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A hospital in Australia is begging snakebite victims to stop bringing the snakes in with them
iStock/Getty Images
An Australian hospital is asking snakebite victims to stop bringing the snakes to the ER.The hospital's director said that having a live snake in the ER puts staff and patients at risk.He said it also delays the time it takes for patients to get treated.A hospital in Australia is asking snakebite victims not to bring the reptiles with them to the emergency room, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
In one instance earlier this month, staff at Bundaberg Hospital in Queensland were handed a plastic container with a small Eastern Brown snake inside, according to the news outlet.
The snake species is common across much of eastern Australia, and its deadly venom is the country's most common cause of fatal snake bites.
According to The Guardian, about 3,000 snakebites are reported in Australia each year, with 41% coming from Eastern Brown snakes.
Last month, the newspaper reported that one of these snakes caused a man's death after he was bitten multiple times.
According to Bundaberg Hospital's director of emergency medicine, Adam Michael, the snake at his hospital this month was "not very well secured."
It was also trying to escape the plastic container, ABC reported.
"The staff got a fright and the serious consequence of that is it delays people's time to treatment," Michael told the news outlet.
He added: "We want people to be able to get seen and assessed quickly, and having a live snake in the department slows up that process."
A snake catcher told the news outlet that he had removed several snakes bought into the hospital, many arriving in plastic containers or bags.
According to the Australian Medical Association, wait times in Australia for emergency rooms are at their longest in a decade, 9 News reported last week.
While people bringing in snakes may think it will help doctors with identification and speed up getting the right treatment, Michael told ABC that all it does is endanger lives.
He said doctors aren't trained to identify snakes, so it only "puts the staff at risk as well as yourself," according to ABC.
Bringing in the snakes, he added, risks becoming a "huge" disaster with no upside.
"We can determine if you need anti-venom and, if so, what anti-venom you need based on clinical signs, blood tests, and also the snake venom detection kits that we keep here at the hospital," Michael said.
A Gen X couple moved from California to Massachusetts to escape high housing costs: 'We still pinch ourselves over how lucky we are.'
Steve Dalton
Steve Dalton and Sydney Sauber left California for a lower cost of living in Massachusetts.Dalton and Sauber appreciate Worcester's cultural diversity and intellectual opportunities.They estimate their $560,000 Worcester home would sell for over $2 million in the Bay Area.Steve Dalton, 56, and his partner Sydney Sauber, 58, were ready to leave the Bay Area of California after nearly two decades.
Sauber was homesick for the Northeast, where she lived for much of her life, though Dalton had never lived anywhere outside the Bay Area. After deliberating staying on the West Coast, they settled on a historic home in Worcester, Massachusetts, the state's second-most-populous city.
The cost of living in Worcester is lower than in the Bay Area, and they've found the city accessible for Dalton's mobility challenges. Worcester also has the intellectual and artistic opportunities both were looking for, and they valued its cultural diversity. Dalton said they "still pinch ourselves over how lucky we are."
"It was really important to us to live in a neighborhood that you could walk in and that physically you would be able to easily go across the street with your bare feet and talk to your neighbor," Sauber said. "People walk their dogs and just hang out in their yards without super loud cars rushing by you."
According to the Census Bureau's most recent tabulation of American Community Survey data, 818,000 people left California between 2021 and 2022, compared to 475,800 who moved in. About 18,500 moved from California to Massachusetts during this period. A Business Insider analysis reveals the typical mover leaving California makes $53,500 and is a millennial or Gen Zer, with many stating they're moving for lower living costs, slower paces of life, or political reasons.
Leaving California for Massachusetts
Dalton, an IT professional for a university, was born and raised in the Bay Area. He grew up in Marin County, directly north of San Francisco, before moving to Contra Costa County further east.
Sauber, a cognitive scientist and learning style specialist, was born in Puerto Rico, then moved around the country to New York, Texas, and Florida. She eventually settled in New England, spending time in Northampton and Salem, Massachusetts, as well as Dover, New Hampshire.
Sauber then moved to California to work on a book, living on a fishing boat in the East Bay. While there, she met Dalton, and they moved into a condo in San Pablo two years later in 2010.
They enjoyed living near San Francisco and Oakland, though both knew the condo was temporary. Sauber said San Pablo didn't have the academic and artistic community she sought, and it was unsustainable for her to have a home office at the condo.
