• Alaska Airlines launched a two-day flash sale on Tuesday with discount one-way flights going for as little as $39.
• Deals include $39 one-way or $78 round-trip flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Flights between Boston and Los Angeles or San Francisco are on sale for $99 one-way or $198 round trip. 
• All sale tickets must be purchased by 11:59 pm PST on Wednesday, January 23 for travel between February 12 and March 13, 2019. 

Alaska Airlines launched a two-day flash sale on Tuesday with one-way flights going for as little as $39. The Seattle-based airline offered similar sale prices earlier this month as well as in December. 

JetBlue and WOW Air have also held sales this month with flights for less than $50. 

Alaska Airlines will make discount tickets available in both its traditional Main fare economy cabin as well as in its recently launched Saver fare option, which is a less restrictive form of the basic-economy product offered by American, Delta, and United.

With the bulk of Alaska's routes out on the West Coast, that's also where you'll find the best deals. Saver fare tickets for flights between Los Angeles and San Francisco can be had for $39 one-way or $78 round-trip. Non-Saver fare tickets between the two cities can be had for $54 each way.

Read more: Delta can't put its new Airbus jets into service because FAA inspectors have been sent home during the government shutdown.

Saver fare tickets can for LA to Las Vegas start at $39 while San Francisco to Las Vegas is on sale for $49. 

There are also some great trans-con deals with Saver fare tickets between Boston and Los Angeles or San Francisco for $99 each way. 

Saver fare flights between New York's JFK International Airport and Seattle are on sale of $99 each way. 

There are some conditions that go along with the low prices. All sale tickets must be purchased by 11:59 p.m. PST on Wednesday, January 23, for travel between February 12 and March 13, 2019. 

In addition, tickets must be purchased 21 days ahead of travel.

Alaska's Saver fare and other basic economy tickets are discount fare classes within an airline's economy cabin. As a result, the in-flight service and experience will be the same for Saver fare as it will be for someone who purchased a pricier Main fare ticket. This means passengers who go the Saver route will sit in the same seats and enjoy the same in-flight perks and amenities as everyone else in coach.

Saver fare tickets are not changeable or cancelable, and they will not be eligible for upgrades. Those traveling on Saver fare tickets will also board last. And while you will be able to preselect your seat, it will have to be at the back of the plane.

SEE ALSO: Wow Air CEO reveals what went wrong with his airline after a tumultuous year when the company had to lay off 111 workers and dump half of its planes

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NOW WATCH: What it's like to win the Gumball 3000 where drivers party until 2 am every night and drive 3,000 miles in 7 days

• The special counsel Robert Mueller is said to be interested in the relationship between President Donald Trump's campaign and the National Rifle Association (NRA).
• The FBI has long been investigating whether Russia used the NRA as a conduit to illegally funnel money into Trump's campaign during the 2016 election.
• But this is the first indication that Mueller, who is tasked with investigating whether the Trump team colluded with Moscow, is also interested in the connections between Trump, the NRA, and Russia.
• CNN reported that Mueller's team raised questions about the topic as recently as last month.
• Two figures — the Russian banker Alexander Torshin and his longtime assistant, Maria Butina — appear to be at the center of the investigation.

The special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the relationship between President Donald Trump's campaign and the National Rifle Association (NRA), CNN reported Tuesday.

Mueller is said to be focused on the links between the two around the time of the 2016 election. The former Trump campaign aide Sam Nunberg told CNN prosecutors asked him about the campaign's "dealings with the NRA" when they interviewed him last year.

Nunberg added that prosecutors wanted to know more about how Trump and his associates first formed a relationship to the gun-rights group and how Trump was tapped to speak at the NRA's annual convention in 2015, just months before announcing his presidential bid.

Mueller's team interviewed Nunberg in February 2018, but CNN reported that prosecutors were asking questions about the topic as recently as last month.

The NRA has long been under heightened scrutiny for its Russia ties, particularly involving Alexander Torshin, a powerful Russian politician and banker, and Maria Butina, an accused Russian spy who pleaded guilty to conspiring against the US.

Torshin, whom the Spanish government has accused of money laundering and other financial crimes, is an avid gun-rights activist and a paid lifetime member of the NRA. Butina is his longtime assistant and close associate. She also spearheads the Russian gun-rights group A Right To Bear Arms, which is viewed as the NRA's Russian counterpart.

Last January, McClatchy reported that the FBI is investigating whether Torshin illegally funneled money to the NRA to help sway the 2016 US election in favor of Trump. It also surfaced last year that the Spanish police had handed over surveillance tapes featuring Torshin to the FBI.

But CNN's report Tuesday is the first indication that Mueller is also interested in the links between the campaign, the NRA, and Russia-linked individuals like Torshin and Butina.

Read more: A bombshell report says Trump ordered Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow deal

Trump has repeatedly said neither he nor his campaign colluded with Moscow. The Trump administration also denied in 2017 that Trump had ever met Torshin.

But a number of tweets sent from Torshin's Twitter account, which NPR reviewed in depth, appear to indicate otherwise.

In one tweet sent on November 8, 2015, Torshin wrote, according to an English translation: "Comedian should make people laugh! Right? So he is trying! I know D. Trump (through NRA). A decent person." Torshin sent the tweet in response to when the comedian Larry David called Trump a racist on "Saturday Night Live."

Torshin later added that he saw Trump in Nashville, Tennessee, in April 2015, NPR reported. The NRA held its annual convention in Nashville that year, during which Trump gave a speech teasing his impending presidential bid.

"If I run, and people are going to be very surprised, and if I win, America will be great again," Trump told the approving crowd, which included Torshin and Butina.

Torshin attended the NRA's convention every year between 2012 and 2016, occasionally with Butina at his side, and has met every NRA president since 2012, according to NPR. When the NRA sent a delegation to Moscow in winter 2015, it was Torshin who received them on behalf of The Right to Bear Arms.

Read more:The NRA is at the center of a brewing controversy over its ties to conservatives' 'favorite Russian'

Butina, meanwhile, has been cultivating her own ties with American gun-rights activists, such as Republican strategist Paul Erickson, whom she has been acquainted with since at least 2013.

Erickson invited scrutiny last year, when The New York Times reported that he emailed Trump campaign aide Rick Dearborn in May 2016 with the subject line "Kremlin Connection," telling him that he could arrange a backdoor meeting between Trump and Putin.

Butina made a similar request through Rick Clay, a conservative Christian advocate. Dearborn forwarded Clay's email to then senior adviser Jared Kushner, who reportedly rebuffed the offer.

Torshin was the individual designated to make "first contact" with Trump from Russia's side. Erickson described him in his email as "President Putin's emissary on this front."

Erickson wrote that Torshin would make "first contact" with the campaign at a dinner honoring wounded veterans that was organized by Clay, the report said. Neither Trump nor his campaign advisers attended the reception. Trump Jr. and Torshin did, however, attend a separate NRA dinner the same night.

About six months later, Butina had a birthday party on November 12, 2016, four days after Trump won the US election in a shocking upset. The gathering featured several top Trump campaign advisers, according to The Daily Beast. Erickson, who was also in attendance, reportedly told guests Butina was on the Trump transition team.

Two months later, Butina was one of several Putin-allied Russians who attended Trump's inaugural celebrations.

In February 2017, Torshin was invited, through his NRA ties, to a national prayer breakfast with the newly-inaugurated President Trump. According to Yahoo News, Torshin was supposed to have a personal meeting with Trump before the event, but his invitation was rescinded after a White House aide spotted his name on the guest list and alerted others to Torshin's alleged illicit activities.

The GOP's ideological progression toward Putin's Russia is not a new phenomenon. Over the last several years in particular, self-identified conservatives and members of the alt-right have openly embraced Russia's stance on key issues — such as gun rights, religion, and same-sex marriage — that make up the bedrock of the Republican platform, and cultivated relationships with prominent Russians whose views align with their own.

This was, perhaps, part of why the gun-rights activist Kline Preston asked Torshin to come to the US and be an international-election observer as President Barack Obama faced off against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in November 2012, according to The Washington Post.

Preston, a conservative lawyer with a long history of doing business in Russia, also introduced Torshin to NRA president David Keene in 2011.

Torshin later hinted that his NRA credentials had played a role in his participation in the 2012 election.

"I was there at Obama's last election!" Torshin tweeted in 2015, according to NPR. "The NRA card, to me as an observer from Russia, opened access to any [polling] station."

SEE ALSO: Here's why Mueller's team reportedly made its unprecedented move to dispute a bombshell story on Trump and Cohen

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NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

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If you've stepped into any drugstore recently, you've probably been reminded — by way of chocolate gift boxes and teddy bears — that Valentine's Day is quickly approaching. That also means you've probably started thinking about finding the perfect gift for your loved ones. 

To take the stress out of the search, we rounded up 30 great Valentine's Day gifts that your special someone will love. From classics like a floral bouquet to fun experiences like a DIY chocolate making kit, we have something for every kind of Valentine. The best part is all of these options are affordable, too — everything is under $50. 

A classic floral bouquet

Shop all bouquets at The Bouqs, from $38

An intoxicating, fresh scent and bright colors make floral bouquets a wonderful gift that they'll love to keep on display. 

A candle that smells just like home

Homesick Scented Candle, available at Amazon, $29.95

Homesick candles make great gifts for just about every occasion. With unique scents inspired by cities, states, and even experiences, these candles are sure to conjure up memories of wherever they call home. 

