Economy

Green card holders face tighter health rules, new remittance tax under Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’

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U.S. green card held against an American flag, illustrating tighter health subsidies and new 1 % remittance fee under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

Millions of immigrants could soon pay higher health and money‑transfer costs after the president’s bill cleared Congress on July 4. The measure trims federal help, adds a 1 percent fee on cash sent abroad, and steers billions to immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump’s newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) brings sweeping changes for lawful permanent residents and other … Read more

Confirmed: Georgia begins sending up to $500 tax refunds this summer

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Illustration of a Georgia Taxpayers check symbolizing up to $500 state tax refund, set against a U.S. flag backdrop.

Refunds authorized by House Bill 112 are rolling out in batches from June through August, promising a timely boost for hundreds of thousands of Georgia taxpayers. Georgia’s record‑large surplus—about $11 billion—has allowed Governor Brian Kemp and the Department of Revenue (DOR) to launch a fresh refund worth up to $500 per filer. Payments labeled “GASTTAXRFD” are already landing in … Read more

It’s official: Retirees will continue to lose part of their Social Security benefits through 2025 in these 9 states

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Red Social Security file tab among folders symbolizing retiree benefit records still taxed in nine states through 2025

Millions of retirees rely on every dollar of their monthly check; these holdout states still want a slice. For the 62 million Americans drawing retirement benefits, the math feels simple: you paid in, you cash out. Yet nine states—Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia—will continue treating those benefits as taxable income in … Read more

It`s official: Costco is offering 8 exclusive member benefits at no extra cost — and hardly anyone is using them

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Shoppers inside a Costco warehouse browsing aisles under a banner promoting Costco.com home delivery service

Lifetime tire service, 2 percent cash back, and early‑morning access are just a few advantages hiding behind the membership card. Costco’s $60 basic membership already delivers rock‑bottom prices on bulk staples and those famous $1.50 hot‑dog combos. Yet thousands of shoppers still leave money on the table by skipping benefits that come at no extra cost. … Read more

Federal Reserve data confirms it: The 10 degrees that lead to the lowest starting salaries in the US

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Exterior of the U.S. Federal Reserve building with seal, related to lowest-paying college degree data

New Fed data spotlights the degrees most likely to keep entry‑level paychecks stuck below the national median. You worked hard for that diploma—but is it going to cover the rent? A fresh analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, using 2023 wage data, reveals that ten popular majors send full‑time graduates into the labor … Read more

Check your Florida SNAP date for July 2025: payments began on July 1

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SNAP benefits sign at authorized retailer for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Benefits will arrive between July 1 and July 28—but only on the day tied to your case number’s 9th and 8th digits. Florida’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) follows a strict calendar. The state reloads EBT cards on 28 different days, so neighbors with similar circumstances can still get money weeks apart. Knowing your exact deposit date lets you … Read more

Say goodbye to high bills – this silent rooftop wind turbine powers your home for free

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Close-up of LIAM F1 silent rooftop wind turbine with blue helical blades against clear sky

The LIAM F1 turns quiet, low‑level breezes into electricity, offering homeowners a sharp alternative—or companion—to solar panels. A new chapter in the Netherlands’ long romance with wind power is unfolding over city roofs. The LIAM F1, a 1.5‑meter‑wide helical turbine weighing under 100 kg, captures 5 m/s winds and converts up to 88 percent into … Read more

Portland’s food scene is changing: four popular businesses will revamp their weekend plans due to major changes

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Collage of Portland food changes: Orange Julius closure, detained vineyard worker, Euzumeh pop-up, Hunnymilk relocation

From the swan song of a downtown stalwart to the next chapter for a brunch favorite, here’s what’s changing and why it matters. Portland’s food scene has changed, with four beloved businesses making changes that will shake up residents and revamp weekend plans. Closures, comebacks, and community gatherings were announced on the calendar from June … Read more

Supermarket chain praised for its low prices opens new store in Springfield: they will expand nationwide

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BJ's Wholesale Club storefront with red signage and curbside pickup at Springfield location

The warehouse club, praised by loyalists as “better than Costco,” will return to its Massachusetts roots this winter—sparking hundreds of jobs and signaling a coast‑to‑coast building spree. BJ’s Wholesale Club will anchor the new Springfield Crossing shopping center on Boston Road, reviving the long‑shuttered Eastfield Mall site and hiring 100‑150 employees. The winter‑2025 debut marks the Marlborough‑based chain’s … Read more

A woman works for 35 years in Social Security and now her financial future hangs in the balance thanks to Trump

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Woman looks out from doorway, concerned about federal retirement cuts after 35 years of Social Security service

House measure would scrap the special FERS supplement, trimming thousands of dollars from longtime employees’ expected income. For Michele Santa Maria, who spent 35 years guiding Social Security claimants through red tape, the promise of a full pension plus a bridge payment from 57 to 62 made the long days worthwhile. Now that bridge is cracking. A … Read more