As they reached retirement age, the couple wanted to purchase a house, though they knew that would be implausible in the Bay Area with their budget. As a couple with a single income of just over $100,000, they would need to look quite far from the Bay to purchase their dream home. Zillow estimates the average home price in San Pablo is $605,000.
"As it was, homes we were considering in the North Bay at the time would have required us to spend our entire savings and equity on a down payment and still carry a pretty high mortgage," Dalton said.
Sauber also thought she would have a larger client base as an educational consultant in a New England city than in California. Both also felt moving out of California would mean they would be less affected by the climate crisis, as they worried wildfires or infrastructure failures would damage their future retirement home.
"We lived four miles away from the Chevron oil refinery, and we learned several times, over and over again, that San Pablo is a sacrifice zone," Sauber said, referring to an area permanently changed by environmental damage. "We knew that it was not going to be one of the places that people are going to run to service if something big happens near or in it."
As Dalton is a paraplegic from a spinal cord injury, he wanted a larger space that would allow him to live more comfortably — and would have enough room for a live-in caregiver as he ages.
Settling on Worcester, Massachusetts
They made two "reconnaissance trips" to Worcester, a city of slightly over 200,000 residents. One of their concerns was adjusting to the snow, and one of their trips was during a 10-inch snowstorm. Still, they calculated there would only be a few house-bound days in Massachusetts due to the snow, compared to roughly 25 days a year in San Pablo due to poor air quality.
The couple bought their home in Worcester in May 2022, spending $560,000 on the 100-year-old 2,000-square-foot home — they sold their California home for $480,000. Their neighborhood mostly comprises single-family homes built 75 to 125 years ago. The four-bedroom house is walking distance from parks and grocery stores, and it's a short drive from downtown and many high-quality medical facilities.
"We're able to use some of the money we had in savings to make other investments in the home, make it more accessible for me, and also do some future-proofing, like with solar panels," Dalton said.
He estimates a similar home in the Bay Area would cost over $2 million. They pay less than $2,000 a month for their mortgage, and they had extra money from savings to install a new roof. They also installed an elevator, and their solar panel system will zero out their electricity bill for the next three decades.
Dalton said he's been comforted by the city's healthcare resources. They live close to a few hospitals and specialized care facilities that are not as crowded and rushed as in California.
Dalton said despite his disability, he enjoys taking advantage of nature. He misses the whitewater rafting and adaptive rock climbing of California, though his part of Massachusetts has plenty of parks and nature trails.
As a city with 10 colleges and universities, Worcester is "lively with a rich intellectual life," Dalton said. The couple said Worcester has shocked them with how creative and community-focused the city has become. They've appreciated the city's public gardens, poetry associations, and art projects that have made the city feel inviting.
"Worcester is a city that is doing a lot to progress as a city," Dalton said. "In the not-too-distant past, they had the Red Sox minor league team make their home here, and they have a very nice stadium for that. They're building a lot of nightlife and cultural stuff around that. They also have revitalized their theater and performing arts district."
They've also found the people warm and open, despite stereotypes they heard about New Englanders being standoffish. The community is ethnically and socioeconomically diverse as well. They acknowledged that some longtime residents have noted an opioid crisis has rocked the city or have been concerned about gentrification, though Dalton and Sauber said Worcester is maybe the best place they've lived.
"I didn't want to live in a super expensive, posh neighborhood; I wanted a place that felt safe but also had opportunities to get to know other people from other cultures and backgrounds and at the same time be of service to each other," Sauber said.
Have you recently moved to a new state or left the United States for a new country? Reach out to this reporter at nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.
Some workers are choosing housing and student loan benefits over a retirement plan, and it says a lot about America's cost-of-living crisis
Nicolas Hansen/Getty Images
Workers and companies are trying non-traditional job benefits to combat the rising cost of living.Housing assistance, student loan repayments, and commuting support are increasingly popular.Unconventional benefits could also entice remote workers back to the office.As Americans deal with the rising cost of living, more companies and workers are rethinking the types of job benefits that are most important.
Recent surveys have shown that some workers prefer non-traditional job benefits such as housing assistance and help with commuting costs over things like extra vacation time. Additionally, companies are getting creative with their benefits packages so that can help both the business and the employees, such as matched contributions to help pay off student loans in place of retirement benefits and adoption assistance, said John Newcome, vice president and senior consultant at the benefits administration firm Kelly Benefits.
