Current Events in September 2016

The number of homes at some stage of the foreclosure process -- the foreclosure inventory -- was down in July, as was the number of completed foreclosures, which reflects the total number of homes lost to foreclosure.

Property information provider CoreLogic reports last month's inventory plunged 29.1% and completed foreclosures declined by 16.5% compared with July 2015. The latter translates to a year-over-year decline from 41,000 in July 2015 to 34,000 in July 2016, representing a decrease of 71.2% from the peak of 118,009 in September 2010.

Since the start of the financial meltdown in September 2008, there have been approximately 6.4 million completed foreclosures nationally, and since homeownership rates peaked in the second quarter of 2004, there have been approximately 8.5 million homes lost to foreclosure.

As of this past July, the national foreclosure inventory included approximately 355,000, or 0.9%, of all homes with a mortgage versus 501,000 homes, or 1.3%, in July 2015. The latest July foreclosure inventory rate is the lowest for any month since August 2007.

"Loan modifications, foreclosures and stronger housing and labor markets have each played a role in bringing the foreclosure rate to the lowest level in nine years," said CoreLogic Chief Economist Dr. Frank Nothaft. "The U.S. Treasury's Making Home Affordable program has contributed to the decline through permanent modifications, forbearance and foreclosure alternatives which have assisted 2.5 million homeowners with first mortgages at risk of foreclosure since 2009."

CoreLogic also reports that the number of mortgages in serious delinquency -- 90 days or more past due including loans in foreclosure or REO -- were down 17.3% from July 2015 to July 2016, with 1.1 million mortgages, or 2.9%, in this category. The decline was broad-based, with declines in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

Report highlights

• On a month-over-month basis, completed foreclosures decreased by 6.8% to 34,000 in July 2016 from the 36,000 reported for June 2016. 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.
• On a month-over-month basis, the foreclosure inventory was down 3.9% from June.
• The five states with the highest number of completed foreclosures in the 12 months ending in July 2016 were Florida (57,000), Michigan (45,000), Texas (27,000), Ohio (23,000), and California (21,000). These five states account for almost 40% of all completed foreclosures nationally.
• Four states and the District of Columbia had the lowest number of completed foreclosures: DC (207), North Dakota (324), West Virginia (488), Alaska (635), and Montana (700).
• Four states and the District of Columbia had the highest foreclosure inventory rate: New Jersey (3.3%), New York (3%), Hawaii (1.8%), Maine (1.8%), and the District of Columbia (1.8%).
• The five states with the lowest foreclosure inventory rate were Colorado, Minnesota, Utah, Arizona, and Alaska -- all at 0.3%.

Among its other problems, Mylan Pharmaceuticals is facing a class action lawsuit that claims the EpiPen price increases of the last nine years violate Ohio's price-gouging laws.

“The outrageous, unconscionable and immoral high prices set by Defendant is nothing more than price gouging,” plaintiff Linda Bates said in her lawsuit. She said her son's severe allergies require him to carry an EpiPen at all times.

The suit charges that the EpiPen, which injects life-saving epinephrine through an automated syringe device, sold for less thn $100 when Mylan bought the device from Merck in 2007. Mylan has raised the price steadily to more than $600 this year, although in response to the public outcry over the price hikes, the company agreed to make a generic version available and to increase financial aid to some customers.

Besides the allegation that the increases amount to price gouging, Bates' lawsuit also claims that the price increases violated the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, which prohibits “unconscionable” acts in connection with consumer transactions, including taking advantage of a consumer’s “physical infirmities.”

"Unbelievable" response

Bates' lawyer, Carl Lewis, says response to the lawsuit has been "unbelievable."

“We have probably close to 1,000 people that have reached out to us. Social media is unbelievable. Facebook, Twitter. It’s been blowing up. I thought it would just be Ohio but it’s all over the country,” Lewis told Fox Business News.

Lawmakers in Congress and state legislatures have been calling on Mylan to roll back the increases and at least two attorneys general, in New York and Minnesota, say they are contemplating legal action.

"New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman said Mylan may have inserted potentially anticompetitive terms into its EpiPen sales contracts with numerous local school systems.

