In Alabama, the minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour, while the restaurant pays workers more. Candace and so many others need tips to help pay the bills.

For the next five years, there will be a much more generous state and local tax deduction available to federal income tax filers, thanks to the recently enacted mega tax-and-spending-cuts law.

Alabama families can save money on back-to-school essentials during the state’s 20th annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, ...