A trendy take on a bag of candy hearts

Sub Urban Riot Candy Hearts Tee, available at Nordstrom, $34

If she thinks candy hearts are passé, wow her with a gift that takes the classic Valentine's Day treat to a new level. This slouchy white T-shirt emblazoned with candy hearts and sweet mantras is something she'll want to wear all year round. 

• Rudy Giuliani's media blitz over the last week has prompted former White House officials and Justice Department veterans to ask one overarching question: What is he thinking?
• Last Wednesday, Giuliani refused to say no one on President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow. Then he said that "if the collusion happened, it happened a long time ago."
• A few days later, Giuliani scuttled over a year of messaging from Trump and his associates when he quoted Trump as saying that talks to build a Trump Tower Moscow were "going on from the day I announced to the day I won."
• On Sunday, Giuliani suggested during a CNN interview that Trump spoke with Michael Cohen about his false testimony to Congress. The statement represented another departure from the Trump team's claim that Trump never discussed Cohen's testimony with him or instructed him to lie.
• The next day, Giuliani threw another curveball when he told The New Yorker he had listened to "tapes" that proved Trump never told Cohen to lie. When pressed on the comment, Giuliani hastily walked it back and said there were "no tapes."
• "How on Earth is he still representing the president?" one former White House official familiar with the legal team's thought process told INSIDER. "This is a s---show."

It's been a roller-coaster week for Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's lead defense lawyer in the ongoing Russia probe.

Following a series of bizarre and potentially legally problematic public remarks, the biggest question in people's minds is this: What is Giuliani thinking?

"How on Earth is he still representing the president?" one former White House official familiar with the legal team's thought process told INSIDER. "This is a s---show."

Giuliani has been stoking controversy since he first joined Trump's defense team last year after the resignation of white-collar defense attorney John Dowd.

Though he first struck a conciliatory tone toward the special counsel Robert Mueller, Giuliani quickly turned his legal strategy into a PR strategy centered around discrediting Mueller and the Russia investigation.

But in recent days, Giuliani has embarked on a media tour that legal scholars say likely did more to damage Trump's case than helped it.

Read more: What Mueller's extraordinarily unprecedented move to dispute BuzzFeed's story on the record tells us

'If the collusion happened, it happened a long time ago'

It started last week, when Giuliani moved the goalposts on Trump-Russia collusion in a big way, telling CNN, "I never said there was no collusion between the campaign — or between people in the campaign — [and Russia]."

"Yes, you have," CNN host Chris Cuomo interjected.

"I have no idea if — I have not," Giuliani replied. "I said the President of the United States [did not collude]. There is not a single bit of evidence the President of the United States committed the only crime you can commit here: conspired with the Russians to hack the [Democratic National Committee]."

The statement represented a remarkable shift in the Trump team's narrative on whether there was collusion between the campaign and Russia.

Trump "didn't say nobody [colluded]," Giuliani told CNN last Wednesday. "He said he didn't. He said he didn't. He didn't say nobody."

Later in the interview, he tacked on another caveat.

"If the collusion happened, it happened a long time ago," Giuliani said.

After the interview sparked a firestorm, Giuliani qualified his comments and said he represents Trump, not the campaign.

Giuliani revealed that Trump Tower Moscow talks continued until Election Day 2016

The day after the CNN interview, BuzzFeed News dropped a big, controversial story that said Trump instructed his former lawyer and longtime fixer, Michael Cohen, to lie to Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow project in 2017.

BuzzFeed News reported that Mueller learned about Trump's alleged instruction to Cohen through "multiple witnesses," documents, internal emails, and text messages from members of the Trump Organization, and then from Cohen.

On Friday, less than a day after BuzzFeed's story was published, Mueller's office released an unprecedented statement disputing the story on the record.

Giuliani, who has made headlines over the last year questioning Mueller's reputation and accusing the special counsel of lying, applauded Mueller for disputing the story.

Read more: Here's why Mueller's team reportedly made its unprecedented move to dispute a bombshell story on Trump and Cohen

But on Sunday, Giuliani added fuel to the fire when, in an interview with The New York Times, he quoted Trump as saying the Trump Tower Moscow discussions were "going on from the day I announced to the day I won."

The comment represented a significant departure from Trump's and his aides' previous denials that the project ever moved beyond its earliest stages. When Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, prosecutors revealed in a charging document that discussions about the project — many of which involved senior Trump Organization executives and Trump family members — continued until June 2016.

Giuliani's statement to The Times indicated that those talks went on for far longer than previously disclosed, until at least November 2016.

Around that time period, Trump was pushing for closer ties to Russia and cooler relations with NATO, a key foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Shortly after Trump won, his incoming national-security adviser, Michael Flynn, also secretly discussed US sanctions on Russia with Russia's ambassador to the US. At the time, the Trump transition team was also considering a Ukraine-Russia "peace plan" that favored Moscow and called for lifting sanctions on Russia.

Shortly after the interview was published, Giuliani walked back his statements, saying they were a "hypothetical" and "not based on conversations I had with the President."

'Rudy is the gift that keeps on creating issues'

The same day that The Times interview was published, Giuliani made another explosive comment, this time on CNN's "State of the Union" with host Jake Tapper.

Initially, Giuliani told Tapper, "As far as I know, President Trump did not have discussions with [Cohen], certainly had no discussions with him in which he told him or counseled him to lie."

Then, he appeared to acknowledge that Trump may have discussed Cohen’s false testimony with him.

If it happened, Giuliani said, it "would be perfectly normal, which the president believed was true."

"So it’s possible that that happened, that President Trump talked to Michael Cohen about his testimony?" Tapper asked.

"I don’t know if it happened or didn’t happen," Giuliani replied. "And it might be attorney-client privileged if it happened, where I can’t acknowledge it. But I have no knowledge that he spoke to him. But I’m telling you, I wasn’t there then."

In a sentencing memorandum Cohen's lawyers filed on his behalf in December, they said he was in "close and regular contact" with White House staff and Trump's lawyers as he was drafting his false congressional testimony in 2017. They added that he was "fully aware" of Trump's repeated disavowals of ties to Russia, as well as his and his allies' claims that any contacts with Russians by Trump, his campaign, or the Trump Organization ended before February 2016.

One former senior Justice Department official who worked closely with Mueller at the FBI told INSIDER they were flummoxed by Giuliani's interview with Tapper.

"There is no discernible legal strategy here," they said. "What was the purpose of this interview? How did Rudy think him going on national television and saying all these things would benefit the president? This is a goldmine for prosecutors."

Another prominent criminal defense lawyer who is active in the Mueller investigation echoed that sentiment, telling Axios, "Rudy is the gift that keeps on creating issues that do not otherwise exist. He should have taken the Mueller statement [denying the BuzzFeed News story], embraced it and not said another word."

A cryptic allusion to 'tapes' and a hasty walk back

On Monday evening, The New Yorker jumped into the fray with a new interview in which Giuliani told the magazine that even if Trump did collude with Russia, "it wouldn't be a crime."

Perhaps the most perplexing part of the interview came when the former New York mayor said he had listened to "tapes" that proved Trump never instructed Cohen to lie to Congress.

When pressed on his revelation, Giuliani hastily walked back his previous comments.

"I can tell you, from the moment I read the story, I knew the story was false," Giuliani said of BuzzFeed News' report. "I have been through all the tapes, I have been through all the texts, I have been through all the e-mails, and I knew none existed."

"Wait, what tapes have you gone through?" asked New Yorker staff writer Isaac Chotiner.

"I shouldn’t have said tapes," Giuliani said. "They alleged there were texts and e-mails that corroborated that Cohen was saying the President told him to lie. There were no texts, there were no e-mails, and the President never told him to lie."

"So, there were no tapes you listened to, though?" Chotiner asked.

"No tapes," Giuliani said. "Well, I have listened to tapes, but none of them concern this."

Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.

It's "impossible to find a consistent position with Rudy over the past few weeks," Jeffrey Cramer, a former federal prosecutor who spent 12 years at the Justice Department, told INSIDER.

It's possible "he honestly doesn't have a clue as to the truth about Trump and his Moscow connections, relevant dates, business opportunities, lies," and more, Cramer said. It's also possible "he's a confused man who just spouts off what comes to mind and then walks it back when he sees the reaction."

A third, less likely possibility, Cramer added, is that Giuliani has "been fully briefed by Trump as to the truth and is lining up various defenses depending upon any potential charges: 'Trump didn't talk to Cohen before the congressional hearing. Even if he did, it isn't a crime. Even if it is a crime, you can't indict the president.'"

At a minimum, Giuliani's comments indicate that "Trump was trying to line up a Trump Tower Moscow with the Russians to line his pockets while running to be the President of the United States," Cramer said. "It also seems at a minimum that Trump is taking actions that benefit the Russian government."

SEE ALSO: What Mueller's extraordinarily unprecedented move to dispute BuzzFeed's story on the record tells us

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: MSNBC host Chris Hayes thinks President Trump's stance on China is 'not at all crazy'

• TripAdvisor has released the winners of its 2019 Travellers' Choice awards for hotels.
• The awards honour hotels across categories including Luxury, Bargain, Small, Best Service, B&Bs and Inn, Romance, Family, and All-Inclusive, as well as Top Hotels Overall.
• The ranking is based on millions of reviews and opinions collected globally on TripAdvisor over the past year.
• We've rounded up the 19 best hotels in the world.

January is the perfect time to give your bucket lists a refresh — and if travel is on your radar, TripAdvisor has released the winners of its 2019 Travellers' Choice awards for hotels just in time.