“No child’s life should be put at risk because a parent, school, or healthcare provider cannot afford a simple, life-saving device because of a drug-maker’s anti-competitive practices,” Schneiderman said in a press release.  “If Mylan engaged in anti-competitive business practices, or violated antitrust laws with the intent and effect of limiting lower cost competition, we will hold them accountable."

General Mills is in some hot water due to allegations that its Nature Valley products aren’t as natural as they claim to be. Consumer Yusenia Nuez has filed a class-action suit against the company on the grounds that it deceptively advertises Nature Valley bars as being “Made with 100% Natural Whole-Grain Oats.”

Nuez says the claims are false because the products actually contain a chemical called glyphosate, a powerful herbicide that the suit alleges to be a probable carcinogen, human endocrine disrupter, and danger to consumers.

“Across all Nature Valley products, General Mills conceals the presence of glyphosate, fails to disclose of the presence of glyphosate, and fails to disclose to consumers about the harmful effects of ingesting glyphosate,” the suit charges.

Not so natural

This isn’t the first lawsuit that General Mills has faced over glyphosate. In August, three non-profit organizations sued the company on similar grounds of deceptive labeling, marketing, and sale. The Organic Consumers Association, Moms Across America, and Beyond Pesticides filed a joint suit saying that General Mills was in violation of the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act.

The suit alleged that an outside laboratory had found .45 parts per million (ppm) of glyphosate in Nature Valley products. While the reading may seem infinitesimal to some, the groups point out that a product that claims to be “natural” should not contain any foreign substances.

“As a mother, when I read ‘100% natural,’ I would expect that to mean no synthetic or toxic chemicals at all,” said Zen Honeycutt, executive director and founder of Moms Across America.

In response, General Mills has stood strong against its critics and the integrity of its products. “We stand behind our products and the accuracy of our labels,” said Mike Siemienas, manager of brand media relations, of the suit.

Is there an old or outgrown car seat taking up space in your garage or spare room? If so, Toys “R” Us wants to take it off your hands.

In exchange for your old, potentially unsafe car seat, the toy retailer wants to offer you a 25% discount on a new car seat.

The trade-in event kicks off during the month of September and continues through Sunday, October 2. Parents and caregivers can bring their old car seats to any Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us location.

Baby Safety Month

Fittingly, the Toys “R” Us Great Trade-In Car Seat Event coincides with Baby Safety Month. By encouraging parents to get rid of their outdated or second-hand car seats, Toys “R” Us hopes to spotlight one of the many ways parents can be proactive when it comes to matters of their children's safety.

Even parents without an old car seat can receive a discount on a newer, safer car seat. Throughout the duration of the event, a 15% off coupon can be used in stores or online with promo code SEP15OFF.

The coupon, as well as more details about the trade-in event, can be found here.

Car seat safety tips

When your little one is in the backseat of your car, their safety is of the utmost importance. Here’s what you can do to ensure your precious cargo is as safe as possible in their car seat.

• Keep straps snug. In the event of a crash, loose straps won’t be as effective as snug straps at keeping kids secure. This video can teach you how to tell if straps are snug enough.
• Keep kids rear-facing for as long as possible. Experts say kids should be rear facing until at least age 2 or until they reach the limits of their rear-facing car seat.
• Keep them safe when forward-facing. For kids' safety, always use the tether strap that comes with every forward-facing car seat.  
• Check with a professional. After you have installed your child’s car seat, verify that you’ve done it correctly by having it checked by a trained technician.
• Be aware that car seats expire. The plastic that car seats are made of becomes less durable with age. Take note of the expiration date listed in your car seat's manual.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is recalling 16,757 Dunlop SP50 tires, size P205/70R15 95T, manufactured December 2, 2012, to February 1, 2014.

The tire tread of the recalled tires may chunk off if driven on with low tire pressure. As such, these products fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 139, "New Pneumatic Radial Tires for Light Vehicles."

If the tire tread chunks off during low tire inflation, tire failure may result, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Goodyear will notify owners, and dealers will replace tires, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin September 15, 2016.

Owners may contact Goodyear customer service at 1-800-592-3267.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is just the latest item you shouldn't pack in a checked bag aboard a commercial airline in the U.S.

“In light of recent incidents and concerns raised by Samsung about its Galaxy Note 7 devices, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly advises passengers not to turn on or charge these devices on board aircraft and not to stow them in any checked baggage,” the agency said in a brief statement.