"Employees want a holistic approach to benefits that address their overall well-being, including work-life balance, mental health support, and financial guidance," Newcome told Business Insider. "Standard benefits, like medical, dental, or vision care, are typically included in most employee benefits plans. However, many employees now seek more specific benefits."
The most direct form of housing assistance can be in the form of rental or down payment assistance, which Newcome said more companies are starting to implement, especially among public entities, such as major universities, public school districts, and even the US federal government. However, there are other more creative ways to help with home ownership, he added.
For example, a company can guarantee a loan to help secure a lower interest rate for an employee or even share ownership of a house with the worker, which they can buy out over time.
Walmart is one example of a company offering housing assistance to employees. When qualified workers buy a new home or refinance a house, Walmart will help with the process and pay part of the closing costs.
Elon Musk's tunneling company, Boring, announced plans in 2023 to build a 110-home subdivision for employees near the Austin suburb of Bastrop. The homes are expected to be offered as lease to own, with prices below market rate and close to facilities for Boring and other Musk-led businesses, Tesla and SpaceX.
Non-traditional perks can be chosen to help with more immediate needs
Other non-traditional perks on the rise include some voluntary benefits that can lower or eliminate living expenses, said Newcome. These include family planning benefits, such as help with fertility procedures or adoption costs, along with supplements to basic health insurance, including mental health support and even pet insurance.
Student loan repayment assistance is another benefit growing in popularity, said Newcome. In some cases, workers can choose this benefit and pause other benefits such as retirement contributions.
"With workers of all ages repaying student debt, student loan assistance should be a key consideration in the enhancement of employee benefit programs," Newcome said.
Some companies are offering matching contributions to employees for student loan debts.FG Trade Latin/Getty Images
One way companies are offering student loan assistance is similar to a 401(k), in which the company makes matching contributions to the student loan each month based on how much the employee pays.
In cases where employees can choose between student loan help and retirement contributions, it can help keep the company and the workers from having to take on additional benefits costs.
To be sure, there can be downsides to accepting these perks. Many Americans are facing a retirement crisis without enough saved up for their post-work lives. Postponing retirement savings in favor of more immediate needs could just be trading one problem in and creating a bigger one later.
In addition, some of these perks, such as supplements to health insurance, might be offered as optional with an added cost. If taken, the employee faces potentially lower after-tax, take-home pay.
Non-traditional benefits could also convince workers to rethink remote work
Rethinking employee benefits could also be the key to enticing remote workers back to the office.
In a survey of 1,020 employers and workers about office perks, performed by the bonding and insurance company JW Surety Bonds and published in January, 47% of respondents said they would be willing to return to the office if housing benefits were offered. Additionally, 69% said they would be willing to change their job or career for employer-based housing benefits.
Additionally, 43% said they would take less vacation time in exchange for help with housing costs, and 30% said they would prefer housing assistance over a pay raise.
Some workers have expressed an interest in returning to the office in exchange for perks that help with the cost of living.Morsa Images/Getty Images
Similarly, providing employees with commuting assistance could be key to luring more workers back to the office in a post-pandemic world, according to a survey of 1,038 US adults and remote employees performed in February by the cloud communications company Ringover.
When asked which perks would convince them to give up remote work, the top response was "paid commute," with 83.2% of respondents picking that as an important incentive.
As the landscape of employee benefits evolves to meet the changing needs of the workforce, companies are becoming more innovative.
Stock market today: US futures rise as Tesla kicks off Magnificent 7 earnings season
Omar Marques via Getty Images
US stock futures climbed higher in premarket trading on Tuesday. Tesla is set to kick off Big Tech earnings season after the closing bell. Shares in Elon Musk's EV maker have plummeted this year amid signs of slowing demand.US stocks looked set to open higher at the opening bell on Tuesday, as traders waited for Tesla to kick off a make-or-break Magnificent Seven earnings season.
Shortly after 5 a.m. ET, S&P 500 futures were up 0.2%, while Nasdaq 100 futures had climbed 0.3%. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures traded flat.
There was also muted trade in other assets, with yields on 10-year Treasury notes up 1 basis point to 4.63%. The US Dollar Index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six other currencies, held steady.
