One of the standout features of Google Maps (aside from getting us where we want to go) is Street View -- a first-person perspective tool that features recent photos of streets, buildings, homes and anything else that's visible from Google's ubiquitous camera cars. There are also a lot of practical...

You Might Want to Hide Your Home From Google Maps Street View: Here's How to Do It

August's first round of Social Security Disability Insurance checks have already gone out and payments for the next round are set to be sent next week. SSDI is paid on the same day as Social Security payments, and if you're not sure when you're supposed to get yours, we'll fill you in below. Also, if you still haven't received your July SSDI check, here's what you can do.

SSDI August 2024: When Will You Get Your Money?

If you like your coffee fast, easy and reliable, a Keurig coffee machine is a powerful appliance for your morning caffeine fix. Just pop a K-Cup pod into the machine and you've got a cup of steaming java in less than a minute. You can even use the Keurig app to brew your coffee while you hit the snooze button.

You Really Need to Clean Your Keurig. Here's How to Do It

The first round of August's Social Security checks went out last week and the next three are on the way. The time between the first and second payments is more than a week apart, and we'll let you know exactly when you can expect yours. If you're still waiting on your check from July, check out why it may not have arrived and what you can do about it.

Social Security Payment August 2024: Will You Get a Check This Week?

As sweltering summer heat waves drive up electricity bills because of increased air conditioning, many folks are looking for tips and tricks to save money on utility bills. Setting your ceiling fan correctly can make a big difference when it comes to cooling, but there's a more basic way to reduce electricity use all year round -- unplugging appliances like your TV, computer, printer, coffee maker or even your electric toothbrush.

Want to Save an Easy $100 a Year? Unplug These Appliances

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Judge Says Google Is an Illegal Monopoly: Now What?

Runner-up to best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors. Hardwood and vinyl flooring have become popular in the last decade or so, and they've added to the complexity of flooring types in a home. I'm in that camp: There's carpet, tile and vinyl in my house, and while I enjoy it, this leads to a new question: What's the best vacuum to tackle hardwood floors and other hard flooring types? Ultimately, the best overall vacuum for cleaning up your hardwood floors is a cordless model, the Tineco Pure One S15 Pet.

Best Vacuum for Hardwood Floors in 2024

Kentucky State

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Northern Kentucky Tribune

Kentucky’s Community Actions Partnerships have announced the starts date for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Summer Subsidy, aimed at helping Kentucky households offset summer cooling costs.

LIHEAP Summer Subsidy program to help with summer cooling costs to begin enrollment July 16

Kansas State

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Missouri State

CJ Coombs

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) helps to locate missing children. Since July 1, 2024, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), 174 children have been reported missing in the U.S. Since January 1, 2024, there was a total of 1,445 reported missing in the country.

Missing Missouri children as of July 17, 2024, according to the NCMEC

Whether you're on the verge of retirement or just a diligent financial planner, knowing how much money you will receive from Social Security when you are eligible is a critical factor in preparing for your senior years. Signing up for a My Social Security account will help you calculate exactly how much you'll get in your monthly check, depending on your age when you retire.

How Much Will You Receive in Social Security Benefits? Here's How to Find Out

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The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Florida State

Jacksonville Today

Republican Donald Trump has a 7-point lead over Democrat Kamala Harris among Florida voters, 49% to 42%, according to a new poll from the University of North Florida. Four percent are backing another candidate, and 6% are undecided or didn’t answer.

New Florida poll: Trump leads; support strong for abortion and recreational weed

Colorado State

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

If you cook dinner every night, especially for a family or other group of people, meal prepping can be a valuable tactic for balancing that difficult nightly grind of preparing, cooking and serving food. While some foods are fine to prepare well in advance of eating, you might want to reconsider making large amounts of grains like rice or pasta -- both leftovers could raise the risk of illness.

Reconsider Eating That Leftover Rice if You Want to Avoid Food Poisoning

Chicago, IL

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

Multiple investment platforms, including Charles Schwab, Fidelity, Vanguard, Ameritrade, eTrade and Robinhood, reportedly went offline for a few hours beginning around 9 a.m. ET today. According to downdetector.com, reports spiked around 10 a.m. ET, with nearly 15,000 issues reported for Charles Schwab, 3,500 for Fidelity, 3,000 for Vanguard and 2,000 for Ameritrade.

Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard Among Investment Sites That Crashed This Morning

Awara is one of the many brands under the Resident Home umbrella, which also includes Nectar, Dreamcloud, Cloverlane and other home furniture brands. There are two different Awara mattresses, the Natural -- which is the subject of this review -- and the Awara Premier Natural. The Natural is the most "basic" of the two Awara mattresses, but basic does not mean bad in any way. This bed provides a ton of value with responsive, cushiony latex foam above supportive coils -- and anyone looking for an eco-friendly mattress backed by lots of certifications should be giving the Awara Natural a look.

Awara Natural Mattress Review: Organic Materials Meet Affordable Pricing

Disney is planning to increase the price of most of its streaming plans, the company said on Tuesday. The change is scheduled to take effect on Oct. 17, nearly a year after the company's previous price hike in October 2023. The move continues the recent trend of price hikes implemented across the streaming landscape.

Disney Price Hikes Incoming: Most Streaming Plans Will Cost More This Fall

Illinois State

MOD Pizza has over 500 locations across the country with 22 restaurants in Illinois. The Washington-based chain offers fast-casual fare known for its customized, artisan-style pizzas. Customers can choose from over 40 toppings and 8 sauces to create their own masterpiece.

Bankruptcy Looms for Major Pizza Chain With Chicago Suburban Locations

There are a wealth of streaming services to pick from these days, but not all of them deliver enough quality content to be worth the subscription. If you've been holding out on trying Paramount Plus or Showtime, now is your chance to check them out while also saving a few bucks. Right now, Paramount Plus is letting new subscribers score a free month of service when you use the promo code OGGMPZR3YBW at sign-up. That gives you a chance to try out both services before committing to a subscription. Just be sure to take advantage of this offer soon to make sure you don't miss out.

Unlock One Month of Free Streaming From Paramount Plus With This Coupon Code

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6 Money Lessons You Didn’t Learn in School -- But Definitely Should Have

When you finish high school, you may know how to balance a quadratic equation and debate the implications of Manifest Destiny, but we rarely graduate knowing...

6 Money Lessons You Didn’t Learn in School -- But Definitely Should Have

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