Samsung has recalled the Note 7, its flagship smartphone that was introduced only last month. The recall was prompted by more than 30 cases of the phone's battery overheating and catching fire. Anything with a chance of starting a fire is frowned upon at 30,000 feet.

Allowed but regulated

The FAA says there are a number of things that are fine on the ground but not in an enclosed space in the air. Others are tightly regulated. Lithium batteries – the kind that power cordless devices like phones and laptop computers are one example. But so is an aerosol can of whipped cream. Both examples are considered hazardous materials and dangerous goods, but are allowed under certain conditions.

“These products may seem harmless; however, when transported by air they can be very dangerous,” the agency explains on its website. “Vibrations, static electricity, and temperature and pressure variations can cause items to leak, generate toxic fumes, start a fire, or even explode.”

The FAA's list of hazardous materials includes the obvious, like explosives, gases, flammable liquids and solids, and radioactive materials.

Consult the list

But passengers should consult the FAA's list to find exceptions to the rules. For example, most aerosol cans are banned from checked bags but not all. Sun block sprays are allowed.

Not all batteries are prohibited either. Small gel cell and absorbed electrolyte batteries for portable electronics can be packed in checked bags. Battery powered e-cigarettes can be carried on but can't be packed in checked bags.

Many consumer personal electronic devices containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage. Examples include dry cell batteries including lithium metal and lithium ion batteries for consumer electronics. Spare dry cell batteries are also permitted.

While the list of permitted and banned items is extensive, the FAA warns that it is not complete. The agency's advice? When in doubt, leave it out.

As for the Note 7, Samsung has said it will replace all the phones sold so far, but first must come up with one that isn't a fire hazard. That could take a little time. In the meantime, airline passengers who use Note 7s must keep them out of checked bags and turn them off when they board an airliner.

A Volkswagen engineer pleaded guility today to his role in the Volkswagen "dieselgate" scandal and admitted that he and other VW employees continued to lie to federal and California officials even after they had opened an investigation into the company's deceptive practices.

James Robert Liang, 62, of Newbury Park, Calif., pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, to commit wire fraud and to violate the Clean Air Act, and pledged in a plea agreement that he will cooperate with the government in its continuing investigation.

Volkswagen has agreed a $15 billion civil settlement that includes an agreement to buy back or try to repair about 475,000 of the TDI diesel-powerd cars. So far, about 210,000 owners of the affected cars have opted to take the cash. 

Owners will get their car's market value prior to the time the scandal was made public and will also get an extra $5,100 to $10,000, depending on the model, as compensation for their time and trouble.

Although VW has settled many of the civil claims against it, it and its employees are still facing possible criminal prosecution, and now that he has agreed to cooperate, Liang is seen as a key witness in future legal actions.

Secretly indicted

Liang was indicted by a federal grand jury in June but the indictment was not revealed until Liang entered his plea today. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox of the Eastern District of Michigan. 

According to the plea agreement, from 1983 until May 2008, Liang was an employee of Volkswagen, working in its diesel development department in Wolfsburg, Germany. 

Liang admitted that beginning in about 2006, he and his co-conspirators started to design a new “EA 189” diesel engine for sale in the United States. According to Liang’s admissions, when he and his co-conspirators realized that they could not design a diesel engine that would meet the stricter U.S. emissions standards, they designed software that would deceive emissions testing equipment.

The software -- referred to in court documents as a "defeat device" -- recognizes when a vehicle is undergoing standard U.S. emissions testing on a dynamometer and turns on equipment that brings emissions into legal limits. The rest of the time, emissions are allowed to reach as much as 40 times the legal limit.

"Diesel competence"

In May 2008, Liang moved to the United States to assist in the launch of VW’s new “clean diesel” vehicles in the U.S. market, according to the plea agreement.  While working at VW’s testing facility in Oxnard, he held the title of Leader of Diesel Competence.

According to the plea agreement, VW employees met with the EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to seek the certifications required to sell each model year of its vehicles to U.S. customers. 

Liang admitted that during some of these meetings, which he personally attended, his co-conspirators misrepresented that VW diesel vehicles complied with U.S. emissions standards and hid the existence of the defeat device from U.S. regulators.

