Silver reached a new all-time high of $69.45 per troy ounce on December 22, 2025, according to data from Trading Economics, marking a significant milestone in the precious metal’s price trajectory. This peak follows a surge in demand driven by tight supply, expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, and growing investor interest in safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty. The price has more than doubled year-to-date, rising 131.62% compared to the same period last year.
Silver first broke through the $60 mark on December 10, 2025, following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut interest rates by 25 basis points.
On December 19, 2025, silver hit an intraday all-time high of $67.46, with analysts noting the rally occurred despite firm US Treasury yields and a strong US Dollar.
By December 22, 2025, spot silver prices had climbed to $69.23 per ounce, with some reports citing a nominal all-time high of $69.45.
The surge is attributed to a historic supply squeeze, with the cost to lease silver reaching its highest level since 2002, indicating a severe shortage in available supply.
Analysts from Deutsche Bank predict silver prices could average $55 per ounce in 2026, with exchange-traded fund holdings potentially reaching a record 1.1 billion troy ounces by year-end.
FOSTORIA – I received the following email from a local restaurant owner that wishing to remain anonymous.
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Nov 15 2025 | Newsmax
The Trump administration will require millions of food aid recipients to recertify their information to receive benefits, part of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins’ effort to overhaul the program, she told Newsmax on Thursday.
On “Rob Schmitt Tonight,” Rollins said she plans to “have everyone reapply for their benefits, make sure that everyone that’s taking a taxpayer-funded benefit through … food stamps, that they literally are vulnerable and they can’t survive without it.”
Rollins was discussing fraud in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and said after receiving data on recipients from 29 red states that “186,000 deceased men and women and children in this country are receiving a check.”
She added, “Can you imagine when we get our hands on the blue state data what we’re going to find?
“It’s going to give us a platform and a trajectory to fundamentally rebuild this program.”
Rollins said her department found one man receiving the same benefit in six states.
“So, these are the things that we’re uncovering that for years no one has really ever dug into because the feds didn’t have the system in place to do it,” she said.
“But we do now. The president has made this a priority. We will fix this program.”
The Trump administration has arrested about 120 Americans “committing fraud on the system,” she said.
“We are actively with the [Department of Justice], with a lot of the other investigation units around the country, already arresting. There’s a lot of people already sitting in jail, but I think we’re just at the very tip of the iceberg and what we’re going to find,” she added.
November 2, 2025
Not Your Mama’s Grilled Cheese Truck is giving back this November.
In their words:
“This year has been a struggle… November is always about giving.”
Every Monday from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, they’re serving free meals to anyone in the community—no questions asked.
Come hungry. Leave warm.
Follow on Facebook for updates.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVG) — Ohio lawmakers unveiled a plan Thursday to allocate up to $25 million in state aid for food assistance, aiming to support families impacted by a potential halt in federal SNAP benefits amid the government shutdown.
Governor Mike DeWine will soon issue an executive order instructing the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to:
– Provide $7 million to Ohio food banks using Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.
– Deliver up to $18 million in emergency relief to over 63,000 Ohioans living at or below 50% of the federal poverty level.
Key Details of the Plan
– Food Bank Funding: $7 million will go directly to regional food banks via TANF resources.
– Ohio Works First Recipients: The state’s 63,000 low-income families with children will see their monthly benefits doubled.
– Regular November benefits will be issued on Nov. 1.
– As long as federal SNAP remains paused, recipients will get additional weekly payments equal to about one-quarter of their usual monthly amount.
– Weekly disbursements allow Ohio to adjust quickly once federal funding resumes.
“While we will always do everything we can to support Ohioans who need it most, this is not a viable, long-term solution,” said Governor DeWine. “SNAP is a federal program that is specifically federally funded. The best solution remains the simplest one: pass the continuing resolution and reopen the federal government.”
SNAP in Ohio
– 1.4 million Ohioans rely on SNAP.
– Total monthly benefits: $264 million.
– Average per person: $190.
Timeline
– Food bank funds will be distributed immediately.
– Emergency relief for Ohio Works First recipients begins by Nov. 7.
