Latest news with #Maskot
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Wales Online
'Shotgun' car seat rules explained as Brits set for summer road trips
'Shotgun' car seat rules explained as Brits set for summer road trips The phrase 'riding shotgun' stems from the American Wild West, when stagecoaches had an armed guard up front to fend off bandits. Now, it means calling dibs on the front seat. Nobody wants to be stuck in the middle (Image: Maskot via Getty Images) The battle for the prized front passenger seat, or 'riding shotgun', is heating up as Brits prepare for summer road trips. However, recent research has finally settled the age-old argument over who gets to occupy this prime spot. As we're no longer in the Wild West days. Today, 'shotgun' is all about securing the best view for the journey, especially with four in ten adults planning road trips this summer and nobody wanting to be stuck in the dreaded middle seat. A survey of 2,000 adults has dispelled the notion that the driver's partner always gets the front seat. The rules are simple: unless someone has a physical need, it's a race to be the first to shout 'shotgun', but only if you the car is in sight. What's more, according to the poll, your claim to the front seat only lasts for one leg of the journey. Four in ten have refused to get in the car if they didn't get their preferred spot (Image: Getty Images) In the event of a tie, 12 per cent believe the driver should make the final decision, while five per cent settle it with a trivia question. The study, commissioned by Tempcover, found that a quarter of Brits have had a heated debate over seating arrangements, with siblings being the most likely to bicker. Surprisingly, a third of parents have even clashed with their own children. Four in ten admit they've refused to get in the car at all if they didn't secure their preferred seat. Tempcover has teamed up with JLS star JB Gill, who is currently on tour with the band's reunion concerts, to launch the Official Rules of Shotgun. JB said: "Calling shotgun before a car journey has sparked friendly competition over who gets to ride in the highly prized front seat for generations." JB added: "Ever since I first started driving, the front seat was always the one that every passenger wanted and as you can imagine, it's led to MANY heated debates. "Every driver has their own shotgun rules so having official rules in place means there's now a neutral way to make the decision and (hopefully) help the journey start smoothly from the off". The research found that three out of ten Brits have told porkies to nab the front seat, with 'helping with directions' being the top fib. Additionally, 28 per cent have feigned travel sickness to avoid being relegated to the back seat. Marc Pell, managing director at Tempcover, which offers temporary car insurance so people can borrow a bigger car and take turns behind the wheel, added: "With summer here, more people are taking to the road with friends and family. Article continues below "We asked people to share their ultimate shotgun wisdom to keep the rules simple and the process fair - helping car journeys start with fewer disputes over who gets the coveted front passenger seat with its better view and extra legroom. "And if you share the driving, you can all take it in turns to ride shotgun too."
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan ranks 33rd for child well-being in annual report with education among the nation's worst
Maskot/Getty Images Michigan ranked 33rd for overall child well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book, lagging in education and economic well-being, amongst other areas. This is the 36th year the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization examining children's welfare, has released its Kids Count Data Book which ranks states' care for youth through education, health, family and community, and economic wellbeing. Historically, Michigan has particularly dragged in its education ranking, with the 2025 ranking sitting at 44th in the nation. Michigan worsened in the number of children ages 3 and 4 not attending school than in previous years. When it came to benchmark testing, the data book found that the number of eighth graders not testing proficient in math and fourth graders not testing proficient in reading worsened than in previous years as well. 'Education has consistently been our lowest ranking domain among the four key domains that the Annie E. Casey Foundation evaluates, pointing to the continued, urgent need for our state leaders to do more to support Michigan students,' said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy in a news release Monday. Pushing for a school funding solution in Michigan continues to be a top priority for the league, which acts as the state's member organization of the Kids Count network, Stanton said. Michigan has worked to improve school access and outcomes, notably through securing universal school meals and investments in school mental health resources. But with federal threats on education looming, namely the Trump administration's interest in gutting the U.S. Department of Education, Stanton said it's important to point out the federal decisions that would harm students and advocate for policies that set kids up for educational success. Aecf-2025kidscountdatabook 'Speaking out against federal threats to education is also vital to ensuring our schools stay strong and are able to meet the needs of every student that walks through their doors,' Stanton said. 'Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would remove protections for thousands of students in Michigan, especially those from low-income households and those receiving special education services.' The state's best ranking has historically been in health, ranking this year at 22nd. Michigan's health ranking, the