For Americans with mortgages, homeowners insurance is a must. But for those who have paid off their homes, it’s optional. Now more and more Americans are choosing to forgo that insurance. We’ll explain what’s behind the trend and dig into the potential risks. Plus, bizarre happenings for fabled sea creatures are making us smile, including a live-action reenactment of Jonah and the Whale. And, Nessie, is that you?

Here’s everything we talked about:




“Americans Are Dropping Their Home Insurance, Claiming the Odds of Disaster Don’t Justify the Cost” from The Wall Street Journal







“Student Loans Are Emerging From Deep Freeze, and Borrowers Are Confused” from The Wall Street Journal







“Spanish Prosecutors Open Inquiry Into Luis Rubiales Over World Cup Kiss” from The New York Times







“Mother of beleaguered Spanish soccer chief starts hunger strike as calls mount for his resignation” from AP News







“Biggest Hunt for the Loch Ness Monster in 50 Years Gets Under Way” from Bloomberg







“Whale watching: What happened when a whale swallowed me whole” from Slate





Join us tomorrow for a deep dive into the economics of recycling plastic and its shortcomings. Do you have recycling hacks? Call us at 508-U-B-SMART or email makemesmart@marketplace.org.