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10/19/26 – HAWAIʻI CLIMATE REBATE FINDER HELPS RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES SAVE ON UPGRADES

JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR RYAN K.P. KANAKAʻOLE CHAIRPERSON HAWAIʻI CLIMATE REBATE FINDER HELPS RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES SAVE ON UPGRADES HONOLULU – Hawaiʻi households and local businesses now have a direct way to keep more money in their accounts and avoid missing out on valuable financial incentives. The Hawaiʻi State Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation […]

Oct 19 • 6:10 PM EDT • Business • dlnr.hawaii.gov

New Debit Card Coming for Military’s Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts

Military households became eligible for federal tax-advantaged health care FSAs in 2025.

Oct 19 • 4:20 PM EDT • Health • military.com

Retail price impacts from the Iran war are uneven but add up for US households before midterms

High fuel prices are making it more expensive to drive, fly and buy some goods more than seven months into the U.S.-Iran war.

Oct 17 • 3:24 AM EDT • Politics • clickondetroit.com

Wildfires, heat, food insecurity, lack of medical care affect Californians’ health: UCLA survey

Nearly 30% of LA County adults said they or members of their households experienced wildfires during the previous two years, up from 6.6% in the previous survey.

Oct 15 • 7:16 PM EDT • Health • dailynews.com

Heart doctor: Healthy school meals are heart health policy

Right now, far too many Virginia children lack consistent access to the food they need to grow, learn and thrive. The 2026 Virginia Hunger Study found that one in two (51%) Virginia households with…

Oct 15 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • cardinalnews.org

NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say

In some upstate communities, officials say entire households have been found to be infected.

Oct 14 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • gothamist.com

Laurel County Health Department investigation reveals over 50 reported cases of measles

The new reported cases are part of an investigation with the Kentucky Department of Public Health and are linked to several large households with limited community interaction.

Oct 13 • 6:54 PM EDT • Health • wymt.com

Iowa Economy recap: AI lifts economic growth amid higher costs

The national economy is growing, bolstered by investments in AI, but the benefits are uneven. High fuel costs, inflation and weak income growth are weighing on many households and businesses. On the latest episode of the Iowa Economy Podcast, two national economists joined to discuss the state of the national economy and how it is…

