Current Events in December 2015

Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., is recalling about 2,230 RZR XP Turbo recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs).

The vehicles' oil drain line can leak, posing a fire hazard.

The company has received two reports of RZR XP Turbos with oil leaks and two reports of the vehicles catching fire. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves model year 2016 Polaris RZR XP Turbo recreational off-highway vehicles with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) 3NSVDE925GF454105 through 3NSVDE923GF459495.

RZR XP Turbos were sold in graphite, orange and blue color schemes. A “Turbo” decal is located on the right and left front fenders and a “RZR” decal on the right and left rear fenders.

The VIN is on the driver’s side rear frame rail, above the PVT cover. VINs are not sequential and not all VINs in the range are included in this recall.

A complete list of recalled vehicles including VINs is available here.

The ROVs, manufactured in Mexico, were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from September 2015, through November 2015, for about $25,000.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled vehicles and contact their local Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. Polaris is contacting its customers directly and sending a recall letter to each registered owner.

Consumers may contact Polaris toll-free at 888-704-5290 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.polaris.com and click on Product Safety Recalls for more information.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 10,800 model year 2013-2015 Genesis Coupes manufactured December 28, 2011, to April 6, 2015, equipped with manual transmissions.

If the differential and the suspension rear crossmember were not properly aligned during vehicle assembly, the bolts that secure the differential may loosen.

If the rear differential loosens from its mounting position, the driveshaft may disconnect from the differential, resulting in a loss of propulsion and an increased risk of a crash.

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper assembly of the differential, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 11, 2016.

Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 135.

Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., is recalling about 4,700 Polaris snowmobiles.

The steering pitman arm or drag link can crack and result in a loss of steering, posing a crash hazard.

The company has received 11 reports of cracked or broken steering pitman arms of which eight reported loss of steering and three reported a crash. One injury was reported, but without details as to the extent of the injuries. No property damage claims have been received.

This recall involves the following model year 2015 snowmobiles:

• 600 RUSH PRO-S,
• 600 RUSH PRO-X,
• 600 SWITCHBACK PRO-S,
• 600 SWITCHBACK PRO-X,
• 600 SWITCHBACK ADVENTURE,
• 800 RUSH PRO-S,
• 800 RUSH PRO-X,
• 800 SWITCHBACK PRO-S, 800
• SWITCHBACK PRO-X,
• 550 INDY Voyageur 155, and
• 550 INDY Adventure 155.

The 2015 600 / 800 AXYS RUSH and Switchbacks were solid in black, red/ white, and silver / black color schemes. The AXYS RUSH and Switchbacks have either “600” or “800” decal on the hood along with either “RUSH” or “Switchback” on the rear of the left and right sides of the rear suspension tunnel. The 550 INDY Adventures and Voyageurs were sold in red or blue and have either “Adventure” or “Voyageur” decals on the left and right engine compartment side panels.

The following model names and numbers are being recalled:

The snowmobiles, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from April 2014, through November 2015, for between $8,000 and $13,600.

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled snowmobiles and contact their local Polaris dealer to schedule a free repair. Polaris is contacting its customers directly and sending a recall letter to each registered owner.

Consumers may contact Polaris toll-free at 888-704-5290 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.polaris.com and click on “Product Safety Recalls” for more information.  

Federal safety regulators want to improve the odds that occupants will survive if their car rear-ends a semi-trailer truck. To do that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is proposing new rules that would require stronger rear impact guards on trailers and semi-trailers.

“A key component of [the Transportation Department's] safety mission is ensuring that trucking, an essential element in our transportation system, operates not just efficiently, but safely,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said. “Today’s proposal is another important step in that effort.”

Most trailers and semitrailers are already required to have bars, known as rear impact guards, hanging down from the back of the trailer to prevent "underride" -- an inoffensive term for a terrible outcome.

When a car rear-ends a truck, there is a possibility that it will "underride" the rear of the truck, which is normally higher than the car. That can result in the occupants of the car being severely injured or killed, often through decapitation.

The current federal standard calls for rear-impact guards on trucks that can withstand a 30-mile-per-hour impact. The new standard would bump that up to 35 miles per hour. Canada already has a 35-mph standard.

“Robust trailer rear impact guards can significantly reduce the risk of death or injury to vehicle occupants in the event of a crash into the rear of a trailer or semitrailer,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind.

NHTSA said most new trailers on the road today already meet the standard; it estimates that the annual cost of installing and maintaining the guards, including the increased fuel consumption resultiing from the bumpers' added weight, would be about $13 million.

Newer guards performing better

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has been asking NHTSA for a stronger underride standard since 2001, after testing bars on trailers built by three companies to federal standards. Cars with crash-test dummies slammed into the bars, which buckled or broke in several tests. The trailers often broke through the windshields.

