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Happy New Year, MarketWatchers. Don’t miss these top stories:
Personal Finance
‘Deaths of despair’ during COVID-19 rose by up to 60% in 2020, new research says
They were disproportionately experienced by working-age men, driven in part by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
‘He stopped paying all the bills’: My cheating husband moved in with his girlfriend and stole my stimulus check — twice
‘He filed for divorce, but because we are unable to finish paying the lawyers, our divorce is on pause.’
Black women are still underrepresented in Congress, despite record numbers
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’s departure on Jan. 20 will bring the number of Black women in Congress down to 25.
The average family can’t afford to own a home in most U.S. counties, study finds
‘Things are going in the wrong direction for buyers,’ the report author wrote.
Take a look inside Zac Efron’s $5.9 million Los Feliz home
“High School Musical” star Zac Efron is graduating from his Los Angeles home. The actor is letting go of his Los Feliz residence, Variety reported. It’s available for $5.9 million.
My elderly father was physically abusive, and will leave his farm to my two sisters. Should I contest his will?
‘He paid $10,000 apiece for my sisters’ weddings, and about the same for their divorces. I got nothing.’
After one hell of a year — 10 New Year’s resolutions to stay on top of the world in 2021
Taking a breath and maintaining grace under pressure will result in less impulsive, more far-sighted money decisions, experts say.
My partner supports me 100%. I’m ill and haven’t worked or filed taxes since 2016, so I got no stimulus. When will I get one?
‘What is my best chance of getting anything out of these relief payments, either a past stimulus check or a future one?’
Financially fragile Americans during COVID-19 have difficulty answering these 15 money questions — can you?
A new survey asked who could cover unexpected expenses during the pandemic’s early days.
My grandfather gave me $150,000 in shares and $20,000 to buy a car, but my family interferes in my life. Should I give it back?
‘In my family, you don’t move out of state, not show up to get-togethers, or send gifts back unless you’re trying to send a message. This is a decision I do not take lightly.’
Elsewhere on MarketWatch
Why you may have to wait past Tuesday for the Georgia election results
If you’ll be waiting for the results of the Georgia Senate runoff elections on Tuesday night, here’s a programming note: You may have to keep waiting.
7 buried secrets we learned in the year of pandemic
This year has resembled a rapidly receding tide, forcing us to confront submerged truths about our economy, our politics, and the way we could make this a better world.
What to expect as Republicans prepare one last push to overturn election
Though a Biden victory is all but certain, supporters of President Trump are intent on using the session to promote their commitment to him and Trump’s baseless claims that he lost the election due to widespread election fraud.
‘This is the biggest breakthrough we’ve had to date’: Qatar and Saudi Arabia are set to end a feud that hampered U.S. interests
Qatar and Saudi Arabia and its allies are expected to sign a deal on Tuesday designed to end a protracted feud that has split the Middle East and hampered U.S. efforts to isolate Iran, senior Trump administration officials said on Monday.
Extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the U.S. blocked by British judge over mental health concerns
A U.K. judge ruled on Monday that Julian Assange, the founder and publisher of WikiLeaks, should not be extradited to the U.S. to face espionage charges over concerns for his mental health.
‘It is far from clear what problem would be solved’ with $2,000 stimulus checks, says Larry Summers
Since Americans have been maintaining higher-than-expected levels of disposable income, Summers said increased stimulus checks would have a muted, and potentially negative, impact on the U.S. economy.
