Current Events in August 2015

Browse Current Events by year

2015

Browse Current Events by month

Get trending consumer news and recalls

    By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Unsubscribe at any time.

    Thanks for subscribing.

    You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.

    Checks in the mail to purchasers of bogus childhood speech disorder treatments

    The dietary supplements, Speak and Speak Smooth, were deceptively marketed

    Refund checks are being mailed to consumers who lost money buying dietary supplements, Speak and Speak Smooth, which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says were deceptively marketed as proven effective at treating childhood speech disorders -- including those associated with autism.

    The refunds are from money collected through a settlement with the FTC, under which the NourishLife, LLC defendants agreed to stop making allegedly deceptive claims that their products develop and maintain normal, healthy speech and language capabilities in children.

    These 6,936 checks -- each for $25.18 -- are legitimate, and the FTC is encouraging consumers who receive them to cash them before they expire on October 23.

    Checks that are not cashed within 60 days of the date they are issued will become void.

    Recipients should note that the FTC never requires consumers to pay money or provide information before redress checks can be cashed.

    Refund checks are being mailed to consumers who lost money buying dietary supplements, Speak and Speak Smooth, which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sa...

    GM recalls Chevy Impalas

    The front passenger air bag may deploy with a child seat in the front passenger seat

    General Motors is recalling 5,493 model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impalas manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 19, 2015, equipped with front vented-heated passenger seats.

    The Automatic Occupant Sensing (AOS) system may fail to suppress the front passenger air bag if a child seat is in the front passenger seat. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    If the front passenger air bag deploys with a child seat in the front passenger seat, the risk of injury to the child is increased.

    GM will notify owners, and dealers will correct the calibration-learning error by preconditioning the empty seat, and also resetting the ECU to a seat zero-value, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

    Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15400.

    General Motors is recalling 5,493 model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Impalas manufactured April 15, 2013, to June 19, 2015, equipped with front vented-heated p...

    Chrysler is recalling 5,485 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos

    There could be a change in ride height, loss of rear end stability and reduced braking capabilities

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 5,485 model year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos manufactured June 12, 2015, to June 20, 2015.

    The vehicles may be equipped with rear lower control arms that may have been incorrectly heat-treated, causing the rear lower control arm to fracture.

    If the rear lower control arm fractures it may result in a change in ride height, loss of rear end stability, and reduced braking capabilities, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the lower control arms, free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2015.

    Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R38.  

    Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 5,485 model year 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos manufactured June 12, 2015, to June 20, 2015. The vehicl...

    Get trending consumer news and recalls

      By entering your email, you agree to sign up for consumer news, tips and giveaways from ConsumerAffairs. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Thanks for subscribing.

      You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.

      Are economic warning signs flashing “recession?”

      Consumer activity in the next few weeks may provide a clue

      Last week's stock market carnage has Wall Street traders – as well as millions of consumers with retirement accounts in mutual funds – a bit nervous. The stock indices are now in bear market territory with the first major correction since 2011.

      The debate on Wall Street is whether the selling is over. Even if it's not, many economists say the U.S. economy is still fairly strong and job growth is good.

      But there are warning signs everywhere that may suggest otherwise.

      It's true that the stock market sell-off could just be a long-overdue correction from abnormally-high stock valuations. But there are troubling signs that suggest the economy is weaker than many think.

      Weak growth numbers

      It starts with the economic growth rate. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to be around two percent for the year. But in the first quarter of both 2014 and 2015, growth was dismal. In fact, in both years there was negative growth in the January through March period.

      The weak showing in 2014 was blamed on a cold winter and this year on a labor action that blocked West Coast ports for a time. But every first quarter is cold, because it's in the winter. Winter doesn't appear to have been a negative factor in years before the financial crisis. For example, GDP in the first quarter of 2004 was 2.4%.

      So even if economic growth picks up in the rest of the year, as it usually does, the fact the U.S. economy has gone in reverse to begin the last two years doesn't exactly paint a picture of a robust economy.