Liang admitted that he and his co-conspirators knew that VW marketed its diesel vehicles to the U.S. public as “clean diesel” and knew that these claims were false. 

Liang also admitted that he helped his co-conspirators continued to lie to the EPA, CARB and VW customers even after the regulatory agencies started raising questions about the vehicles’ on-road performance following an independent study commissioned by the International Council on Clean Transportation, which showed that the diesel vehicles’ emissions on the road were up to 40 times higher than shown on the dynamometer.

It's been a rough week for students at ITT. On Tuesday they learned their school was closing its doors after the U.S. government cut off the flow of federal funds.

Students who just started a new term suddenly had to find an education alternative. Worse still, many were stuck with student loans.

Fortunately, there may be some options. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reports ITT students who were attending ITT when it closed and had not completed a degree program may be able to cancel their student loans by applying for a student loan discharge.

Who's eligible?

Students may be eligible for a complete discharge of Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program loans, or Federal Perkins Loans if they were enrolled when the school closed, or the school closed within 120 days after they withdrew.

The first step is to contact your loan servicer about the application process to discharge a loan. CFPB says you may also need to contact your school to obtain your academic and financial records. CFPB suggests contacting the licensing agency in the state where you attended school to get help in acquiring those records. The documents may help support your discharge claim.

You can get more information about that here.

You can't transfer the credits

There's another thing to consider. If you are successful in discharging your student loans, you won't owe the money you borrowed to pay ITT, but you won't be able to transfer any credits you earned there either. Essentially, you'll be starting over.

However, that might prove to be a good option since it is highly likely you'll be able to pursue the same course of study at a community college, or online public school at much less cost. In July, we reported on a new program allowing employees of National Federation of Independent Businesses member companies to pursue a degree for $3,000 a year.

Private loans may be a problem

If you were attending ITT using private student loans, you'll find your options are more limited. In most cases, you'll have to pay it back. However, CFPB notes that some states have programs to assist students with private student loans in their college shuts its doors.

The U.S. Department of Education barred federal funds from being used at ITT because it said the for-profit school was not in compliance with accrediting criteria and probably would not be able to get in compliance. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. said the department acted out of its responsibility to both students and taxpayers.

For those who suffer from a chronic physical or mental health condition, life can feel lonely. Social support may be hard to come by, as your daily struggles may not be completely understood by friends and loved ones.

But an app called ReachOut may help those dealing with issues such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, PTSD, mental illness, or substance abuse find a circle of people who truly understand.

After creating an account, users choose what challenges they are facing. From there, users can browse through a collection of conversations from others who are facing similar challenges.

Social network of support

During times in which health issues seem unrelenting, a social network of people who are understanding and supportive is vital. That’s why ReachOut, as its name implies, lets users reach out to others to offer support.

Those in need of support can share their own story and hear stories from others who are walking the same road. If a thread or person is particularly helpful, users can save them to revisit later.

The ability to access support groups via an app may be beneficial to those who are unable to leave the house, as well as those who may not be quite ready for an in-person support group.

ReachOut can be downloaded for free on iTunes or GooglePlay.

Peer support group for anxiety

Stress, anxiety, and depression are common, especially among older adults. Online support groups can often play a big role in helping anxious or depressed people feel less isolated.

Pacifica is an app that combines cognitive behavioral therapy with relaxation and wellness techniques to help individuals break the cycle of their anxiety.

Similar to ReachOut, Pacifica lets users connect and chat with with others who are dealing with similar issues. Users can scroll through “communities” (insomnia, work stress, and relationships, to name a few) and find others who can relate to their struggles.

Pacifica is available on the web, as well as for iPhone or Android.

With September finally here, students across the nation have been making their way back to college campuses. Whether they’re returning for another year or are going for the first time, many will be eagerly awaiting the arrival of online purchases or care packages from home to make their stay more comfortable.

However, students and parents should beware of emails that claim to include shipping information for packages. While some will undoubtedly be honest, others are sent by scammers in the hopes that you’ll infect your computer with malware or reveal personal information.

“Fake shipping scams occur year-round, but the new school year gives crooks a unique opportunity to sneak them in around legitimate shipping emails that students and their family members might be receiving. Any link or attachment in a fake shipping email is a ploy to get you to download malware or turn over personal or banking information,” warns Frank Frassetto of the Wisconsin Trade and Consumer Protection Department.