Oct 9 • 7:00 AM EDT • Business • businessrecord.com

How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy

Hey all, Jason here. Money20/20 is still two weeks away, but I’ve already started packing (not procrastinating for once!). My calendar is already filling up with various sessions I want to catch, meetings, and of course happy hours, dinners, and other side events. If you’ll be in Vegas and want to catch up, let me know by replying to this email, and we can try to find a time amidst the chaos of the Venetian. A big if not totally unexpected piece of news dropped on Friday: the Independent Community Bankers of America, a trade group that represents smaller U.S. banks, filed a lawsuit against the OCC and Comptroller Jonathan Gould, arguing that the regulator’s move to grant trust bank charters to firms seeking to use them to conduct substantial non-fiduciary activities exceeds the authorities granted to the OCC by Congress. I haven’t had time to fully digest the legal filing or speak to folks in my network about it, but you can expect to see coverage and analysis on it in next week’s newsletter. Subscribe or Support by Upgrading The NerdCon agenda just dropped. It’s stacked. Partner content: Nubank built an AI-first bank. Chime built its own banking core. Figure and Valon are rebuilding the mortgage stack. At NerdCon, you’ll hear from the people behind those bets: what they chose, what they learned, and what they’re still figuring out. The agenda is live, with leaders from Nubank, Chime, OpenAI, Remitly, Mercury, Figure, Valon and more. Follow the mainstage conversations, bring the problem your team is wrestling with to a hands-on workshop, or pull up a chair at a roundtable. Pick your quests. Meet us in San Diego, November 18–20. Fintech Business Weekly readers save 20% with code FBW20. Explore the Agenda Things To Know & Other Good Reads Federal Reserve Board finalizes changes to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its stress test and reduce volatility in its stress test-related capital requirements (Federal Reserve Board of Governors) FDIC Announces Conclusion of Independent Monitorship (FDIC) Modernizing Financial Regulation: Initial Observations from eSLR (Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman) The Data Version of Godzilla versus Kong: FRED Takes on AI (Fed Governor Christopher Waller) Financing the AI buildout (Brookings) Q3’26: Rules for Banks but Not for Crypto (Fintech Takes Banking) The Inevitability of Local Stablecoins (Lombard Notes) Delusions of AI Governance: The Human-in-the-Loop Comfort Blanket (Fintech Snark Tank) Stripe agrees to acquire Parafin to expand revenue opportunities for platforms and help small businesses grow (Stripe) Listen: Fighting Fraud in the Age of AI, with SEON’s Tamas Kadar (Fintech Business Weekly) How Americans’ Financial Health Is Faring In The “K-Shaped” Economy If there is one overarching theme across the economy and politics in the U.S. at the moment, it’s “affordability.” The term is vague enough to encompass a panoply of factors shaping Americans’ day-to-day lives: rising costs for the hallmarks of being “middle class,” including healthcare, housing, childcare, and education, inflation and rising interest rates, and a job market with the specter of AI hovering over it. At the same time, policy shifts under the Trump administration have resulted in reduced subsidies to those who get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act and new restrictions on qualifying for Medicaid and SNAP, the impacts of which have yet to be fully felt. These factors are contributing to declining consumer confidence and general dissatisfaction with the economy, despite continuing GDP growth and stock market records. This divergence is encapsulated in the idea of the “K-shaped” economy, in which a small proportion of Americans have seen their wealth balloon, while the majority of American households struggle to preserve the lifestyle they have. Perhaps the greatest determinant of which branch of the “K” a household is on is whether their wealth and income are primarily derived from employment vs. from assets. Nearly two decades of low interest rates and, more recently, elevated rates of inflation have benefited asset owners, while those whose income is primarily or solely derived from labor have largely seen real purchasing power stagnate or decline. This is reflected in recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that labor share of U.S. GDP — the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor — dropped to just 52.8% in Q2 2026, the lowest since the BLS began keeping records. In 1947, approximately 2/3rds of economic output accrued to workers; even as recently as 2001, labor’s share of GDP was 64.1%. Against this backdrop, we’ve seen the rise of more credit and credit-like products: cash advance apps, “no-fee” overdraft, earned wage access, and buy now pay later, which are often used as small-dollar short-term borrowing mechanisms to meet immediate consumption needs or pay other bills (eg utilities, cell phone, other debt payments). With the markers of a middle class existence and, increasingly, basic financial stability seemingly out of reach for many, it should be no surprise there’s been an increase in “financial nihilism,” something industry peers like Alex Johnson and Frank Rotman have discussed and analyzed the roots of. The explosion of gambling and gambling-adjacent products and services — often marketed under the guise of being an “investment” — is inextricably intertwined with the rise of financial nihilism. Crypto, sports betting, and, more recently, prediction markets offer an escape or even hope of sorts, like a contemporary, digital version of a scratch-off lottery ticket, while leaving the overwhelming number of people who use such products worse off. Share of Households That Are Financially “Vulnerable” Ticks Up The Financial Health Network’s 2026 Financial Health Pulse® report adds context on how American households are faring. (I linked to this report in last week’s newsletter, but wanted to take time to further unpack the data in the report this week.) The Financial Health Network publishes the report annually, providing insight into how Americans’ financial circumstances are changing over time. The 2026 report is derived from a survey fielded in April and May 2026. The report leverages survey responses to assess indicators of financial health across spending, saving, borrowing, and planning/protecting and to determine a zero to 100 “FinHealth” score. Those with scores between 0 and 39 are considered “Financially Vulnerable,” consumers with scores ranging between 40 and 79 are defined as “Financially Coping,” and those with scores of 80 to 100 are “Financially Healthy.” The report found that moderate improvements in 2025 were reversed, with the share of respondents considered financially “vulnerable” rebounding to 17%. The longitudinal data reflect the impact of pandemic-era programs, like expanded unemployment, cash stimulus payments, and pauses of federal student loan payments. The positive impacts of those programs, as reflected in the Financial Health Pulse reports, had largely disappeared by 2023. While pandemic-era inflation — to be fair, in part caused by the various support and stimulus measures — had come down from as high as 9% in 2022, it has rebounded since the start of Trump’s second term, with tariffs and energy market disruptions owing to the war in Iran pushing prices back up. Specific indicators in the survey that deteriorated from 2025 to 2026 include the share of respondents spending less than their income over the past 12 months, the share paying all bills on time over the past 12 months, the share that have a manageable amount or no debt, the share that are “moderately” or “very” confident their insurance is adequate to cover them in an emergency, and the share that “somewhat” or “strongly” agree that their household plans ahead financially. Unsurprisingly, lower- and moderate-income households are more likely to struggle to pay their bills on time and have any funds leftover to save. The share of low-income households whose income exceeded their spending dropped from 35% in 2025 to 31% in 2026, while the share of upper-income households whose income exceeded expenses remained unchanged at 63%. Households with student loans or revolving credit card debt reported having “a bit more” or “far more” debt than was manageable at rates far higher than those not carrying these types of debts. The share of those with student loan debt indicating their debt load was too high to manage increased from 50% in 2025 to 55% in 2026, while the share of those with revolving credit card debt saying the same ticked up from 51% in 2025 to 54% in 2026. Households that had student loans were markedly more likely to be financially “coping” or “vulnerable” vs. those without student loans. In 2026, 27% of households with student loans were considered financially vulnerable, a jump of 6% points vs. 2025. Households without student loans saw just a 1% point increase (not statistically significant) in those considered financially vulnerable. Households’ perception of the affordability of categories of goods and services paints a stark picture, with less than one-fourth considering higher education affordable, about a third deeming childcare affordable, and less than half viewing healthcare as affordable. Fintech Business Weekly is made possible by the generous support of paying subscribers — bringing you independent analysis of banking, fintech, and crypto without fear or favor. You can support my work by becoming a paying subscriber if you aren’t already. Paying subscribers enjoy: access to the entire archive of nearly six years of newsletters extended versions of the weekly newsletter, with additional content and analysis and (for founding member tier) quarterly personal 1:1 fintech Q&A / strategy calls with me, tapping into my unparalleled knowledge of the intersection of banking and fintech and experience working in the sector, including helping to launch Goldman Sachs’ retail bank Marcus Support Fintech Business Weekly You can also support Fintech Business Weekly by sponsoring a newsletter or podcast, putting you in front of 93,000+ of the most influential decision makers in banking, fintech, and crypto. Learn more about sponsor opportunities or request a media kit by dropping me an email. Democratic Senate Report Highlights How Iran Uses Tether to Evade U.S. Sanctions Iran uses stablecoins, specifically Tether, to evade sanctions, fund regional proxies, and to purchase military drones, a report released last week by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says. The report was authored by committee ranking member Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and the minority staff. Crypto and stablecoin proponents will often push back on criticism that criminals make use of these assets by arguing that, on an absolute dollar basis, far more illicit funds flow through traditional banking systems and payment rails than via crypto and stablecoins. And while that is likely true, it elides the reality presented in news story after news story: whether state actors — Russia, Iran, North Korea — or criminal groups, those looking to engage in illicit transactions increasingly favor stablecoins and, specifically, Tether (USDT). The report from the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations released last week adds context to how Iran uses Tether has a lynchpin in its shadow banking system. The report analyzed 846 wallets that have been sanctioned or targeted for seizure, finding that 84% of them transacted exclusively or primarily in Tether. The ability to create near limitless, anonymous wallets and to move funds effectively instantaneously and irreversibly have made crypto a favored financial mechanism for bad actors. Stablecoins solved key drawbacks of bitcoin, namely, the original cryptocurrency’s highly volatile value in dollars. And while Tether (the company) has the technical ability to “freeze” or destroy funds, the company is often limited and reactive in its approach to doing so, the Senate report argues. Tether, which is nominally based in crypto-friendly El Salvador, “has stated that its compliance with OFAC sanctions is ‘voluntary’ and that it follows ‘OFAC guidelines,’” the Senate report says. Owing to these favorable attributes, Tether “became a primary cryptocurrency for Iran, Hamas, Hizballah, and the Houthis beginning in 2023 and has expanded in scale since,” according to the report. Tether’s role in Iran’s shadow banking system, the report says, is enhanced by crypto exchanges like Bybit, Kyrrex, OKX, Gate, and Binance, and through “over the counter” exchanges and hawala networks. The consequences of these financial flows aren’t hypothetical. The Senate report links Tether as a funds transfer mechanism to Iranian proxies in the region, including Hizballah, the Houthis, and Hamas. Tether has also been used to make payments to secure components necessary to manufacture drones, the report says. The report concludes by arguing that “[s]tablecoin issuers with a significant nexus to the United States, particularly those that offer dollar-denominated stablecoins, should be subject to American sanctions law rather than being allowed to hide behind foreign jurisdictions.” Stablecoin issuers like Tether must be held accountable for repeated failures to prevent illicit finance and sanctions violations by law enforcement, the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and OFAC, the report argues. [Paying Subscriber Exclusive] OUSD Goes Live, Make Your Own Neobank, U.S. Sanctions Russia’s A7 Network As “Transnational Criminal Organization” OpenUSD, the stablecoin issued by the Open Standard consortium that includes Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, core providers, crypto firms, and numerous banks, went live last week. Social commerce platform Whop raised eyebrows in fintech by offering creators on its platform the ability to launch their own neobanks, which the company describes as “great businesses that are easy to run,” in just 15 minutes. And OFAC and FinCEN target Russia’s “shadow banking” A7 Network — more on these stories after the paywall.

Oct 4 • 8:59 AM EDT • Health • fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com

More than one thousand Maine immigrants to lose Medicaid on Oct. 1

More than a thousand immigrants in Maine will lose their health insurance starting Oct. 1, due to Medicaid eligibility changes passed through President Donald Trump’s 2025 budget law. H.R. 1 made significant cuts to the national health insurance program that millions of low-income households rely on, removing certain groups of immigrants, as well as adding […]

Oct 1 • 4:49 AM EDT • Health • mainemorningstar.com

In Galveston, demand for affordable Cooling is high, but resources are few

Nearly 600 households in Galveston lack any air conditioning, and many others struggle to afford to use it.

Sep 30 • 5:52 PM EDT • Health • houstonpublicmedia.org

With no FEMA funding, program supporting LA fire victims set to sunset

Since the fires, CORE has helped 904 households, has hundreds of active cases it’s working on, and hundreds more on a wait list

Sep 29 • 7:53 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

With no FEMA funding, program supporting LA fire victims set to sunset

Since the fires, CORE has helped 904 households, has hundreds of active cases it’s working on, and hundreds more on a wait list

Sep 29 • 7:53 PM EDT • Politics • spectrumlocalnews.com

One-third of Americans with health insurance carry medical debt — and nearly half owe $2,000 or more

For millions of insured Americans, a medical emergency can still become a financial crisis that can push households to sacrifice food, rent and future care.