      Cheaper commodities

      Consumers are probably well aware of falling oil prices, but the price of just about every other commodity has been falling too. Falling oil prices are good for consumers but have hurt the U.S. oil industry, whose rapid growth the last few years has helped keep the economy afloat. That stimulus is no longer the economic driver it once was.

      Oil prices are lower because there is an oversupply but the situation with other commodities, like copper, is different. There just doesn't seem to be as much demand. Falling demand could be a sign of an economic slowdown.

      The economies of other nations may already be in recession. Countries like Brazil that rely on the export of oil and minerals are reeling because of falling prices.

      China's woes

      China, the world's second-largest economy, also appears to be in trouble. China last week took aggressive action to devalue its currency to prop up its fading export market. True, the U.S. imports more from China than it exports, but many U.S. corporations rely on the vast Chinese market. Apple stock's plunge the last few weeks is attributed in part to a belief Apple will sell fewer iPhones in China if that country's economy tanks.

      This all creates strong headwinds for the U.S. economy, especially in light of an ever-strengthening dollar,that makes U.S. exports more expensive.

      So, is the U.S. sliding toward recession? Very few people think so but the U.S. consumer may be a strong indicator. Keep an eye on back to school sales, now under way. As we reported last week, consumers don't appear to have spent heavily so far.

      “As expected, families are carefully measuring where, when and how they should spend on fall apparel items, school supplies, electronics and other necessities,” said National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Late summer promotions and sales tax holidays around the country are likely contributing to the delay in back-to-school shopping this year, which means the next few weeks could be exceptionally busy for retailers large and small.”

      If it's not exceptionally busy, it could be a bad sign. In 2008 retailers suffered a dismal back to school shopping season. It was followed a month later by the financial crisis, in which a garden variety recession turned into the Great Recession.

      Last week's stock market carnage has Wall Street traders – as well as millions of consumers with retirement accounts in mutual funds – a bit nervous. The s...

      GM fixes total ignition-switch deaths at 124

      Millions of cars were recalled because of the defective switches

      A final tally of deaths and injuries linked to General Motors' faulty ignition switches finds 124 deaths and 275 injuries, 17 of them serious, although additional cases are pending in the courts.

      More than 4,000 claims were filed with Attorney Kenneth Feinberg's office, though 90 percent of them were found to be ineligible. He was hired last year by GM to compensate victims of the faulty switches, which led to the recall of more than 2.6 million vehicles last year.

      Those who filed with Feinberg's office waived their right to sue, instead agreeing to let Feinberg's team decide on an appropriate damage award.

      GM set aside $625 million to pay victims. It also paid a $35 million fine for not alerting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of the defective switches quickly enough.

      Death claims were eligible for a $1 million payout for the dead person and $300,000 each for a surviving spouse and any dependents. Awards for severe injuries could go higher, depending on the circumstances.

      A final tally of deaths and injuries linked to General Motors' faulty ignition switches finds 124 deaths and 275 injuries, 17...

      Chrysler recalls Ram 4500 and 5500 pickup trucks

      The vehicles could experience reduction of suspension stability control

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 199 model year 2015 Ram 4500, and 5500 pickup trucks manufactured January 30, 2015, to February 6, 2015.

      The vehicles may have inadequate penetration of the front upper control arm loop to spacer weld, reducing the front suspension stability.

      A reduction of suspension stability control could affect control of the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

      Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace any upper control arms, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 19, 2015.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R34.

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 199 model year 2015 Ram 4500, and 5500 pickup trucks manufactured January 30, 2015, to February 6, 2015. The vehicles ...

      GM recalls Cadillac ATS vehicles

      The vehicles' roof panel could close automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed

      General Motors is recalling 63,665 model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015.

      The vehicles' roof panel could close automatically when the non-recessed switches are pressed and the roof panel is open. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

      Because the switch is not recessed, the roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed resulting in unintended auto-closure of the roof panel, increasing the risk of personal injury.

      GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the roof console accessory switch trim plate, free of charge. The recall began on August 19, 2015, and supersedes one issued in February 2015.

      Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15568.

      General Motors is recalling 63,665 model year 2013-2016 Cadillac ATS vehicles manufactured April 25, 2012, to June 25, 2015. The vehicles' roof panel cou...

      Chrysler is recalling 8 model year 2015 Chrysler 200 vehicles

      Certain electrical components may experience intermittent power failures

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 77,834 model year 2015 Chrysler 200s manufactured January 7, 2014, to September 23, 2014.

      The vehicles may have a Power Distribution Center (PDC) electrical connector that may cause intermittent power failures to certain electrical components.

      An intermittent loss of power to electrical components could cause a vehicle to stall without warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

      Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the C4 connector using a 12 wire split kit for 3.6L engines, or replace the transmission wiring harness for 2.4L engines, free of charge. The parts needed for the recall are currently unavailable. Owners will be notified of the recall on or around September 18, 2015, with second notifications mailed when remedy parts become available.

      Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R24.

      Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 77,834 model year 2015 Chrysler 200s manufactured January 7, 2014, to September 23, 2014. The vehicles may have a Powe...

      Volvo XC90 vehicles recalled

      The third row seating side curtain air bags may not inflate fully

      Volvo Cars of N.A. is recalling 3,911 model year 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2015, to July 10, 2015.

      The third row seating side curtain air bags may not inflate fully.

      Underinflated air bags may not fully protect third row occupants, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

      Volvo will notify owners, and dealers will modify the D-pillar interior panels to allow full inflation of the third row airbags, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 14, 2015.

      Owners may contact Volvo customer service at 1-201-768-7300.

      Volvo Cars of N.A. is recalling 3,911 model year 2016 Volvo XC90 vehicles manufactured January 27, 2015, to July 10, 2015. The third row seating side cur...

      Chetak New York recalls Deep Coriander Powder

      The product may be contaminated with Salmonella

      Chetak New York of Edison, N.J., is recalling 300 jars of Deep Coriander Powder.

      The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

      No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

      The recalled product was distributed nationwide in retail stores from July 30, 2015 – August 13, 2015, in a 14.1-z clear plastic jar marked with UPC number 011433134347 on the rear of the package. The lot number can be located on the bottom of the jar.

      Customers who purchased the recalled product should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

      Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-973-835-1906, Monday through Friday from 9 am – 5 pm (EST).

      Chetak New York http://chetaknewyork.com/ of Edison, N.J., is recalling 300 jars of Deep Coriander Powder. The product may be contaminated with Salmonel...

      General Motors recalls Chevrolet Cobalts

      An electrical short could disable the driver side curtain air bag

      General Motors is recalling 59,474 model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010.

      The vehicles may be equipped with an improperly routed Side-Impact Sensor (SIS) wiring harness in the driver side front door. The misrouted wiring harness could cause an electrical short that disables the driver side curtain air bag.

      A disabled driver side roof-rail air bag will not deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of that air bag, increasing the risk of injury to the driver.

      GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sensor's wiring in the driver's door and make repairs as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 26, 2015.

      Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15075.

      General Motors is recalling 59,474 model year 2010 Chevrolet Cobalts manufactured January 4, 2010, to June 23, 2010. The vehicles may be equipped with an...

      Study: black borrowers pay more for mortgages

      Reserchers find African Americans' rate is .29% higher

      If African-Americans applying for a mortgage sometimes feel they aren't getting the best deal, they may be right, says Ping Cheng, a professor of finance at Florida Atlantic University's (FAU) school of business.

      Cheng looked at the mortgage rates obtained by home buyers, then divided them up between black and white. He found that there is a wide disparity in the rates between black and white borrowers.

      The rate differential averaged 0.29%, which would be an $18 a month difference on a 30-year mortgage of $150,000. Cheng's study found more financially vulnerable black women seem to get the highest rate.