Tests the insurance institute conducted showed some trailer guards that met Canadian regulations didn’t perform well when cars crash into them at an angle, said David Zuby, chief research officer for the group. Many manufacturers already are designing guards that are stronger, he said.

However, in a 2014 report, IIHS said newer guards were performing better. The non-profit institute ran a 2010 Chevrolet Malibu into the back of a Vanguard trailer hitched to a parked rig. The car hurtled toward the trailer at 35 mph, smashing into the outer half of the trailer's rear underride guard.

"When the test was over, the Malibu ended up behind the trailer — not crushed beneath it — because the Vanguard's underride guard held up. That's important because serious injuries and death can occur," the IIHS report said. 

"The Vanguard's underride guard performed great — a big improvement from our earlier tests," said Sean O'Malley, senior test coordinator for the Institute.

Truckers optimistic

The trucking industry is generally supportive of the NHTSA proposal. Sean McNally of the American Trucking Association said the guards have been in use for some time.

“While we believe the best underride guard is still the one that doesn’t need to be used, ATA is optimistic this proposal will be a step forward for highway safety,” McNally said in a statement emailed to Claims Journal, an insurance industry publication.

Health officials spend the better part of the fall months urging consumers to roll up their sleeves and get a flu shot. They say it's the best way to avoid getting sick.

But it's not clear if consumers are buying that message. The Harris Poll asked more than 2,000 adults what they think is the best way to avoid getting the flu and fewer than half – just 43% – said getting a flu shot.

In fact, 42% said they think "people take the flu season too seriously."

Fewer than half require flu shots

Maybe consumers would take flu shots more seriously if healthcare workers did. University of Michigan medical researchers looked into U.S. hospital policies that require doctors, nurses, and other health care providers to get vaccinated against the flu.

Surprisingly, the researchers report that fewer than half the hospitals they surveyed have such a policy, despite the fact these healthcare providers come in contact with the people most vulnerable to the flu every day.

In all, only 42.7% of those who responded from 386 hospitals said their hospital required flu vaccination of all healthcare providers. About 10% more said their hospital would require it for the following flu season.

“Vaccination of healthcare workers has been shown to significantly reduce patients’ risk of influenza and its complications, including pneumonia and death, compared with vaccination of patients alone,” said Dr. Sanjay Saint, senior author of the new study. “To put it bluntly, American hospitals have a lot of work to do.”

Avoiding the flu

How do consumers plan to avoid getting the flu? The most common answer, given by 69% of respondents, was frequent hand washing. Nearly as many thought being well rested and maintaining a healthy diet would protect them.

Getting a flu shot ranked only a little higher than taking vitamins and using hand sanitizers.

To be clear, health officials say everyone – especially people who work in a healthcare setting – should get a flu shot.

And despite what 42% of consumers think, getting the flu can be a pretty big deal. In addition to productivity lost in the workplace from sick days, people can and do die from the flu – mainly the very old and very young.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says its most recent data indicates that flu season is just getting started in the United States. Activity is still low across most of the country. Increases in activity are expected in the coming weeks.

Currently, there's a stand-off between regulators in Nevada and New York and major daily fantasy sports (DFS) enterprises.

The states claim these games are gambling operations that require a license. The companies – primarily FanDuel and DraftKings – insist they provide games of skill.

While both arguments make their way through the courts, a veteran sports book operation has signaled which way it thinks the argument will go. Vic Salerno, who has guided over 100 licensed book operations in Nevada, has applied to Nevada regulators to offer a variety of fantasy sports contests through Nevada casinos.

His new company, US Fantasy (USF), is likely to emerge as a legal alternative to FanDuel and DraftKings, while legal issues in New York are resolved.

Pending approval by Nevada regulators, these games would be offered as an intra-state skill game utilizing pari-mutuel systems. USF says its format is specifically designed for regulatory oversight.

“Practical solution”

“US Fantasy immediately provides a practical solution to the current issues surrounding DFS,” the company said in a release.

DFS has, to date, hit roadblocks in just two states. But USF claims California, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and others are now actively seeking a regulated consumer protected fantasy sports solution.

USF says its games can be played through traditional terminals at brick and mortar facilities, or with mobile devices and online. It says it has designed-in consumer protections, with age verification, money laundering controls, and segregated player cash accounts.

Where possible, the company said it hopes to co-mingle contest pools among the states to create mega-contests.

"Our unique contests figure to dramatically grow the popularity of fantasy sports in Nevada,” Salerno said. “We strongly anticipate increased customer traffic and revenue for the host casino properties and a taxable benefit for the State."

Left unsaid is Salerno's belief that his licensed operation could be poised to become the new face of daily fantasy sports in the U.S.

If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck...