By The Fostoria Free Press | October 30, 2025
As the federal government shutdown stretches into its 30th day, a crisis is unfolding for over 42 million Americans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. For the first time in the program’s 60-year history, November benefits—totaling about $8 billion—are set to lapse on November 1, leaving families without their average monthly allotment of $187 per person. States are scrambling to fill the void with emergency funds and lawsuits, but the damage is already rippling through communities. Food banks are bracing for a surge, and in a disturbing turn, social media is ablaze with threats from some SNAP recipients to rob stores and homes if their checks don’t arrive.
This isn’t just a policy debate—it’s a stark reminder of the fine line between legitimate aid and a system that some exploit. SNAP was designed as a safety net for the truly vulnerable: working families hit by job loss, the elderly on fixed incomes, single parents juggling childcare and low-wage gigs, or disabled individuals who simply can’t hold down employment. These folks aren’t “lazy”—they’re grinding through circumstances that would break most of us. But amid the shutdown chaos, a vocal minority is exposing the program’s darker side: able-bodied people treating it as an easy road, gaming the system while honest taxpayers foot the bill.
The shutdown, triggered by partisan gridlock over spending bills, has frozen non-essential federal operations since October 1. While Social Security and veterans’ benefits chug along as mandatory spending, SNAP falls into a gray area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) insists it lacks legal authority to tap its $6 billion contingency fund without congressional approval, despite Democratic pushback claiming otherwise. House Speaker Mike Johnson doubled down this week, calling contingency use a “cynical ploy” by Democrats to dodge blame.
The impact is immediate and brutal. October benefits cleared as usual, but November’s halt means a family of four could lose up to $973 in aid—enough to cover groceries for a month. States like New York are ponying up $30 million for food banks, while California and Virginia announce emergency distributions. A coalition of 25 Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Boston’s federal court, arguing the cutoff violates the Food and Nutrition Act’s mandate to provide aid to all eligible households.
Experts warn of a “hunger catastrophe” rivaling the Great Depression, with skipped meals, increased school absences, and strained supply chains. Retailers like Walmart and Dollar General, which rely on SNAP for 3.6% of grocery sales, fear perishable waste and employee hour cuts. Yet, as desperation mounts, so does the rhetoric of entitlement.
In the shutdown’s shadow, TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) have become battlegrounds for raw frustration—and outright threats. Videos of SNAP users vowing to “raid Walmart” or “steal from anyone with food” have gone viral, amassing millions of views. One clip shows a woman with 70,000 followers declaring she’ll shoplift after her EBT card runs dry, blaming the shutdown while posting daily from what appears to be a leisurely routine. Another man rants, “I’m going in the f*ing Walmart… and when we’re right about that b** move, I’m not paying for a damn thang,” adding, “You all think I’m playing? Watch what I do.”
These aren’t isolated rants. Hashtags like #EBToTikTok and #SNAPShutdown trend with posts promising to “loot stores,” “beat up employees who don’t let us steal,” or target homes in affluent neighborhoods. Police in high-SNAP areas are prepping for surges, drawing parallels to the 2013 EBT glitch that sparked mini-riots. One X user warned of “hordes of EBT-funded zombies” pledging mass theft starting November 1, urging self-sufficiency over reliance.
Critics, including conservative commentators, call it “on brand” for a system bloated with fraud—$2.6 billion in improper payments last year alone. They point to able-bodied recipients who could work but don’t, treating SNAP as a lifestyle choice rather than a lifeline. “Why feed people too lazy to get a job but athletic enough to run from security?” one viral post quipped. Another noted, “They’ve already been stealing—they’re just using this as an opportunity to do it boldly.”
This isn’t hyperbole. Recent expansions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act tightened work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, limiting benefits to three months every 36 unless they log 80 hours monthly in work, training, or volunteering. Yet, fraud persists, with some recipients cycling through loopholes or underreporting income. It’s these “easy road” takers—fit, phone-glued influencers with time for daily TikToks but not job hunts—who erode public trust in a program meant for the working poor and disabled.
Don’t get it twisted—this crisis isn’t about the threats; it’s about the innocents caught in the crossfire. Children make up 39% of SNAP users, often in households where parents work multiple low-wage jobs but still can’t cover basics. The elderly, disabled, and rural families in states like Texas and California—home to the most recipients—face impossible choices: food or rent? Medicine or heat?