Sep 26 • 6:30 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Reducing the $2T federal deficit could lower inflation, interest rates for Americans: CRFB

Curbing the federal government's roughly $2 trillion budget deficit could lower inflation and current interest rates for households, a CRFB report finds.

Sep 24 • 6:21 PM EDT • Business • foxbusiness.com

Maine’s Office of Affordable Health Care seeks public input

Mainers are encouraged to attend the Office of Affordable Health Care’s annual public hearing this week to share their experiences of navigating today’s healthcare system.Surveys show nearly half of Maine households have taken on medical debt in the past two years and the majority point to hospital-based services like surgeries or emergency care as the

Sep 21 • 4:27 PM EDT • Health • mainebeacon.com

Maine program offers help to those at risk of eviction

To qualify, households must be renters in Maine, be at risk of eviction, owe no more than $9,600 and have household income at or below 60% of area median income.

Sep 21 • 9:39 AM EDT • Business • spectrumlocalnews.com

Texas senior citizens could be leaving health benefits on the table

Almost 5% of Texas households are multigenerational, meaning grandparents, parents and children live together.

Sep 21 • 1:00 AM EDT • Health • grahamleader.com

6 Ways to Manage Your Healthcare Costs

Rent. Groceries. Utilities. A car payment. Most households know what these expenses cost each month and plan for them accordingly. Healthcare is different. Unlike a fixed monthly bill, healthcare costs can vary from month to month. One month may include only a routine checkup. The next could bring a specialist visit, a new prescription, or an unexpected trip to urgent care.

Sep 21 • 12:01 AM EDT • Health • mainebiz.biz

Google's new 'CC' is an AI agent that helps families run their households

Google is refocusing its CC AI agent on household coordination, letting families share emails, schedules, and tasks so the AI can manage calendars, fill out forms, make shopping lists, plan meals, and more.

Sep 18 • 1:33 PM EDT • Technology • techcrunch.com

The Next Chapter: The unseen cost at the pump

Rising gas prices strain single-parent households, forcing families to cut groceries and essentials as fuel costs consume over 4% of income.

Sep 18 • 7:28 AM EDT • Business • bizjournals.com

Christian County Health Department Offers Personalized Emergency Plans

September is Emergency Preparedness Month, and the Christian County Health Department (CCHD) is helping residents prepare before severe weather or another emergency occurs. CCHD Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Ellen, is offering to create personalized emergency plans for area households. Residents can call the health department at […]

Sep 16 • 10:19 AM EDT • Health • taylorvilledailynews.com

How Quincy and Hannibal Households Budget for Entertainment

Across West-Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the way people spend a free evening rarely follows a script. A Quincy resident might grab tickets to a show at the Oakley-Lindsay Center one weekend, then spend the next weekend keeping things low-key at home. A Hannibal couple might split the difference — dinner downtown on Friday, then...

Sep 14 • 9:33 AM EDT • Entertainment • muddyrivernews.com

America In Focus: inflation accelerated in August, home sales weaken and diesel prices soar

The economy, inflation and how those forces could impact the lives of Americans were front and center over the past week. Trips to the grocery store and gas station are more painful than they were last year, and rising costs are impacting the decisions of both households and businesses.

Sep 12 • 10:13 AM EDT • Business • wral.com

A data center in Denmark gives away heat that data centers often waste. It runs water from the city's heating network through its cooling units and into heat pumps that raise it enough to fill the radiators of 11,000 homes

As data centers consume ever more power, one facility in Denmark shows how to turn a costly cooling problem into a heating solution for thousands of households.

Sep 7 • 2:00 PM EDT • Science • scienceblog.com

Erie organizations, businesses rally together to help those impacted by storm

Throughout the devastating damage, one positive thing remains true: the people of Erie will always be there for each other. With hundreds of households left without power, organizations across the …

Sep 4 • 4:48 PM EDT • Business • yourerie.com

Israel's water crisis eases, but algae bloom still threatens desalination

Israel's Water Authority said supplies to households and agriculture have stabilized through controlled desalination, increased flows from the Sea of Galilee and hundreds of groundwater wells, but it gave no estimate for when the algae bloom will subside

Sep 4 • 7:41 AM EDT • Science • haaretz.com

Israel's water crisis eases, but algae bloom still threatens desalination

The Water Authority said supplies to households and agriculture have stabilized through controlled desalination, increased flows from the Sea of Galilee and hundreds of groundwater wells, but it gave no estimate for when the algae bloom will subside

Sep 4 • 7:41 AM EDT • Science • haaretz.com

Bessent says disorderly yen moves can destabilize global markets

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said disorderly moves in the yen could trigger "forced unwinds" of positions that risk destabilizing global markets and ultimately raising ​borrowing costs for U.S. households and businesses.