      A write up of the study and its results appears in the July 2015 issue of The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics.

      Cheng and his fellow researchers, Zhenghou Lin, Ph.D., and Yingchun Liu, Ph.D., of California State University, Fullerton, found that the rate disparity mainly occurs to young black borrowers with low education, as well as those borrowers whose income and credit disqualify them for prime lending rates.

      At the same time,among borrowers in the higher rate groups, black women seem to receive much more disparate treatment than black men.

      Black women pay more

      “Our finding is that there is a discrepancy between blacks and whites in terms of mortgage rates,” Cheng said. “When we further dig into the data, we find that generally the low-income black women who are heads of households pay the highest. They are the most vulnerable to subprime lending and higher mortgage rates.”

      For African-Americans, this is not exactly breaking news. A 2006 study by the Center for Responsible Lending analyzed government data showing minorities tended to be saddled with higher cost subprime loans and found the disparity held up, even when factors like credit scores and down payments were considered.

      Because the foreclosure crisis hit subprime borrowers especially hard, many African-American homeowners lost their homes.

      In a 2010 analysis, published in the American Sociological Review, researchers Jacob Rugh and Douglas Massey argued that residential segregation created a unique niche of minority clients who were differentially marketed risky subprime loans that were in great demand for use in mortgage-backed securities that could be sold on secondary markets.

      Highly racialized process

      Although the rise in subprime lending and the ensuing wave of foreclosures was partly a result of market forces that have been well-documented, they argue the foreclosure crisis was also a highly racialized process.

      The Florida Atlantic study found that, among women borrowers who fail to qualify for the low-rate prime mortgages, black women on average are charged a little over a half percent more than their white counterparts.

      Cheng and his colleagues assume a $250,000, 30-year mortgage at the current prevailing rate of 3.75% per year, finding African-America women pay an extra $82.86 per month in mortgage payments.

      To put it in context, Cheng says if that $82.86 per month was placed in some kind of savings or investment account earning a modest 2% per year, the balance would reach $40,825 when the loan is paid off at the end of 30 years.

      “When all the traditional variables are controlled – similar mortgage product, similar income level, similar education level, similar shopping behavior – blacks overall as a group end up paying a higher rate on average,” Cheng said.

      Why does such a discrepancy exist? Cheng says the study was not set up to address that question. He says it's fair to say the results are consistent with racial discrimination, but it will take a different kind of study to prove it.

      If African-Americans applying for a mortgage sometimes feel they aren't getting the best deal, they may be right, says Ping Cheng, a professor of finance a...

      11 states want feds to discharge Corinthian students' federal debt

      The Department of Education's current complex debt-relief program is essentially useless

      The attorneys general of 11 different states are urging the Department of Education to discharge the federal student loan debts of students whose for-profit schools were shut down for violating various laws – especially victims of schools that operated as part of the now-defunct Corinthian Colleges chain.

      Yesterday, presumably in response to the DoE's stated intention of establishing a “clearer, more comprehensive” debt forgiveness program for defrauded students, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan released a statement saying that she, “along with the Attorneys General of 10 other states, called on the U.S. Department of Education to cancel federal student loans in cases where schools have broken state laws, and to provide clear processes for students seeking relief.”

      Granted, this is not exactly new news. Madigan and other attorneys general made a similar argument in April. “We must protect the victims of the predatory practices of for-profit schools such as Corinthian, which was more concerned with their profits than they were about the quality of education they provided,” she said in a letter released at the time.

      She also noted that the DoE already has the legal authority to discharge the federally backed student loans of students who took those loans out to attend harmful, fraudulent schools such as Corinthian's.

      Madigan's April letter, also endorsed by the AGs of California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington, noted that the Higher Education Act, DoE's own regulations and federal student loan documents all make it clear that students can assert legal claims against schools as a defense to repayment of their loans.