And as to the question of whether daily fantasy sports will be found to be gambling, Rutgers University gambling expert Lia Nower, director of the Center for Gambling Studies, says the answer is fairly obvious.

“I doubt most people could tell the differences between DFS and sports betting,” Nower said. “Most people, except those who run Major League Baseball, that is.”

In fact, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer are all major investors in DraftKings. Last year, the National Basketball Association signed a four-year agreement with FanDuel that included an equity stake.

“Isn’t it ironic, they ban Pete Rose for life from baseball and take away his chances at the Hall of Fame for gambling, but MLB can invest millions in, essentially, the same activity and hope for a profit,” said Nower.

But FanDuel and DraftKings will be far from losers if DFS is declared to be gambling. If sports betting becomes legal, Nower says they’re positioned to make billions.

The nation’s purchasing and supply management executives appear bullish in their outlook for the U.S. economy in the year ahead.

The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Semiannual Economic Forecast calls for a continuation of the economic recovery that began in mid-2009.

The manufacturing sector expects its revenues to increase in 16 manufacturing industries, with capital spending up 1.0% and employment expanding buy 0.2%

The non-manufacturing sector predicts that 15 of its industries will see higher revenue, with capital expenditures rising 7.5% and employment growth of 1.7%.

Manufacturing

Sixty-three percent of survey respondents expect a 4.1% net increase in overall revenues for 2016, compared with a rise of 1.4% this year. The 16 manufacturing industries expecting revenue improvement in 2016 over 2015 -- listed in order -- are:

1. Furniture & Related Products;
2. Nonmetallic Mineral Products;
3. Computer & Electrical Products;
4. Miscellaneous Manufacturing;
5. Printing & Related Support Activities;
6. Textile Mills;
7. Fabricated Metal Products;
8. Primary Metals;
9. Chemical Products;
10. Paper Products;
11. Transportation Equipment;
12. Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products;
13. Wood Products;
14. Plastics & Rubber Products;
15. Machinery; and
16. Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components.

Non-manufacturing

Sixty percent of supply management executives in the non-manufacturing sector see a 3.2% net increase in overall revenues in the year ahead versus a 2.7% increase for 2015 over 2014 revenues. The 15 non-manufacturing industries expecting revenue improvement in 2016 over 2015 -- listed in order -- are:

1. Construction;
2. Mining;
3. Professional, Scientific & Technical Services;
4. Accommodation & Food Services;
5. Transportation & Warehousing;
6. Information;
7. Retail Trade;
8. Utilities;
9. Management of Companies & Support Services;
10. Arts, Entertainment & Recreation;
11. Wholesale Trade;
12. Public Administration;
13. Other Services;
14. Finance & Insurance; and
15. Educational Services.

Jobless claims

First-time applications for state unemployment benefits were up for a second straight week.

According to the Department of Labor (DOL), initial jobless claims rose 13,000 in the week ending December 5, to a seasonally adjusted 282,000. The previous week's total was unrevised.

The four-week moving average was 270,750 -- still close to a 15-year low -- an increase of 1,500 from the previous week's unrevised average of 269,250.

The latter category, because it is less volatile than the weekly tally, is considered a more accurate gauge of the labor market.

The complete report is available on the DOL website.  

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has named 48 vehicles as recipients of its TOP SAFETY PICK+ for earning good ratings in all five crashworthiness evaluations and an advanced or higher rating for front crash prevention.

An additional 13 models qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK.

“We asked auto manufacturers to do more this year to qualify for our safety awards, and they delivered,” said Adrian Lund, IIHS president. “For the first time, a good rating in the challenging small overlap front crash test is a requirement to win, in addition to an available front crash prevention system. How that system rates determines whether a vehicle will earn TOP SAFETY PICK+ or TOP SAFETY PICK.”

Tougher standards

The baseline requirements for both awards are good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraint tests, as well as a standard or optional front crash prevention system.

The 48 winners of the “plus” award have a superior- or advanced-rated front crash prevention system with automatic braking capabilities. These vehicles must stop or slow down without driver intervention before hitting a target in tests at 12 mph, 25 mph, or both.

Models with a basic-rated front crash prevention system, which typically only issues a warning and doesn’t brake, qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK.

IIHS inaugurated TOP SAFETY PICK in the 2006 model year to help consumers home in on vehicles with the best safety performance. The TOP SAFETY PICK+ accolade was introduced in 2012 to recognize vehicles that offer an advanced level of safety.

Last year when IIHS announced the initial winners of the 2015 awards, 33 models qualified for TOP SAFETY PICK+ and 38 qualified for TOP SAFETY PICK. The ranks then grew to 51 TOP SAFETY PICK+ and 48 TOP SAFETY PICK winners. IIHS releases ratings as it evaluates new models, adding to the ranks of winners throughout the year.

