By Mark Trumbull | Content provided by CSMonitor.com

Your taxes are probably going up, but not as much as they would have without a "fiscal cliff" deal.

That's the short summary of what's in store for US households now that a fiscal bargain between the White House and Congress has been reached.

The welcome news for personal pocketbooks is that most Americans will see no change in their income-tax rates.

But the amount of taxes paid will still rise, for two major reasons: First, workers will owe 2 percent more of their paychecks to the government in 2013 because Congress is allowing a temporary payroll-tax cut to expire. Second, tax rates are rising for households that earn more than $450,000.

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - State agriculture officials say Alabama's record yields in cotton, soybean and peanut crops in 2012 helped to offset lower than average corn yields.

The Gadsden Times reports (http://bit.ly/W2ALK8 ) that soybean and cotton yields in northeast Alabama also likely set records this year.

David Derrick, regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, says this year has been 1 of the best ever for row crop farmers.

Officials say farmers benefited from higher than average prices for corn and soybeans.

Bill Weaver, director of the Alabama office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistic Service, said drought conditions in the Midwest helped push soybean and corn prices higher.

Alabama's projected soybean yield is 44 bushels an acre, which would break the record of 40 set in 2009.

Faster than wrapping paper flies off of Christmas gifts, holiday travel rates are rising everyday.

Here are six airline travel fees to avoid:

1. You may want to pack light. See if you can put everything in a carry on bag.  According to Smartertravel.com, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Airways all charge $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second checked bag. Southwest does not charge for the first or second checked bag.

2) If you get cold while on the plane, you'll have to cough up $7 on U.S. Airways for a sleep set,  but on American, Delta, Southwest and United it's free.

3) What if you make a mistake? Some airlines will charge you to change your ticket. American charges $25, Delta's fee starts at $150, United's fee starts at $75, U.S. Airways starts at $150 and Southwest has no charge.