Tesla is expected to report its first-quarter earnings after the closing bell.
Shares in Elon Musk's electric car maker have tumbled 43% year-to-date amid signs of a slowdown in demand for EVs, with last week's layoffs failing to arrest the slide.
Analysts are expecting Tesla to post earnings of $0.44 per share for the three months ending March 31, according to data from Refinitiv. This would represent a 48% drop from this time last year.
"Big tech kicks off with Tesla results this evening," Sophie Lund-Yates, Hargreaves Lansdown's lead equity analyst, said. "The tech darling's valuation has come under renewed pressure on news of price cuts, and its dramatic efforts to boost demand means there's an element of trepidation about the earnings release."
General Motors, Spotify, and Visa are among the other companies set to report earnings on Tuesday.
Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 23, 2024 | Rates Hold Steady, but They Could Move Later This Week
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Mortgage rates haven't changed much over the last week, but they could move up or down later this week depending on how a couple of big economic reports turn out. Currently, 30-year mortgage rates remain near 7%, according to Zillow data.
On Thursday we'll get gross domestic product data showing how much the US economy grew in the first quarter of 2024. Then, the latest personal consumption expenditures price index, a key measure of inflation, will be released on Friday. If these reports come in hotter than expected, mortgage rates could tick up higher.
The core PCE price index, which strips out food and energy, is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. This index is expected to come in a bit lower than last month's reading, which would be good news for mortgage rates.
Mortgage rates will likely remain elevated until inflation slows further and the Fed is able to start lowering the federal funds rate. Investors are currently pricing in September for the first Fed cut, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. This means we could see mortgage rates start to trend down in fall.
But first, we'll need to see a few months of data showing that inflation is actually coming down. If the latest inflation data remains sticky, mortgage rates could stay high for even longer.
Today's mortgage rates
Today's refinance rates
Mortgage Calculator
Use our free mortgage calculator to see how today's interest rates will affect your monthly payments:
By clicking on "More details," you'll also see how much you'll pay over the entire length of your mortgage, including how much goes toward the principal vs. interest.
Mortgage Rate Projection for 2024
Mortgage rates started ticking up from historic lows in the second half of 2021 and increased dramatically in 2022 and throughout most of 2023.
Many forecasts expect rates to fall this year now that inflation has been coming down. But recently, data has been somewhat sticky, so we may need to wait a bit longer for rates to go down. In the last 12 months, the Consumer Price Index rose by 3.5%. This is a significant slowdown compared when it peaked at 9.1% in 2022, but a slight uptick from the previous month's reading. We'll likely need to see more slowing before rates can drop substantially.
For homeowners looking to leverage their home's value to cover a big purchase — such as a home renovation — a home equity line of credit (HELOC) may be a good option while we wait for mortgage rates to ease. Check out some of our best HELOC lenders to start your search for the right loan for you.
A HELOC is a line of credit that lets you borrow against the equity in your home. It works similarly to a credit card in that you borrow what you need rather than getting the full amount you're borrowing in a lump sum. It also lets you tap into the money you have in your home without replacing your entire mortgage, like you'd do with a cash-out refinance.
Current HELOC rates are relatively low compared to other loan options, including credit cards and personal loans.
When Will House Prices Come Down?
We aren't likely to see home prices drop this year. In fact, they'll probably rise.
Fannie Mae researchers expect prices to increase 3.20% in 2024 and 0.30% in 2025, while the Mortgage Bankers Association expects a 4.10% increase in 2024 and a 3.30% increase in 2024.
Sky high mortgage rates have pushed many hopeful buyers out of the market, slowing homebuying demand and putting downward pressure on home prices. But rates have since eased, removing some of that pressure. The current supply of homes is also historically low, which will likely push prices up.
What Happens to House Prices in a Recession?
House prices usually drop during a recession, but not always. When it does happen, it's generally because fewer people can afford to purchase homes, and the low demand forces sellers to lower their prices.
How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?
A mortgage calculator can help you determine how much house you can afford. Play around with different home prices and down payment amounts to see how much your monthly payment could be, and think about how that fits in with your overall budget.
Typically, experts recommend spending no more than 28% of your gross monthly income on housing expenses. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.
The lower your rate, the more you'll be able to borrow, so shop around and get preapproved with multiple mortgage lenders to see who can offer you the best rate. But remember not to borrow more than what your budget can comfortably handle.