Aug 29 • 12:46 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com

The Literacy Crisis Reaches Dog-Bear Science

“New analysis of more than 300 bear encounters suggests our canine companions often increase odds of conflict and rarely serve as early warning systems many recreationists assume,” reads a subhead in Mountain Journal. The thing is, that study reaches no such conclusion. But you have to read beyond the abstract to understand that. Mountain Journal is not alone. Let’s look at a brief list of takeaways published elsewhere just to establish that none of them seem to know how to read science. Wes Siler’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe Here’s CBC: “A new peer-reviewed study, The Canine Conundrum: Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country?, dug into conflicts similar to what the video depicts, by analyzing 326 reported human-bear conflicts from 1901 to 2023 involving dogs.” “The study found 54 per cent of conflicts were started by dogs. In the encounters researchers included in the study, five people and 56 dogs were killed, and 170 people were injured.” “Lana Ciarniello, an independent researcher who co-authored the study, said researchers found when a person goes hiking with at least one other person, the odds of a negative bear encounter decrease by 50 per cent.” “However, when a dog is involved, the chances of a negative bear encounter increase because ‘a dog really adds a chaotic factor into the mix of recreation,’ said Ciarniello.” Again, the study finds no data supporting that conclusion. “Hiking with your pet dog may make you feel safer in bear country—but a hiker’s recent encounter and a new study prove that the numbers don’t add up,” writes Backpacker, which is now part of Outside. The numbers don’t add up to support this take. There’s plenty more examples, but all are equally dumb, so I’ll stop there. How did so many people get this so wrong? Three reasons: 1) the study is published behind a paywall, with only the abstract freely available. 2) the methodology sets out to create work relevant to a hyper-specific audience, not the public. And 3) the dataset studied is almost absurdly limited and doesn’t bear (get it?!) comparison to wider information. Let’s work through all three. The Problem is Money I understand the irony, since I’m writing about this on a subscription-model newsletter, but information wants to be free. The study is published by The Wildlife Society and costs $16 to access. Reprinting it is specifically prohibited by the terms of use, so I can only share snippets and my conclusions with you here. Having worked as a journalist for 24 years, I can report with some authority that journalists are both lazy and cheap. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that much of the material you’re seeing written about this study is drawn from the freely-available abstract (above) only, and not a deep dive into its methodology or data. And that’s a problem, because abstracts are where researchers are able to break from their numbers and editorialize their opinions about conclusions. So what’s getting reported isn’t based on numbers, it’s based on an opinion designed for a specific audience, not the general public. Hell yeah ladies, kick that bear’s ass. The Methodology is Designed to Support a Predetermined Conclusion One of the biggest issues with the science that everyone likes to cite about bear spray’s efficacy is that no one understands that study was designed for a specific audience, looking for a specific answer. And since that audience is not the public, and our safety was not the question being asked, its conclusion is rendered irrelevant to our needs. Yes, I’m talking about Efficacy of Bear Deterrent Spray in Alaska, which was created by Tom Smith and Stephen Herrero, two of the same scientists who put together this dog-bear conflict analysis. In the spray study, the purpose was to present relevant agencies with the information they needed to issue their field workers with bear spray. As such, incidents where people were unable to access the spray or similarly failed to get it deployed in time were excluded from the results, and only incidents they deemed successful were included. Could a ranger roll down their vehicle’s window and scare a bear away from a dumpster by spraying it? Turns out the answer was yes, and that was good enough for the purposes of that study. The sample size of actual bear attacks—the thing you and I would want bear spray to provide a solution to, was too small to draw conclusions from, and didn’t indicate success in that role. Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country? has similar limitations. “Insights provided here are intended to help wildlife managers create effective guidelines regarding the presence of domestic dogs in bear habitat,” is explained clearly by the study’s text. To conduct the study, Smith and Herrero went looking for publicly available reports of dog-bear conflicts: “All incidents included in our analysis involved at least one bear, one dog, and one person who was at immediate risk of injury (e.g., not in a protective structure such as a cabin or vehicle), injured, or killed,” explains the report’s methodology. Why is that a problem? “We recognize that data used in this study are biased in that people generally only report adverse interactions with bears, not benign ones. Consequently, we assume that for the most part, people and their dogs pass through bear country without incident.” As was the problem with the bear spray study, people are drawing conclusions here from a study that was never intended to be relevant to the general public. The Smith-Herrero database famously excludes Alaska’s Defense of Life and Property records, which are elsewhere considered the largest and most authoritative source on human-bear conflict. The Dataset is Absurdly Limited A 2009 study conducted by the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife estimates that each year there are at least 43,000 documented complaints of human-bear conflict across North America. Is a Dog a Help or Hindrance in Bear Country? Examined those reports for years ranging from 1901 to 2023, and only managed to find 326 such incidents that met the criteria explained above. Let’s do some quick math, poorly. 43,000 incidents x 122 years = 5,246,000 total incidents of documented human-bear conflict. Smith and Herrero were only able to find 326 incidents that met their criteria for dog+human+bear+risk or occurrence of injury. That means there’s a 0.006 percent chance that the study’s conclusion—that dogs make bear encounters more dangerous—even gets a chance of occurring. And remember, that’s only in documented conflicts. There’s no way to know how many people across North America run into a bear in any given year without any conflict, but it’s probably safe to assume that the total number is well in excess of 43,000. And, dig deeper into the study and you can find further restrictions that skew its conclusions even more. “While the people involved in these incidents did not report the level of training their dogs had received, it is our assumption that most were untrained companion dogs as opposed to well-trained bear dogs, such as Karelians and livestock guardian breeds that have proven to be significant aids in bear country,” the study’s methodology explains. And that’s a problem, because an ongoing study here in Montana is finding that the simple presence of a Kangal like our youngest dog Teddy can reduce visits to private property from grizzly bears by 87.8 percent. In addition to being a badass, Teddy is also a companion animal. And in my admittedly limited sample size of the three dogs currently present in our living room, she’s no more effective than her mutt brothers. Plenty of people own a dog capable of deterring bears, even if they didn’t set out to own a bear dog. The real purpose of this study appears to be a recommendation that leashes are mandated and recreationists pursue training in their deterrent of choice. But that doesn’t make for sensational headlines. Are There Any Real Takeaways Here? Let’s throw some numbers around, just to try and get our hands around what the larger picture might look like for bears and dogs here. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that 42.6 percent of American households own a dog. The Canadian Animal Health Institute says roughly 35 percent of households in Canuckistan own a dog. In an attempt to create the worst possible result for dogs, let’s run with that 35 percent number. And given that outdoorsy and rural people are more likely to both own a dog, and have bear encounters, let’s just make a giant assumption and apply that number to those 43,000 conflicts documented annually. If 35 percent of 43,000 human-bear encounters involve a dog, then we can assume that at least 15,050 dog-bear conflicts are occurring annually in North America. 15,050 x 122 = 1,836,100. Smith and Herrero were only able to find 326 incidents that met their human, dog, chance or occurrence of injury criteria across 122 years. And only 170 documented human injuries. So, with all the obvious caveats about these numbers in no way describing reality beyond narrow study parameters, what they actually found is that your risk of injury if your dog tangles with a bear is only 0.009 percent. I’ll take those odds next time I’m hiking my dogs in bear country. Top photo: “Superintendent Horace Albright, eating pancakes with bears, at Lake Lodge, Yellowstone National Park.” NPS. A journalist with more than two decades of experience working around the world, Wes Siler is here to cut through the outrage and disinformation to bring you the factual, insightful, actionable reporting you need to understand what’s going on. Upgrading to a paid subscription supports this reporting, and buys personal access to Wes, who will help you save money on gear, plan outdoor adventures, and prepare for real life, and who promises he’s less salty in real life than he sometimes comes across as on the Internet. Wes Siler’s Newsletter is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe

Aug 27 • 6:47 PM EDT • Science • wessiler.substack.com

U.S. consumer confidence slipped to a seven-month low as job and business fears grew

The Conference Board's index dropped to 89.4 as households grew more pessimistic about the labor market and business conditions over the next six months

Aug 25 • 1:09 PM EDT • Business • qz.com

Maryland declares measles outbreak in 3 counties

The Maryland Department of Health has declared a measles outbreak in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties, health officials said Monday. The health department said it is investigating 14 confirmed cases among unvaccinated Maryland residents and that most of the case contacts occurred within specific households. Measles is considered highly contagious and can be spread through the air when an…

Aug 24 • 5:43 PM EDT • Health • nbcwashington.com

Amid scorching summer, heat-related health problems spike in New Mexico

About 14% of New Mexico households don't have air conditioning, according to census estimates published earlier this year.

Aug 17 • 12:30 AM EDT • Health • santafenewmexican.com

How extreme weather is becoming a business expense

Extreme weather is creating growing financial challenges for businesses and households as heat waves, storms, wildfires and heavy rain become more disruptive, The New York Times reports. In Chicago, for example, a bakery owner lost inventory and spent $1,700 on dry ice after a storm caused a power outage, while other businesses have faced higher […]