The awards, now in their 17th year, honour hotels across categories including Luxury, Bargain, Small, Best Service, B&Bs and Inn, Romance, Family, and All-Inclusive, as well as Top Hotels Overall.

Read more:RANKED: The 19 cheapest holiday destinations in the world right now

This year, the ranking was determined based on millions of reviews and opinions collected globally on TripAdvisor over the past year. Both the quality and quantity of reviews were taken into account for each category, and each winner delivered "remarkable service, quality, and value."

We've rounded up the 19 best hotels in the world, according to TripAdvisor.

From Cambodia to Costa Rica, scroll down for some serious 2019 travel inspiration.

19. Rosewood Mayakoba — Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Find out more here.

18. Nayara Springs — La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

Find out more here.

17. Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Find out more here.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• The pressure cooker has been around for ages, but only in the last decade has Instant Potpopularized the electric pressure cooker.
• Mostly known for their slow cookers, Crock-Pot has entered the electric pressure cookermarket with their Express Crock Programmable Multi-Cooker.
• I especially appreciate how easy it makes a variety of healthy meals in one pot withoutdirtying several pots and pans.
• Though it isn't the most affordable electric pressure cooker available, the Crock-Pot ExpressCrock Programmable Multi-Cooker has a low price (currently $69 on Amazon) while providingmany of the same functions as much more expensive models.

Not too long ago, I wrote an article comparing Instant Pots to Crock-Pots. I mentioned that both brands have dipped into the other's territory with Instant Pot making a slow cooker and Crock-Pot selling an electric pressure cooker. Well, Crock-Pot read the article and insisted I experience their foray into the multi-cooker space.

So, I did. If you're new to the game, electric pressure cookers use a combination of heat and pressure to cook your food quickly while retaining most of the nutrients and flavor. Many of today's units combine several other uses with the pressure cooking function, including slow cooking, browning, and more.

My first experiences with the Crock-Pot Express

Crock-Pot came onto the scene in 1971 with its simple bean cooker. Since then, the brand has become synonymous with slow cooking. The Crock-Pot Express Crock has only been on the market for about a year, and it's already built a reputation for quality performance with a 4.2-star customer rating on Amazon.

I have used multi-cookers for years, mainly the Power Pressure Cooker XL, and my first impression of the Crock-Pot Express was that it looked just like the pressure cookers offered by other brands. They all seem to have a selection of pre-programmed functions on the front control pad, and a basic LCD screen. The Crock-Pot Express also allowed you to choose between low and high pressure and low and high temperatures (for slow cooking.) The Crock-Pot Express currently only comes in a six-quart size.

How the Crock-Pot Express performed

To test the Crock-Pot Express, I used a broad range of functions and tried out recipes that came with the unit plus several recipes designed for use with the Instant Pot to see if the Express worked as an alternative to this best-selling pressure cooker. The Express is marketed as an 8-in-1 multi-cooker. The eight fast cook functions are meat/stew, multigrain, soup, dessert, poultry, yogurt, rice/risotto, and beans/chili.

The first dish I attempted was herbed salmon parcels following the directions from the included recipe book. For this, I used the Steam function with the steam release valve in the "Seal" position. When the steam release valve is sealed, the pressure is able to build for pressure cooking. The salmon sat on the included steaming rack with two cups of water on the bottom of the pot (pressure cooking requires liquid to build pressure.) The resulting salmon was delicious. Even my picky four-year-old ate it up.

Next, I tried the Slow Cook function to see if it could replace my Crock-Pot. The test meal: spaghetti sauce with Bolognese. This used the Brown/Sauté function to cook the beef. I would compare it to cooking on medium-high in a nonstick pan on the stove. I then covered the pot with the steam release valve on "Release" and slow cooked on low for eight hours. This meal turned out fabulous. However, with the classic Crock-Pot, you have a glass lid that allows you to monitor the progress of your food. Currently, there is no such option for the Crock-Pot Express.

The Rice/Risotto function produced sticky, tender jasmine rice. Yet, between building the pressure, cooking, and releasing the pressure, it wasn't any faster than my preferred method on the stove.

For me, the true utility of multi-cookers is their ability to dramatically reduce the cooking time for large slabs of meat. To test this out, I made Hawaiian Kalua pig, which is essentially a type of pulled pork. In less than two hours, it took a cheap five-pound hunk of pork shoulder and turned it into a tender, mouthwatering meal. It would typically take a slow cooker or smoker more than 8 hours to cook pork to the point it shreds easily.

And, cleaning was a breeze. The inner pot never ended up with burnt on foods. Everything seemed to just slide off. I would also thoroughly wash the lid, though it was rarely dirty.

Some concerns about the electric pressure cooker

When making garlic herb pork chops with green beans, I noticed a loud hissing sound when the pressure should have been building. I looked at the top and the steam release valve was in the sealed position. So, I figured I was good. After a few more minutes of the hissing, I knew something was up. I nudged the valve and it fell into place blocking the steam release. This only held up dinner a little bit since pressure built up quickly once the valve was in place.

There are several pre-programmed functions that estimate how long certain foods will take to cook. This is the baseline, and from there, you can adjust the time to fit your specific needs. However, it is not completely customizable.

When making the pork chops, I was following a recipe designed for the Instant Pot (as most pressure cooker recipes are), and it called for one minute of pressure cooking. I tried the Rice/Risotto, Stew, Steam and Poultry programs, and none of them would let me pressure cook for just one minute. Three minutes was as close as I could get, which turned out to be fine.

Lastly, every pressure cooker model I've come across has a sealing ring in the lid. And, every pressure cooker has customer complaints about the ring taking on the odors of whatever was last cooked. The Crock-Pot Express was no exception. I did not have a problem with this since the odor did not affect the flavor of subsequent meals. However, if this does concern you, try running the multi-cooker on "steam" for a couple minutes with two cups of white vinegar in the pot and seal the lid.

Bottom line

Overall, if you have heard about the pressure cooker craze and are considering purchasing one of these appliances, the Crock-Pot Express is an excellent alternative to the Instant Pot and comes from a company with a track record of quality. Plus, at about $70, the Crock Pot Express Crock Programmable Multi-Cooker is less expensive while providing comparable features.

Buy the Crock-Pot Express Crock Programmable Multi-Cooker on Amazon for $69

SEE ALSO: I made hot soup, pizza dough, and mocha with Vitamix's incredible $600 smart blender, and now I get why people love them

DON'T MISS: Instant Pot vs Crock-Pot: Which kitchen appliance is best for easy weeknight dinners

Join the conversation about this story »

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• Hybrid bikes are designed to have the agility to take on bumps in the road while featuring many mountain bike-like features, such as larger wheels and flat handlebars.
• Last year, REI launched their Co-op Cycles brand, which offers a variety of bike styles and gear.
• I tested the CTY 2.1 hybrid bike and especially liked how light it felt, the excellent maneuverability, and the smooth ride afforded by the front suspension.
• Though the Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 Bike is maybe slightly more expensive than your average hybrid bike (currently $649 on REI.com), it comes with REI's 100% satisfaction guarantee and a lifetime limited warranty.

Every year, the number of adults who choose to commute to work by bicycle increases by 7.5%. Due to their balance of control and speed, hybrid bikes are growing in popularity among these riders. Hybrid bikes have a flat handlebar, wider tires, and an upright riding position that is more common with mountain bikes. However, the wheel size is usually larger than a mountain bike's to allow for more speed.

In 2017, REI relaunched their bicycle line under the brand Co-op Cycles. The brand offers hybrid, mountain, road, and kids' bikes along with cycling clothing, bike components, and accessories. I recently had the opportunity to try out their CTY 2.1 bicycle for free. Here are some of the highlights of my experience.

My first experiences with the CTY 2.1 Bike

You can get the CTY 2.1 Bike shipped to you for $75, but if at all possible, I strongly recommend picking your new bike up at an REI location. You can still order online, but by going to the store in person, you get the opportunity to learn about the bike from an expert and have it adjusted to fit your body.

This is what I did. I had to drive about an hour to Ann Arbor to get to the closest REI. There, a guy named Sean provided incredibly helpful service. He held the bike while I sat on it so he could ensure the seat was at the right height. He demonstrated how the unique front suspension worked. Though I have decades of cycling experience, I liked that he assumed that I didn't have any experience. I think for most buyers, who are just starting to commute, this will be helpful, especially since it can be intimidating asking questions.

The CTY 2.1 is a unisex bike and comes in small (for heights 5'3" to 5'6"), medium (5'6"-5'9"), large (5'9"-6'), and extra large (6'-6'3"). At 6 feet tall, I went with the extra large in case my 6'4" son needed to borrow it at some point. I found the extra large worked great for me.

I'm going to get into a few specs here, but I won't go overboard. If you want all of the details, check out the CTY 2.1 product page.

The bike has an SR Suntour Nex HLO front suspension fork. There's 63mm of travel to make rough roads less bumpy. But, I thought it was particularly cool that there was a switch that locked the suspension to keep your ride static on smooth roads.

The bike features Joytech 32h front and rear hubs, Kenda Kick-Back 700 x 40mm tires, Shimano M315 hydraulic disc brakes, Shimano 78/38/28 crankset, Shimano FD-M191 front derailleur, Shimano Acera rear derailleur, and Shimano HG41, 11-34, 8-speed cassette.

How the CTY 2.1 Bike performed

I keep the bike in my basement, and the aluminum frame is lightweight enough to easily carry it up and down the stairs. The overall weight of the bike is 32.4 pounds according to my measurements, and of course, the smaller sizes will likely weigh less.

