If you're too busy at work to vote on a Tuesday, would you rather vote on Saturday? Before you answer, remember that weekends are your only chance to get away, the kids have soccer, you have to stain the deck, and... [Read more...]

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Why We Vote When We Vote
Why Many Americans Fail to Vote

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has allocated $3.92 billion in grants to help state and local governments rehabilitate neighborhoods becoming blighted by abandoned foreclosed homes. Besides quickly falling into disrepair, the homes become targets for vandalism and arson.

Coming out of HUD's new Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), the money can be used by states and local governments to purchase foreclosed homes at a discount and to rehabilitate or redevelop them. Additionally, the money can be used to offer downpayment and closing cost assistance to low- to moderate-income homebuyers.

"Clearly, the intent is to put this money to work in communities with the highest need and to have a meaningful impact," said HUD Sec. Steve Preston in a press release. "Now the real work begins and HUD stands ready to support these States and communities as they work to stabilize their neighborhoods."

Also See:
IRS Offers Tax Advice for Home Foreclosure Victims
VA Can Help Veterans Avoid Foreclosure

As authorized by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 -- the bailout bill -- the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has increased the basic limit on federal deposit insurance coverage from $100,000 to $250,000 per depositor. However, the bailout bill stipulated that the increase will be effective only through December 31, 2009, when the coverage limit will return to $100,000.

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The Department of Transportation (DOT) has upped its efforts to regulate so called "novelty" motorcycle helmets out of existence. Proposed new safety regulations will require that the DOT label on the back of safety-certified helmets be made larger and harder to remove. Unscrupulous vendors sometimes remove the DOT labels from certified helmets and place them on their non-certified novelty helmets. The proposed regulation would also strengthen the DOT helmet safety certification program.

"Novelty helmets do little to protect riders during an accident," said Sec. Peters in a press release. "This proposal will make it easier for riders to know in advance whether the helmet they buy will keep them safe."

According to Peters, in states with mandatory helmet laws, one in five riders wears a non-DOT certified helmet, and that of the 4,837 motorcyclists killed in 2006, 40 percent were not wearing a helmet.

Also See: Federal Regulations: Laws Behind the Acts