Michigan State

New Jersey State

Upworthy

Public discourse about minimum wage and living wages has been ongoing for years, with people debating whether the government should mandate a minimum hourly pay for workers.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the first federal minimum wage law in 1938, setting the lowest wage a worker could be paid at 25 cents per hour. Nearly a century later, the federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr, holding steady since 2009, with people lobbying to raise it to at least $15/hr for over a decade. However, in addition to federal law, each state has its own laws, a handful of which establish a state minimum wage higher than $15, a handful of which don't have a set minimum wage at all and everything in between.Cost of living has also been a hot topic as inflation has squeezed everyone's wallets and certain cities and states have become utterly unaffordable, especially for people in low-wage jobs or who who are just starting out in their careers. So how do minimum wage and cost of living correlate state-by-state? Are there any sweet spots with a high(er) minimum wage and low(er) cost of living? 

6 states where the minimum wage and cost of living offer the best bang for your buck

Massachusetts State

If you're thinking of living on your own, you'll need to make about $45,000 per year in most states just to get by. That's roughly the median income needed to cover basic expenses, according to a new analysis by SmartAsset, which looked at estimates for housing, transportation, health care, taxes and other common expenses, as tracked by the MIT Living Wage calculator.

The salary a single person needs to make ends meet in every U.S. state

Minnesota State

Minneapolis, MN

WashingtonExaminer

After a seven-week trial, a jury found five defendants guilty for their part in exploiting government funding for a program created to feed low-income children after school and during the summer. The defendants received more than $40 million from the Department of Agriculture for 18 million meals at 50 food sites across Minnesota, which was overseen […]

Five found guilty in $40 million scheme to steal from federal food aid program

FinanceBuzz

Ditch the college debt and still earn big. Discover 15 lucrative jobs that break the mold, offering a comfortable income without a 4-year degree.

15 Jobs That Pay Over $75K and Don’t Require a 4-Year Degree

GOBankingRates

Do you know which states across America are the most affordable states to live in without any income tax? Trending Now: Here's How Much the Definition of Rich Has Changed in Every State Try This: How...

9 Cheapest States To Live in With No Income Tax

Community Voices represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program but not yet verified their accounts. Community Voices are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

community_voice

Emily Standley Allard

Disclaimer: This post was written for informative purposes only. Seek the advice of a financial professional for personalized recommendations. This post was written by a human with the help of AI.

5 Expenses Parents Should Stop Covering for Their Adult Kids

There's been much ado about federal student loan forgiveness with little relief directed to students holding private student debt. However, a little-known program directed by private student loan lender Navient is forgiving private loans for borrowers seeking relief on the grounds that their school lied to them. The Project on...

Borrowers urged to apply for Navient's private student loan forgiveness

Business Insider

Steven Perry, 58, thought the notice confirming his student-loan forgiveness was a scam. But after decades of payments, he finally got debt relief.

A Gen Xer got $110,000 in student loans forgiven after he'd paid off more than he borrowed. It's allowed him to scrap his plans to work part time in retirement.

Reading, PA

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

Mahanoy City, PA

The Shenandoah (PA) Sentinel

MAHANOY CITY – Two members of a motorcycle club were convicted on federal charges, accused...
The post Convicted motorcycle club members orchestrated ‘brutal’ home-invasion in Mahanoy, feds say first appeared on The Shenandoah Sentinel.

Convicted motorcycle club members orchestrated ‘brutal’ home-invasion in Mahanoy, feds say

The middle class has long been the backbone of the American economy. As inflation continues to rise, many families find it increasingly difficult to maintain their standard of living. If current economic trends persist, several essential services may become out of reach for middle-class households in the next five years....

5 Services the Middle Class Won’t Be Able to Afford In the Next Five Years

Arkansas State

While you may pay federal taxes on your Social Security benefits, many states don’t tax them. Here are the 41 states you may want to consider for retirement.

41 States That Don't Tax Social Security

Smart college planning should involve choosing a major that fits your needs and passions — and being aware of how much debt you’ll be looking at afterward.

15 College Majors With the Highest Student Debt

Texas State

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

Galveston, TX

Angry Ben

Destructive Storms With a History of Widespread Damage Reaches Galveston and Other Gulf Coast Towns. Good morning everyone. Our severe weather late yesterday and last night throughout the Texas Panhandle and the Dallas/Ft Worth area, organized exactly as discussed in yesterday's articles.

Severe Weather Related "Tsunami" Possible Along Texas Gulf Coast

Recent data suggests that despite a hard-earned education, a college degree doesn't guarantee a high-paying job anymore.

These 8 College Majors Usually Don't Get Jobs That Use Their Degree

"The middle class is shrinking." You may have heard this phrase repeated on the news or during conversations with friends. Find Out: Here's How Much the Definition of Middle Class Has Changed in Every...

What Is the Median Household Income for the Lower Middle Class in 2024?

Newark, NJ

Morristown Minute

NEWARK, N.J. – Eight individuals associated with the "793 Bloods" street gang, a subset of the national Bloods gang, have been charged for their roles in a Newark-based drug trafficking organization, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Eight '793 Bloods' Gang Members Charged in Newark Drug Network

Denver, CO

David Heitz

The mother of a Denver homeless man told the City Council Monday that city-sponsored services have failed her son. Barbara Hallick Yeomans made her remarks during public comment period of the City Council meeting. She said her son grapples with substance abuse and mental illness and repeatedly has been harassed by police. She said her son also suffered verbal abuse by a guard in the Denver County Jail. Yeomans said she heard the guard harassing her son over the phone.

Mother says Denver homeless services have failed her son

You can still earn income after retirement while avoiding stressful 40-hour workweeks with these jobs.

12 Fulfilling Part-Time Jobs Retirees Actually Love

Salon

For months, Scott Abbey reported to work on the sandwich line of an industrial kitchen. He and his coworkers prepared 20,000 meals each day, which were then sold by a $16.2 billion multinational food and facility services conglomerate. In order to use the restroom at work, Mr. Abbey and his coworkers were forced to wade through urine and feces that overflowed from toilets that were never cleaned. The fecal matter on their shoes traveled with them back into the kitchen, where Mr. Abbey and his coworkers often found rodents around the food they prepared. Mr. Abbey was given a single meal per day and provided no means to challenge either the conditions he suffered or the fact he earned $0 for his work.

This Juneteenth, it’s time for Biden to honor the federal holiday he created by ending forced labor

Georgia State

Douglas, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A 29-year-old, Travis Eugene Brinson Jr., who was arrested in March, has been sent back to prison just almost ten months after his release. Court documents show that Brinson Jr. was taken into custody on March 4, 2024, on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. A copy of the arrest warrant states that Brinson Jr. was in possession of a firearm that night between 8:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at a residence on MLK Drive.

Convicted Felon in Georgia Sent Back to Prison for Ilegall Firearm Possession

The Saginaw News

NewsBreak

Free community college, pre-K included in Michigan’s $23.4B education budget

LANSING, MI – Many Michigan families would receive free pre-K and all high school graduates would receive free community college education under the 2025 spending plan...

Free community college, pre-K included in Michigan’s $23.4B education budget

Comments / 0