only sector where Michigan placed in the top half of states, is largely attributed to the large portion of the state's children who have access to health insurance, the league's news release said. But just as stakeholders have raised concerns with President Donald Trump's plans for education, alarm bells are sounding off for a federal spending plan that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid. More than 1 in 4 Michiganders is covered by Medicaid each month, including more than 1 million children, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. While there are areas where Michigan has made improvements, there continue to be sectors of children's well-being that demand attention and resources, Stanton said. These needs would be best addressed with the collaboration of state and federal policymakers to ensure Michigan's kids have opportunities to grow up healthy and prepared for their futures. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: Stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like employment and economic growth,' Stanton said. 'We encourage Michigan leaders and lawmakers alike to use both the national KIDS COUNT data and the state data we will be releasing later this year in informing smart policy and budget decisions that prioritize the well-being and futures of our state's youngest residents.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Michigan ranks 33rd for child well-being in annual report with education among the nation's worst
Maskot/Getty Images Michigan ranked 33rd for overall child well-being in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book, lagging in education and economic well-being, amongst other areas. This is the 36th year the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable organization examining children's welfare, has released its Kids Count Data Book which ranks states' care for youth through education, health, family and community, and economic wellbeing. Historically, Michigan has particularly dragged in its education ranking, with the 2025 ranking sitting at 44th in the nation. Michigan worsened in the number of children ages 3 and 4 not attending school than in previous years. When it came to benchmark testing, the data book found that the number of eighth graders not testing proficient in math and fourth graders not testing proficient in reading worsened than in previous years as well. 'Education has consistently been our lowest ranking domain among the four key domains that the Annie E. Casey Foundation evaluates, pointing to the continued, urgent need for our state leaders to do more to support Michigan students,' said Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy in a news release Monday. Pushing for a school funding solution in Michigan continues to be a top priority for the league, which acts as the state's member organization of the Kids Count network, Stanton said. Michigan has worked to improve school access and outcomes, notably through securing universal school meals and investments in school mental health resources. But with federal threats on education looming, namely the Trump administration's interest in gutting the U.S. Department of Education, Stanton said it's important to point out the federal decisions that would harm students and advocate for policies that set kids up for educational success. Aecf-2025kidscountdatabook 'Speaking out against federal threats to education is also vital to ensuring our schools stay strong and are able to meet the needs of every student that walks through their doors,' Stanton said. 'Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education would remove protections for thousands of students in Michigan, especially those from low-income households and those receiving special education services.' The state's best ranking has historically been in health, ranking this year at 22nd. Michigan's health ranking, the only sector where Michigan placed in the top half of states, is largely attributed to the large portion of the state's children who have access to health insurance, the league's news release said. But just as stakeholders have raised concerns with President Donald Trump's plans for education, alarm bells are sounding off for a federal spending plan that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid. More than 1 in 4 Michiganders is covered by Medicaid each month, including more than 1 million children, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. While there are areas where Michigan has made improvements, there continue to be sectors of children's well-being that demand attention and resources, Stanton said. These needs would be best addressed with the collaboration of state and federal policymakers to ensure Michigan's kids have opportunities to grow up healthy and prepared for their futures. 'We know what kids need to grow up healthy and connected so they can thrive as adults: Stable homes, strong schools, nutritious food, meaningful relationships and opportunities to learn, play and grow. Programs that meet these needs are smart investments, fostering long-term gains like employment and economic growth,' Stanton said. 'We encourage Michigan leaders and lawmakers alike to use both the national KIDS COUNT data and the state data we will be releasing later this year in informing smart policy and budget decisions that prioritize the well-being and futures of our state's youngest residents.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How the Trump Attacks on DEI Will Enable Workplace Discrimination