Aug 11 • 10:29 AM EDT • Business • businessreport.com

The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized

Now that Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s open Senate seat, the outcome of this crucial race will depend mainly on two things: Whether Republicans succeed in demonizing El-Sayed because he’s brown and a Muslim, and whether they succeed in demonizing him as a left-wing radical. I will defer for the now the question of whether bigotry will be effective this year, although I will address it another day. What I want to address instead is El-Sayed’s signature issue — healthcare. Yes, El-Sayed advocates Medicare for All, a position the usual suspects denounce as “socialism.” I will get to the politics of his stance soon. Today, however, I want to talk about the substance. We should be clear that El-Sayed doesn’t even call himself a socialist. On the contrary, he explicitly disavows the label, saying “I’m a capitalist who just knows about capitalism”. In fact, as I explained in a previous post, the policies that El-Sayed advocates qualify him as a social democrat, not a socialist. Still, El-Sayed advocates a system under which the government would pay almost all medical expenses. Isn’t that socialism? Well, if that is the criterion then much of U.S. healthcare is already socialist. In fact, the government’s role is so large that U.S. healthcare is better described as partially privatized socialism than as anything resembling a free market. Let’s start with the raw numbers on health insurance, which pays the bulk of Americans’ medical expenses. Americans receive health insurance either from private companies or from public programs, overwhelmingly Medicare and Medicaid. Here’s what the breakdown of coverage and spending between private and public looked like in 2024: While a majority of Americans with health insurance get it from private companies, well over 100 million of us are covered by government programs instead. And these government programs pay more total dollars for medical bills than the private insurers do. Why do government programs that cover a minority of the population account for a majority of health insurers’ outlays? Mainly because Medicare covers seniors, and we’re expensive. Also, while Medicaid covers many younger Americans, disabled and elderly beneficiaries account for most of its spending. Even by the raw numbers, then, U.S. health insurance looks as much public as private. But that understates the government’s role: Private health insurance in the U.S. is both highly regulated and heavily subsidized. This is obviously true for the insurance coverage purchased by tens of millions of Americans through the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act. But employment-based health insurance, which covers 161 million Americans, is far more of a government creation than most people realize. For employment-based insurance exists largely because of huge implicit government subsidies that come with major strings attached. Here’s how that works. If your employer pays you $10,000, that’s taxable income. But if your employer pays $10,000 toward a company health insurance plan that meets certain criteria, it isn’t taxable. That’s a huge effective subsidy, running at more than $300 billion a year. Take that subsidy into account, along with the more than $100 billion per year spent subsidizing policies purchased under the ACA, as well as the outlays on Medicare and Medicaid, and net effect is that the government pays for more than two-thirds of Americans’ health insurance. Granted, there are strings attached. Roughly speaking, employment-based health plans can’t discriminate based on medical history — that is, they can’t deny coverage to employees with pre-existing conditions — and they also can’t offer the plans only to highly compensated employees — a health plan that is only for the C-suite is considered taxable income. So given the restrictions of the federal tax code, employer-based health insurance is a lot like Obamacare, which also prohibits discrimination based on medical history and provides subsidies to make insurance affordable to lower-paid workers. The fact is that virtually all of private healthcare insurance is already well under some form of government control through regulation and tax subsidies. How should we think about this system? First of all, is Medicare socialist? Don’t tell anyone, but the way Medicare operates — it covers every senior’s medical expenses, whatever they turn out to be, while being funded by taxes that depend on one’s income — could be summarized by the old Marxist slogan “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” And back in 1961, when Ronald Reagan was the face of a last-ditch effort by the American Medical Association to block the creation of Medicare, he denounced Medicare as “socialized medicine” and warned that it would destroy our freedom. In reality, American freedom survived until Jan. 20, 2025, while Medicare is immensely popular, with an 82 percent favorable rating in the most recent KFF survey. Medicaid, government health insurance for lower-income Americans, comes in at 73 percent. This is in sharp contrast to public views about private insurers, who are widely disliked if not hated and accused of denying essential care. Furthermore, if Medicare is socialism, then the whole U.S. health insurance system, with the government paying most of the bills and placing conditions on private insurers, is almost equally socialist. If you insist on calling any program the government pays for and regulates socialist, then U.S. healthcare would best be described as a partially privatized form of socialism. And one must ask, what is the point of the part that is privatized? Do private insurers add anything positive? Or are they simply parasites, skimming off money that could have been paying for care? The case for viewing insurers as parasites is strong. Many Medicare benefits are now delivered via Medicare Advantage, that is, plans paid for by the government but run through insurance companies. MedPAC, an independent advisory commission, estimates that last year Medicare Advantage plans were overpaid by $84 billion, thanks to practices such as “upcoding,” in which patients’ health problems are overstated to get larger sums from Medicare. Assessing the waste from employer-based insurance is harder, but most evidence suggests that private insurers have substantially higher administrative costs than Medicare does. Furthermore, the complexity of private insurance, with multiple payers all trying to deny care when they can, is a huge burden both on providers — doctors, nurses, and hospitals — and on patients. What do private insurers offer to compensate for these costs? One must go through intellectual contortions to avoid the conclusion that they are, in fact, parasites. Which brings me back to El-Sayed. In supporting Medicare for All, he’s basically calling for an end to the partial, parasitic privatization of a healthcare system that is already hugely dependent on public funding. When one looks at it that way, it’s not at all a radical proposal. Admittedly, the political lift requires overcoming the opposition to higher taxes to pay for Medicare for All. Political realism rather than economics was the reason I and many other progressives supported Obamacare, with all its complexities, rather than demanding an immediate move to Medicare for All. But the political calculus may very well have shifted since the 2000s, as Americans are fed up with a system of unaffordable premiums, rampant claim denials, and byzantine claim administration. Moreover, funding healthcare insurance through taxation would allow for a much more progressive distribution of the cost. That is, compared to the present system, middle-income households would pay less as high-income households would pay more. And the U.S. would stop wasting large sums on pointless administrative costs. So let’s be clear: El-Sayed’s healthcare platform is perfectly reasonable on the merits of cost, fairness and health efficacy. And with private insurers never more hated, while millions of Americans are losing their health insurance, 2026 may be its time. MUSICAL CODA

Aug 11 • 6:33 AM EDT • Health • paulkrugman.substack.com

Vietnam proposes 30% income tax cut for small firms, business households

Vietnam's government plans to seek parliamentary approval for a ​30% cut in income taxes ‌for small businesses and household businesses with annual revenue of up to 10 ​billion dong ($380,000), as part ​of efforts to support growth, the ⁠government said over the weekend.

Aug 10 • 12:00 AM EDT • Business • reuters.com

This 4,000-year-old city defied the rules of history

As Mohenjo-daro prospered, the gap between its richest and poorest households actually shrank. Its shared infrastructure, fair trade systems, and lack of powerful royal elites suggest that equality may have helped fuel the ancient city’s success.

Jul 30 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com

Louisiana ranks 3rd-highest for food insecure adults. See how other states compare.

Recent data shows over 18 million U.S. households faced food insecurity due to lack of resources, leading to health risks. See the data.

Jul 30 • 5:00 AM EDT • Health • nola.com

Health department rescinds freeze on $10 billion for 5 Democratic states

The reversal of the funding pause came after the administration faced repeated setbacks in a suit challenging the decision, which could have jeopardized programs for low-income households.

Jul 13 • 11:33 PM EDT • Health • seattletimes.com

Health Dept. Rescinds Freeze on $10 Billion for 5 Democratic States

The reversal of the funding pause came after the administration faced repeated setbacks in a suit challenging the decision, which could have jeopardized programs for low-income households.

Jul 13 • 9:57 PM EDT • Health • nytimes.com

OpenAI bets on families as ChatGPT goes deeper into households

ChatGPT is hiring a dedicated product manager to build experiences for families, caregivers, and older adults, according to a job posting.

Jul 11 • 10:13 AM EDT • Technology • techcrunch.com

Media Release: Financial Worries Rise and Match Health Concerns as Cost-of-Living Pressures Mount in 2026

MUNICH, July 06, 2026--Households around the world are feeling the strain of the rising cost of living, with financial pressure increasingly shaping everyday choices and long-term confidence. Finances and health are now tied as the top global worries, at 48% each, followed by concerns about the future at 35%, according to consumer surveys in 10 countries published in "The Allianz 3am Report 2026."

Jul 6 • 4:00 AM EDT • Health • finance.yahoo.com

Governor Moore Announced Energy Assistance To Lower Utility Bills for 200,000 Maryland Households, Wrote On How To Improve Young Men’s Mental Health, Applauded SCOTUS Decision To Uphold Birthright Citizenship, And A Local Farmer Said ‘Gov. Moore Takes Action For Farmers’

This past week, Governor Wes Moore announced energy assistance programs to help lower utility bills for 200,000 Maryland households, published an opinion piece on how to improve young men’s mental health, applauded the SCOTUS decision to uphold birthright citizenship, and a local farmer applauded his work to secure a USDA Secretarial Disaster Declaration. Governor Moore […]

Jul 3 • 11:42 AM EDT • Health • wesmoore.com

Federal Reserve Chair Warsh emphasizes political independence, signals focus on inflation

In remarks at a central bank conference in Sintra, Portugal, Warsh said that if businesses or households thought the Fed would accept inflation above 2%, “I guess they'd be disappointed. We're going to deliver price stability.”