Stories pour in from single moms at shelters balancing full-time work and childcare, now staring down empty pantries. Food banks report a 20% demand spike already, with volunteers stretched thin. These are the people SNAP saves—not the TikTok tough-talkers promising chaos. Excluding them from the narrative is crucial: aid works when targeted, but it crumbles under abuse.
The shutdown exposes SNAP’s dual reality: a vital tool against hunger for those who can’t work, and a magnet for those who won’t. With threats of looting amplifying the mess, it’s time for hard truths. Bolster verification to weed out fraud—AI audits, stricter income checks, and incentives for employment could reclaim billions. Redirect savings to expand job training for borderline cases, ensuring the net catches the needy without rewarding the lazy.
As Congress dithers, states like Maryland are stepping up with emergency meals for kids. But long-term, we must ask: Is endless reliance sustainable? Self-sufficiency—through skills, community gardens, or side hustles—beats begging for scraps. For the truly deserving, SNAP is a hand up. For the rest? It’s time to hit the pavement.
The clock ticks toward November 1. Will lawmakers end the stalemate, or will desperation turn to disorder? One thing’s clear: In America’s divided house, hunger doesn’t discriminate—but accountability should.
The gig economy is no longer a side hustle — it’s the new backbone of American labor. In 2025, freelancers make up 45% of the U.S. workforce, and projections show this share surging past 50% by 2028. For traditional companies, this means a shrinking pool of standard employees and a seismic shift in how talent is sourced, managed, and retained.
The data tells a clear story: after years of steady growth, the freelance workforce is now accelerating at a pace that outstrips overall labor force expansion.
While the total labor force grows modestly, the available pool for traditional full-time roles is shrinking — fast.
From 2025 to 2028, the standard employee workforce declines by 14.7 million — a 16.5% drop in just three years.
| Year | Standard Employee Share (%) | YoY % Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 55.0 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 55.0 | 0.0% |
| 2026 | 52.1 | -5.3% |
| 2027 | 51.4 | -1.3% |
| 2028 | 45.2 | -12.1% |
Freelancers aren’t just growing in numbers — they’re dominating high-skill, digital-first industries. Here are the top sectors in 2025:
| Rank | Industry | Key Roles | Growth Drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IT & Computer Science | AI engineers, developers, cybersecurity | AI adoption, tech layoffs |
| 2 | Creative & Design | UI/UX, video, copywriting | E-commerce, content boom |
| 3 | Marketing & Sales | SEO, social media, B2B sales | Digital scaling |
| 4 | Healthcare & Mental Health | Telehealth, therapy | Remote care surge |
| 5 | Finance & Accounting | Advisors, tax specialists | Compliance, consulting |
Which industries are hiring freelancers the fastest? FlexJobs’ 2025 report analyzed over 60,000 remote job postings to reveal explosive growth in key sectors.
| Industry | Demand Share (%) | Active Freelancers (M) |
|---|---|---|
| IT & Computer Science | 20% | 14.6 |
| Creative & Design | 15% | 11.0 |
| Marketing & Sales | 12% | 8.8 |
| Healthcare | 10% | 7.3 |
| Finance | 10% | 7.3 |
Freelancers in 2025 are increasingly concentrated in sectors that leverage digital skills, flexibility, and specialized expertise. Based on recent reports from sources like FlexJobs, Upwork, and industry analyses, the freelance economy—now comprising about 45-50% of the US workforce—spans creative, tech, and professional services. Below, I’ve compiled the most prominent industries, ranked by demand and growth (drawing from job posting trends, earnings potential, and market share). These are primarily remote-friendly, with tech and creative fields leading due to AI integration, e-commerce expansion, and post-pandemic shifts.
