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Articles by Avril Ayers
Video allegedly shows South Carolina assessor hitting a woman who questioned her tax bill. She's suing him and the county for taking his side
A South Carolina woman is suing her county and a tax assessor that allegedly slapped her after she questioned her property tax bill last year. In November 2025, Christie Culbreath visited the office of Benjamin “Gerry” Coleman, a tax assessor for Edgefield County with some pointed questions about what she thought was an excessive tax bill.
Suze Orman says a 'subtle' new Social Security law can increase your lifetime payouts by 76%
Taylor Hill/Getty Images The small change in wording in the Claiming Age Clarity Act could make a big difference to your retirement income. Financial expert Suze Orman says a new Social Security law could help Americans make smart decisions about when to claim their benefits, and potentially collect up to 76% more over their lifetime.
Suze Orman says a 'subtle' new Social Security law can increase your lifetime payouts by 76% Original
By Avril Ayers & Brian Baker By Avril Ayers & Brian Baker The small change in wording in the Claiming Age Clarity Act could make a big difference to your retirement income. Financial expert Suze Orman says a new Social Security law could help Americans make smart decisions about when to claim their benefits, and potentially collect up to 76% more over their lifetime. By Avril Ayers & Brian Baker By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
A Kentucky man died without a will and left $2.3M in accounts to his kids. An appeals court says his widow gets half Original
BearFotos / Shutterstock When Kentucky resident Bill Perrine died in February 2024, he didn't have a will, and he probably thought that was perfectly fine. But for his surviving wife and kids, his decision created an enormously complicated situation. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.
Connecticut man, 67, was named executor of an elderly man's estate. A judge just gave him over 5 years for stealing $2.1M Original
The victim died at 87 years old in August 2020. After that, Johnson proceeded to steal millions of dollars from the victim, including more than $436,000 from a federal tax refund check. Johnson pleaded guilty to money laundering in July and was ordered to pay $1,025,056 in restitution after he had already returned around $1.1 million in stolen money. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Forget Florida and California: Utah homeowners are now the most likely in America to be dropped by their insurer, about 1 in 22 policies Original
However, in some parts of the U.S., getting homeowners insurance has become much harder due to the effects of climate change. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy. Florida and California are especially prone to natural disasters, with hurricanes and wildfires posing major risks, respectively. Insurance companies generally want to avoid covering homes that are more likely to generate claims.
Forget Florida and California: Utah homeowners are now the most likely in America to be dropped by their insurer
Bridget Bennett for The Washington Post via Getty Images Homeowners insurance is an important part of owning a home, but how much it costs — or even whether companies are willing to cover your property — can vary significantly depending on where you live. If you're a homeowner, there's a good chance your home is the most expensive thing you own. And if you have a mortgage, you could spend decades paying it off. That's why protecting your home's value is so important.
An Indiana woman was found guilty this week of forging her mother’s signature on the deed to her house — on the day her mother died. Malaika Bell, 52, contacted a notary public on the day her mother died and claimed to have power of attorney. Chastity Glazebrook, who notarized the changes to the deed, says she didn’t see Bell’s mother or witness her signing the document. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Indiana woman, 52, forged her mother's name on $170K home deed on the day she died, jury finds — she now faces 22 years
Pressmaster / Shutterstock An Indiana woman was found guilty this week of forging her mother's signature on the deed to her house — on the day her mother died. Malaika Bell, 52, contacted a notary public on the day her mother died and claimed to have power of attorney. Chastity Glazebrook, who notarized the changes to the deed, says she didn't see Bell's mother or witness her signing the document. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.
Amazon hired a caregiver who’d never had a traditional job. Two years later, she oversees its warehouse robots
Frank Hammerschmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images As automation becomes a bigger part of our lives, a big question for many people is whether they'll lose their jobs or see their roles change into something unrecognizable. Amazon's warehouses have undergone huge changes in how employees work due to automation. The company says that it has created hundreds of thousands of jobs since it began implementing robotics.
Should 60K Microsoft workers take the buyout and run? How to know when you should nab a package, or turn it down Original
But is it the right move? By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy. Why companies offer voluntary buyouts Voluntary buyouts can reduce the need for — or size of — layoffs, which can be good for companies that want to avoid the stress and stigma of laying off employees. For employees, they can provide several benefits. First, some employees may already be looking at their options and considering leaving.