      First glance

      And in early June, a month after Corinthian schools shut their doors and filed for bankruptcy protection, the Department announced a debt-relief program which, at first glance, appeared to be exactly what AG Madigan and her other-state colleagues asked for: a chance for student debtors to assert legal claims against their scammy schools as a defense against repayment.

      Problem is, the DoE will not let students satisfy that requirement by merely pointing out “The entire chain of schools was shut down, my campus included, after years of constant legal troubles and multimillion-dollar fines which can all be summarized as 'the school violated multiple laws'.”

      Instead, the DoE's plan required students to provide transcripts and other documents that are difficult if not impossible to acquire from an out-of-business school, and – as part of the “legal claims” assertion – answer some rather sophisticated legal questions which non-attorneys are unlikely to know, including “details about the conduct of the school that the borrower believes violated state law including, but not limited to: The state and applicable law or cause of action (if available); Specific acts (including failures to act) of alleged misconduct by the school ....”

      So yesterday, Madigan and other attorneys general recommended that the DoE streamline and simplify this process in many ways, to “eas[e] the burden on students to obtain [debt] relief.”

      Rather than the current Byzantine requirements set for Corinthian debtors seeking relief, the attorneys general recommend “To obtain relief, students should simply have to state how the school deceptively induced them to enroll or how the school engaged in other unlawful acts.”

      Discharge in groups

      Better yet, the DoE could discharge loans in groups, rather than individually: “The Department should provide a mechanism by which the loans of entire groups of students may be discharged. The Department also should accept findings or evidence from government entities on behalf of the students.”

      In other words: rather than expect every individual ex-Corinthian student to personally make his or her own case for debt forgiveness, the attorneys general would rather have the DoE decide something more along the lines of “All federal debts attached to students enrolled at Corinthian's Scamville campus from [this date] through [that date] are forgiven.”

      That's also why the attorneys are asking the DoE to “ensur[e] relief regardless of loan status …. [including] Direct loans, the Federal Family Education Loan Program loans, the PLUS program loans, and loans that have been consolidated into new debt. The Department should also make clear that students may recover amounts they already paid on Title IV loans.”

      The attorneys general of 11 different states are urging the Department of Education to discharge the federal student loan debts of students whose for-profi...

      College spending comes under scrutiny

      Legislators in Illinois follow the money

      Students, parents, and public policymakers who are alarmed at the skyrocketing costs of college tuition are beginning to look a little closer at how colleges spend all that money.

      Is it possible that spending a little less here and there might help rein in rising costs? Illinois legislators think so.

      Earlier this month an investigative report by the Illinois Senate Democratic Caucus highlighted a series of lavish perks for top administrators at many of the state's public universities and community colleges.

      The report found, among other things, one administrator at a public university received a compensation package totaling $887,244. Others received perks like car and driver services, as well as memberships to multiple country clubs and social organizations.

      Executive compensation

      “While tuition at Illinois’ public institutions has skyrocketed, so has executive compensation,” the lawmakers wrote. “This report finds that tuition increases have coincided with a dramatic increase in administrative costs, including the size of administrative departments and compensation packages for executives.”

      The report focused most of its attention on the dramatic increase in size of college administrations, which the report characterizes as “sprawling behemoths.” But a general increase in spending on “upgrades” all across college campuses may highlight part of the problem of institutions out of touch with reality.

      In a press release this week, Aramark, a company providing food services to 500 U.S. colleges, welcomed students back to campus, noting that “campus dining is out, campus culinary is in.”

      Students want it all

      “Long gone are the days of institutional food service where colleges were only expected to provide basic nourishment three times each day,” the company said in the release. “Today's Gen Z college students want it all – locally grown, sustainable, healthy, customizable, convenient and trendy – all at a good value.”

      And Aramark is giving it to them. The company says it has installed “action cooking stations” offering made-to-order, customizable options. Students will use the action stations to create their own omelets, stir fry, pasta, and noodle and burrito bowls. The company says that means custom ingredients and flavors – everything from locally grown produce to a wide variety of spices, seasoning, and flavor profiles.

