ContributorNetwork - Years ago, when I was 18 years old, I was faced with a difficult decision. Looking back, it is difficult, if not impossible, to put into context the temptation and pressure that I experienced to skip college. Some of my high school friends had landed decent jobs with benefits at one of the many auto manufacturing companies in and around Detroit. Within the first few months of summer after high school graduation, these friends of mine were driving shiny new cars and renting apartments away from their parents for the first time. That life looked pretty good.

Reuters - Oil prices surged on Tuesday, with U.S. crude hitting the highest settlement since May, fueled by strong economic data from the United States and China and mounting concern about supply disruption from Iran.

ContributorNetwork - As of New Year's Day, residents of Michigan can no longer claim charitable contributions to homeless shelters, food banks, community foundations, public universities or other nonprofits on their state income tax, says CBS Detroit. As part of the Public Act 38 budget cuts package, Gov. Rick Snyder repealed Section 261 of the Michigan Individual Income Tax Act, eliminating charitable giving credits. Here's information about these changes.

Reuters - Hoping for something better than 2011's flat stock market, U.S. investors pushed shares higher on Tuesday to begin the new year, though questions remain about whether a rally can be sustained.