Trump may be held in contempt Tuesday after hush-money DA cites at least 10 gag-order violations
Reuters/Victor J. BluerEU
Manhattan prosecutors say Trump has violated his gag order at least 10 times.Trump may be found in contempt Tuesday morning for his posts on Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels.He faces fines of $1,000 per violation and even jail, though experts say the latter is less likely.Donald Trump faces a contempt-of-court finding and thousands of dollars in fines if the judge in his New York hush-money trial finds him in contempt of court for repeatedly violating his gag order.
A contempt hearing is set for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, the second day of testimony.
Openings were Monday. Prosecutors told a seven-man, five-woman jury that Trump conspired to falsify business documents to hide a $130,000 hush money payment that silenced porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election.
Trump's attorneys countered that the hush money was a legal expression of democracy.
Since the gag order took effect on April 1, Trump has persisted in attacking jurors and two key witnesses, Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, prosecutors complained in seeking the GOP frontrunner be fined.
Under New York law, Trump faces a maximum of $1,000 per violation.
The judge could also pose any amount of jail time as a punishment and deterrent against future violations. But prosecutors have not asked that Trump be jailed.
Experts said a warning of jail is far more likely than even a brief stint behind bars.
Manhattan defense lawyer Murray Richman says he's had plenty of experience with gag orders in his 60 years in practice — during which he has repped organized crime figures "from every one of the Five Families," he told Business Insider.
"There is almost always a gag order to protect the parties, the witnesses, the case," he said.
The judge will not order Trump jailed even if he does find he repeatedly violated the gag, Richman predicted.
"It's like he's challenging the judge to do something," Richman said.
"But the reality is, if the judge incarcerates him, he becomes a hero. If he puts him in for five days, three days, one day — they'll publish that picture around the world. And then he becomes president."
Still, last week, prosecutors asked that the judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, warn Trump that future violations could get him thrown behind bars.
"We're asking the court to remind the defendant that further violations of the court's order could result in jail time," a prosecutor, Christopher Conroy, told the judge last Monday.
Trump's gag order bans Trump from making public statements about jurors and witnesses that could interfere with the trial.
Despite the gag, at least 10 attacks have been posted to Trump's Truth Social account and his official campaign website this month,
Most of the posts cited by prosecutors target Cohen, calling him a "serial perjurer."
One of Trump's gag-violating Truth Social posts went live shortly after 9 a.m. on April 15, the first day of jury selection, Conroy complained to the judge last week.
"It's entirely possible that it was done while in this courthouse," the prosecutor said.
Another of Trump's "Truths," from April 10, called Daniels and Cohen "two sleaze bags who have, with their lies and misrepresentations, cost our country dearly."
Other Truth Social posts cited by prosecutors attacked a former prosecutor on the case, and the jury pool in general.
On April 18, Trump quoted Fox News host Jesse Watters claiming that "Liberal Activists" were lying to the judge in order to infiltrate the jury.
"The defendant has demonstrated his willingness to flout the order," Conroy told the judge last week.
"He has attacked witnesses in the case in the past. He has attacked Grand Jurors and jurors," Conroy said.
Also last week, Merchan showed little patience for Trump lawyer Todd Blanche for claiming that Trump had to fight back against Cohen and Daniels.
"The two witnesses themselves have been talking about their testimony in this case, President Trump's ongoing reelection, and just generally disparaging threats constantly," Blanche complained.
"He's responding to salacious repeated attacks by these witnesses," the lawyer added.
Merchan did not sound sympathetic to Blanche's argument when he ordered the defense to respond in writing to the prosecution's claims.
"When you respond," the judge said, "direct me to any portion in the original gag order or the subsequent gag order that ways that there is an exception to the gag order if Mr. Trump feels he is being attacked."
The judge added, with some sarcasm, "I don't recall inserting that anywhere in either gag order."
The top 20 fast-growing, high-paying jobs in the US
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
Employment is projected to increase for software developers, a high-paying job, from 2022 to 2032.BI looked at employment projections and median annual wages to create a ranking of similar jobs.Nurse practitioners ranked No. 5 on this list of high-paying and fast-growing jobs.Spoiler alert: Software developers tops Business Insider's list of the top 20 high-paying and fast-growing jobs in the US.