Redesign does the trick

The 2016 winner’s circle includes some redesigned models with improved frontal crash protection and autobrake features, which help to prevent or mitigate certain frontal crashes.

The 2016 Nissan Maxima and Volkswagen Passat, for example, earn good ratings in the small overlap front test, while earlier models were rated acceptable. Nissan also improved occupant protection in rear crashes and rollovers, boosting the Maxima’s head restraints and seats rating from marginal to good and its roof strength rating from acceptable to good.

The Maxima’s optional front crash prevention system is rated superior, and the Passat’s is rated advanced. Both midsize cars earn the plus award.

The Chrysler 200 is the only domestic model to qualify for a 2016 TOP SAFETY PICK+ award. One other vehicle from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles -- the Fiat 500X -- earns the Institute’s highest award for 2016.

Ford has just one winning model this year, the F-150 SuperCrew, which earns TOP SAFETY PICK. The large pickup is the only Ford with a good small overlap rating.

Some don't measure up

A number of previous winners are missing from the new lists, including many small and midsize cars. Last year, vehicles with an acceptable small overlap rating could qualify for either award if their other four crashworthiness ratings were good.

An available front crash prevention system was required only for TOP SAFETY PICK+ and not TOP SAFETY PICK. More than 20 winners of the 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK award and four plus-award winners don’t qualify under the 2016 criteria.

The Toyota Highlander and Sienna, for example, are available with an advanced-rated autobrake system, but less-than-good ratings in the small overlap front test put the midsize SUV and minivan out of contention for a 2016 accolade. The pair earned 2015 plus awards.

Lack of an available front crash prevention system is the issue with several vehicles with good small overlap ratings. The Audi Q3, for example, no longer qualifies for TOP SAFETY PICK because it doesn’t have front crash prevention.

IIHS wasn’t able to test the autobrake systems on the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class (formerly the M-Class), Nissan Rogue, and Nissan Sentra in time for this initial release of winners. These TOP SAFETY PICKs may be upgraded to TOP SAFETY PICK+ following IIHS tests.

The M-Class earned a 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK+ and is rated superior for front crash prevention. The Rogue and Sentra earned 2015 TOP SAFETY PICK awards.

“Consumers who purchased a winning 2015 model that doesn’t qualify this year needn’t worry that their vehicles are now less safe,” said Lund. “As vehicles continue to improve, however, we think it’s important to recognize that progress and encourage further advances by making our ratings more stringent. This year’s winners are certainly safer than the vehicles that earned our first TOP SAFETY PICK awards 10 years ago.”

Greater availability of Autobrake

Among the TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners, there are 31 models with an available superior-rated front crash prevention system and 17 models with an advanced rating.

The Scion iA, a TOP SAFETY PICK+ winner, is the first low-priced car with a standard autobrake system. With a base price of about $16,000, the iA is rated advanced for front crash prevention and is the only minicar to earn a 2016 IIHS award. Besides the iA, autobrake is standard on just a few luxury vehicles. These include all Volvo models, some Mercedes-Benz models, and the Acura RLX.

More automakers are expected to make autobrake standard equipment in the near future under a voluntary agreement being developed by automakers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the IIHS.

“Ask for autobrake and forward collision warning features when you’re out shopping for a new vehicle,” Lund said. “Look for good ratings in IIHS evaluations and at least 4 of 5 stars from NHTSA. And remember that larger, heavier vehicles offer the best protection in a crash.”

Morrilton Packing of Morrilton, Ark., is recalling approximately 12,146 pounds of boneless ham product.

The product contains soy, an allergen not listed on the label

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of this product.

The following product, produced on Oct. 1, and Oct. 4, 2015, is being recalled:

• 8-9-lb. Plastic wrapped packages containing a single boneless ham with the label “Cedar Falls Brand Boneless Hickory Smoked Honey Cured Ham” containing a code date I14, I22, or I15.

The the recalled product bears establishment number “EST. 10646” inside the USDA mark of inspection, and was shipped to a single distributor in Arkansas.

Customers who purchased this product should not consume it, but throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Sonya Chadek at (501) 354-2474.  

There has been no shortage of bad news coming from Volkswagen lately. The company has suffered multiple emissions scandals and faces an uphill climb as they try to recall millions of vehicles equipped with defeat devices meant to cheat nitrogen oxide emissions standards.

Although things are still pretty bleak, the company can breathe a sigh of relief after getting the results of their internal investigation; it found that only 36,000 vehicles (instead of a previously estimated 800,000) have issues with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Carbon dioxide scandal

The CO2 issue was originally discovered after a company review of processes and workflows connected to models with diesel engines. Investigators discovered that carbon dioxide and fuel consumption figures were set too low for an unspecified number of vehicles during the carbon certification process.