Goodbye to trust funds: Medicare and Social Security will cut benefits if reforms are not approved by 2033-2034

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Medicare health insurance card with dollar bills, symbolizing upcoming benefit cuts and funding shortfalls by 2033–2034

Federal trustees warn that the nation’s two cornerstone safety‑net programs are on a faster collision course with insolvency than anyone hoped. Their June 18, 2025 report says Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be emptied in 2033—three years earlier than last year’s outlook—while the combined Social Security retirement and disability funds reach zero in 2034. Millions of retirees, workers, and … Read more

This $2 bill could be any collector’s dream and be in your home: it’s worth up to $20,000

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Rare $2 bills with unique serial numbers under magnifying glass

Millions of two‑dollar bills remain in circulation, but savvy collectors will pay five figures for the rarest—sometimes as much as $20,000 for a single pristine note. Anyone with an old wallet, a forgotten lockbox, or a parent’s dresser drawer could hit the mini‑lottery. Why? Because the small details on a humble $2 bill can turn … Read more

It’s official: the United States needs to sell more than 104 million hectares of public land: this is the largest auction in modern history

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Logos of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service over a federal grassland targeted for public land auction

The Senate has green‑lit the biggest divestiture of federal land in modern U.S. history, ordering the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to auction up to 104.4 million hectares across 11 western states. Lawmakers say the revenue—an estimated $29 billion between 2025 and 2034—will help fund promised tax cuts and speed new housing construction. … Read more

SNAP benefits of up to $292 reach EBT cards June 22-28—see if your state is on the list

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Map of the United States with June 2025 calendar and SNAP benefits logo indicating EBT deposit dates

Up to $292 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will land on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards between June 22 and June 28, closing out June payments for nine states and Puerto Rico. June’s last round of food‑stamp money is almost here. Recipients in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and other participating areas have just … Read more

The summer SNAP program and SUN Bucks could help families: now you can get up to $656 more

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Grocery bag labeled ‘Summer’ with fresh produce beside a SNAP-logo notebook, symbolizing Summer SNAP and SUN Bucks benefits worth up to $656.

Millions of low‑income households can stretch their grocery dollars this June, July, and August thanks to higher SNAP allotments and the return of SUN Bucks. Together, the programs may deliver as much as $656 to a family of two—and even more to larger households—right when kids are home and food bills spike. The USDA now sets … Read more

Missed student-loan bills? Act fast to prevent up to 15 percent of your wages being seized

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Man in a suit pointing beside a U.S. Department of Education sign at 400 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, D.C.

Rising living costs make missed student‑loan payments riskier than ever, and the government can now dock up to 15 percent of your take‑home pay without a court hearing. What can borrowers do to stay solvent? If you fall behind on federal student loans, the Department of Education can launch Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) after giving just … Read more

TSCL flags risk to 2026 COLA raise: what to expect in 2026

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United States Capitol flanked by American flags with “Cost of Living in USA” and The Senior Citizens League logo, illustrating TSCL’s warning about a modest 2026 Social Security COLA.

Millions of retirees may see only a slight bump in monthly checks next year, and some advocates warn it still won’t keep pace with rising prices. A preliminary forecast from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) pegs the 2026 cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) at 2.5 percent, nudging up from last month’s 2.4 percent outlook. If the projection holds, the … Read more

Confirmed: The $333 payment to beneficiaries of the Blue Cross Blue Shield contract is still on track for summer, and many have already received it

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina sign outside the insurer’s headquarters, symbolizing the ongoing $333 settlement payments to beneficiaries.

Checks tied to a $2.67 billion antitrust deal are finally landing in mailboxes—are you on the list? Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) policyholders who filed a claim by November 5, 2021 are seeing an average $333 payout, closing a lawsuit that accused the insurer of squeezing competition and inflating premiums. After years of appeals, the first wave of checks … Read more

Confirmed: the promised payment of $5,000 in “DOGE” never materialized, was never funded, and was never viable

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Red “no” symbol over a fake $5,000 DOGE check in front of the U.S. Capitol, with a fan of $100 bills, illustrating the debunked congressional payment hoax.

The much‑touted payout turned out to be another internet mirage, leaving would‑be recipients empty‑handed. Social media has been buzzing for months about a supposed $5,000 “DOGE check” that would be mailed to every U.S. household. The rumor, amplified by high‑profile tech voices and a handful of populist politicians, promised windfalls from alleged federal “efficiency” savings. … Read more

Social Security confirms 2.5 million back payments sent—find out whether yours is on the way

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Hand holds Social Security card outside SSA office as agency issues 2.5 million retroactive benefit payments.

Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state and local workers can now reclaim benefits lost under the old WEP and GPO rules. Nearly four months after the Social Security Fairness Act took effect, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says it has already deposited more than 2.5 million one‑time retroactive payments into Americans’ bank accounts. The checks … Read more