Florida man says $6.5M vanished from his business account in 3 days — all it took was 1 phone call. He’s still out $4M Original
Florida businessman Misael Rosario faced a financial disaster recently: His bank account was drained of $6.5 million following a series of fraudulent wire transfers, according to WFTV 9. Rosario told the outlet his wife received an email from their bank after 15 fraudulent wire transfers were made over the course of three days. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Florida mayor charged with fraud and grand theft over misappropriating $50K in Covid relief funds Original
Kissimmee, Florida Mayor Jackie Espinosa was arrested on Oct. 21, 2026, and charged with theft and fraud for allegedly using a COVID-19 small business relief program to appropriate $50,000 in funds for herself and her family. Numerous local and national relief programs were established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced many businesses to shut down.
Video allegedly shows South Carolina assessor hitting a woman who questioned her tax bill. She’s suing him and the county for taking his side Original
The video broadcast by the local outlet shows Coleman’s arm swinging in Culbreath’s direction just as he instructed her to leave his office, per WRDW. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy. Culbreath’s lawsuit, filed on Oct.
Larry Page bought $173M in mansions to escape California's potential billionaire tax — possibly saving him nearly $15B Original
On Election Day, voters in California will decide whether to impose a one-time 5% tax on the wealth of the state's billionaires — but some have already left the state to try to dodge it. Proposition 40 is a one-time tax that would charge any billionaire who lived in the state on Jan. 1, 2026, 5% of their wealth. Over 200 billionaires live in California, but some of them chose to move out of the state before 2026 in anticipation of the possible tax.
She bought into a Bronx co-op in the ‘70s, then had her ownership stripped away overnight. Now she’s part of a $60 million settlement Original
In September 2026, New York City agreed to pay $60 million to residents of buildings seized by the city, following a class action lawsuit filed in 2019. The Big Apple has a program called the third-party transfer (TPT) program, which was introduced in 1996.
Ohio men collected $68K in prepaid Home Depot orders — 50 different times — by posing as contractors, lawsuit claims
Three Ohio men were recently indicted for repeatedly stealing prepaid orders from Home Depot. Between June and September 2026, the men repeatedly entered Home Depot stores across four counties and picked up packages under the guise of being contractors. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy. The thefts totaled more than $68,000 over 50-plus incidents.
Ohio men collected $68K in prepaid Home Depot orders — 50 different times — by posing as contractors, lawsuit claims
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Three Ohio men were recently indicted for repeatedly stealing prepaid orders from Home Depot. Between June and September 2026, the men repeatedly entered Home Depot stores across four counties and picked up packages under the guise of being contractors.
Kara Swisher says Mark Cuban is one of the 'good guy' billionaires, even though he 'started off as a massive d--------' Original
Is there any such thing as a good billionaire? Journalist Kara Swisher, who has met and interviewed many of them, can name a few, but says there aren’t many. On a recent episode of her podcast “On with Kara Swisher,” the 63-year-old founder of Recode (now part of Vox Media) spoke to TV producer and talk show host Andy Cohen. He posed the question, “Who are the good guys of the billionaire tech elite?” By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Neighboring Georgia gas stations get into an all-out price war, dropping prices as low as 97 cents: 'Feels like Christmas'
A little over 20 miles west of Atlanta, drivers got to experience something very rare and thrilling recently: gas for under a dollar a gallon. That's right. Two gas stations in Powder Springs, Georgia, offered those prices after trying to one up each other, and drivers flocked to fill their vehicles , as a result.
Neighboring Georgia gas stations get into an all-out price war, dropping prices as low as 97 cents: 'Feels like Christmas'
A little over 20 miles west of Atlanta, drivers got to experience something very rare and thrilling recently: gas for under a dollar a gallon. That’s right. Two gas stations in Powder Springs, Georgia, offered those prices after trying to one up each other, and drivers flocked to fill their vehicles, as a result. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Neighboring Georgia gas stations slash prices to 97 cents a gallon in all-out price war near Atlanta
Screenshot/WSB-TV 2 A little over 20 miles west of Atlanta, drivers got to experience something very rare and thrilling recently: gas for under a dollar a gallon. That's right. Two gas stations in Powder Springs, Georgia, offered those prices after trying to one up each other, and drivers flocked to fill their vehicles, as a result. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.
Neighboring Georgia gas stations get into an all-out price war, dropping prices as low as 97 cents: 'Feels like Christmas'
With gas prices sky high, is it worth going out of your way to get cheaper gas? A little over 20 miles west of Atlanta, drivers got to experience something very rare and thrilling recently: gas for under a dollar a gallon. That’s right. Two gas stations in Powder Springs, Georgia, offered those prices after trying to one up each other, and drivers flocked to fill their vehicles, as a result. • Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.
