Americans are increasingly reliant on government aid, according to a recent Wall Street Journal article. The Economic Innovation Group found that in 2022, over half of U.S. counties derived at least 25% of their income from federal and state safety-net programs, up from fewer than 1% in 1970. This dramatic...
Global Tensions Mount Ahead of VP Debate, Highlighting Uncertainty in US Foreign Policy
It has been a tumultuous week on the global stage, particularly as Israel’s northern border with Lebanon escalates towards a potential ground invasion amid ongoing tensions reports Lindsay Newman of GZERO. This backdrop sets the stage for the only vice presidential debate of the election season, where questions arise about...
Biden Administration Tightens Border Security with Stricter Asylum Rules
President Biden's administration is preparing to solidify asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a recent CBS News report. The planned regulation would make it significantly more challenging to lift the strict rules implemented this summer. In June, Biden issued a proclamation that effectively halted asylum processing for most...
Polling Shifts Walz’s Home State to Toss-Up in 2024 Presidential Race
A recent shift in the 2024 presidential race forecast has moved Minnesota from a state leaning toward Vice President Kamala Harris to a toss-up, according to a Newsweek report. As of Monday, the polling aggregator reclassified Minnesota, which had been listed as “lean Harris” since July 27. This development signals...
30-Year Mortgage Rates Hit Two-Year Low, Sparking Increased Refinancing Activity
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage remained nearly unchanged this week but reached its lowest level in two years, Yahoo Finance reports. Thirty-year mortgage rates averaged 6.08% as of Thursday, down from 6.09% the previous week, according to Freddie Mac data. Average 15-year mortgage rates rose one basis...
Kamala Harris Surges in Popularity, Overtakes Donald Trump in Presidential Race
Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as a formidable challenger to former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race, according to a new NBC News poll. The poll shows Harris leading Trump by 5 points among registered voters, 49% to 44%. Harris' favorability has surged 16 points since July,...
Democrats Poised to Flip Key California House Seats, New Poll Suggests
New polling data suggests Democrats are narrowly leading in four of California's six most closely-watched swing districts for the U.S. House of Representatives. The survey, exclusively shared with Politico, was conducted by researchers from three California universities. Central Valley Battlegrounds Show Tight Margins In the Central Valley, Democrat Rudy Salas...
Fresno Ranks High for Speedy Commutes, Study Finds
A new study reveals that Fresno boasts one of the fastest car commutes in the nation, ranking fourth among major U.S. cities. According to an analysis by The Wall Street Journal, Fresno's average commute time is just 22.9 minutes, with traffic moving at an average speed of 26.2 mph. The...
FBI Reports Decrease in Violent Crime, Auto Thefts and Hate Crimes Rise
Violent and property crime rates in the United States saw a decline in 2023, according to new FBI data released Monday. However, hate crimes reached record levels in some of the nation's largest cities, painting a complex picture of crime trends across the country. The FBI report, which covered over...
Rapid Spread of Bird Flu in California Dairy Herds Raises Pandemic Concerns
California's dairy industry is facing a rapid spread of H5N1 bird flu, with infected cow herds doubling over the weekend. According to a recent report from Ars Technica, the number of confirmed cases jumped from 17 to 34 between Thursday and Monday. This surge places California second among affected states,...