I mainly rode the CTY 2.1 along the Lansing River Trail, a beautiful system of 20-plus miles of paved paths. I tested the bike over the course of three months and would typically ride for about 15 miles at a time, which took about an hour.

Riding was exciting when the path was closed. When one section of the trail was under construction, the city posted a detour, which included riding on the sidewalk. In general, you are not supposed to ride on sidewalks because drivers aren't looking for you there and could pull out in front of you. It also endangers pedestrians. That said, I did have a car pull out right in front of me as I was riding on the sidewalk. Fortunately, the hydraulic disc brakes reacted quickly, and I avoided running into them and didn't go flying over the handlebar.

When the trail was closed and there weren't detours, I would ride on grass or wood chips to a point where the path started up again. The front suspension of the CTY 2.1 smoothed out my off-road jaunts, and the bike was responsive enough to avoid obstacles.

Michigan is a pretty flat state. For the most part, my rides didn't have any major hills. So, I didn't really get to test out the extremes of the 24 gears. However, I did find that changing gears was seamless, and the chain didn't jump to a different gear without me initiating it. I did make a point of adding a couple drops of lube to the chain every week or so, and the only time the chain came loose was when I was lubing it up, but it was easy to put it right back on.

The only other maintenance I performed was checking the tire pressure and maybe adding a few pumps to make sure it was around 60 psi before going for a ride. I did not experience any flats during my test period. REI recommends bringing your new bike into the closest location after 20 hours of use or 6 months after the purchase (whichever comes first) for a free tune-up.

Some concerns about the hybrid bike

After about 400 miles of riding, I noticed that two of the reflectors on the pedals had fallen off and a third was on its way. This is a relatively minor issue and easy enough to replace if you need to. I closely examined the rest of the bike, and the only major wear I found was some rusting on the pedal axle. Again, this is fairly minor and inexpensive to replace if it fails.

I did wipe out twice riding the CTY 2.1. Both times, I was riding on wet boardwalks. This is by no means the fault of the bike or the tires. I only bring this up in the hopes that others will learn from my blood, sweat, and tears: Wet wood is slippery and unsafe at any speed. I recommend walking your bike on wet wood boards. The second accident knocked the handlebars and seat awry, but even I, with my limited mechanical skills, was able to fix this.

REI has amazing service. I've been an REI member for over a decade now. Their products are a little more expensive than what you might find elsewhere, but that's because they believe in quality. Why is this a concern? If you live far away from an REI location and have trouble with your bike, it becomes a hassle to take it back and access this excellent service.

Bottom line

Overall, I love the CTY 2.1. I strongly recommend it to people looking for a commuter bike that will last far into the future. However, I think individuals who live close to an REI will have a better experience since they can easily access their in-person services if something were to go wrong. Also, I suggest test-riding any bike you might consider purchasing.

Though at $649 the Co-op Cycles CTY 2.1 Bike is a little more expensive than your average hybrid, the famous REI satisfaction guarantee and lifetime limited warranty ensure you will be happy with your bike for many years to come.

Buy the Co-op Cycles CTY2.1 Bike from REI for $649 here.

Check out all Co-op Cycles Hybrid Bikes here.

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• For the 1.25 million Americans living with Type 1 diabetes, insulin is a life-saving drug that helps them process the sugar in their blood.
• Price increases for insulin have put pressure on people living with diabetes who don't have insurance, or whose insurance plans require them to pay the full price of the medication.
• But even those with comprehensive insurance are feeling the pressure. Business Insider spoke with one family who saw its insulin costs increase drastically in 2018 — jumping 150%.

The year started out simply enough. In January 2018, Carole Andrew ordered a refill of the prescription insulin Novolog for her son Andrew B., a 22-year-old college student who has Type 1 diabetes.

They got five boxes of Novolog, enough for 90 days. She paid $114.95, and her health insurer paid another $268.23, according to pharmacy receipts reviewed by Business Insider.

(We're omitting Andrew B.'s last name, which is different from his mother's, at her request. She doesn't want employers to discriminate against him when he tries to find a job because they're worried about covering his healthcare costs.)

In June, Carole was asked to pay $191.60 for the same refill for her son's insulin, almost $77 more than at the beginning of April. In October, the price increased again. The cost was now $285.39, an increase of 150% from January. After that, Andrew B. reached his deductible for the year and subsequent refills cost him nothing.

'It's been an absolute nightmare'

The family's experience trying to figure out the cost of a vital drug is indicative of the confusion and frustration that people across the US face as they try to navigate the healthcare system. The difficulty of determining how much a doctor's visit or surgery will cost has been well documented, even as health-insurance plans increasingly put people on the hook for more of their medical bills.

Thomas D'Angelo, a pharmacist and owner of Americare Pharmaceutical Services, said he often sees patients whose drug prices fluctuate monthly.

"I have no control over what I charge the patient if they're going through insurance," D'Angelo said.

After hours of calls and months of trying, Carole hasn't figured out why the price of her son's insulin keeps changing.

"It's been an absolute nightmare," she said.

Here's what the companies who manage the family's coverage told us.

• Carole said a case manager assigned through her insurer, Cigna, tried to help get answers, but the insurer relies on CVS Caremark to handle prescription benefits. Each person in the family has a $1,250 deductible, which in previous years hadn't been reached, and the family's expected to pay 30% of the cost of some prescriptions like insulin. A representative for Cigna deferred comment to Caremark because it's the organization managing Andrew B.'s prescriptions.
• CVS Health, which oversees the family's pharmacy benefits and ships them the insulin, told Business Insider that fluctuations in price aren't uncommon.
• "As a [pharmacy benefit manager] CVS Caremark is focused on negotiating the lowest price possible for the prescription drugs that are available to our clients and their members," Christine Cramer, a spokeswoman for CVS, told Business Insider in an email. "It is not uncommon to see fluctuations in the cost share that a member may be responsible for throughout the course of a year. These variations may be attributed to a variety of factors including changes to the list price of a drug and/or the impact of a negotiated rebate or discount adjusted over time."

The list price of insulins keeps rising, but that's only part of the problem

Peter Goldstein, a professor of pharmacy at Long Island University Brooklyn, reviewed the transactions for Business Insider.

"There's just no rhyme or reason," Goldstein said. "I've never seen anything so drastic."

There are three companies that make insulin, including Novo Nordisk, which produces the Novolog insulin that Andrew B. uses. Over the past few decades, the prices of those medications have increased substantially.

In July 2018, Novo Nordisk increased the price of Novolog by 5%, to $289 per 10-milliliter vial. The company has little say over the actual prices paid by customers at the pharmacy, because of the complex way the US drug payment system works, Novo Nordisk spokesman Ken Inchausti told Business Insider.

"The vast majority of our products are sold through pharmacy benefit managers that aggressively negotiate prices," he said. "Many of the insured may benefit from the net prices payers negotiate while others may not. Uninsured patients or those in certain insurance plans that require co-insurance or are high deductible health plans are exposed to list price."

He added: "We are committed to working with all stakeholders in the healthcare system to try and ensure that insulin is available and affordable for all those in need of this critical medicine."

The annual cost of insulin has more than doubled since 2012

The price increases for insulin put pressure on people living with diabetes who don't have insurance, or whose insurance plans require them to pay the full price of the medication. According to a report released on Monday by the Health Care Cost Institute, annual insulin costs for people with Type 1 diabetes and their health plans have increased from $2,684 in 2012 to $5,705 in 2016 making up about a third of their total costs for managing their diabetes. The report doesn't account for rebates that often reduce the cost of insulin.

The high cost has led some people with diabetes to turn to the black market, crowdfunding, and Facebook pages to get access to insulin. Others have rationed the insulin they take to make prescriptions last longer, which puts them in potentially deadly situations.

There are about 29 million Americans known to have one of the two types of diabetes. Andrew B.'s kind, Type 1, is an autoimmune disease. His body mistakenly kills the cells supposed to make his body's insulin, a hormone that helps people absorb and process the sugar in food. The 1.25 million people in the US who have Type 1 diabetes need to inject insulin to live.

Andrew B. is a senior at Rutgers University studying mechanical engineering. He was diagnosed with Type 1 right before college. Since he's still on his parents' insurance coverage, his parents have been working to figure out what's going on while he focuses on school. But he has made changes, too, such as cutting back on carbs so that he wouldn't have to take as much insulin, he said.

The challenges of getting insulin reliably

The fluctuating price of his insulin injectors hasn't been the only curveball this year.

Around August, Carole started having trouble getting refills on the pens. First, there were issues with the prescription, requiring a physician to write a new one. Then the family was headed on vacation and Caremark wasn't able to guarantee the insulin would reach them in time. Another delay occurred when Caremark called the family for an extra approval to ship the pricey medication before it would send it.

For a time, Carole turned to getting a prescription for monthly vials instead, filling them through Walgreens.

In August, three 10-milliliter vials of Novolog cost her $88.42, with her insurance picking up the rest of the $294.72 price tag. Carole went back in September for a refill at Walgreens. That time, it cost her $135.29, out of a $450.98 price tag.

At the start of 2019, the family's deductible reset, starting the process anew. When Andrew B. next needs a refill, Carole said she plans to just fill the prescriptions through a Walgreens pharmacy because it's more convenient. While the individual prescriptions will initially be more expensive than ordering through the mail, she's accepted that Andrew B. will hit his deductible, so the annual cost will be the same no matter what.

Andrew B. will require insulin his whole life, which makes the challenges of paying for insulin and navigating coverage that he and others face an ever-present issue. In a New York Times opinion piece, Danielle Ofri, who practices at Bellevue Hospital, in New York, described what it's like as a doctor to have a patient with diabetes regularly go through the process of requesting new forms of insulin based on changes in what their insurance will cover.