At the time, company officials did not know exactly how many vehicles were affected, but they had an estimate – and the economic implications did not look good. “Based on present knowledge around 800,000 vehicles from the Volkswagen Group could be affected. . . An initial estimate puts the economic risks at approximately two billion euros (about $2.19 billion),” the company said in a statement.

Now that the affected number of vehicles has been reduced to 36,000, the company will probably be looking at a diminished economic impact. However, VW has not confirmed this estimate yet. “The negative impact on earnings… has not been confirmed,” said VW. “Whether we will have a minor economic impact depends on the results of the remeasurement exercise.”

Some consumers in North Carolina and Virginia who lost their homes to foreclosure are getting checks this month from SunTrust Mortgage.

It stems from a national settlement negotiated years ago between five major mortgage companies, 49 states, and the District of Columbia. The cash payments complete the settlement, which also includes mortgage modifications and other benefits.

The recipients are consumers who lost their homes to foreclosure due to alleged misconduct by SunTrust, resulting in premature or unauthorized foreclosures, violations of homeowners’ protections, and the use deceptive documents and affidavits.

As part of the settlement, SunTrust has agreed to adhere to tougher standards to prevent future foreclosure abuses like robo-signing, improper documentation, and misplaced mortgage and foreclosure paperwork.

Who's eligible

Eligible North Carolina consumers who had mortgages serviced by SunTrust, lost their homes to foreclosure between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2013, and applied for relief by the June 4, 2015 deadline, should receive their payment within days. Checks of approximately $1,330 each are being mailed to 1,454 affected borrowers in North Carolina.

“This is welcome relief for North Carolina families who suffered foreclosures done wrong,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.

About 1,980 Virginia borrowers who were harmed by mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices at SunTrust are also receiving checks. They began hitting the mail on Tuesday.

Dangerous scams

"Our nation and our Commonwealth are still recovering from the effects of the housing crisis, but settlements like this have helped provide some measure of relief as well as critical changes in the way mortgage servicing companies do business," said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring. "Borrowers who qualified for the settlement should keep a close eye out for their settlement payments, as well as any potential scams related to this settlement because high profile settlements can attract dishonest criminals trying to take advantage of the situation."

Herring underscored the potential danger of scammers trying to take advantage of confusion and misinformation. He said borrowers should carefully examine any interactions or correspondence they receive to ensure it is legitimate and not a scammer trying to take advantage of this high-profile settlement.

Because of the settlement, Herring says there has been broad reform of the mortgage servicing process, as well as financial relief for borrowers who are still in their homes through direct loan modification relief, including principal reduction and refinancing for underwater mortgages.

Much of the controversy over electronic cigarettes has centered around their nicotine content, but a study by Harvard researchers has found a chemical linked to severe respiratory disease in more than 75% of flavored e-cigarettes.

Diacetyl is a flavoring chemical that can cause bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as "popcorn lung" because it first appeared in workers who inhaled artificial butter flavor in microwave popcorn plants.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers found diacetyl and two other potentially harmful compounds in many flavored e-cigs, including those targeted to young people with flavors such as cotton candy, “Fruit Squirts,” and cupcake.

“Recognition of the hazards associated with inhaling flavoring chemicals started with ‘popcorn lung’ over a decade ago. However, diacetyl and other related flavoring chemicals are used in many other flavors beyond butter-flavored popcorn, including fruit flavors, alcohol flavors, and, we learned in our study, candy-flavored e-cigarettes,” said lead author Joseph Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment sciences.

Dangers are well-known

The dangers of inhaling diacetyl are well-known and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) warns employers about the risks posed to workers exposed to the chemical.

The study, published today in Environmental Health Perspectives, notes that there are currently more than 7,000 varieties of flavored e-cigarettes and e-juice (nicotine-containing liquid that is used in refillable devices) on the market.

E-cigarettes are not currently regulated, although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a proposed rule to include e-cigarettes under its authority to regulate certain tobacco and nicotine-containing products.

In the study, Allen and colleagues tested 51 types of flavored e-cigarettes and liquids for the presence of diacetyl, acetoin, and 2,3-pentanedione, two related flavoring compounds that the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association lists as “high priority,” meaning they may pose a respiratory hazard in the workplace.

At least one of the three chemicals was detected in 47 of the 51 flavors tested. Diacetyl was detected above the laboratory limit of detection in 39 of the flavors tested. Acetoin and 2,3-pentanedione were detected in 46 and 23 and of the flavors, respectively.

“Since most of the health concerns about e-cigarettes have focused on nicotine, there is still much we do not know about e-cigarettes. In addition to containing varying levels of the addictive substance nicotine, they also contain other cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde, and as our study shows, flavoring chemicals that can cause lung damage,” said study co-author David Christiani, Elkan Blout Professor of Environmental Genetics.

