yanishevska // Shutterstock Most consumers are addicted to online shopping and it has become an integral part of their lives, offering convenience and a wide range of choices at their fingertips. However, with the rise of e-commerce, there has also been an increase in scam websites and fraudulent activities. One such platform that has gained popularity in the last year is Temu. While Temu offers a promising shopping experience, it is essential to be aware of the potential scams.  In this blog post, Spokeo will explore the question, "Is it safe to shop on Temu?" and discuss the Temu scams ..read more

Joseph Hendrickson // Shutterstock No matter when you think you might make your next move, considering the resale impact of your home improvements makes sense. Most home improvements won't net you a profit upon sale, but some improvements can recoup 66% – 217% of your expenses.  Rocket Loans looked at what homeowners can keep in mind when planning a major renovation project that could add value to their home. In addition to directly recouping expenses by raising the sticker price, key improvements can also broaden the home's appeal and widen the range of buyers. Major Home Improvements T ..read more

AnikonaAnn // Shutterstock When it comes to weight loss, we live in an era that feels more influenced than investigated. We receive so much nutrition information from the loudest social media influencers rather than actual health experts. While anecdotes aren't always false, the fact that so many people are desperately gagging down celery juice or doing a week-long potato diet to lose weight illustrates how powerful they can be. Weight loss advice isn't something to be taken lightly. There are lots of mixed messages out there, like when it comes to healthy snacking. What are the best snacks f ..read more

Malachi Jacobs // Shutterstock Since the nation's earliest days, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have played vital roles in shaping the United States. They have carved out communities in isolated swamps, built the country's first transcontinental railroad, pushed back against injustices, and so much more over the past few centuries. Though these movers and shakers don't always make the history books, dozens of sites across the country tell their stories—and not just behind glass walls and verbose museum texts. Yes, you might have to put in a little legwork to reach so ..read more

Rich Fury/Getty Images for Hollywood Park Management Company // Getty Images In today's digital climate, consuming sports has never been easier. Thanks to a plethora of streaming sites, alternative broadcasts, and advancements to home entertainment systems, the average fan has myriad options to watch and learn about their favorite teams at the touch of a button—all without ever having to leave the couch. As a result, more and more sports venues have committed to improving and modernizing their facilities and fan experiences to compete with at-home audiences. Consider using mobile ticketing an ..read more

Cicadas climb up a tree at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., during the Brood X emergence in 2021. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images In the wake of North America’s recent solar eclipse, another historic natural event is on the horizon. From late April through June 2024, the largest brood of 13-year cicadas, known as Brood XIX, will co-emerge with a midwestern brood of 17-year cicadas, Brood XIII. This event will affect 17 states, from Maryland west to Iowa and south into Arkansas, Alabama and northern Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Maryland. A co-emergence like this of t ..read more

ccpixx photography // Shutterstock With a variety of environmental events affecting the wide stretch of the United States, each state is subject to its own risks. Particularly, tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes, flooding, landslides, lightning and drought, among other events, can cause damage to buildings, agriculture and individuals alike. When considering insurance, residents and business owners in each state should account for historic and projected losses due to environmental events in their financial plans. With this in mind, SmartAsset set out to determine which states are most at financ ..read more

Virrage Images // Shutterstock One thing that continues to work on behalf of many homeowners is the equity in their homes. Residential real estate has appreciated by $15 trillion, to more than $58 trillion, since 2020, according to the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, homeowners steadily paying down their mortgages have been accumulating equity even faster than in previous years. Many homeowners could use the win, as the cost of other goods and services continues to fluctuate and bigger-ticket items, like new cars, insurance premiums and renovation costs, are climbing nearly as fast as home prices ..read more

Nagel Photography // Shutterstock Of the 85 state legislative chambers holding elections in 2024, 22 of them—12 senate chambers and 10 house chambers—include incumbents who are unable to run for re-election due to term limits. In those 22 chambers, term limits affected 1,284 seats up for election. According to a Ballotpedia report, there are 99 chambers throughout the country. In 31 legislative chambers across 16 states, state legislators are subject to term limits. In the United States, there are 1,973 state senate seats and 5,413 state house seats. 609 of the 1,973 state senate seats, or 30 ..read more

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Ciano // Stacker // Shutterstock "Gerrymander," "blue states," and "red tape." These words populate headlines and newspaper articles regularly, with many writers taking their meaning for granted, but a look through history can reveal surprising changes in meaning over time. In a political landscape challenged by personal interpretation, etymology can be a reliable narrator. Tracing a word's emergence and exploring the circumstances behind any changes in meaning offers a window into the surrounding historical context, offering insights into how it shaped today's ..read more