Pop the corks: Winemakers are selling vintage $150 bottles for $30 or less under the Costco and Kroger brands to deal with a glut of the good stuff
Finding the best wine for your budget is hard, but it might be easier right now if you stick to a private label. It can be difficult to know whether or not a glass of wine is good when you’re drinking it. Even the experts can struggle. And that’s why so many wine drinkers turn to the price tag to tell them. But before you reach for the most expensive bottle on the shelf, you may want to consider whether a much cheaper bottle might be just as good.
California's wine glut means $150 bottles are hiding behind $30 private labels — here's how to find them
shutterstock.com / Hryshchyshen Serhii It can be difficult to know whether or not a glass of wine is good when you're drinking it. Even the experts can struggle. And that's why so many wine drinkers turn to the price tag to tell them. But before you reach for the most expensive bottle on the shelf, you may want to consider whether a much cheaper bottle might be just as good.
Pop the corks: Winemakers are selling vintage $150 bottles for $30 or less under the Costco and Kroger brands to deal with a glut of the good stuff
It can be difficult to know whether or not a glass of wine is good when you’re drinking it. Even the experts can struggle. And that’s why so many wine drinkers turn to the price tag to tell them. But before you reach for the most expensive bottle on the shelf, you may want to consider whether a much cheaper bottle might be just as good. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Only 5 US housing markets still favor sellers — everywhere else, a record glut has buyers calling the shots
In other words, if you have the money to buy a home, this is a great time to do so. But for a staggering number of people, that goal is entirely out of reach. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy. Buyers are highly advantaged in the housing market Redfin calculates the number of buyers in the market by analyzing how long it takes buyers to purchase a home after they start looking.
Only 5 US housing markets still favor sellers — everywhere else, a record seller glut has buyers calling the shots
For anyone buying a home right now, it's an incredible time, with buyers outnumbering sellers nearly everywhere across the nation, according to Redfin. That comes with a big caveat, though. It's an incredibly hard time to buy a home because new home prices and high mortgage rates have made it extremely expensive.
Only 5 US housing markets still favor sellers — everywhere else, a record seller glut has buyers calling the shots
Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images For anyone buying a home right now, it's an incredible time, with buyers outnumbering sellers nearly everywhere across the nation, according to Redfin. That comes with a big caveat, though. It's an incredibly hard time to buy a home because new home prices and high mortgage rates have made it extremely expensive.
Only 5 US housing markets still favor sellers — everywhere else, a record glut has buyers calling the shots
If you have the ability to pay for a house, now’s a great time to buy. Unfortunately, that’s harder than ever for many Americans. For anyone buying a home right now, it’s an incredible time, with buyers outnumbering sellers nearly everywhere across the nation, according to Redfin. That comes with a big caveat, though. It’s an incredibly hard time to buy a home because new home prices and high mortgage rates have made it extremely expensive.
Virginia police officer accused of shoplifting Magic trading cards from Target — while on duty and in uniform
On Oct. 8, Virginia police officer Scott Abram was charged with two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting following a pair of incidents at two separate Target locations. During the first incident, Abram was reportedly on duty and wearing his uniform. Sources familiar with the investigation reported to WJLA-TV that Abram allegedly stole Magic: The Gathering trading cards from the two locations. Abram has since been placed on administrative leave by the Fairfax County Police Department.
Virginia police officer accused of shoplifting Magic trading cards from Target — while on duty and in uniform
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images On Oct. 8, Virginia police officer Scott Abram was charged with two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting following a pair of incidents at two separate Target locations. During the first incident, Abram was reportedly on duty and wearing his uniform. Sources familiar with the investigation reported to WJLA-TV that Abram allegedly stole Magic: The Gathering trading cards from the two locations.
Virginia police officer accused of shoplifting Magic trading cards from Target — while on duty and in uniform
On Oct. 8, Virginia police officer Scott Abram was charged with two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting following a pair of incidents at two separate Target locations. During the first incident, Abram was reportedly on duty and wearing his uniform. Sources familiar with the investigation reported to WJLA-TV that Abram allegedly stole Magic: The Gathering trading cards from the two locations. Abram has since been placed on administrative leave by the Fairfax County Police Department.
