, natural wine, and a dinner combining flavors from Somerville and Cambridge headline a tasty mid-summer week in the Boston metropolitan area. New Yorkers are already fans of Danny Meyer’s Daily Provisions. Now Boston is taking the first step: the all-day café opens today, Monday, July 21, at 1 Brattle Square in Harvard Square, offering … Read more

The favorite vintage burger joint returns to Cherry Hill with its iconic Fixin’s Bar and family-oriented dining experience

People lining up at Roy Rogers vintage burger restaurant reopening in Cherry Hill with American flag waving above

After three decades away, the cowboy‑themed brand is saddling up again, betting that today’s diners crave customization and family‑style warmth the industry heavyweights no longer deliver. Roy Rogers Restaurants—once a 650‑unit force—officially reopened this week in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, marking its first Garden State location since the early ’90s. The company says the store … Read more

Confirmed: Trump blames animal welfare laws for causing an increase in the price of cage-free eggs

Donald Trump standing in front of cage-free eggs, referencing lawsuit against California animal welfare laws affecting egg prices.

The former president argues California’s cage‑free standards push egg prices higher nationwide, while the state says the lawsuit is political theater. Former President Donald Trump has taken California to court, claiming the state’s cage‑free egg rules inflate grocery bills across the country. The clash pits economic concerns against animal‑welfare standards and could reshape the national … Read more

Goodbye to old engines: a small electric motor has been created with enough power to change the automotive industry forever

Koenigsegg electric motor with peak power of 500 kW and torque of 1,100 Nm, designed for automotive innovation.

Koenigsegg’s new Quark engine is shaking up the automotive industry with its compact design and impressive performance. This electric motor is pushing boundaries—redefining size, power, and what’s possible in car engineering. Sweden has once again proven its innovation in the automotive world with the launch of the Quark engine. Developed by Koenigsegg, this small but … Read more

The closure of the Tyson Fresh Meats plant leaves more than 800 workers unemployed: unemployment continues to rise in this Kansas city

Tyson Fresh Meats sign outside Kansas plant following 2025 closure that left 800 Emporia workers unemployed

Emporia unemployment spikes after Tyson plant closureCity jobless rate climbs to 5.7 percent in May, topping Kansas average. Emporia’s economic shock is now visible in the numbers. According to the Kansas Department of Labor’s May 2025 labor report, the city’s unemployment rate leaped to 5.7 percent, nearly double the 3 percent recorded a year earlier and well above the … Read more

Official: Summer gas prices across the US hit lowest levels in four years— some states still pay more

Person refueling a car at a gas station during lowest US summer gas prices in four years

Relief at the pump greets vacationers nationwide as the national average slips to $3.16, yet drivers in California and Hawaii continue to fork out more than $4.45 a gallon. Families mapping a July getaway finally have some breathing room. AAA data show the average price dipped to $3.14 at the start of the month and has hovered near $3.17 … Read more