Maskot Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Since his first day in office, President Donald Trump has been on a crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the workplace. One ripple effect of this has been many large employers abandoning their own public-facing commitments to equity. Meanwhile, Trump has also gutted the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The president is sending a very clear message: Employers should feel emboldened to exclude and discriminate. As a civil rights attorney, I'm saying they should not. Through my work as president of an organization called A Better Balance, which represents workers, I know it is critical to hold employers accountable to the law, and to combat misinformation geared to make the workplace a more hostile environment for groups that have historically been targets of discrimination, such as women, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and people with disabilities. Our anti-discrimination laws exist to ensure workers are not shut out of employment on the basis of protected characteristics like race, sex, national origin, age, religion, pregnancy, disability, or any combination thereof. DEI programs have become a popular way for employers to proactively and transparently create more equitable workplaces. These programs do not break any laws, and are a recognition that certain groups have long been denied equal opportunity in the workforce, and that we all need to take active steps to move beyond harmful practices. The Trump administration is using 'DEI' as a dog whistle to try to scapegoat marginalized workers — as with the White House's dangerous suggestion that federal workers with disabilities were somehow responsible for a deadly DC plane crash in January. The administration has also been perpetuating a false narrative about who is impacted by discrimination, which is consistent with the president's vow during the election to crush 'anti-white' racism. These narratives create distractions as the Trump administration rolls back the clock on civil rights for workers employed by the federal government — the nation's largest employer. Discrimination can be as obvious as a sign saying 'Women need not apply.' It can also be more insidious, such as a manager laying off a pregnant worker 'for her own good, so she can focus on the baby,' when she desperately needs her job and income to stay afloat. Examples of cases brought before the federal government in the past six months that illustrate today's reality of workplace discrimination include: A group of female housekeepers who were sexually harassed, then punished for reporting it — they received a $400,000 settlement; transgender employees who were subjected to misgendering, deadnaming, and other forms of harassment, then fired; a Muslim teenager who was harassed, retaliated against, and forced to quit her job after reporting a manager who forcibly removed her hijab — she received a $20,000 settlement; employers systemically segregating and underpaying female workers; employers refusing to hire qualified applicants simply because of their disabilities; and employers firing workers because they needed time off to care for their health. The EEOC enforces the federal laws that protect workers against discrimination, such as: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for workers who need changes to their usual work duties due to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which prohibits discrimination against pregnant workers in hiring and firing; and the Americans With Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination against workers with disabilities, and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for workers with disabilities. It is the EEOC's job to interpret these laws and issue specific guidelines for how employers should apply them. When workers believe they have experienced discrimination, they can file a charge with the EEOC against their employer. The EEOC will conduct an investigation into the allegations in the charge, and, if they find evidence that the law was broken, will try to negotiate a settlement. Sometimes the EEOC files a lawsuit; most of the time it concludes the investigation by allowing the worker(s) to file their own lawsuit in court. The EEOC is led by a bipartisan group of five presidentially appointed commissioners. Barely a week after taking office, Trump made an unprecedented power grab for more control over the EEOC, illegally firing two of the three Democratic EEOC commissioners. This leaves the agency unable to do critical aspects of its work. This also means there are now three vacancies for Trump to fill. Until new commissioners are appointed, the agency will remain hamstrung and unable to fully enforce the law. With its own version of the EEOC, the Trump administration can simply choose not to enforce aspects of laws it does not like. It could also issue new guidelines that defy existing legal precedent, sowing confusion and distorting anti-discrimination law as a means to enforce its own agenda — like bullying employers into abandoning DEI programs, limiting women's reproductive choices, and enforcing the gender binary. Agencies like the EEOC rely on funding from the executive branch and Congress to ensure they can fulfill their mission. With staff and budgets being slashed across the government, the EEOC will likely be impacted. That means longer wait times for workers filing charges, less capacity to hold employers accountable for breaking the law, and less funding for education and outreach. If you believe your rights have been violated, the first step is to speak with an attorney who can help you understand your options. A Better Balance maintains a free, confidential legal helpline covering rights related to pregnancy, health, and caregiving in the workplace. Other organizations, like the National Employment Lawyers Association and state bar associations, can also provide referrals to employment lawyers licensed in your state. Even if the EEOC is defanged, nonprofit legal advocacy organizations and civil rights attorneys will continue stepping in, representing workers