"My patient's 'preferred insulin' changed three times in a year, so each time she went to the pharmacy, her prescription was rejected," Ofri wrote. "On the doctor's end, it's an endless game of catch-up."

And while some states have passed laws around insulin price transparency, it remains to be seen if congressional investigations into price increases will affect the cost shouldered by patients.

As for Andrew B., as graduation approaches, the prospect of finding a job that will give him benefits to cover the cost of his insulin is weighing on him.

"It just makes me feel nauseous thinking about it," he said.

Want to tell us about your healthcare experience? Email the author at lramsey@businessinsider.com.

• Read more:
• Walgreens is forging alliances with tech giants like Microsoft as it prepares for war with Amazon
• CVS Health just revealed a key piece of its plan to change how Americans get healthcare
• We got 6 big predictions about how Amazon could disrupt healthcare from execs in the tech giant's backyard
• The hospital in Amazon's backyard has a plan to disrupt itself before being disrupted by big tech companies

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Saturn is officially losing its rings — and they're disappearing much faster than scientists had anticipated

• Waitrose is a grocery chain in the UK. It was recently ranked first on a list of seven chains, including well-known stores Tesco and Sainsbury's, in a survey done by Market Force Information in May 2018.
• 4,300 consumers were surveyed for the report and asked questions about their experiences shopping in these stores.
• Here's what it is like to shop at Waitrose. 

The UK grocery wars are heating up as Aldi and Lidl continue to grow rapidly and take market share, working their way up the ranks to become the fifth and seventh largest grocery chains, respectively. Now they have their sights set on the US. 

Waitrose, the posh UK grocery chain that is beloved by Kate Middleton and is said to boost property prices when it opens in new areas, has increasingly found itself losing market share to these discount players. However, according to a recent survey done by Market Force Information, it still ranks best in class when it comes to consumer perception. 

4,300 consumers aged 18 and over were surveyed for the report, which was released in May 2018. Waitrose scored highest of the seven main chains — Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl, and Aldi — on assortment, layout, and cleanliness of its stores.  

With this in mind, I visited one of its stores in the UK:

SEE ALSO: We compared grocery shopping at stores in the US and the UK, and it was shockingly clear which country does it better

I visited a Waitrose store near Milton Keynes, a large town that's around 1.5 hours from Central London. This location opened in 2013. Disclaimer: I am a Brit, and this was not the first time that I had shopped at a Waitrose store.

It's around 30,000 square feet in size, which is about a third of the size of a typical Walmart and just smaller than the average Whole Foods store in the US.

Passing through the double doors, the first thing I noticed is that the store was modern and bright.

The entrance area was enticing — fresh fruit and vegetables were front and center, and there was a coffee station to the left.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

• Takeya's Actives Insulated Stainless Water Bottle ($23-$36) is cheap, but it works really well.
• It's easy to drink out of, as much as $22 cheaper than Hydro Flask, and consistently maintains temperature. I use the Takeya water bottle in the office, gym, and at home.
• When I filled it with ice and cold brew at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, there were still ice cubes in it when I checked back at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. 
• It also has a lifetime warranty, and a clip that can attach to a gym bag by a carabiner.

If you're looking to cut out plastic water bottles — or just seeking ideal, preternatural temperature control — you're probably going to wind up shopping the hallowed aisles of stainless steel, double wall vacuum-insulated bottles. And, while you're there, you should check out the cheap but efficient Takeya Actives Water Bottle ($22-$36), especially if you lead an active lifestyle. Over the last couple of months, it has become my go-to companion for everything from the office to home to nightly workouts. 

Takeya makes my default recommendation for an inexpensive, convenient, and effective at-home cold brew maker, so I was willing to bet their take on the stainless steel water bottle would be good too. And it is — it's easy to drink out of, big enough not to require too frequent of refills, and a standout at keeping beverages at their ideal temperature.

When I filled it with ice and cold brew at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, there were still ice cubes floating in it when I checked back at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. By comparison, another popular option for temperature control is Hydro Flask's 32 oz stainless steel sports water bottle. The Hydro Flask claims to keep hot drinks hot up to six hours, and cold drinks cold up to 24 hours. Takeya claims to keep hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Though Insider Picks reporter Brandt Ranj found Hydro Flask's numbers to be conservative, Takeya stacks up. Takeya is also up to $22 cheaper; the Hydro Flask usually retails for $40 on its site and $45 on Amazon, though a straw lid is included in Amazon's price and sold separately ($10) on Hydro Flask. For some athletes, the wide straw lid also isn't as convenient while working out as Takeya's twist-off. You can purchase an insulated sport cap on Hydro Flask, too, but it's $10 more and not compatible with hot liquids. 

In fact, Takeya's lid deserves its own little shoutout.

It's insulated, outfitted with leak-proof technology that hasn't failed me yet, and the spout is convenient enough for the one-handed pouring of tea into a cup or water into your mouth during a fast-paced workout. The stainless-steel pin also locks the hinge when it's flipped open, so you can drink without getting smacked by the cap when you tilt the bottle upwards. Additionally, the design has a loop for easy clipping onto your bags.

Another smart feature Takeya's bottle has in common with more expensive options is a wide-mouth design that's easier to accommodate ice and cleaning than a narrow opening.

It's also designed for durability with a powder finish and removable silicone bumper, so you can knock it around without worrying. And what's more, it has a lifetime warranty.

All in all, the Takeya Actives Water Bottle has been a great value for $25. If you're looking for cheap, convenient, and effective temperature control in versatile sizes and colors, it's definitely worth checking out — especially if you're using it in workouts, or if you like the sound of an always ice-cold drink for up to 24 hours. 

Takeya Actives Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle, 24 oz, available in 12 colors, from $22.98

SEE ALSO: I'll never use plastic straws again after finding these metal ones that don't change the taste of my drinks at all

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• Ugg boots are making a comeback.
• Parent company Deckers Brands reported that Ugg pulled in $1.5 billion in net sales for fiscal 2018. 
• Amazon recently released its holiday sales data, which named Ugg one of the most popular brands bought on its Prime Wardrobe service. Fashion-search site Lyst has seen a whopping 350% increase in searches for Uggs over the last six months.

For better or worse, the evidence is mounting that Ugg boots are coming back into fashion after a seven-year hiatus. 

The recent rebirth of these cozy boots can be traced back to a runway show last January, when Y/Projects partnered with Ugg to create a thigh-high version of the boot. Immediately after, a string of celebrities including Rihanna and Sienna Miller were snapped wearing its classic style, and rumors surfaced that it could be making a comeback. 

And it's showing up in the financials. Ugg parent company Deckers Brands has reported strong sales growth for four of the last six quarters. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, reported in May, the brand saw sales grow 6% to $257.5 million. It pulled in $1.5 billion in net sales for the year.

Last month, Ugg was listed as one of the most popular brands bought on Amazon during the most recent holiday season. Fashion-search site Lyst also told Business Insider that it has seen a whopping 350% increase in searches for the boots over the past six months.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

The concept of Ugg was brought to the United States in 1978, when Australian native Brian Smith began selling the boot, which was often worn by Australian surfers, in Southern California. Over the next two decades, it started to gain momentum as celebrities and the fashion world took notice. Ugg was acquired by Deckers in 1995. It didn't get its big break until 2000, however, when the boots were featured on Oprah's Favorite Things and went global overnight. 

Over the course of the next decade, Uggs went from being a must-have item to fashion's biggest faux pas, and by 2011, the Ugg craze had hit a wall. A warm winter in 2011 and a sheepskin shortage in Australia were the final nail in the coffin, and Ugg saw sales decrease by as much as 11.6%, to $332.8 million in 2012. 

Read more:Crocs' popularity is skyrocketing among teens as ugly fashion takes over

The Ugg boot's comeback is likely tied to the fact that it fits neatly into today's fashion trends, which are loosely split between a desire to be comfortable and a desire to make a statement, hence the current popularity of practical clothing and the ugly fashion movement. 

What's more, a recent peak in interest in coziness has likely given the boot a second boost. This trend, which evolved from the Danish concept of "hygge," was hard to miss in stores over the holidays. 

"Retailers don't seem to be letting go of it anytime soon," Business Insider wrote in December, noting that manystores were marketing their clothes as "cozy," "plush," and "soft," showing ads with models bundled up in oversized knit sweaters and cozy hats.

SEE ALSO: Stores from American Eagle to Kohl's are all bragging about being 'cozy' — and it represents a major shift in fashion

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sneaky ways stores like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo get you to spend more money on clothes

• Israel'sluxury property market is on fire, particularly in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Herzliya Pituach.
• Economic growth and an increase in overseas buyers and travelers have contributed to real-estate prices in the country doubling in the past 10 years.
• The demand for luxury properties in Israel mainly stems from three factors: tech industry growth, a rise in anti-Semitism across Europe, and an increase in tourism.

Luxury property in Israel has become as hot as the Mediterranean sun.

Real-estate prices in the country have doubled in the past decade, particularly in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, according to research provided to Business Insider by global real estate agent Savills.

The two cities, along with Herzliya Pituach, have transformed into a hotbed for the luxury property market, Daniel Knobil of Home Search Israel, which helps clients find luxury homes, told Business Insider. "Luxury" is defined as a home priced anywhere from $2 million to $15 million, he said.

The rise in luxury hotels, apartments, condos, and homes in these areas has ultimately been sparked by economic growth as well as an increase in overseas buyers and travelers.