Virginia police officer accused of shoplifting Magic trading cards from Target — while on duty and in uniform
On Oct. 8, Virginia police officer Scott Abram was charged with two counts of misdemeanor shoplifting following a pair of incidents at two separate Target locations. During the first incident, Abram was reportedly on duty and wearing his uniform. Sources familiar with the investigation reported to WJLA-TV that Abram allegedly stole Magic: The Gathering trading cards from the two locations. Abram has since been placed on administrative leave by the Fairfax County Police Department.
Virginia police officer accused of shoplifting Magic trading cards from Target — while on duty and in uniform
It’s not just billionaires fleeing Britain—fed up with grey skies, crumbling healthcare and the tax bill, a record 69,300 workers have left the U.K. It’s not just Britain’s billionaires voting with their feet and taking $160 billion with them to the likes of Switzerland and Monaco. Nearly 70,000 …
52% of Gen Z investors have bet with funds they intended to invest — and their Social Security could pay the price Original
Miljan_Zivkovic/Envato There's no such thing as a sure-thing investment. But worryingly, more than half of Gen Z investors have diverted investment funds to sports betting, according to a survey by investing app Betterment. Even for those who win, the long-term financial and social costs can be incredibly high, a fact that could come back to hurt the 52% of Gen Z investors who have used investment funds that way, including the 14% that Betterment says do so multiple times a month.
Dave Ramsey breaks his own prenup rule to warn a woman who left her last marriage with $1M and $10K in monthly payments Original
The Ramsey Show/YouTube How do you decide when it's time to let a new partner know everything about your finances? And is there ever a right time for a prenup? Those questions came up during a recent segment on "The Ramsey Show." The caller explained that her relationship, which started after her divorce, was getting serious, but she wasn't sure how to tell her new boyfriend about how well off she was as they started discussing marriage.
Social Security's retirement age labels could change soon — will the new names help you get a bigger monthly benefit? Original
A new bipartisan bill is heading to the President’s desk. It could make it easier for you to get more money in retirement, but some worry it isn’t enough to solve bigger problems with Social Security. The Claiming Age Clarity Act, introduced in 2025, passed a Senate vote on September 29. It would change how the Social Security Administration describes different age brackets. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
Social Security could rename retirement ages to help Americans get bigger monthly benefits — here’s what to know
5 hours ago All-star pitcher Sam McDowell has died at 84. In retirement, he became a sobriety counselor and drew comparisons to Ted Danson's character on “Cheers.” In the 1960s and early ’70s, Sam McDowell, a six-time all-star pitcher with the Cleveland Indians, was “the biggest, most hopeless and most violent …
Trump slashes tariffs to flood U.S. with 661 million pounds of foreign beef — Nebraska ranchers push back
Kent NISHIMURA/AFP via Getty Images In March 2026, President Donald Trump touted the value of American beef, saying he wanted to make it easier for Americans to buy U.S.-made beef. But in recent months, his administration has clashed with ranches and farms extensively. Beef prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed from an average of $4.47 per pound in August 2021 to $6.92 in August 2026.
Nebraska ranchers fume after Trump lets in 661 million pounds of foreign beef to bring down prices — and midterms are looming
4 hours ago DUNLOW, W.Va. — Bill Likens stared down a half-mile-long line of cars that started forming before the sun came up over the Appalachian Mountains. He had one job: figure out how to feed them all. Some had driven more than 30 miles in aging cars and trucks that wheezed down flood-prone roads through …
Nebraska ranchers fume after Trump lets in 661 million pounds of foreign beef to bring down prices — and midterms are looming Original
In March 2026, President Donald Trump touted the value of American beef, saying he wanted to make it easier for Americans to buy U.S.-made beef. But in recent months, his administration has clashed with ranches and farms extensively. Beef prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed from an average of $4.47 per pound in August 2021 to $6.92 in August 2026. By signing up, you accept Moneywise Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
JPMorgan says a 2026 blue wave could slam AI data center stocks that now make up 45% of the S&P 500 Original
Polymarket currently estimates an 85% chance of a "blue wave," which it defines as Democrats controlling at least 218 seats in the House and 49 seats in the Senate. That could be bad for stocks tied to AI data centers. Dubravko Lakos-Bujas, a strategist for JPMorgan, wrote a note to investors outlining strategies to follow based on which parties take the House or Senate in the upcoming midterm elections. Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake.
White Castle announces a permanent change to its menu Original
The 105-year-old restaurant hasn’t strayed far from what it does best.
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