Getting on the list of finalists for the North American Car and Truck of the year is a pretty big deal, and should provide a signal to consumers interested in value and reliability.

The judging is done by a group of journalists who cover the auto industry and the annual award presentation is now in its 23^rd year. 

Making the final cut for 2015 are the Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and Volvo XC90. Matt DeLorenzo, managing editor of Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com, says it's an impressive field.

Big improvement

“Chevrolet’s Malibu is a superior car inside and out over its predecessor,” DeLorenzo said. “There’s more generous rear seat room and a high quality interior that features state of the art connectivity in the MyLink system.”

DeLorenzo says the Honda Civic has set itself apart in the compact car market with a strong emphasis on amenities and style. He says the introduction of the first turbocharged engine in Honda’s lineup provides excellent performance and fuel economy.

“Mazda MX-5 Miata originally rekindled America’s love for small, two-seat roadsters and this generation harkens back to that iconic first model by being smaller, lighter and more fun to drive than ever,” DeLorenzo said.

Pulling power and style

As for the truck finalists, the analyst cites the Titan XD for pulling power above its class. The Pilot, meanwhile, earns praise inspired design and a high level of creature comforts, making it “the quintessential family mover” in the competitive crossover SUV segment.

“Repositioned further up the luxury scale, the Volvo XC90 offers stylish looks inside and out, an advanced touch screen that rivals Tesla while delivering safety and performance consistent with the Swedish automaker’s brand image,” DeLorenzo said.

Meanwhile, winners will be revealed at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 11.

There aren't nearly as many foreclosures now as there were a few years ago, but that doesn't mean there are not struggling homeowners out there.

And where there are struggling homeowners, you are likely to find operators willing to help head off a foreclosure – for a price.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against a suburban Chicago company and its owner, charging the enterprise with running a mortgage rescue operation that charged homeowners about $20,000 in upfront fees, then provided little, if any, help.

The suit against Carrey Services Inc. seeks to close the business and obtain restitution for consumers.

"In most cases, the only thing these so-called businesses accomplish is taking money from already struggling homeowners," Madigan said.

Targeted Latinos

According to the complaint, the defendants ran ads in Spanish-language newspapers and primarily targeted the Latino community with loan modification services. Madigan claims the business owner met with consumers and made them sign various loan modification documents, but never provided the consumers with copies.

In many cases, Madigan said the documents were printed in English even though most consumers were Spanish-speaking.

Making matters worse, Madigan says the defendants charged upfront fees greater than the amount allowed under state law. Then, after failing to do any work, the defendants refused to provide refunds and, in many cases, were unresponsive when the Attorney General's Office got involved.

To many, the mortgage foreclosure crisis may be recent history that ended with the improving housing market, but Madigan says her office has filed 57 lawsuits over the illegal collection of upfront fees by mortgage rescue operations or other violations of the Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act.

Other scams

There are several types of foreclosure rescue scams that keep law enforcement officials busy. According to Freddie Mac, the most common occurs when a homeowner receives a solicitation in the mail that promises short-term financing from a “private investor” offering to pay off a delinquent loan.

The homeowner is told he or she can stay in their home and rent back from the investor, who is actually the new owner. That's because the beleaguered homeowner is convinced to transfer the title of the home to the investor as collateral.

But after that, the new owner can do anything with the home. Despite promises that the former owner can rent it, the house is usually sold or rented to someone who can pay more.

Three-quarters of homeowners tackled a home improvement project over the last year, but according to a new survey by home design site, Zillow Digs, 40% of these do-it-yourselfers ended up wishing they hadn't. What may seem like the affordable route towards completing a project can quickly turn into a DIY disaster, leaving many wishing they'd hired a professional.

"With seemingly endless DIY tips and how-to videos available today, home improvement projects appear easier and more accessible than ever before," says Kerrie Kelly, Zillow Digs home design expert, adding that DIY doesn't always equal cost-efficiency.

Big projects, big headaches

"While some DIY projects can save you money, involving a professional for larger-scale projects, especially those that require specialized skills, can help eliminate headaches and costly mistakes," Kelly says.

Nearly a quarter of homeowners surveyed said their larger-scale project – like building a deck or renovating a basement – went over budget. Big projects like these left over half of homeowners surveyed (53%) unhappy with some aspect of the result.

Minor projects, however, like replacing light fixtures or cabinet hardware were relatively painless to most homeowners, leaving less than 20% wishing they hadn't taken them on.

What other home improvement projects left folks wishing they'd gone with a pro? Here is Zillow Digs' list of the most and least regretted DIY projects:

The five most regretted

• Adding a room or expanding/altering an existing one
• Refacing or refinishing cabinetry
• Refinishing a basement or attic
• Replacing or installing new carpeting
• Refinishing or reinstalling new hardwood floors

The five least regretted

• Replacing light fixtures
• Replacing cabinet hardware
• Painting one or more rooms
• Installing new kitchen appliances
• Replacing plumbing fixtures

Choosing a contractor

If one of your projects happens to have won a spot on the ‘most-regretted’ list, hiring a contractor may be the first step towards completing it with your budget – and sanity –  intact.