A tech boom is minting millionaires

Called "the next Silicon Valley" and referred to as "Startup Nation," Israel has undergone a high-tech revolution, according to Knobil.

"Israel has become one of the world leaders in bio technology, cyber technology, artificial intelligence, online games, and high-tech agriculture," he said.

It's home to more startups per capita than any other country, and attracts more venture capital per person, Business Insider previously reported.

While multinational tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Microsoft have research centers in Israel, the country is also a hub for a plethora of successful local tech companies— Google bought GPS navigation app Waze for $1 billion and Intel spent $15 billion acquiring Mobileye for its autonomous driving technology.

Read more: Israel's tech scene is red-hot and a top venture capitalist thinks it may be key to reducing tensions between Arabs and Jews in the country

As a result of this tech boom, "there have been extremely successful Israeli companies making extremely successful wealthy Israelis," Knobil said. "The country has gone through a real revolution, which has fueled a demand for luxury houses and apartments."

In this increased demand for luxury products and properties, high-rise condos have grown very quickly in the past 18 years and more luxury hotels and restaurants have developed, he added.

A rise in anti-Semitism in Europe is driving Jews to buy homes in Israel as an 'insurance policy'

Aside from economic factors, there are also cultural factors at play. More Jewish immigrants are making Aliyah — migrating to their homeland of Israel — as a result of increased anti-Semitism across Europe, according to Knobil.

"In countries like France and Belgium, the Jewish communities are feeling insecure," he said. Consequently, many Jews in Europe feeling nervous are purchasing second homes in Israel as a back-up plan, sparking an increased demand in luxury property. This is particularly true of Jews living in France, as well as those in Ukraine and Russia, Knobil said.

There has also been a resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany, even taking shape as violent attacks, which German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently called "worrying,"according to CNN. A recent survey by the European Union found that more than one-third of European Jews have considered emigrating over the past five years because of a surge in anti-Semitism. 

Read more: European Jews feel under threat, think of emigrating: EU survey

There's also what Knobil calls "the Corbyn factor" in the UK — Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party and leader of Her Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition, is anti-Israel, Knobil said: "The Corbyn factor has had a massive influence on English Jews purchasing homes in Israel."

According to an October 2018 poll, 38% of British voters believe Corbyn is an anti-Semite, The Times of Israel reported. And according to The Times in the UK, the Labour Party has failed to fully investigate more than 200 complaints of anti-Semitism against Corbyn, Business Insider's Ben Gartside reported.

Knobil, who specializes in the UK market, said he's seen an uptick in English Jews purchasing homes in Israel following the UK's last general election in May 2017 when Corbyn did better than expected. In the ensuing 20-month period until December 2018, Knobil said, "I personally have been involved in purchases of Israeli residential property that comes to an aggregate of $45 million. If you take the 20-month period previous that, it would be $15 million."

There's also a small percentage of Jews from Argentina and Brazil purchasing homes in Israel because of the poor economic situation in their current countries, he added.

"These are holiday homes or insurance homes — they're doing it as an insurance policy in case they feel they need to leave where they're living," he said.

While the government has tried to institute policies to cool down the property market by implementing a 3% higher purchase tax for foreign buyers, Knobil said it hasn't been particularly successful because Jewish communities across Europe are so keen on getting that "insurance policy."

Tel Aviv is a top travel destination, and tourists seek luxury

But the luxury property market in Tel Aviv hasn't just been catering to the demand of wealthy Israelis and overseas buyers both looking for residences — it's also meeting the needs of travelers.

"Tel Aviv has seen a recent influx in tourism and from that, an increased demand in luxury hotels," Galit Heller, director of sales and marketing at The Jaffa, a five-star hotel in Tel Aviv, told Business Insider. The city has been cited as a top travel destination across multiple outlets, including CNN's 2019 list of places to travel and a fourth-place ranking on Virtuoso's list, indicating a general consensus that Tel Aviv, and Jaffa in particular, is a top place to visit, she said.

"With an increased popularity, and a previous lack in the luxury hospitality scene, we see many luxury hotels popping up across Tel Aviv," Heller said.

She said the typical luxury-seeking guest at The Jaffa is middle-aged (40-70 years old) and international — mostly from America, with some from the UK, Europe, or Russia — often traveling for leisure, but sometimes visiting for family occasions or work.

Heller said these modern travelers are seeking a different kind of luxury than what's typically defined by grand, brand name hotels. In addition to top amenities, the best service, and location, they're looking for a certain kind of experience. For example, The Jaffa creates a luxury experience that immerses guests in local history and culture, she said.

"They receive an authentic reflection of the local community and I think that is what modern day luxury is — connecting guests to local luxury," Heller said.

Israel's luxury property market boom may not last for long, though. "I think at the moment, it will level out — there's been such a growth of these luxury homes, the supply is now meeting the demand," Knobil said.

SEE ALSO: Here's why Israel could be the next Silicon Valley

DON'T MISS: A Palm Beach real-estate agent says she's surprised by the latest request from her multimillionaire clients

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un is 35 — here's how he became one of the world's scariest dictators

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• Every automatic dishwasher detergent promises to leave your dishes sparkling clean, but do they live up to that promise?
• Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tabletsdeliver the clean dishes they promise at a reasonable cost per use.

We all want clean dishes and we want them done with the least amount of effort. That's why automatic dishwashers are so prized in the kitchen. But sometimes, they don't produce the best results.

Getting dishes clean in a dishwasher requires three components: a mechanical scrubbing action, thermal energy (hot water), and chemical energy (detergent). So even if your dishwasher is on its last leg, why not use the best dishwasher detergent on the market? You'll have a much better outcome and avoid that nearly endless and frustrating rewashing routine.

As I tested different automatic dishwasher detergent brands and formulas and read hundreds of expert ratings and buyer reviews, I took into consideration price, ease of use, and, most importantly, the ability of the detergent to produce clean, spot-free dishes and glassware to come up with our top picks.

Here are the best dishwasher detergents you can buy:

• Best dishwasher detergent overall: Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets
• Best dishwasher detergent on a budget: Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs
• Best dishwasher detergent gel: Palmolive Eco+
• Best dishwasher detergent powder: Cascade Complete Powder
• Best eco-friendly dishwasher detergent: Seventh Generation Ultra Power Plus Dishwasher Packs

Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.

The best dishwasher detergent overall

Why you'll love them: If you are looking for a reasonably-priced, easy-to-use automatic dishwasher detergent that leaves dishes and glassware clean and spot-free, Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets are your best bet.

As I began my quest to find the best automatic dishwashing detergent, I was delighted to discover that I've been using it for years. Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets produced the cleanest dishes of all the ones we tried, removing even baked-on food from casserole dishes, pots, and pans.

The tablets contain a pre-treating solution, degreaser, bacteria-killing bleach, and a rinse-aid to prevent spotting on glassware.

At around 22 cents per tablet, Finish is a mid-priced cost-per-use detergent. It first hit the market in the early 1950s and is now sold in more than 40 countries around the world. Recommended by most of the leading china, glassware, and dishwasher manufacturers, Finish is manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser.

Consumer Reports and The Olive recommend Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets as one of the top dishwasher detergents. The Olive rates it as the best for cleaning dishes in areas with hard water.

More than 80% of the reviews for Finish Quantum Max Powerball Tablets on Amazon are five-star reviews. One buyer thought the household needed a new dishwasher until a repair tech recommended Finish which brought the dishwasher back to life resulting in sparkling clean dishes.

Another buyer likes the fact that the tablets are not individually wrapped which saves time and packaging waste.

Pros: Convenient to use, removes baked-on foods, performs well in hard water leaving no spotting, no individual wrapper to remove, mid-priced cost-per-use

Cons: Pouch packaging can overturn spilling out tablets

Buy Finish Quantum Max Powerball Automatic Dishwasher Tablets in a 64-count pouch on Amazon's Prime Pantry for $14.32 —currently out of stock

Buy Finish Quantum max Powerball Dishwasher Tablets on Amazon for $17.99

The best dishwasher detergent on a budget

Why you'll love them: If you are a Costco member, Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs offer excellent cleaning results and save money.

Saving a few pennies each time you turn on the dishwasher can add up during the year. Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs provide that savings, and according to Consumer Reports, perform as well as our top overall pick. At around 11 cents per use, this budget-friendly detergent works amazingly well in removing grease and baked-on foods.

Glasses and dishware came out clean with little spotting thanks to the product's rinse-aid. The individual pacs are simple to use and prevent waste from adding too much detergent. They come in a pleasant lemon citrus scent and stay dry in a sturdy recyclable container.

More than 60% of the reviews forKirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs on Amazon are five-star reviews. One buyer was thrilled with the results and the convenience of getting it without being a Costco member.

That's the downside of the product. If you are not a Costco member, the cost of buying from a third-party vendor negates any savings.

Pros: Easy to use, leaves dishes clean and spot-free, low-cost per-use

Cons: You must be a Costco member to benefit from the savings, cost more on Amazon

Buy Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs at Costco for $11.79

Buy Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs in a 115-count tub on Amazon for $22.39 — third-party sellers only

The best dishwasher detergent gel

Why you'll love it: Environmentally-friendly with no phosphates, Palmolive Eco+ Gel is also easy on your budget.

If you like to use liquid dishwasher detergent, Palmolive Eco+ Gelis ranked as a leader by The Olive and other experts. Using a gel allows you to reduce the amount of dishwasher detergent used if you are washing a load of lightly soiled dishes and it dissolves easily. You can also use it as a pre-soak for pots and pans with burned-on food.