Red flags

Consumers should be especially aware of shipping emails that ask them to click on an attached file or open a link. Scammers will often tell their victims that the files are shipping labels or forms that need to be filled out with personal information due to a shipping problem, but it’s all a ruse.

There are several other red flags that consumers can look out for to avoid a fake shipping scam. Some of them include:

• Sender addresses that don’t match the URL of the shipping company – if the email is meant to be from Fed-Ex but the “From:” line lists a person’s name or an unrelated email address, then it’s probably a fake.
• Shipping emails that lack specific details about the package contents or sender.
• Emails that have poor grammar or spelling errors – a professional company is more careful about messages they send out.
• Emails that include threats that the package will be returned to the sender or processed with a late fee – this is just one way to coerce consumers into acting rashly and clicking scam email contents.

In order to avoid falling victim to a fake shipping scam, all consumers need to do is approach any shipping email calmly and rationally. If you suspect that your package has been delayed, contact the shipping company directly rather than clicking on a suspicious link. Keep in mind that many companies offer free tracking of packages as a standard feature.

If you do receive a fake shipping email, be sure to delete it without clicking on any of its contents. In some cases, you can report the fake email to the shipping company’s fraud center. 

Crisp, fall air will soon be setting in to remind you that it’s almost time to break out your winter gear. Being out in harsh winter weather conditions is tough, and no one knows that better than your house.

That’s why, in addition to dragging your snowboots down from the attic, homeowners should also make sure their house is winter-ready.

Autumn is the perfect time to give your home’s exterior a once over, says Vicki Payne, a nationally recognized home improvement expert. Payne recommends getting everything on your house checked and cleaned up prior to the start of winter.

What to do before winter

Not sure where to start? Let Payne’s checklist guide you on your way to having a house that is well-prepared to handle even the snowiest winter days.

• Evaluate your roof. Your roof will handle the brunt of the elements, so it’s important to make sure there are no missing or loose shingles. Asphalt shingles should be checked for mold or algae, and wood shingles should be checked for split wood.

• Clean your gutters. Functional gutters are key to ensuring your home won’t be defeated by winter weather. In addition to cleaning out leaves and gunk, homeowners should make sure gutters are securely attached to the home and sloped for proper drainage.

• Check your siding and trim. There shouldn’t be any rotting boards or insect infestations in your wood exterior. If your siding or trim needs improvement, consider researching low-maintenance exterior covering options, such as fiber cement siding or PVC trim.

• Examine your deck. If summer has left your deck looking a little haggard, consider replacing it using material that can stand up to winter weather. Payne recommends Western Red Cedar or composite decking from TAMKO.

• Check your garage door. Your garage door helps keep cold weather out and energy bills down, so it’s important to make sure it’s functioning well. Should it need an upgrade, consider going with a steel or aluminum garage door.

• Seal up windows. To keep cold weather from sneaking into your home, make sure your windows have strong weather stripping and energy-efficient glass.

• Check your doors. Door openings should also be equipped with weather stripping to help stop drafts.

• Spend time landscaping. Fall will inevitably leave behind a blanket of crunchy leaves. Make sure to rake and remove dead leaves and underbrush before the first snowfall.

Small businesses and non-profits are frequent targets of scam artists, including “toner pirates,” who trick employees into paying invoices for exorbitantly priced printer toner.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has begun cracking down on the practice and last week sued three companies for allegedly preying on libraries, care facilities and others.

Miller said the companies called libraries, care facilities, and other companies and tricked them into paying large sums for photocopier toner that was never really ordered.

The three companies – Central Supply Solutions, Elite Supplies, and Central Supply Center – purportedly told victims that they were the regular toner suppliers in order to get a foothold. After gaining information on the company’s copier through cold calls, the scammers would send an invoice about an order that was never actually placed.

The employees, not wanting to cause a fuss, often paid hundreds for supplies that were actually much cheaper.

“Offices with staff changes may be the most vulnerable to this scheme. We’ve seen complaints where a new employee assumes he or she is dealing with an established supply arrangement, and gets charged $400 to $500 for about $60 worth of toner,” said Miller.

What to do

Miller’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction against the three companies and their owners. Additionally, the suit will seek to impose civil penalties and provide refunds to victims of the scam.