To get the top 20 job titles, Business Insider looked at jobs projected to see employment increase between 2022 and 2032 and had median annual wages greater than the median annual wage for all jobs in the US, which was $48,060.
The annual wage estimates used were part of the release of May 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics earlier this month. Projection data also comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
We calculated the geometric mean for all the jobs that both pay above the overall median and were also projected to see employment climb. That means our list is ranked based on a combination of growth and pay. For example, while the median wage for the No. 2 job is a bit higher than for the No. 1 job, the projected growth in number of positions for the No. 1 job is so much more than No. 2 that it rose to the top spot in the ranking.
We only looked at jobs with specific annual wage estimates. We excluded titles that contained "All Other" in their occupation titles, such as "Computer Occupations, All Other," given that label doesn't specify one role.
While several tech-related jobs were among the top 20, some healthcare roles were highly ranked. Nurse practitioners ranked No. 5, for instance.
Below are the top 20. Pay estimates, employment projections, and the "typical education needed for entry" stated for each job below come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
SeventyFour/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $101,800
Projected employment increase: 40,800
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $99,580
Projected employment increase: 42,000
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Jetta Productions Inc/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $54,320
Projected employment increase: 89,300
Typical education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award
fizkes/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $130,020
Projected employment increase: 39,300
Typical education needed for entry: Master's degree
Nastasic/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $105,650
Projected employment increase: 50,200
Typical education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree
Charday Penn/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $103,800
Projected employment increase: 51,100
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $79,880
Projected employment increase: 67,400
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
RGtimeline/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $98,580
Projected employment increase: 54,700
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Maskot/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $120,360
Projected employment increase: 53,200
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Nitat Termmee/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $108,020
Projected employment increase: 59,400
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
filadendron/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $74,680
Projected employment increase: 116,600
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Maskot/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $145,760
Projected employment increase: 62,400
Typical education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree
AzmanL/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $99,410
Projected employment increase: 95,700
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Marco VDM/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $169,510
Projected employment increase: 86,000
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
FG Trade/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $101,280
Projected employment increase: 147,300
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
SDI Productions/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $126,260
Projected employment increase: 118,600
Typical education needed for entry: Master's degree
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $86,070
Projected employment increase: 177,400
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
sturti/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $110,680
Projected employment increase: 144,700
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $156,100
Projected employment increase: 126,600
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images
Median annual wage: $132,270
Projected employment increase: 410,400
Typical education needed for entry: Bachelor's degree
How 2 participants in Houston's basic-income program plan to spend the $500 a month: 'When you live paycheck to paycheck, it's horrible'
John Coletti / Getty Images
Houston's basic-income program faces shutdown after Texas' attorney general labels it "unconstitutional."The program offers 18 monthly payments of $500 to low-income families for housing and groceries.Uplift Harris starts payments April 24, but its future remains uncertain amid GOP opposition.When Delwin Sutton learned he had been accepted into a guaranteed basic-income pilot in Houston, he signed a lease on a new apartment.
He spent almost all of his savings on his April rental fees and plans to spend his first $500 basic-income payment from Uplift Harris on rent for May: his new two-bedroom costs him $1,083 a month. He knows the GBI money will help him breathe a little easier.
The 51-year-old works in a warehouse in Harris County, which includes Houston. His hours vary, he said, and he doesn't always make enough to afford rent and groceries for himself and his wife. With GBI, Sutton hopes to become more financially secure and save money for the future.
"It's truly a blessing because people need to understand — when you live paycheck to paycheck, it's horrible," he told Business Insider. "It's almost debilitating."
The program randomly selected 1,928 eligible families out of 82,500 applicants — an acceptance rate lower than Harvard or Yale — for monthly payments, distributing $500 no-strings-attached to help them afford housing and groceries for 18 months.
Set to begin payments on April 24, the pilot is at risk of being shut down as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton challenges the program for being "unconstitutional."
On April 9, the Texas Attorney General's office sued Harris County by calling Uplift Harris an "unlawful" program that "redistributes public money in a manner that violates the Texas Constitution." The filing noted that the state Constitution prohibits public funds from being given away "to benefit individuals." A district judge denied Paxton's request to pause the Houston-area program last Thursday.
Paxton appealed the case to the state Supreme Court last Friday. Uplift Harris' program will begin payments in the meantime, according to the office of Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
For participants, there's a lot at stake.