      "We have almost 600 world-class chefs – supported by a team of dietitians and nutritionists -- dedicated to creating innovative and healthful culinary experiences for our astute college consumers," said Brent Franks, CEO for Aramark's Education business. "Our goal is to make sure students enjoy restaurant quality dining without ever having to leave campus."

      You can't blame a service provider for providing what the customer will pay for, but it might not be a coincidence that generations that got through school on pizza and burgers at the student union also paid a lot less tuition.

      Of course, this hasn't happened overnight. The New York Times noted in 2012 that colleges have been on a long “spending binge” to build the best of everything, with the goal of attracting students who want the best of everything.

      In the end though, students end up paying for it. According to the College Board, the average tuition, room and board and fees for in-state students at public, 4-year colleges was $18,943 in 2014. Student loan debt is fast approaching $1.3 trillion.

      Students, parents, and public policymakers who are alarmed at the skyrocketing costs of college tuition are beginning to look a little closer at how colleg...

      Risky eye care behaviors common among contact lens wearers

      Many seek care for potentially preventable eye problems

      Do you wear contact lenses? If so, you have a lot of company. Some 41 million people in this country wear contacts -- and nearly all of them may be engaging in at least one behavior known to increase their risk of eye infections.

      According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third of contact lens wearers who participated in a national survey reported going to the doctor for red or painful eyes related to wearing contact lenses.

      More than 99% of them admitted to at least one risky behavior. The majority of wearers reported:

      • keeping their contact lens cases for longer than recommended (82.3%);
      • “topping off” solution in the case—adding new solution to the existing solution instead of emptying the case out fully before adding new solution (55.1%); or
      • wearing their lenses while sleeping (50.2 percent).

      Each of these behaviors has been reported in previous studies to raise the risk of eye infections by five times or more.

      The survey

      An online survey was given to a sample of contact lens wearers to determine how often contact they engaged in behaviors that could put them at risk for an eye infection. The CDC collaborated with the Contact Lens Assessment in Youth (CLAY) group, a multi-university group of researchers, to conduct the survey.

      A separate survey was used to estimate the number of contact lens wearers -- about 41 million adults. Taken together, the survey results indicate that millions of people could be at risk for serious eye infections because of poor contact lens hygiene behaviors.

      “Good vision contributes to overall well-being and independence for people of all ages, so it’s important not to cut corners on healthy contact lens wear and care,” said CDC Medical Epidemiologist Jennifer Cope, M.D., M.P.H. “We are finding that many wearers are unclear about how to properly wear and care for contact lenses."

      What to do

      To prevent eye infections, contact lens wearers should:

      • Wash hands with soap and water and dry them well before touching contact lenses;
      • Take contacts out before sleeping, showering or swimming;
      • Rub and rinse contacts in disinfecting solution each time they remove them;
      • Rub and rinse the case with contact lens solution, dry with a clean tissue, and store it upside down with the caps off after each use;
      • Replace contact lens cases at least once every three months;
      • Avoid “topping off” solution in lens case (adding fresh solution to old solution); and
      • Carry a backup pair of glasses in case contact lenses have to be taken out.

      Do you wear contact lenses? If so you have a lot of company. Some 41 million people in this country wear contacts -- and nearly all of them may be engaging...

      Back-to-school also means back-to-school lunches

      We have some food-safety tips for parents and caregivers

      The beginning of a new school year means lots of things: back to the books, back to shuttling students to and from extracurricular activities, and, in many cases, back to packing lunches and after-school snacks.

      One "back" you need to be aware of is foodborne bacteria.

      Bacteria that causes food poisoning grows rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees. In this range, these microorganisms can multiply to dangerous levels in just two hours, increasing the risk of food poisoning. To make sure lunches and snacks are safe, the Agriculture Department offers these four steps to food safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, and Chill.