whose rights have been violated and holding employers accountable. Knowledge is power. You should make sure that you understand your legal rights so you can recognize when something at work isn't acceptable and advocate for yourself. You have the right to be free from discrimination and harassment on the basis of your race, color, sex (including gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation), age, national origin, religion, pregnancy, and disability. One newer law that everyone should know about is the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. This act took effect in 2023 and was the first major advancement in workplace civil rights in decades. It gives pregnant and postpartum workers a right to changes at work that ensure they can keep their jobs without risking their health. A Better Balance's Workplace Rights Hub has additional information about laws that can support you in caring for yourself and loved ones, without risking your paycheck. You can also contact your senators and urge them to oppose extremist nominees and budget cuts at the EEOC. There are many threats to workers in the current political climate; employers' use of DEI programs is not one of them. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want more labor coverage? Billionaires Barely Pay Taxes — Here's How They Get Away With It American Work Culture Is the Problem — Not You What a Labor Union Is and How It Works What Is Retaliation in the Workplace? Here Are Your Rights and What to Know
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
3 times to use a HELOC in 2025
Need to renovate your kitchen now? Then it could be a good time to apply for a HELOC. Maskot Your home equity can be a viable financing source in any economic climate, but in today's elevated one, it's one of the better ways to borrow money. The average interest rate on a home equity line of credit (HELOC), for example, is just under 8% right now, and it's fallen by around two percentage points just since September 2024. And should certain economic factors that drive HELOC rates remain in play, rates on the line of credit could fall again, perhaps as soon as this week. In other words, it's a very credible way to borrow some of the average $300,000-plus home equity homeowners have right now. But in the economic climate of 2025, there are better times to use a HELOC than others. This consideration is especially important to get right, considering that HELOCs utilize the home in question as collateral. Failure to repay as agreed could result in foreclosure. Using it at the right times, then, is critical. But when, exactly, are the right times to use a HELOC in 2025? That's what we'll analyze below. Start by seeing what HELOC rate you could qualify for here. 3 times to use a HELOC in 2025 While each homeowner's circumstances are different, many could benefit from using it during one or more of these times this year: When financing home projects This is traditionally one of the better times to use a HELOC in any economic climate, and it's not different in the unique one of May 2025, either. That's because interest paid on a HELOC is tax-deductible if used to pay for eligible home projects and renovations. A kitchen or bathroom remodel undertaken this spring and summer, for example, could be a smart way to use the HELOC. Generic repairs and appliance replacements, however, will typically not qualify. But if you're already underway with a spring home project or plan to be soon, this could be one of the optimal times to pay for it with a HELOC. Get started with a HELOC online today. When price changes are affordable A HELOC has a variable interest rate, which means, right now, current borrowers have been experiencing and are positioned to further experience lower rates and lower monthly payments. But this rate changes monthly for borrowers and it could cause payments to rise or fall, perhaps in an unexpected way. So you'll need to calculate your future repayment costs tied to both today's available rates as well as what they could look like over the full draw and repayment periods. If you can afford these price changes, then this could be the right time to pursue a HELOC, thanks to its affordability compared to the broader borrowing climate. If you can't, however, then it may be time to explore the fixed-rate home equity loan as an alternative. When looking for the cheapest home equity borrowing option In the interest rate climate of just a few years ago, when it came time to secure the cheapest home equity borrowing option, a HELOC was generally not considered a top choice. But if you're looking for the cheapest home equity borrowing option in 2025, you'd be hard pressed to find something less expensive than a HELOC. Not only does a HELOC have a lower rate than a home equity loan right now, it also won't require you to forego your existing, presumably low mortgage rate, as you would have to with a cash-out refinance. You also won't have to deal with the age restrictions associated with a reverse mortgage. And you'll save considerably more by borrowing with a HELOC than you would with a personal loan (with an average rate over 12% now) or a credit card (with an average rate close to 23%). So, if you're looking for the cheapest home equity borrowing option right now, or simply one of the cheapest options overall, this is one of the better times to look for a HELOC. The bottom line The "right" time to use a HELOC in 2025 could be one or more of the above. Or it could be none. It really depends on the specific needs and financial health of each homeowner. So carefully consider where you fit in the home equity borrowing spectrum to determine if now is the right time for you to use a HELOC or if you'd better served with an alternative like a home equity loan instead. Learn more about your HELOC and home equity loan options here.