Jul 1 • 12:20 PM EDT • Politics • pbs.org

US cooking oil market shrinking due to Ice pressures on Latino households, Mazola owner says

Economic squeeze and anti-immigration raids have hit Hispanic communities, prompting people to shop online and reuse oil

Jul 1 • 8:52 AM EDT • Business • theguardian.com

Colorado’s regulations should address policy challenges only as truly needed

As Colorado approaches its 150th birthday, we should remember its first 100 years were characterized by repeated boom-and-bust economic cycles. Dependence on mineral extraction and agricultural commodity prices was subject to the volatility of these markets. In 1972, as I arrived in Denver with Ma Bell, 40,000 metro households were waiting for dial tone since […]

Jun 29 • 2:45 AM EDT • Politics • coloradopolitics.com

Sony’s New Blu-ray & DVD Player Upscales DVDs to Near-HD Quality - Bring Your Old DVDs To Life Again

In a time when streaming services continue to raise prices, fragment content libraries, remove content, and push intrusive ads, many households are rediscovering the reliability and ownership of physical DVDs and Blu-rays. Sony has answered this shift with the release of its latest affordable disc player: the Sony BDP-S1700U. Priced at just $114.99, this sleek […]

Jun 28 • 8:58 AM EDT • Technology • cordcuttersnews.com

Costs of Iran war will linger despite conflict's end, experts say

The effects of the war and other factors driving inflation are likely to stick around for months, experts say, presenting an ongoing challenge to American households.

Jun 28 • 6:00 AM EDT • Politics • latimes.com

Sweden and WHO launch new long-term initiative to transform Ukraine’s health system

WHO and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) have launched a new multi-year cooperation project to support the long-term recovery and transformation of Ukraine’s health system. The new project, “Ukraine’s Health System Transformation Initiative: Strengthening Health Governance, Health Financing and Service Delivery for Long-Term Recovery”, was launched at the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2026 in Gdansk, Poland on 26 June, and will run from June 2026 to 2029. Sweden will contribute approximately US$ 26 million (240 million Swedish krona) to support this project. This contribution forms part of Sweden’s broader support to Ukraine through the Team Europe approach, which brings together the European Union, its Member States, and key partners such as the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood and Enabel, and WHO as lead health agency, to support Ukraine’s recovery, reform agenda and European integration.“Ukraine’s health recovery cannot be measured only by what is rebuilt, but by whether people can count on the health system when they need it most. The scale of the task is immense, with health reconstruction and modernization needs estimated at US$ 19.4 billion over the next decade. Sweden’s US$ 26 million contribution to Ukraine’s Health System Transformation Initiative is a timely investment in the institutions, financing and services that will support Ukraine’s long-term recovery and European integration. WHO remains a trusted partner of the Government of Ukraine in advancing this process. I am deeply grateful to Sweden for its consistent support and partnership,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. More than 4 years of war have placed unprecedented pressure on Ukraine’s health system, creating 3 interconnected challenges. The first is responding to the immediate consequences of the war and the urgent health needs of the population. The second is recovering and modernizing health services today. The third is continuing reforms and aligning the health system with European standards in the context of Ukraine’s future accession to the European Union. The war has led to large-scale population displacement, an increasing need for trauma care and rehabilitation, and shortages of health workers. High out-of-pocket payments in Ukraine make access to health services more difficult. Around 46% of total health expenditure is paid directly by individuals, placing a significant financial burden on many households and underscoring the need for reforms in health financing. Older people, persons with disabilities, women, children and veterans continue to face the greatest difficulties in accessing health services. “Ukraine is demonstrating that health system transformation can continue even during war. Ukraine is also continuing to align its health system with European norms and standards. WHO is committed to supporting Ukraine on this journey. We provide technical support, help coordinate partners’ efforts and support the institutional changes needed to strengthen the system. We are grateful to Sweden for its support. Through this partnership, we can help Ukraine build a more resilient, accessible and people-centred health system,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. About the Health System Transformation InitiativeThe new initiative will support Ukraine through 3 interconnected areas: strengthening governance and coordination of health sector reforms through more inclusive coordination platforms and structured policy dialogue; transforming service delivery by reinforcing a primary health care-centred model that integrates family medicine, nursing and midwifery; and improving financial sustainability by supporting reforms that ensure the long-term viability of the national health system and reduce out-of-pocket payments for households. Overall, these reforms are expected to make the health system more coherent and easier to navigate, improve the quality and continuity of care, and ensure more equitable access to services, particularly for those who need them most. They will also support Ukraine’s progress towards a more modern health system aligned with European standards. “We are convinced that long-term recovery is not possible without strong, high-quality, person-centred health services that are accessible to everyone. Our partnership with WHO is designed to support deep and lasting systemic changes. Investments in human capital especially autonomous midwives, whose role for maternal, newborn and adolescent sexual and reproductive health cannot be understated, stronger governance, digital transformation and the financial sustainability of the health system are investments in Ukraine’s future. We are proud to support this process,” said Malin Perhult, the Head of the Ukraine Unit at Sida. Focus throughout implementation will be given to the most vulnerable population groups, including older people, women and children, and persons with disabilities, who have been affected by the war and face greater health-care needs. The initiative will be implemented in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the National Health Service of Ukraine, the Public Health Centre of Ukraine, regional authorities and international partners. This project will help Ukraine move towards a system where everyone can access the health care they need. It will strengthen primary care, make the health finance system more stable and predictable, and reduce the out-of-pocket costs that Ukrainians face when using health services. As a result, the Ukrainian health system will become more aligned with European standards and more sustainable in the long run.

Jun 26 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • who.int

Apolosign Digital Calendar and Portable TV for Family Organization and Home Entertainment

NEW YORK, June 25, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apolosign, a smart family display brand serving more than one million households worldwide, today an...

Jun 25 • 8:18 AM EDT • Entertainment • markets.businessinsider.com

What's the average age of first-time homebuyers across Europe?

Fewer than seven in ten EU households live in owner-occupied homes. Euronews Business takes a closer look at the age at which Europeans buy their first home, which varies widely across the continent, based on exclusive data provided by RE/MAX.

Jun 16 • 12:15 AM EDT • Business • euronews.com

Households outshine business in Australia’s rooftop solar revolution, report finds

Australia leads world in residential solar per capita with 22GW installed but commercial and industrial sector has deployed only a quarter of that

Jun 8 • 10:01 AM EDT • Business • theguardian.com

This Ashburn, Virginia, neighborhood wants to sell their homes to data centers

Mital Gandhi, a resident of The Regency development in Ashburn, Virginia, has proposed a deal to sell his community to data centers. All 143 households must agree.

Jun 2 • 11:55 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

Your kitchen sponge is releasing microplastics every time you wash dishes

Kitchen sponges release microplastics as they wear down during everyday use, with some sponge types shedding far more than others. Researchers estimated that millions of households could collectively release hundreds of tons of microplastics annually.

Jun 1 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencedaily.com

Report Shows People With Medicare Feeling Pinch of Rising Health Care Costs

As affordability concerns remain top of mind for many Americans, a timely KFF report examines Medicare beneficiary finances and health care costs, lending context to these anxieties. Recent KFF polling found that as health care costs continue to grow and cost-of-living increases stress household budgets, paying for care and coverage tops the list of consumer financial concerns. In total, 64% of households […]

May 28 • 5:09 PM EDT • Health • medicarerights.org

Poll finds energy costs will play prominently in 2026 political campaigns

'This polling paints a clear picture: American households and small businesses are demanding relief.'