According to the experts at HGTV.com, step one in the selection process is to ask around. A word-of-mouth referral from a friend, relative, or neighbor can be invaluable – a trusted friend will be able to answer questions like, “What made it a positive experience” or “Would you use the same contractor again?”

Looking at credentials, interviewing candidates, and checking references should all come before having a contractor sign on the dotted line. A few simple steps is all it takes to find the right person for the job, ensuring you’ll be left with total confidence and a great result.

When you are a restaurant chain with a positioning statement declaring you have “food with integrity,” you'd better make sure you don't have to close locations because of a foodborne illness.

That is the irony currently besetting Chipotle Mexican Grill, a fast casual chain that's a favorite with young consumers who value fresh, natural, and organic over convenient, predictable, and inexpensive.

But since late October, Chipotle has temporarily closed restaurants in Washington and Oregon because of links to an E. coli outbreak. This week it was forced to temporarily close its store at Cleveland Circle in Boston after as many as 80 Boston College students who ate there got sick.

Among the sickened students were two Boston College basketball players, who then missed Sunday's game, where the depleted Eagles squad was upset at the hands of UMass Lowell.

Norovirus suspected

Health officials in Boston are still investigating but do not think the foodborne illnesses are E. coli, though that's not exactly good news for the beleaguered restaurant chain. Rather, the suspicion points to norovirus, the kind of affliction more likely to show up on a cruise ship.

Chipotle, meanwhile, is getting pummeled in the press and on Wall Street. The company's share price has plunged some 25% since the news of the E. coli outbreak broke, though losses in Tuesday trading were minor in comparison.

In its account of the company's troubles, Bloomberg News says the weight of a food morality halo can be a heavy burden when things go wrong.

Potential long-term damage

“It strikes deeper at their brand because so much of their story is based on the quality of their ingredients,” brand consultant Allen Adamson told Bloomberg, “This can clearly do long-term damage if they don’t get it under control.”

Chipotle has built its brand, and won a following, promising fresh, organic, and locally sourced ingredients. But these kinds of supply chains are notoriously hard to manage, and fresh, unprocessed food can be more susceptible to spoilage.

And high moral standards for sourcing food can sometimes come back to bite an enterprise that is, after all, in business to make money. Bloomberg points out that Chipotle had to suspend its shipments of pork earlier this year when it learned that a major supplier didn't keep pigs in “deeply bedded barns” and didn't have adequate access to the outdoors.

All of this ends up impacting the bottom line. On Monday, Chipotle lowered its guidance for the fourth quarter, saying the outbreak will dent profits.

Both completed foreclosures and the foreclosure inventory fell during October.

CoreLogic, a property information, analytics, and services provider reports the number of completed foreclosures nationwide decreased year over year from 51,000 in October 2014 to 37,000 in October 2015. That's a drop of 27.1% and a decline of 68.2% from the peak of 117,543 in September 2010. In addition, the foreclosure inventory declined by 21.5 percent.

Completed foreclosures reflect the total number of homes actually lost to foreclosure. The foreclosure inventory is the share of all homes at some stage of the foreclosure process, and completed foreclosures reflect the total number of homes actually lost to foreclosure.

Since the financial meltdown began in September 2008, there have been approximately 6 million completed foreclosures across the country, and since homeownership rates peaked in the second quarter of 2004, there have been about 8 million homes lost to foreclosure.

Lowest foreclosure rate in eight years

As of October 2015, the national foreclosure inventory included approximately 463,000, or 1.2% of all homes with a mortgage compared with 589,000 homes, or 1.5%, in October 2014. This is lowest rate since November 2007.

“Improved economic conditions and more foreclosure completions have pushed the foreclosure rate lower,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. “The national unemployment rate declined to 5.0% in October, the lowest since December 2007, and the CoreLogic national Home Price Index has risen 37% from its trough.”

CoreLogic also reports that the number of mortgages in serious delinquency (90 days or more past due), including those loans in foreclosure or Real Estate Owned declined by 19.7% from October 2014 to October 2015, with 1.3 million mortgages, or 3.4%, in this category. This is the lowest serious delinquency rate since December 2007.

“We are heading into 2016 with the lowest foreclosure inventory in eight years thanks to escalating home values and progressive improvement in the U.S. economy. A large proportion of the remaining foreclosure inventory is clustered in New York, New Jersey and Florida,” said Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Equally encouraging is the drop in mortgage delinquency rates reflecting the stronger labor market and tighter underwriting since 2009.”

