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Potholes are popping up everywhere earlier than usualAn early taste of pothole season has many areas scrambling to make road repairs.If you have something to say about the many road projects on the state's slate, now's the time to do so.The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) announced that the public comment period for the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-Fiscal Year 2030 five-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP) will be held from now through Thursday, June 12."This five-year plan includes approximately $18.6 billion in planned transportation investments," according to a release.The plan outlines...

4-minute readAndrew P. Napolitano  |  Special to the USA TODAY NetworkCan FBI be sued if agents raid wrong house? Supreme Court to weigh in.Trina Martin, son Gabe Watson and partner Toi Cliatt seek compensation after their house was mistakenly raided by the FBI.The British government's use of general warrants, allowing searches of colonists' homes without specific cause, contributed to the American Revolution.The Fourth Amendment, designed to protect the right to privacy and property, requires probable cause for government searches.The author argues that the probable cause standard is insufficient, as natural...

No state has yet eliminated property taxes and in Florida they are the biggest source of dollars for 51 of 67 counties and almost half of the state’s 411 cities.With Florida lawmakers now in overtime trying to settle a state budget, the prime source of financing for many cities and counties could soon be headed for the chopping block.In whatever budget deal is decided by the Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants included some kind of commitment to rolling back property taxes – now or through a ballot question put before...

Dave Williams  |  Capitol Beat News ServiceReal estate investor headed to prison in Atlanta fraud schemeBy Dave WilliamsBureau ChiefCapitol Beat News ServiceATLANTA - The head of a commercial real estate investment firm has been sentenced to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay $45 million in restitution in a fraud scheme involving the Atlanta Financial Center in Buckhead.Elchonon (Elie) Schwartz, 46, of New York City pleaded guilty in February to one count of wire fraud. Schwartz convinced more than 800 investors to send him $62.8 million, including $54 million...

'This is a total dog and pony show. This is not anything that’s credible,' DeSantis said.House Speaker Danny Perez delivers a stunning rebuke to DeSantisThe Florida Legislature nixed the governor's special session and created their own, solely focused on immigration.Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized the House's late-session push for property tax cuts as ineffective.House Speaker Daniel Perez prefers sales tax cuts and formed a 37-member committee to explore property tax cut options, a move DeSantis called a "dog and pony show."The House’s push for property tax cuts will be ineffective,...

Mortgage preapproval first-time homebuyersIf you’re a first-time homebuyer, here’s how to get a mortgage preapproved.Starting earlier this month, any property listing that was publicly marketed to consumers but not listed on the local MLS within one business day no longer appears on Zillow.This step is in line with the National Association of Realtors' Clear Cooperation Policy, which aims to prevent exclusive real estate listings and increase fairness among buyers.Corrections & Clarifications: The headline on an earlier version of this story gave the wrong timing. The listing changes will happen later...

Analysis of the S&P 500, Dow Jones industrial average and Nasdaq during Donald Trump's second term in office and how it compares to the first terms of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.One hundred and one days into Donald Trump's second presidency, investors aren't as sure as they were about the short-term outlook for America's businesses as they were when he took the oath of office.In the weeks between Trump's election and inauguration, the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 rose more than 4%, as investors expected more pro-business...

Tyler Shepherd  |  ContributorMore and more Americans are turning to self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) as economic volatility and inflation fears challenge traditional retirement strategies. Unlike standard IRAs—where investors are largely limited to stocks, mutual funds, and bonds—SDIRAs allow for a broader range of assets, including real estate, private loans, and even cryptocurrencies. This shift is part of a larger trend toward portfolio diversification and hands-on control over retirement savings. Breaking Away from Market Volatility  The appeal of SDIRAs often lies in their potential to shield portfolios from the ups and downs of the...