If Sutton doesn't receive his payments, he worries he could lose his new apartment. The idea of the program being canceled sends him into "panic mode."
"I'm scared that if I don't get this money, I'm going to be homeless," he said.
Uplift Harris participants hope the program will make them more financially stable
Guaranteed basic income is an increasingly popular solution to combat poverty in US cities. The programs differ from traditional Social Services because participants receive cash to spend as they choose instead of on specific categories. GBI participants have previously told BI that they used the funds to secure housing and food, pay off debt, and afford school supplies for their children.
"We don't tell people that they have to spend the money on anything in particular, we don't put conditions on it," said Dustin Palmer, US country director at GiveDirectly, a nonprofit helping administer the Houston-area pilot. "We really trust people to do what they need, with the cash to get on their feet, or basic needs, whatever they would like to do."
Most applicants live in high-poverty ZIP codes with household incomes below 200% of the federal poverty line, which is $31,200 for a family of four. Like some other pilots nationwide, the program received $20.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, which financially supported Americans during the pandemic.
"We've had folks who are in really unstable housing situations who want to use the money to get into stability," Palmer said. "We know from a lot of research that people use the money for rent and housing, as this is a major expense for folks, and those expenses have ballooned."
Jay Carter, 37, told BI he "can't wait" to start receiving his cash payments and plans to use the money to pay for his storage unit and PO box. He is also hoping he can pay for a haircut, his phone bill, and some basic cleaning supplies.
He isn't currently employed and is between apartments. Carter said basic income will help him find financial stability, and he hopes to help his mom pay bills while he temporarily stays with her and applies for housing.
"I can plan my life better," he said. "It's good to see your future 18 months from now — I want to accomplish everything that I need to do."
With the support he gets from Uplift Harris, Carter said he hopes to find secure employment, save money for the future, and work toward affording a car. He might even go back to school, he said.
Texas is a leader in GBI programs, but it still faces political opposition
Texas has been a key state for GBI pilots, with recent programs in Austin and San Antonio. Still, Republican lawmakers continue to challenge the programs, calling them "socialist" and worrying that the money could make low-income families too dependent on the government.
Paxton is opposing the Houston-area program because he said the Texas Constitution prohibits the state's counties and cities from granting public money to aid individuals, especially since the pilot does not limit what participants spend the money on.
Harris County Attorney Christian D. Menefee responded, "When corporations are given taxpayer dollars, Republican leaders in Austin call it 'economic development.' When governments use federal dollars to actually help people, Republican leaders in Austin call it socialism."
Paxton has not sued other municipalities in Texas that have launched basic-income pilots. The Austin Guaranteed Income Pilot distributed $1,000 monthly to 135 low-income families, many of whom allotted money to housing, food, and other daily costs. San Antonio's basic-income pilot, which reported similar results, gave participants $5,108 total over 25 months. El Paso County also committed to distributing $500 monthly cash payments to about 80 families.
However, Paxton's challenge to the Houston-area program mirrors GOP efforts to ban basic income in other states. The Arizona legislature is currently hearing a bill that could ban GBI, South Dakota Republicans are hoping to prohibit local governments from offering basic income, and Iowa lawmakers banned basic income programs across the state last week.
With the future of Uplift Harris' basic-income program unclear, Sutton said he worries about affording his rent and groceries. He wishes more people understood that — in his financial situation — a little bit of help goes a long way.
"Everybody that asks us for assistance doesn't want it for the rest of their lives like Mr. Paxton is trying to make it seem," Sutton said. "I want to work, I want to be better. If it's taking everything that I have just to survive, I will never be able to be better."
Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you willing to share how the money has impacted your life? Reach out to these reporters at allisonkelly@businessinsider.com and nsheidlower@businessinsider.com.
Anne Hathaway says she had to make out with 10 guys in a day for 'gross' chemistry auditions. She pretended to be excited so she wasn't labeled 'difficult.'
Rick Kern/WireImage/Getty
Anne Hathaway told V Magazine that in the 2000s, she had to kiss 10 men in one day for a chemistry audition.Hathaway said she thought it was "gross" but didn't want to be seen as "difficult" by complaining.Hathaway said making actors kiss in a chemistry audition is the "worst way to do it."Anne Hathaway said she had to make out with 10 guys in one day for a chemistry audition for a movie in the 2000s.