In order to avoid similar cons, Miller advises that companies inform new employees, and remind old ones, about the possibility of the scam. Businesses can also tape warnings near their copier to warn employees not to give out information over the phone and to report any calls that request it.

Nissan North America is recalling 120,329 model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maximas manufactured February 10, 2015, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control; 2015-2017 Muranos manufactured August 22, 2014, to August 19, 2016 and equipped with Intelligent Cruise Control; and 2015-2016 Murano Hybrids manufactured August 22, 2014, to July 19, 2016.

The recalled vehicles have Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) actuator pumps that may allow brake fluid to leak onto an internal electrical circuit board, resulting in an electrical short and increasing the risk of a fire.

When brake fluid has leaked onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp may remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine start up. If this occurs, owners should not drive the vehicle, but park it outdoors away from other vehicles or structures.

What to do

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ABS Actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.  

Ford Motor Company is recalling 2,046,297 model year 2012-2015 Ford Focus, 2013-2015 Ford Escape and Ford C-MAX, 2015 Lincoln MKC and Ford Mustang, and 2014-2016 Ford Transit Connect vehicles.

A component within the door latches may break, preventing the doors from latching and/or leading the driver or a passenger to believe a door is securely closed when, in fact, it is not.

A door that is not securely latched could open while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the door latches with an improved part, free of charge. Due to a limited parts supply, each owner will be sent an interim notification beginning October 3, 2016 and will receive a second notice when parts are available.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S30.

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling 191 model year 2016 Chrysler 200s manufactured May 24, 2016, to May 25, 2016.

Multiple chassis fastener joints that may not have been tightened to the proper torque specification may loosen and fail or fall out, reducing steering and handling capability and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Chrysler has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the joints and tighten or replace the fasteners, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on September 2, 2016.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S59.

It's been just about a year since the Federal Communications commission (FCC) took up the issue of set-top boxes, and now it looks like the issue may be settled by the end of the month.

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler today began circulating his "Unlock the Box" plan, publishing an abridged version as an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times and posting the full version on the FCC's website.

In a nutshell, Wheeler proposes eliminating set-top boxes except for consumers who want to keep them. Everyone else would use a free app to watch pay-TV and streaming video on the device of their choice, such as Roku, Apple TV, Xbox One, PS4, smart TVs, or Windows, iOS, and Android devices. 

Cable companies and the entertainment industry have been lobbying the issue heavily, claiming that eliminating the boxes will open up new avenues for thieves to steal content, depriving content creators of their just desserts.

But Wheeler has held that protecting consumers and encouraging competition take precedence over industry interests. He argues that 99 percent of pay-TV subscribers currently rent set-top boxes because there aren’t meaningful alternatives.

"Few choices and high prices"

"Lack of competition has meant few choices and high prices for consumers – $231 in rental fees annually for the average American household. Altogether, U.S. consumers spend $20 billion a year to lease these devices," when they could be using free apps, Wheeler says in his plan.

"Apps will liberate consumers from set-top boxes: The new rules will require pay-TV providers to offer to consumers a free app, controlled by the pay-TV provider, to access all the programming they pay for on a variety of devices, including tablets, smartphones, gaming systems, streaming devices or smart TVs," Wheeler writes.

Consumers will still have to pay for pay-TV programs, but they'll be freed of paying for the set-top box. Wheeler and others argue that the use of free apps will also create a bigger market for content and innovation in device development.

"Pay-TV providers must provide their apps to widely deployed platforms, such as Roku, Apple iOS, Windows and Android. Doing so will spur competition in the marketplace to develop new competitive products like next-generation streaming devices, smart TVs and tablets," Wheeler contends.

"A win for consumers"

The proposed rule is expected to be voted on by the full commission before the end of September, setting the stage for a final few weeks of fervent lobbying by both sides.

Competition advocate Chip Pickering, CEO of the advocacy group INCOMPAS, called Wheeler's plan "a win for competition, consumers and innovators."

"Competition is the law, and we commend Chairman Wheeler and the FCC for standing up for consumers who want lower prices, more choice, and the freedom to discover new and exciting content streaming online, said Pickering. “The FCC has made the critical key choice for an open, not closed future. By presenting a balanced approach, which takes input from all sides of the debate, the FCC has come down on the side of the consumer, and the innovators of the future.