| Rank | Industry | Key Freelance Roles | Growth Drivers & Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Information Technology & Computer Science | Software developers, web developers, AI/ML engineers, cybersecurity experts, app developers | Highest demand; 15% YoY growth in postings. AI/blockchain roles pay $150-250/hr. Tech giants like Amazon and Intel are shifting to freelancers post-layoffs. |
| 2 | Creative & Design | Graphic designers, UI/UX designers, copywriters, video producers, content creators | 75% of art/design pros are freelancers; entertainment sector at 55%. E-commerce boom fuels need for visuals and marketing assets. |
| 3 | Marketing & Sales | Digital marketers, sales specialists (B2B/B2C), SEO experts, social media managers | 11% growth; essential for online expansion. Freelancers help scale during peaks without full-time hires. |
| 4 | Healthcare & Mental Health | Nurses, mental health therapists, telehealth consultants | Leading in freelance hiring; remote therapy and wellness roles surged post-2024. Flexible for gig-based patient care. |
| 5 | Finance & Accounting | Accountants, financial advisors, payroll specialists, business consultants | 3rd in overall freelance postings; high earnings from tax/investment advice. 48% of Fortune 500 use freelancers here. |
| 6 | Administrative & Project Management | Project managers, executive assistants, recruiters, virtual assistants | 18% growth in PM roles; supports blended workforces. Quick scaling for urgent tasks. |
| 7 | Customer Service | Representatives, support specialists | Core skill for e-commerce; hourly rates $20-40. Platforms like Upwork see steady demand. |
| 8 | Legal Services | Legal writers, contract drafters, compliance experts | Digital adaptation drives virtual services; IP and corporate law niches booming. |
| 9 | Education & Training | Online tutors, course creators, e-learning developers | Rise in platforms like Coursera; freelancers fill skill gaps in AI/tech training. |
| 10 | Construction & Trades | Consultants, project coordinators (remote planning) | 55% freelance rate; less remote but growing in virtual oversight roles. |
This distribution reflects a shift toward gig work in high-skill, flexible sectors. For personalized advice, platforms like FlexJobs or Upwork offer real-time job filters by industry.
When a government shutdown looms, programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), commonly known as food stamps, can face disruptions, leaving many families scrambling to make ends meet. However, with a bit of foresight and strategic planning, it’s entirely possible to weather a temporary loss of benefits without resorting to panic. By focusing on affordable, versatile, and nutrient-dense food items, and by building a small stockpile in advance, you can stretch your resources for weeks or even months. This article highlights 10 budget-friendly food items that can help you navigate a shutdown, while also offering a perspective on long-term reliance on government assistance.
If you’ve been proactive about stocking up on budget staples, a government shutdown shouldn’t spell disaster. The key is to prioritize inexpensive, long-lasting foods that provide sustenance and flexibility. With a well-planned pantry, you can feed yourself and your family for weeks without needing to dip into emergency funds or go without. Below are 10 cheap, reliable food items that can form the backbone of your meals during a SNAP disruption.
If you’ve been buying these budget items regularly and setting aside a small reserve, a government shutdown shouldn’t leave you high and dry. For example, a $20 grocery trip could net you a pound of rice, a pound of beans, a jar of peanut butter, a loaf of bread, and a dozen eggs—enough to feed a small family for days, if not weeks, when stretched thoughtfully. Over time, building a pantry with these staples creates a safety net that can carry you through a couple of months without SNAP benefits. The key is consistency: allocate a small portion of your budget each month to stockpile non-perishables, and you’ll be prepared for disruptions like a shutdown.
While SNAP can be a vital lifeline for those facing temporary hardship, I believe that depending on government assistance long-term is often a choice—and sometimes the easier way out. For many, it’s possible to break free from this cycle by seeking a better-paying job, picking up a second job, or investing in skills that open new opportunities. Programs like SNAP are designed to help during tough times, not to become a permanent crutch. By focusing on self-reliance—through budgeting, stockpiling essentials, and pursuing financial independence—you can reduce your dependence on external support and build a more secure future.
With these 10 food items and a bit of planning, you can turn a government shutdown from a crisis into a manageable inconvenience. Combine rice and beans for a complete protein, whip up PB&J sandwiches for quick lunches, or transform potatoes and eggs into hearty dinners. The goal isn’t to live luxuriously but to meet your needs with resourcefulness and resilience.
In the end, necessity drives ingenuity. By stocking up on these affordable staples and taking steps toward greater self-sufficiency, you can weather any storm—shutdown or otherwise—and maybe even come out stronger on the other side.
