Nearly 109 million people in the U.S. are under excessive heat warnings this week. Here's how to keep your indoor space cool while moderating your energy costs.

Radio and podcast guests should prepare for an appearance by learning about the hosts, formats, style and audience, suggests Dave Purdy from Otter PR. Guests should also tell compelling stories, actively listen and respond to the host, and use social media, websites and blogs to promote their appearance.

Choosing the right mix of automation tools can lower operational costs and enhance consistency, enabling business owners to take time off, writes small-business growth expert Clate Mask. Mask shares how automation technology, from customer relationship management systems to finance software, can allow delegation and four other practices that facilitate owners' ability to unplug from their businesses.

Most U.S. employees would like their employer to offer an emergency savings account with a company match, according to a SecureSave survey, which also revealed 40% of employees would prefer the account over a 401(k) plan. "Emergency funds are the top choice of nearly half of employees as a new benefit option," said Devin Miller, CEO of SecureSave, which found a third of survey respondents have faced financial problems in the past six months.

A growing number of cities are passing ordinances to decrease night-time light pollution, and agents in the know are better equipped to help clients.

Restaurant trends are in flux in 2023. Supply chain shortages continue to bring delays and cost hikes for restaurants planning to expand or renovate.

Lake Homes Realty's Summer 2023 report finds that, among Alabama's lake markets, Lake Martin has the most expensive homes with an average listing price of $1.1 million and that the area has seen a significant rise in the average sales price for single-family homes along the shoreline over the past five years.

Rooftop solar isn't always an option for renters or people living in urban areas, but they can still generate clean power at home thanks to a new system from Slenergy. The company has introduced a plug-and-play micro solar system that's ideal for balconies, gardens and other small spaces.

Tucson, Ariz., and the Las Vegas Valley had the lowest percentages of millennial home buyers in the nation last year, both with less than half of home buyers ages 25 to 44, according to a report by Construction Coverage.

Long-serving Federal Reserve President James Bullard has said that fears of a looming recession in the U.S. are unfounded, asserting that recent economic indicators have surpassed expectations and mitigated concerns. Citing robust job growth and resilient consumer spending, Bullard said the Fed may need to raise rates further if the economy remains strong and growth persists.

The Consumer Bankers Association and the Mortgage Bankers Association have submitted a comment letter saying that proposed federal rules on automated valuation models should not impede technological innovation. The groups also say such rules should not differ in how they are applied to depository lenders and independent mortgage bankers.