Hathaway, who starred in several romantic movies in the 2000s such as "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement," "Ella Enchanted," and "Becoming Jane," told V Magazine in an interview published on Monday that kissing other actors used to be a normal part of chemistry readings during that period.
"Which is actually the worst way to do it," she said of the kissing test. "I was told, 'We have 10 guys coming today and you're cast. Aren't you excited to make out with all of them?' And I thought, 'Is there something wrong with me?' because I wasn't excited."
Hathaway continued, without naming the movie: "I thought it sounded gross. And I was so young and terribly aware how easy it was to lose everything by being labeled 'difficult,' so I just pretended I was excited and got on with it."
Anne Hathaway and Chris Pine in "The Princess Diaries" sequel.Walt Disney Pictures
She added: "It wasn't a power play, no one was trying to be awful or hurt me. It was just a very different time and now we know better."
Older female actors such as Hathaway, Kirsten Dunst, and Katherine Heigl have spoken up in recent years about how they were treated by Hollywood earlier in their careers in the hopes it will help change the industry.
Hathaway told V that the making-out element is being phased out of chemistry auditions now.
Hathaway plays the lead but also produced her upcoming movie "The Idea of You," meaning she was able to choose how her chemistry auditions were conducted for her character Solène.
"We asked each of the actors coming in to choose a song that they felt their character would love, that they would put on to get my character to dance, and then we'd do a short little improv," Hathaway said. "I was sitting in a chair like we had come in from dinner or a walk or something, we pressed play, and we just started dancing together."
Anne Hathaway as Solène and Nicholas Galitzine as Hayes Campbell.Alisha Wetherill/Prime
Hathaway said Nicholas Galitzine, who passed the chemistry test and was cast as her love interest Hayes Campbell, chose a song by the Alabama Shakes, which made her smile.
"And he saw me smile, so he relaxed, and we just started dancing. Nobody was showing off," Hathaway said. "Nobody was trying to get the gig. We were just in a space dancing. I looked over and Michael Showalter, our director, was beaming. Spark!"
Galitzine told People in March at the SXSW festival that he was initially anxious about the dance audition, but the experience was "transformative."
"As an actor you oftentimes go into those rooms with so much trepidation, and it was so open," Galitzine said "And I kind of remember leaving the room going, 'You know, if this doesn't work out, I am really proud of the work that I did, even in this space.'"
Apple fans may already be moving on from the Vision Pro
Anadolu/Getty Images
People are already losing interest in Apple's Vision Pro, according to Bloomberg.Apple's $3,500 virtual reality device is a niche device that has drawn mixed reviews. Despite an initial sales surge, the device has been criticized for its impracticality.Some tech devotees are already losing interest in Apple's Vision Pro just months after the futuristic headset hit the market.
The long-awaited virtual reality device prompted long lines at Apple stores and an initial surge in sales back in February, but the early buzz around the accessory has quickly waned, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported Sunday.
That's bad news for Apple, which spent eight years and billions of dollars creating the Vision Pro. The device boasts a hefty $3,500 price tag, making it a certified specialty item and keeping it out of reach for many of Apple's typical customers.
The Vision Pro is unlikely to make the company any real money for years still to come, according to Gurman. And the number of people seeking demos for the device has dipped since February, according to Gurman.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
The device sold 180,000 units alone during a January preorder weekend.
Apple has seemingly responded to the growing disinterest by boosting marketing around the device, evidenced by the Vision Pro's prime placement on the company's website.
Reddit forums dedicated to the device include frustrated users complaining the device is impractical in everyday life and uncomfortable to wear. The Vision Pro requires its wearer to attach a battery, start the device, and move through its interface each use.
Virtual reality devices in the past have faced similar struggles in keeping buyers interested and engaged after the novelty wears off, Gurman said.
Business Insider's Jordan Hart foresaw some of those issues back in February, writing that she was running out of reasons to wear the Vision Pro after just one week. Gurman shared a similar sentiment, saying he's gone from wearing it regularly to just once or twice a week because it's "too cumbersome to use on a daily basis."
The reported decreased interest in Apple's shiniest new toy comes as the company juggles a multitude of other setbacks and struggles, including faltering revenue sources and regulatory skepticism.
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