May 27 • 1:15 PM EDT • Politics • floridapolitics.com

Roku Unveils First Major Home Screen Update In Over A Decade

Roku is introducing a new home screen it calls more dynamic and smarter and said its platform will reach over 100 million streaming households soon.

May 27 • 10:03 AM EDT • Technology • deadline.com

PAID POST: When Every Dollar Counts, Even Entertainment Gets Reimagined

As rising costs strain Connecticut households, many families are rethinking how they watch TV, and what counts as essential entertainment.

May 24 • 4:58 AM EDT • Entertainment • ctmirror.org

Howard Community College Featured in 'State of Business' Address

In his Business Outlook Luncheon remarks at Turf Valley Resort last week, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball outlined how Howard County “stands on business” through five pillars: managing crises, investing in people, backing businesses, making strategic investments, and preparing for the future. Howard Community College appears by name in the pillar that anchors the others: investing in people. Dr. Ball highlighted the $11 million county investment in HCC’s Cathy and Danny Bell Workforce and Trades Center, which will open this fall. He described the facility as a world-class center with state-of-the-art training in key industries, championed by HCC President Dr. Daria J. Willis, and positioned to help Howard County compete with institutions worldwide. He also recognized HCC’s Complete4Success program, supported by a $3.5 million county investment in 2022, as a continuing driver of certifications and degrees that prepare students to enter Howard County’s workforce ready to contribute on day one. Dr. Ball connected HCC’s work to the broader economic moment in the county, including more than 1,580 apprentices now training across Howard County businesses, up from roughly 1,100 in 2018, and the SPARK program that bridges classroom learning to high-demand industries. Each of these efforts depends on the kind of workforce pipeline HCC is built to deliver. Educational Services is one of the top three employment sectors for county residents, alongside Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services and Health Care & Social Assistance. HCC will award 1,263 degrees next week at its annual commencement ceremony, and every year, that output feeds directly into the industries the County Executive named as drivers of Howard County’s growth. The full picture also includes the families who are not yet there. The 2024 ALICE update from United Way of Central Maryland found that 35,346 households in Howard County, 29% of the total, fell below the ALICE Threshold in 2022, meaning they earned more than the Federal Poverty Level but less than the basic cost of living in the county. The Household Survival Budget for a Howard County family of two adults, an infant, and a preschooler reached $118,608 annually, requiring an hourly wage of $59.30 to cover housing, child care, food, transportation, and other essentials. Affluence and economic strain coexist within the same county lines. That gap is the reason higher education and economic development are inseparable. Every certification, associate degree, and apprenticeship credential issued at HCC represents a household closer to crossing the ALICE Threshold and into long-term financial stability. The Bell Center, Complete4Success, Howard P.R.I.D.E., Parent Scholars, and the institution’s transfer-rate gains are significant components of Howard County’s economic mobility infrastructure. HCC is grateful to Dr. Ball for his sustained partnership over nearly eight years of service and for recognizing that this college plays a central role in the economic story Howard County is telling. Standing on business in Howard County means standing alongside the flagship institution that prepares its workforce.

May 14 • 10:04 AM EDT • Business • howardcommunitycollege.substack.com

DOH RECRUITS TEEN HEALTH AND MEDIA SURVEY PARTICIPANTS VIA MAIL

HONOLULU —The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) will conduct the 2026 Hawai‘i Teen Health and Media Survey over the next two months. Information collected will be used to develop and improve health programs and services for Hawaiʻi’s youth. In the coming weeks, some households across the state will receive a mailed letter from DOH with […]

May 8 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • health.hawaii.gov

Capitol Recap: Proposal to tax high earners stirs debate over policy, and politics, in Montpelier

The House Committee on Ways and Means has spent the last three weeks crafting proposals that would raise income taxes on households that earn more than $586,000 a year. Though the legislation has no chance of becoming law this year, some Democrats hope the debate will resonate with voters heading into the midterm elections.

May 1 • 3:22 PM EDT • Politics • vermontpublic.org

Land, Power, and Property Rights: The Political Economy of Land Titling in Sub-Saharan Africa -

Land, Power, and Property Rights: The Political Economy of Land Titling in Sub-Saharan Africa By Matthew K. Ribar, Stanford University Only 15% of African households possess a formal title for their agricultural land, despite the [...]

Apr 23 • 2:00 PM EDT • Politics • politicalsciencenow.com

Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics

STORY: :: Fed chief nominee Warsh vows to keep monetary policy independent of politics:: Washington, D.C. / April 21, 2026:: Kevin Warsh, Federal Reserve chief nominee“Monetary policy independence is essential. Monetary policymakers must act in the nation's interest. Their decision is the product of rigor, deliberation and unclouded decision-making. And as Senator Warren said, I do not believe that independence of monetary policy is threatened when elected officials state their views on rates. Fed independence is up to the Fed." // :: Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Ranking Democrat on Senate Banking Committee“So, independence takes courage. Let's check out your independence and your courage. We'll start easy. Mr. Warsh, did Donald Trump lose the 2020 election?”WARSH: “Um, we try to keep politics, if I’m confirmed, out of the Federal Reserve.”WARREN: “I’m just asking you a factual question. I need to know. I need to measure your independence and your courage.”WARSH: “Senator, I believe that this body certified that election many years ago.”WARREN: “That’s not the question I’m asking. I’m asking did Donald Trump lose in 2020?”WARSH: “And I’m suggesting to you in 2020…”WARREN: “I’m suggesting you can’t answer that.”WARSH: “… the Fed had a huge inflation problem, and you certified the election…[crosstalk]… let’s keep the politics out of monetary policy.” //WARREN: "Just one little place where you disagree with Donald Trump.”WARSH: “Well, I do have a disagreement actually, Senator, with the president. I think even this morning, he said that he thought I was out of central casting. I think central casting, I'd look older, grayer, maybe show up here with a cigar of sorts.”WARREN: “Quite adorable. But, you know, we need a Fed chair who is independent. That's the only way we preserve the independence of the Federal Reserve. If you can't answer these questions, you don't have the courage and you don't have the independence.”In a confirmation hearing before the Senate Banking Committee that quickly hinted at major changes to come at a Warsh-led Fed, the 56-year-old lawyer and financier blamed the central bank for an inflation surge in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to hurt U.S. households.Warsh's hearing quickly turned contentious. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren pressed Warsh on his independence and "courage", saying President Donald Trump had made clear Warsh would be his "sock puppet".

Apr 21 • 12:43 PM EDT • Politics • finance.yahoo.com

Roku’s Platform Crosses 100 Million Users, Fueling Ad Business

Roku Inc. said more than 100 million households are using its streaming platform, marking another milestone as the company continues to leverage that customer base to fuel its growing advertising business.

Apr 16 • 8:30 AM EDT • Business • bloomberg.com

The value of free health insurance: Evidence from Mexico’s Seguro Popular

Expanding free health insurance is central to universal health coverage, but its impact depends on how households value it. This column examines Mexico’s Seguro Popular and shows that households value the programme less than its fiscal cost. This helps explain why its effects on labour markets were modest and suggests that overall welfare gains may be smaller than often assumed, despite the programme’s large expansion in coverage.

Apr 15 • 7:02 PM EDT • Health • cepr.org

Debt Alarms Ring as Countries Rack Up More Emergency Spending

Amid signs of a prolonged period of high energy costs, policymakers are urging restraint as governments open up the public till to protect households and businesses.