Report highlights

• On a month-over-month basis, completed foreclosures fell by 12.3% to 37,000 from the 43,000 reported in September 2015. As a basis of comparison, before the decline in the housing market in 2007, completed foreclosures averaged 21,000 per month nationwide between 2000 and 2006.
• The five states with the highest number of completed foreclosures for the 12 months ending in October 2015 were Florida (86,000), Michigan (59,000), Texas (30,000), Georgia (25,000), and California (24,000).These five states accounted for almost half of all completed foreclosures nationally.
• Four states and the District of Columbia had the lowest number of completed foreclosures for the 12 months ending in October 2015: the District of Columbia (76), North Dakota (239), Wyoming (515), West Virginia (571), and Hawaii (700).
• Four states and the District of Columbia had the highest foreclosure inventory rate in October 2015: New Jersey (4.5%), New York (3.6%), Hawaii (2.5%), Florida (2.5%), and the District of Columbia (2.3%).
• The five states with the lowest foreclosure inventory rate in October 2015 were Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Colorado -- all at 0.4%.

Mortgage applications recovered last week from the slight decline they posted during Thanksgiving week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports applications were up 1.2% for the week ending December 4.

The Refinance Index shot up 4%, raising the refinance share of mortgage activity to 58.7% of total applications from 56.6% the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) share of activity increased to 6.2% of total applications.

The FHA share rose to 14.0% from 13.2%, the VA share dropped to 10.8% from 11.3% the week before, and the USDA share of total applications was unchanged at 0.7%.

Contract interest rates

• The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) with conforming loan balances ($417,000 or less) inched up two basis points -- to 4.14% from 4.12%, with points decreasing to 0.43 from 0.50 (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio (LTV) loans. The effective rate was unchanged from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs with jumbo loan balances (greater than $417,000) rose from 3.99% to 4.02%, with points moving to 0.40 from 0.33 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 30-year FRMs backed by the FHA increased to 3.91 percent from 3.89 percent, with points decreasing to 0.43 from 0.49 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate was unchanged from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 15-year FRMs was up three basis points to 3.39%, with points dropping to 0.39 from 0.44 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate increased from last week.
• The average contract interest rate for 5/1 ARMs fell to 2.98% from 3.11%, with points decreasing to 0.30 from 0.44 (including the origination fee) for 80% LTV loans. The effective rate decreased from last week.

The survey covers over 75% of all U.S. retail residential mortgage applications.

It's that most wonderful time of the year -- the time when Congress stuffs its omnibus spending deal with pet projects to make the home folks swoon and givebacks to keep the lobbyists and big contributors happy.

This year the stuffing includes a large dose of big long trucks -- specifically double 33-foot trailers. Throw in the tractor and you have nearly 90 feet of steel rolling down the nation's highways.

Not everyone thinks this is a great idea, but it's being discussed behind closed doors on Capitol Hill, as favors and trades are bandied around secretly by lawmakers not eager to let the voters see the sausage-making in progress.

A coalition of highway safety advocates isn't letting the super-long truck issue slide through unnoticed, however.

"A major national policy change to allow double 33' trailer trucks on our nation's highways being pushed by a few select trucking companies would override states' rights, jeopardize safety and damage our nation's already-crumbling infrastructure," a coalition of safety advocates wrote on Friday to the GOP and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations committees.

FedEx & UPS

The proposal has been floating around since at least last year, when Henry Maier, CEO of FedEx Ground, testified before a Congressional committee that the new 33-foot trailer combination would be environmentally friendly since it would reduce the total number of truck trips.

Maier said the longer trucks would lead to 1.8 billion fewer miles driven, more than 300 million gallons of gasoline saved, and $2.6 billion in reduced costs annually in the trucking industry. 

In their letter, the safety and consumer groups note that the Senate has twice killed the measure and blames FedEx, UPS, and other large trucking companies for trying to slip it through as a last-minute addition to the spending bill.

"The public strongly opposes allowing oversized trucks on our roads and highways," the safety advocates said, citing an independent public opinion poll by ORC International conducted last month that found that more than 3 out of 4 Americans (77%) opposed "Double 33s."

Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) would require the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to study the safety of Double 33s and the safety advocates say that study should be authorized and completed before Congress seriously considers allowing longer trucks on the road.

Driver fatigue

The letter also warns against increasing allowable driving hours for truckers from 70 to 82 hours per week and argues that 80% of respondents to a Lake Research Partners poll opposed longer hours for truckers.

"Truck driver fatigue is a major safety problem that has severe consequences as demonstrated by crashes such as the one that killed comedian James McNair and seriously injured Tracy Morgan," the letter said.

Among those signing the letter were Jacqueline Gillan, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety; Clarence Ditlow, Executive Director, Center for Auto Safety; and Joan Claybrook, former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.