House Unanimously Votes to Eliminate the Penny

Americans may soon no longer be able to offer a penny for their thoughts, because the one-cent coin will be relegated to the ash heap of currency history. The House of Representatives voted to send the smallest piece of U.S. currency the way of the dodo on Monday, passing the bipartisan Common Cents Act in a unanimous vote. In addition to blocking the U.S. Treasury from minting any more pennies, the bill also set up framework for cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents in order to eliminate the need for pennies altogether.

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Welcome to the “Couch Economy”

A growing number of shoppers are spending money without leaving the house, joining what’s called the “couch economy.” American consumers are increasingly spending from their phones, laptops and tablets rather than going to a physical store. The share of domestic spending online has increased from 48% in 2019 to 58% in 2026. More shoppers are using their mobile devices to order groceries, binge TV with their streaming services, or have dinner delivered. Digital behaviors are now starting to become habits, with consumers increasingly engaging through a lot of the applications that they have available to them. Entertainment at home has increased as streaming platforms and streaming services have become more affordable and accessible, making it a cheap night in instead of going out. Food-delivery services are also increasingly being used by consumers, with about 10% of card users in 2026 using food delivery apps. Pets play a role too, with pet ownership and spending on pets accounting for 8% of credit card spending. A recent study showed that "The couch economy is not simply about consumers staying home; it's about how rising expectations for convenience are reshaping how they spend."

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You’ll Never Believe How the Football Huddle Got Started

Even if the extent of your football knowledge is the name of the team your family and friends root for, you’ve seen the huddle. The action ends, the players wander back toward one another, and suddenly they’re standing shoulder to shoulder in a little circle. There’s some serious discussion, a few nods, and then they break apart and race to their positions. It happens over and over, in every football game. So why do players huddle? The football huddle is widely credited to Gallaudet College, a school for deaf students in Washington, D.C. Gallaudet’s football team was made up of deaf players who communicated using sign language, creating a unique challenge on the field. Because their opponents were often schools for the hearing-impaired, Gallaudet quarterback Paul Hubbard worried that they were watching his hands to read his team’s intentions, and his solution was to form a circle so opponents couldn’t read his signs. That circle became the first football huddle.

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Roasted Potatoes That Are Easily Customizable

Simple seasonings coat these crisp, golden-brown potatoes, making them a good accompaniment to most main courses. This is one of those recipes that you can put your own signature on. Switch out lemon juice for white wine or use melted tallow instead of butter and oil. Add a touch of grated Parmesan cheese once the potatoes are done for a slightly cheesy flavor. Other herbs that work nicely are mint and thyme. It's difficult to go wrong with this recipe.

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

• • 2½ pounds baby potatoes, washed and unpeeled, if large cut in half.
• • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• • ¼ cup olive oil
• • 2 tbsp lemon juice
• • ¼ tsp paprika
• • 1½ tsp salt
• • ½ tsp ground white pepper
• • 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh herbs like basil, chives, rosemary or Italian parsley

Directions:

• • Preheat oven to 425º F.
• • Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• • Add the potatoes and blanch for 3 minutes.
• • Drain and dry potatoes well.
• • Transfer the potatoes to a parchment-lined sheet pan.
• • In a small bowl, stir together butter, olive oil, lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper.
• • Pour butter mixture over the potatoes with a large spoon, coating the potatoes evenly.
• • Roast the potatoes for about 45 minutes, turning ever 15 minutes until tender and golden brown.
• • Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately.

 

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