Tim Phillips Show, 3/24/26

How much money does it take to be considered “middle class” in the U.S. today? It all depends on which part of the country you live in. According to new research, the amount varies widely from state to state.

New data from SmartAsset reveals the minimum income required to qualify as middle class in each state.
It uses the U.S. Census Bureau median income figures and the Pew Research Center’s definition of middle income as two-thirds to double the median household income.
It finds the highest thresholds for middle-class incomes are mostly in the Northeast.
Massachusetts tops the list, where households have to earn $69.9-thousand to hit the middle-income range.
The lowest thresholds are concentrated in the South. Mississippi ranks last, with $39.4-thousand.
The 10 States Where the Bar for the Middle Class is Highest

Massachusetts $69.9-thousand
New Jersey $69.5-thousand
Maryland $68.6-thousand
Hawaii $67.2-thousand
California $66.8-thousand
New Hampshire $66.5-thousand
Washington $66.3-thousand
Colorado $64.7-thousand
Utah $64.4-thousand
Connecticut $64-thousand

Montana: $59,200; North Dakota $51,900; South Dakota $51,300; Wyoming $50,400

The 5 States with the Lowest Bar for the Middle Class

Mississippi $39.4-thousand
West Virginia $40.5-thousand
Louisiana $40.7-thousand
Arkansas $41.4-thousand
Kentucky $43-thousand⠀
Source: Realtor.com

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Two For Tuesday - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT -   KYLIE MINOGUE, SLTONY #23 in 2002

Born on 5/28/1968 in Melbourne, Australia. Dance singer/actress. Regular on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Top Tricks To Use Less Gas … According to a new article by Money Talks News

1) Slow down on the highway

2) Stop idling everywhere you go

3) Ditch the roof rack

4) Clear the junk out of your trunk

5) Check your tire pressure

6) Coast to stoplights

7) Use your cruise control

8) Stop buying premium gas

9) Change the day you fill up

Tim's News You Can't Use 

Spring cleaning is good for your mental health. Dr. Kia-Rai Prewitt, a psychologist for Cleveland Clinic says decluttering will not only make your home look nice but it will also boost your mood. She says the cleaning itself releases feel-good chemicals like endorphins, which can increase energy and lift moods. It also makes you feel accomplished. On the flip side, she says keeping clutter can increase stress and anxiety. Prewitt suggests picking one small area to start so you don’t feel overwhelmed and kick into procrastination mode.
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Google News says only three perfect March Madness brackets remain from the 36 million that were submitted to various sporting and betting sites 
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The new Gen Z status symbol? It’s not a Birkin bag. It’s a marathon finisher’s medal. Yep, training for a marathon is now the ultimate flex. Why? Because it shows you have discipline, determination, and a real offline life. According to running app Strava’s 2025 Year in Sport report Gen Z is 75% more likely than Gen X to say a race or event is their main motivation for exercise, and Fortune reported that Gen Z is 39% more likely than Gen X to use fitness to meet people who share their interests. That would explain the growing popularity of running clubs. In fact, Strava’s report revealed that new running clubs on the platform grew 3.5 times last year Basically, running offers an alternative to all the luxury posing on social media.
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Digital Trends says McDonald's has recently started testing humanoid robots in roles usually done by humans.  The robots greet guests and take orders.  
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The Daily Mail says a recent study by Harokopio University of Athens reveals that eating chocolate lowers the risk of death by up to 10%. Researchers studied diet and death data from three million people. They found chocolate lovers had a 10% lower risk of death and a 16% lower risk of dying early from heart disease. They concluded; "Our findings support a protective role for specific fermented foods consumption – chocolate, milks and cheese – against all-cause and heart disease mortality."
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Sprudge says coffee prices may drop. Brazil's big crops could add supply and push prices down from $2.90 a pound to $2.00 or lower. Some expect prices to hit $1.80 which would greatly benefit consumers. 61% of coffee lovers have decreased their coffee spending because of how much a cup costs 
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People magazine says an Australian man, named Dale Pierce, spent $40,000 to cryogenically freeze his dog. His dog was diagnosed with terminal cancer before they flew to a cryolab in Michigan to have the procedure done. The lab believes they will be able to bring Dale's dog back to life at some point in the future. 
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The town of Bug Tussle, Texas has a cool name…maybe too cool. More than 70 Bug Tussle road signs have been stolen over the years by thieves who seemed to like the unique name. Now the Texas Department of Transportation is no longer issuing road signs for the town. Historic Bug Tussle has a population of 15, so the signs probably aren’t a concern.
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WESH says a Plant City, Florida man was pulled over on Sunday for carrying two missiles in his pickup truck. Michael Nipper said the missiles were for show and used at events. Nipper bought the missiles online. A bomb squad determined the missiles were not real and sent him on his way.
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A Florida driver was clocked at over a 100 mph and tried to beat the rap by offering cops a ridiculous excuse -- he was trying to avoid an animal.
Deputies say 32‑year‑old Gregory Dolcine was pulled over and cited for "dangerous excessive speeding," which is now a criminal offense under Florida law. He told officers he had no other choice because there was animal in the road and he needed to put the pedal to the metal to avoid it. It's unclear what type of animal he was trying to avoid at 101 mph. The fastest land animal is the cheetah, but its top speed is 60 to 70 mph -- unless the cheetah happened to be driving a car. Dolcine was arrested and later released on a $500 bond. (WKMG-TV Orlando)
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Police in Oregon arrested three people for DUI following one crash. It happened last Thursday morning when a car hit a tree near Dexter. When Lane County Sheriff's deputies arrived, a 22-year-old man was behind the wheel and had pulled the car back onto the road. He was arrested for DUI. The investigation found a 22-year-old woman was the actual driver who crashed, and she was arrested for DUI. A second car pulled up to the scene, and the 20-year-old driver was DUI, and also taken into custody. All three had been drinking together before the crash.