      Packing tips

      • If the lunch/snack contains perishable food items like lunch meat, eggs, cheese, or yogurt, make sure to pack it with at least two cold sources. Harmful bacteria multiply rapidly, so perishable food that is transported without an ice source won't be safe for long.
      • Frozen juice boxes or water can also be used as freezer packs. Freeze these items overnight and use with at least one other freezer pack. By lunchtime, the liquid should be thawed and ready to drink.
      • Pack lunches containing perishable food in an insulated lunchbox or soft-sided lunch bag. Perishable food can be unsafe to eat by lunchtime if packed in a paper bag.
      • If packing a hot lunch, like soup, chili, or stew, use an insulated container to keep it hot. Fill the container with boiling water, let stand for a few minutes, empty, and then put in the piping hot food. Tell children to keep the insulated container closed until lunchtime to keep the food hot at 140 degrees or above.
      • If a child’s lunch is packed the night before, it should be left it in the refrigerator overnight. The meal will stay cold longer because everything will be refrigerator temperature when it is placed in the lunchbox.
      • If you’re responsible for packing snacks for the team, troop, or group, keep perishable foods in a cooler with ice or cold packs until snack time. Pack snacks in individual bags or containers, rather than having children share food from one serving dish.

      Storage tips

      • If possible, a child's lunch should be stored in a refrigerator or cooler with ice upon arrival. Leave the lid of the lunchbox or bag open in the fridge so that cold air can better circulate and keep the food cold.

      Eating and disposal tips

      • Pack disposable wipes for washing hands before and after eating.
      • After lunch, discard all leftover food, used food packaging, and paper bags. Do not reuse packaging because it could contaminate other food and cause foodborne illnesses.

      The beginning of a new school year means lots of things: back to the books, back shuttling students to and from extracurricular activities and, in many cas...

      Department of Education wants “clearer, more comprehensive” debt forgiveneess for future students of fraudulent schools

      But will this help students of now-defunct Cornthian Colleges?

      In early June, a month after the Corinthian Colleges chain of for-profit schools ended years of legal battles (including charges of fraudulent lending, illegal debt-collection practices, lying about job prospects and educational quality, and worse) by closing its doors and filing for bankruptcy, the Department of Education announced that it would offer debt relief for Corinthian students.

      The debt relief program was billed as part of an attempt to “ensure Americans are protected from unscrupulous colleges that deny students meaningful educational opportunities and leave taxpayers holding the bag.”

      Under ordinary consumer-protection situations, such loan forgiveness would arguably be a no-brainer: if a company is shut down for fraudulent business practices, any outstanding customer debt based on such fraud would is often forgiven or reimbursement is paid to victims. 

      But federally backed student loans (which, along with U.S. military veterans' educational benefits, provided the bulk of the school's profits) are different under the law: unlike most bad debts, they can't be discharged in bankruptcy. And from the money-lender's perspective, the loans are backed by the federal government – meaning, if a student can't or won't pay it back, the taxpayers are on the hook.

      Relief plan condemned by critics

      Hence the need for the Department of Education to announce a special debt relief program for the defrauded students of now-defunct schools.

      Yet student advocates and other critics immediately condemned the DoE's plan as worthless if not worse: “a process that re-victimizes students as a solution to a problem they [the DoE] created,” as the Debt Collective put it at the time.

      More specifically, the DoE plan required students to provide transcripts and other documentation which might be impossible to get (mainly because the school generating such documents is out of business and no longer exists).

      Students applying for loan forgiveness also had to answer some rather sophisticated legal questions which few if any non-lawyers could manage, including “details about the conduct of the school that the borrower believes violated state law including, but not limited to: The state and applicable law or cause of action (if available)….”

      But on Wednesday, the Department of Education said that starting next month, it will launch an “effort to better help defrauded students seeking debt relief,” and also “aim to create a system that makes sure that colleges–not taxpayers–are on the hook for wrongdoing.”