Apr 15 • 12:25 PM EDT • Business • nytimes.com

Egypt raises electricity prices for higher-use households, businesses from April

Egypt raised electricity prices for ​higher-use residential consumers ‌and commercial users starting in ​April, the electricity ​ministry said in ⁠a statement on ​Saturday, citing a ​severe global energy crisis linked to the ​war in ​the Gulf region.

Apr 4 • 4:42 PM EDT • Business • reuters.com

Central banks' inflation mood puzzle: more judgment than science

The world's central bankers may be attempting the impossible: to get into the psyche of business executives, labour unions and ordinary households in real time to understand how they are navigating their finances ​through yet another energy shock.

Apr 2 • 2:02 AM EDT • Science • reuters.com

Energy crisis: why ‘keep calm but cut down’ may be a better message for Labour

Government keen to avoid panic as oil price surges, but perhaps households need advice on reducing consumption

Apr 1 • 2:00 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com

Charts show how the highest and lowest earners spend their money

Households with the highest income spend more on housing, but the lowest-income quintile spends a higher share of its spending on that category.

Mar 30 • 4:06 PM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com

One-third of Americans skip meals or other needs to afford health care

About half of middle-income households said they have delayed a major life event because of medical costs, new Gallup polls found.

Mar 12 • 6:00 AM EDT • Health • washingtonpost.com

The dangerous politics of US oil-driven redistribution

U.S. stock market indexes have weathered this month's oil shock well so far because investors expect only a glancing overall GDP hit from higher energy costs. But that resilience masks a potentially toxic shift of income from households to "Big Energy" - and packs big risks in an election year.

Mar 11 • 3:13 AM EDT • Politics • reuters.com

WATCH: Trump hosts AI leaders to sign pledge that households won't bear utility bill increases

Mar 4 • 4:50 PM EST • Politics • pbs.org

Missouri and Kansas families pay nearly 10% of their income on employer-provided health insurance

A new report found that nearly 10% of median household income in Missouri and Kansas goes toward deductibles and premiums. At that level, economists say those households are underinsured.

Feb 25 • 4:28 PM EST • Health • kansascity.com

Hicks Commentary: Quality of Life Is a Smart Business Attraction Tool

This column was originally published on the Ball State University Center for Business and Economic Research Weekly Commentary blog. By Michael J. Hicks February 22, 2026 Quality of life matters more to businesses than it does to households. That may seem counterintuitive, but the data are unambiguous and the implications for economic development are profound.

Feb 23 • 1:37 AM EST • Business • indianacitizen.org

Missouri and Kansas families pay nearly 10% of income on work-provided health insurance

A new report found that nearly 10% of median household income in Missouri and Kansas goes toward deductibles and premiums. At that level, economists say those households are underinsured.

Feb 22 • 5:00 AM EST • Health • kcur.org

Walmart's growing share of high-income shoppers helped its e-commerce business turn into a powerhouse

Walmart has steadily gained share from households earning over $100,000 who come for the savings and stay for the convenience — and AI is helping.

Feb 19 • 12:30 PM EST • Business • finance.yahoo.com

High-income shoppers boost Walmart's e-commerce business

Walmart has steadily gained share from households earning over $100,000 who come for the savings and stay for the convenience — and AI is helping.

Feb 19 • 12:30 PM EST • Business • businessinsider.com

Walmart delivers another quarter of impressive sales but offers a muted outlook

Walmart delivered another standout quarter as the promise of lower prices and speedy deliveries drew in a broader spectrum of Americans during the critical holiday shopping period, including wealthier households.

Feb 19 • 7:12 AM EST • Business • ksat.com

Louisiana is trying to avoid a nearly $100 million penalty by fixing errors in food stamp program

With $95 million on the line, Louisiana health officials are rolling out cash bonuses, tighter reviews and new wage checks to reduce errors in SNAP, the food assistance program serving one in five households statewide.

Feb 8 • 5:00 AM EST • Health • nola.com

Norman aims to retain high-income families with new entertainment district

Economic experts in Norman believe a billion-dollar entertainment district could help reverse the decline in high-income families, as the city faces a significant drop in such households.

Feb 5 • 7:19 PM EST • Entertainment • koco.com

Are western New Yorkers spending more on digital entertainment as winter sets in?

As winter settles across Genesee County, colder evenings and shorter days are reshaping how households in Batavia and nearby communities spend their discretionary dollars. With outdoor options limited and heating

Feb 1 • 5:45 PM EST • Entertainment • thedailynewsonline.com

Trump pitches direct payments to consumers for health care. What policy experts say about the plan

President Donald Trump wants to send payments directly to households for health costs. Experts think the plan may raise costs and the number of uninsured.

Jan 15 • 4:24 PM EST • Health • cnbc.com

Herkimer and Dolgeville Health Survey Postcards Set to Be Sent to 300 Randomly Chosen Households

Herkimer County HealthNet and Bassett Medical Center Research Institute are inviting residents of Herkimer and Dolgeville to take part in a new community health survey.

Jan 13 • 12:34 PM EST • Health • wktv.com

Health Department to freeze $10 billion in funding to 5 Democratic states

The pause could jeopardize child care and other programs serving hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

Jan 6 • 2:42 PM EST • Health • seattletimes.com

Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States

The funding pause could jeopardize child care and other programs that serve hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

Jan 6 • 1:18 AM EST • Health • nytimes.com

Health Dept. to Freeze $10 Billion in Funding to 5 Democratic States

The funding pause could jeopardize child care and other programs that serve hundreds of thousands of households in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

Jan 6 • 1:18 AM EST • Politics • nytimes.com

Berlin power outage blamed on political extremists

A fire that left over 45,000 households and 2,200 businesses in southwest Berlin without electricity was a politically motivated attack by left-wing extremists, city officials have said

Jan 4 • 11:45 AM EST • Politics • latimes.com

Vang: Somali women entrepreneurs are revving up Minnesota’s economy

They run child care centers, health care agencies, salons, restaurants, consulting firms and retail shops. Many work two jobs while also managing households, Ka Vang writes.

Jan 3 • 2:30 PM EST • Business • startribune.com

Japan business lobby chiefs urge government to tackle weak yen, media reports

Two major Japanese business lobbying groups called on the government to address the yen's weakness, which is inflating import costs and weighing on households and businesses, their chiefs told domestic media in separate interviews.

Dec 31, 2025 • 9:26 PM EST • Business • reuters.com

Americans in 1998 tried to predict 2025. Here’s what they got right

In the year 1998 – when Bill Clinton was president, most households still had landline phones, and CNN’s website looked like this – Gallup and USA Today called up 1,055 Americans on those landlines and asked them for their best predictions about a year in the distant future: 2025.

Dec 29, 2025 • 7:00 AM EST • Politics • cnn.com

Outdated furniture fire safety rules putting people at risk, MP warns

Millions of households are exposed to materials in upholstered furniture that can release dangerous fumes when they burn

Dec 26, 2025 • 12:00 AM EST • Politics • theguardian.com

Coordinating holidays with multiple divorced families is tough. At 72, I'm learning when to let go.

For decades, I've juggled exes, step-grandparents, shifting traditions, and multiple households. Managing a blended family takes emotional labor.

Dec 18, 2025 • 12:58 PM EST • Business • businessinsider.com

What science can tell us about our relationship to pets and our desire to clone them

More than half of Canadian households have at least one pet. Humans are eager to deepen their connection with animals but the current science of cloning and decoding animal communication doesn't bring us close enough.

Nov 30, 2025 • 4:00 AM EST • Science • cbc.ca