At a cost of only seven cents per load, Consumer Reportsselected the gel as a best buy. Produced from only raw, natural materials and enhanced with environmentally-friendly enzymes, the gel does not contain artificial colorants and preservatives. It is available in a lemon or apple-citrus scent.

The gel does a good job with regular loads but does leave residue on heavily-soiled pans and some spotting on stainless-steel pieces and seems to work best in softer water that does not contain excessive minerals.

Pros: Cost-conscious, environmentally-friendly, easy-to-use, quick-dissolving

Cons: Does not work well on heavily-soiled pots and pans

Buy Palmolive Eco+ Gel in a 75-ounce bottle on Amazon for $13.89

• The federal government shutdown is in its 33rd day.
• Many federal employees have now gone an entire month without a paycheck, despite many of them still being mandated to show up for work or risk termination.
• To help ease the sting of this record-breaking shutdown, a number of companies have stepped forward to donate food and other goods and services to the federal employees affected by it.

The US federal government shutdown that began on December 22, 2018 has far surpassed the previous record for the longest such lockout, a 21-day affair that spanned from December of 1995 into January of the following year. And with no sure end in sight, the current shutdown will likely keep tacking on days for some time yet.

Approximately 800,000 federal employees are going without paychecks during this shutdown — for reference, that's a number larger than the population of the states of North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, and Wyoming. Of those 800,000, most are still working. About 380,000 have been furloughed, meaning they are on forced unpaid leave, leaving some 420,000 on the job but without pay.

While the shutdown persists, the families who depend on those unpaid paychecks are the ones feeling the pain. Fortunately, a number of companies have stepped up to help out where the government has dropped the ball.

These 10 companies are some of the many donating food and other goods and services to US federal workers left high and dry by the shutdown in DC:

SEE ALSO: These 25 US counties are paying most of the federal income taxes

Kraft Heinz

If you're a federal employee going without pay, you work in the greater DC Metro area, and you love cheese, then Kraft Heinz has you covered. The company established a pop-up store that, from January 16 to 20, gave out bags filled with Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, American cheese singles, and various other products to anyone who could display a valid government ID.

World Central Kitchen

When disaster strikes, often Chef José Ramón Andrés and his nonprofit, World Central Kitchen, aren't far behind. The chef and his team have served free meals to Puerto Ricans affected by 2017's Hurricane Maria, survivors of last year's Camp Fire in Paradise, California, and now to those suffering during the shutdown. Since January 16, a World Central Kitchen pop-up restaurant has been serving daily free meals and to-go items to DC area workers affected by the shutdown.

Hyundai

Automaker Hyundai offered thousands of drivers a real break by deferring all vehicle loan-and-lease payments owed by out-of-pay federal workers for an entire month, according to a press release. As the workers currently going without checks but still being called into work are guaranteed back pay, for many Hyundai owners, this deferred collection will mean the difference between losing a vehicle and simply paying for it later.

• Kevin Hassett, the chair of President Donald Trump's Council of Economic Advisers, said US economic growth could be zero for the first quarter if the government shutdown continues.
• "If it extended for the whole quarter, and given the fact that the first quarter tends to be low because of residual seasonality, then you could end up with a number very close to zero," Hassett told CNN.
• But Hassett said growth would bounce back once the government reopens.
• Hassett dismissed worries that the US's credit rating could be downgraded because of the shutdown.
• A growing number of economists are warning that the shutdown could seriously hurt US gross domestic product.

Kevin Hassett, the chair of President Donald Trump's Council of Economic Advisers, offered a frank assessment of the cost of the ongoing government shutdown, warning that the closure could result in a mess for the US economy.

Hassett told CNN in an interview on Wednesday that US economic growth could be zero for the first quarter if the partial federal government shutdown lasts through March — a warning some Wall Street economists have also issued.

"If it extended for the whole quarter, and given the fact that the first quarter tends to be low because of residual seasonality, then you could end up with a number very close to zero," Hassett told CNN.

But Hassett argued that gross domestic product would be likely to bounce back in the second quarter should the government reopen and workers receive back pay.

Some 420,000 of the 800,000 federal workers not getting paid are set to automatically get back pay when the government reopens, and Congress passed a bill last week to give the other 380,000 furloughed workers back pay as well.

Read more: The warnings are getting starker: Trump's government shutdown is becoming catastrophic for the economy

Hassett brushed off worries that the political fight over the shutdown could lead to a downgrade of the US's credit rating. Fitch, one of the main credit-ratings agencies, has warned that the shutdown could affect the country's rating.

"I don't think a downgrade is in play, but I do think that we're in a world where we've had I think now 21 government shutdowns since the 1970s, and this brinksmanship is something that goes on and on," Hassett said, adding, "But I don't think that there's any risk at all, given how strong the economy is, that we'll be downgraded."

The only time a major agency has downgraded the US's credit rating was when S&P did so during the fight over the debt ceiling in 2011.

Read more: The government shutdown threatens the US with a credit-rating cut for only the 2nd time in history

The warning, though hedged, comes as more and more economists estimate that the government shutdown's effect on GDP is growing. Even the White House's own model was updated to show that the shutdown could shave 0.13 percentage points off first-quarter GDP every week. This was an increase from previous estimates, as the White House factored in the effect on federal contractors.

The major concern is that the 800,000 federal workers and tens of thousands of government contractors who are going without pay during the shutdown not only are losing out on wages but are not spending in the economy.

As the shutdown, now in its 33rd day, drags on — and so far it shows no sign of stopping — more money is missing from the economy.

This is likely to produce a drag on overall economic growth. Add on, as Hassett mentioned, the fact that the first quarter is typically weaker because of data-calculation issues, and the possibility of negative growth grows.

SEE ALSO: The government shutdown may force Trump to make a nightmare choice between his border wall and the economy

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• Officials in Clark County, Washington — across the river from Portland, Oregon — have declared an emergency after identifying at least 23 cases of measles, most of which are in kids who aren't vaccinated.
• Before the US developed a measles vaccine in 1963, the contagious infection was a common childhood illness. Hundreds of children died every year, and millions more had symptoms.
• As vaccination rates plummet around the US, officials are worried that outbreaks like the one near Portland will become increasingly common.

It's a public health emergency: At least 23 kids and young adults are sick with the measles in an area of Washington state just north of Portland, Oregon.

On Tuesday, the public health department of Clark County, Washington, announced that at least 23 people were sick with the viral illness, which incubates for a week or two before prompting fevers, coughing, runny noses, and little red bumps that break out on the face and body. The infection can be deadly.

Eighteen of the 23 sick people are age 10 or under, and so far the public health department has confirmed that 20 of the 23 didn't get their measles vaccine. One person has been hospitalized.

This is exactly the kind of scenario public health experts have been warning about. In 2018, the World Health Organization said measles cases had surged by 30% around the globe, with some of the biggest hikes in places like the US and Europe, where more parents are opting not to give their kids recommended shots like MMR (protecting against measles, mumps, and rubella).

"This is something I've predicted for a while now," Peter Hotez, the dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, told The Washington Post. "It's really awful and really tragic and totally preventable."

A perfectly good, safe measles vaccine

The measles vaccine was developed in the US in 1963. Before then, measles was a common childhood ailment that would kill 400 to 500 people every year in the US and sicken 3 million to 4 million others. But as more kids lined up for shots and oral doses of the vaccine in the decades after 1963, measles rates plummeted.

In 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said measles was effectively eliminated in the US, because the virus was not being transmitted year-round anymore and there were fewer than 100 cases per year. But increasingly kids in the US are going without their shots.

Read more: Bill Gates says investing in 4 simple plans has saved millions of lives and provided a better return on investment than the stock market

Outbreaks in the US have more become common where unvaccinated people cluster and parents sometimes forgo shots for religious or personal reasons. There was one in the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn late last year and in Amish communities in Ohio in 2014.

Other parents mistakenly believe that there's a link between autism and the measles vaccine. This is chiefly because of discredited research by the scientist Andrew Wakefield. His main paper on the subject has been retracted, and many other studies since then have found no link between autism and vaccines. But the spread of misinformation and anti-vaccine campaigns (like those that targeted a Somali-American community in Minnesota) have led to more frequent outbreaks.

A 2018 report on the state of the US "social movement" not to vaccinate children found that Portland was one of the more dangerous "hotspots" where people weren't vaccinating their kids despite doctor recommendations. (Other spots of concern included Seattle, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Houston, and Detroit.)

"Without urgent efforts to increase vaccination coverage and identify populations with unacceptable levels of under- or unimmunized children, we risk losing decades of progress in protecting children and communities against this devastating, but entirely preventable disease," Soumya Swaminathan, a deputy director general at the WHO, said in a recent statement.

2014 and 2018 were both banner years for measles in the US, with 667 and 349 confirmed cases.

What a measles infection looks like

There's really no way to prevent someone from getting the measles other than a vaccine. The virus can easily spread when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes on others.

It takes one to two weeks after the infection for measles symptoms — which can include, fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes — to show up in a kid.

Often, parents notice white spots, called Koplik spots, appearing in an infected child's mouth about two to three days after the onset of symptoms. After a few more days, a rash breaks out, and flat red spots that may first appear on the face can cover the child from head to toe, developing into raised bumps.

With any luck, the rash and fever persist for only a few days before the child gets well again.

Deadly measles complications, which affect about one in every 1,000 people with measles, can include pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and a rare disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis that doesn't show up until seven to 10 years after a person's had the measles.

Before 1963, about 4,000 Americans developed brain swelling from measles every year. The encephalitis, when it didn't kill them, sometimes left people deaf or with brain damage.