      U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan was quoted as promising “a clearer, more comprehensive system to assist students who believe they were defrauded by their college.”

      Little relief for the present

      Unfortunately for students still struggling with the June debt-forgiveness regulations, the DoE press release lauding next month's planned effort at “better help” for “defrauded students” still ends with the following discouraging paragraph:

      This regulatory process will not impact the ongoing debt relief efforts the Department outlined in June. Until these regulations are developed and put into effect, borrower defense claims will continue to be reviewed through existing processes and through those developed by the Special Master. Borrowers who believe they have valid claims for defenses to repayment can visit www.studentaid.ed.gov/Corinthian or call a special toll-free borrower defense hotline at (855) 279-6207 for more information.

      So the new rules might not help any student victims of Corinthian's frauds, but they might, in the future, keep taxpayers off the hook the next time a school victimizes students in similar fashion.

      Whatever the new improved rules are, DoE officials said they hope to have them in place by November 2016, and taking effect in July 2017. However, as the Washington Post noted, “Given the timeline, the rule could be subject to changes if a Republican takes the White House; the GOP has tried to block tougher regulations for for-profit colleges.”

      In early June, a month after the Corinthian Colleges chain of for-profit schools ended years of legal battles (including charges of fraudulent lending, ill...

      New app creates customized radio news content

      It's a news version of Pandora

      Pandora was one of the first music apps to allow you to create your own radio station, simply by selecting an artist, song or genre of music. It has had many imitators since, most recently Apple Music.

      Meep is an app following in Pandora's footsteps, but with one huge difference. Instead of music, the iPhone app creates a radio station delivering news about a user's particular interests.

      Meep launched this week for iOS with an Android version soon to follow.

      Personal stations

      According to the creators, the app instantly creates personal stations that play the latest audio stories about topics that users choose. There might also be short clips of ancillary content like music and local weather thrown in for good measure.

      The app's developers make it sound simple. Users just pick a subject and start listening, without having to dig through podcasts or blog posts. Once a user skips a story, Meep makes a note of that – just like Pandora – and doesn't offer content along that subject line again.

      Meep also has a feature to allow users to record their own content, in the form of short comments about a particular story. These short audio bites are then shared among friends.

      Content you don't have to look at

      "Meep selects and plays content you're passionate about while you're running, driving, or simply can't look down at your phone," said Mark DiPaola, founder and CEO of Meep. "Now you can use your commute to keep up with your favorite technologies, celebrities, sports teams, companies, cities, and over a million other topics. Want a station dedicated to Asteroids and Alpacas? Presto! We won't even ask why."

      Meep is currently lining up a stable of news-readers, who will turn web-based text articles into audio content. If you're interested in trying out, click here. We have no idea what they pay.

      Meep is also trying to line up publishers, who would like their content turned into audio. However, print copy is seldom written to be spoken. Radio copy is written for the ear – at least, once upon a time it was.

      The Internet is the perfect laboratory for bold and creative ideas. That said, this new app will face some pretty stiff competition.

      There are plenty of actual radio stations and thousands of podcasts available from apps like TuneIn and IheartRadio. The most listened-to podcast in the country is This American Life, a compelling NPR show with a talented staff that excels at the art of storytelling.

      Pandora was one of the first music apps to allow you to create your own radio station, simply by selecting an artist, song or genre of music. It has had ma...

      Honda HR-V vehicles recalled

      The vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information."

      American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 11,511 model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015.

      The vehicles may be missing the required tire placard indicating "Tire and Loading Information." Thus, they fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

      If the tire placard is missing the driver or owner may not know at what pressure to inflate the tires, resulting in over or under tire inflation, potentially increasing the risk of a tire failure and crash.

      Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle, and apply a new label, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 18, 2015.

      Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JT2, or JT4.

      American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 11,511 model year 2016 HR-V vehicles manufactured January 12, 2015, to May 20, 2015. The vehicles may be missing th...