SEE ALSO: Bill Gates says investing in 4 simple plans has saved millions of lives and provided a better return on investment than the stock market

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• To compile this list, we looked at the top 10 highest-grossing films for each year since 2000 at the worldwide box office and compared the Rotten Tomatoes critic scores of each film. 
• The movie with the lowest critic score within each year's top 10 is the film we've deemed the worst blockbuster movie of that year. 

Over the last 20 years, a number of critically panned films have earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

We compiled this list by looking at the top 10 highest-grossing films at the worldwide box office for each year since 2000, according to Box Office Mojo data. We then reviewed the critic scores for each of those 10 films on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to determine which film was the most critically panned blockbuster movie of that year.

We included a runner-up film for each year and used lesser audience scores to break any ties in critic.

From the 2000 thriller "What Lies Beneath" to 2018's "Venom," with multiple Will Smith-led movies in between, here are the worst blockbuster films of every year since 2000, according to critics.

SEE ALSO: The best blockbuster movie of every year since 2000

2000: "What Lies Beneath"

Global box office total: $291.4 million

Critics score: 46%

What critics said: "The discrepancy between the sophistication of the special effects and the rudimentary dramaturgy results in a $140 million film that may raise your blood pressure, but leaves the rest of you distinctly unengaged." — David Ansen, Newsweek

Runner-up: "The Perfect Storm" grossed $328.7 million globally and holds a 47% critic score.

2001: "Pearl Harbor"

Global box office total: $449.2 million

Critic score: 25%

What critics said: "The effect of watching a Michael Bay film is indistinguishable from having a large, pointy lump of rock drop on your head. His new picture, 'Pearl Harbor,' maintains the mood." — Anthony Lane, New Yorker

Runner-up: "Hannibal" grossed $351.7 million globally and holds a 39% critic score.

2002: "Men in Black II"

Global box office total: $441.8 million

Critic score: 39%

What critics said: "The down-home satire of how we cope with cultural difference has evaporated, replaced by jazzy effects that wear out their welcome by the halfway mark." — Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Runner-up: "Die Another Day" grossed $432 million globally and holds a 57% critic score.

The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.

Since you don't have all day to scour the web for noteworthy sales and discounts, we rounded up the best bargains for you to shop in one convenient place.

1. Save 30% on shelving and drawer systems at The Container Store

Achieving a well-organized and tidy home starts with creating the best use of your space, and The Container Store has everything you need to do that. Right now, you can save 30% on all Elfa shelving and drawer systems. You can also save 30% on installation if you'd prefer to have a professional assemble it. Whether you're organizing your kitchen, closet, or garage, you'll find a variety of useful shelf and drawer setups here.

Shop The Container Store sale now.

2. Save $40 on a Deebot robot vacuum on Amazon

The Deebot N79S robot vacuum can clean your floors for you, and it's $40 cheaper on Amazon until January 27 if you use the promo code "GI8ESL7U" at checkout. The Deebot N79S has modern features like sensors to avoid obstacles, two-hour battery life, and the ability to set it on a schedule. Plus, it works with Amazon's Alexa and the Google Assistant, so you can use your smart-home hub to start a cleaning session with your voice.

Deebot N79S, $159.99 (originally $199.99)[You save $40]

3. Save $50 on the Sonos Beam at Amazon

The Sonos Beam is a compact soundbar that delivers clear, high-quality sound, and it's currently $50 cheaper on Amazon. It also has Amazon's Alexa built in, so you can use it to control your smart-home accessories or answer your questions. If you're looking for a way to upgrade your home theater system before the Super Bowl or expand your smart home into the living room, the Sonos Beam is your best bet.

Sonos Beam, $349 (originally $399) [You save $50]

4. Save up to 60% on warehouse items at Macy's

Macy's is discounting thousands of home, beauty, home, and clothing items for men, women, and children up until January 24. The deals range from $136 off the tote bag pictured above to $50 off an Instant Pot, so there's bound to be a staple you need and can save on. Most of the items are already discounted, but to save on kitchen items like the Instant Pot, you'll need to enter the promo code "Home" at checkout.

Shop Macy's Warehouse Sale now.

5. Save 40% almost site-wide at Banana Republic

Banana Republic is a great place to pick up winter essentials like a new coat or hat, and right now you can save 40% almost site-wide by using the promo code "BANANAS40" at checkout. The sale includes clothes, accessories, and clearance items, but there are a handful of exceptions in each category.

Shop Banana Republic's 40% off sale now.

6. Save $50 on the Apple Watch Series 3 at Best Buy

The Apple Watch Series 3 is packed with must-have feature like Apple Pay for contactless payments, a GPS to track your runs, and a heart-rate monitor to monitor your health. All models of the Series 3 smartwatch are currently $50 cheaper at Best Buy. Keep in mind that the Apple Watch only works with an iPhone, so if you use an Android phone, you'll need to consult our guide for a different pick.

Shop Best Buy's Apple Watch Series 3 sale.

7. Save up to $200 on a Leesa mattress and get a free pillow

Leesa's weekend sale is still going on and there are a ton of great deals on its sleep-related products including mattresses, sheets, and pillows. Right now, you can save up to $200 on a Sapira Hybrid Mattress, plus a free pillow valued at $75. If you're not in the market for a new mattress, you can save up to 30% on sheets, pillows, and blankets.

Shop the Leesa Sleep sale now.

Join the conversation about this story »

• WalletHub.com published a study of the strictest and most lenient states in America when it comes to speeding and reckless driving. 
• The study looked at 12 categories to measure how severely each state responds to speeding and reckless driving.
• Texas proved to be the most lenient state in the country when it comes to policing those driving violations. 
• Delaware is the most strict when it comes to driving offenses. 

One of the great aspects of America is that each state is unique. No two are alike, no matter how close they are in geography or even demographics. The same goes for their driving laws and insurance rates. 

WalletHub.com took a look at the laws of all 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, to find the best and the worst places in America to get a speeding ticket. 

The methodology Wallethub.com used in its study included looking at how states respond to two offenses — speeding and reckless driving — using 12 subcategories, assigning various points to each. The more strict or severe the response, the higher the point value. 

For speeding, the subcategories included: the mph over the speed limit where speeding is automatically considered reckless driving, the type of speed limit, the average increase in cost of insurance after one speeding ticket, the laws in place prohibiting racing on highways, whether the state uses automatic speed cameras, whether the state has additional penalties for aggressive driving, and how much speeding tickets count toward a suspension.

In terms of reckless driving, the categories were: mandatory license suspension for a first conviction, minimum jail time for a first conviction, maximum fine for a first conviction, minimum jail time for a second conviction, and maximum fine for a second conviction.

The study returned some interesting results. Texas finished 51st as the most lenient state in the US, and Delaware finished as the strictest state. According to the study, 42% of states and Washington, DC, use speed cameras to catch speeders. The study also found that the average maximum cost of reckless driving tickets in the US is $845, with the cheapest being $100 in states such as Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Ohio. The most expensive maximum fine for reckless driving is approximately $6,250 in Oregon. 

However, these figures pale in comparison to the $40.4 billion in economic cost to society caused by speeding-related crashes. 

Read more: How much car insurance costs across all 50 states

According to WalletHub.com, its study used data from its own research as well as from the US Department of Transportation, Department of Motor Vehicles, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Here's a closer look at how US states and Washington, DC, react to speeding and reckless driving, from the most lenient to the most strict:

SEE ALSO: These are the 30 best cars for summer road trips

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51: Texas.

49. Mississippi (Tie).

49. Oklahoma (Tie).

• Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees will continue to have transit and parking benefit during the government shutdown. 
• TSA administrator David Pekoske announced that his employees will continue to have the benefits that provide free work parking and public transit. 
• TSA screening officers have been working without pay since the government shutdown commenced on December 22. 
• Many TSA employees have called out due to the lack of funds to make it to work. 

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees will continue to have transit and parking benefit during the government shutdown. 

The agency's administrator David Pekoske made the announcement on Wednesday through a series of posts on Twitter.

"I have directed my leadership team to explore ways to provide support & financial relief to TSA employees working during this shutdown, within existing legal and financial parameters. You are not in this alone." Pekoske said. "TSA leaders have found funding to continue providing TSA employees with parking and transit benefits for the coming month."

Read more: The TSA is giving unpaid security screeners a $500 bonus during the government shutdown.

According to a TSA spokesperson, the benefits provide free parking at airports to those who drive to work and cover the cost of transit for those who use public transportation. 

These are benefits that are generally available across government agencies and vary based on location, the spokesperson told Business Insider. 

For example, in the Washington D.C. area, the benefit is around $225 per month and can be used at the employee's discretion based on how he or she commutes to work.

Read more: There are no NTSB investigators to look into plane crashes and highway accidents because they've been sent home during the government shutdown.

Pekoske also thanked his employees for their work during the shutdown.  

"I see unparalleled commitment and service across TSA," the former US Coast Guard Vice Admiral said. "Communities coming together to assist those who need it, travelers offering words of gratitude & organizations providing food and other provisions."

TSA staff have been working unpaid since the government shutdown commenced on December 22. Even though they are eligible for backpay once the showdown ends, many are not highly paid and live paycheck to paycheck. 

Since the beginning of the shutdown, the agency has reported a significant increase in the number of employees who have called out of work. According to the president of the union that represents TSA employees, the callouts are a result of people lacking the funds to get to work. 

SEE ALSO: Delta can't put its new Airbus jets into service because FAA inspectors have been sent home during the government shutdown

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