Although Wheeler's plan is seen as firmly pro-consumer, it is still something of a compromise from his initial vision. The cable industry lobbied for the provision that would allow consumers to keep their set-top boxes if they wanted, but otherwise the plan falls pretty squarely on the consumer side of the issue.

Some commissioners wanted to go a bit further. Republican Ajit Pai wanted to eliinate set-top boxes altogether. But Wheeler said in his op-ed that his plan adequately protects the cable and entertainment industries.

"To ensure that all copyright and licensing agreements will remain intact, the delivery of pay-TV programming will continue to be overseen by pay-TV providers from end-to-end. The proposed rules also maintain important protections regarding emergency alerting, accessibility and privacy," he said.

"This is a golden era for watching television and video. By empowering consumers to access their content on their terms, it’s about to get cheaper—and even better," Wheeler concluded.

There are home testing kits for all kinds of medical conditions. Some are better than others and some are no good at all. And that, says the FDA, describes home testing kits for ovarian cancer.

No do-it-yourself kit is currently sensitive enough to reliably screen for ovarian cancer, the agency warns.

The FDA said it is particularly concerned that women who show no symptoms and get a negative test result may delay treatment for a condition that would have been found early if more accurate diagnostic tools had been used.

Also, some women may receive test results that suggest they have ovarian cancer even though no cancer is present (a false positive). These women may undergo additional medical tests and even unnecessary surgery, and may experience complications related to both.

Using unproven screening tests also may be harmful for women who have an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. For instance, the FDA warns, these women and their doctors may not take appropriate actions to reduce their future risk if they rely on a result that shows no cancer currently present. Yet, this group of women is still at high risk of developing this cancer later based on their gene mutation or family history.

Pelvic exams

The American Cancer Society says that symptoms of ovarian cancer include abdominal swelling or bloating due to a mass or a buildup of fluid, pelvic pressure or abdominal pain, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and urinary symptoms (having to go urgently or often).  Frequently, however, there are no symptoms to begin with.

Regular pelvic exams may help diagnose this cancer.  Unfortunately, though there’s been a lot of research to develop a screening test, there hasn’t been much success so far.

Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in or near the ovaries grow and form a malignant tumor. In the United States, it’s the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among women.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2016 more than 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Women who have reached menopause, women who have a family history of ovarian cancer, and women with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutations have the highest risk for developing it.

If you would like to buy a house but happen to work in California's Silicon Valley, you might have trouble, even on a tech company salary.

According to Coldwell Banker's latest ranking, the 10 most expensive housing markets in the U.S. are all located in California. Six are located in Silicon Valley.

“Silicon Valley has been at the forefront of innovation in the U.S. for years, with leading tech companies attracting some of the brightest entrepreneurial minds in the world,” said Coldwell Banker CEO Charlie Young. “Clearly, the amenities of the region are also impacting home prices.”

But for people who can live anywhere, or who are willing to relocate, there are still some enticing deals out there. And it isn't necessary to move to the middle of nowhere to find them.

While the average four bedroom, two bath home in Saratoga, Calif., goes for nearly $2.5 million, Coldwell Banker found the same type homes going for less than $250,000 in nearly 40% of the markets it serves.

Top 10 most affordable cities

Detroit

The Motor City has been through a very rough patch that includes bankruptcy, but in the last couple of years it has been on the upswing. Part of the draw has been bargain-priced real estate. In Coldwell Banker's survey, Detroit is the nation's most affordable housing market with an average home price of just $64,110.

Cleveland

Cleveland is another Rust Belt city on the comeback trail, and is now basking in the glow of an NBA championship. Start-up businesses are thriving, supported by a private initiative by Cleveland Cavaliers star Lebron James. Low prices for houses have helped draw Millennials back. The average four bedroom, two bath home goes for $73,073.

Park Forest, Ill.

Park Forest is a community of about 22,000 located south of Chicago that straddles Cook and Will counties. The average home price is $78,392.

Jamestown, N.Y.

Jamestown lies in the southwestern corner of New York near the Pennsylvania border. The city of 30,000 is an easy drive to Pittsburgh and offers natural beauty for an affordable price. The average home price is $88,891.

Utica, N.Y

While New York has a reputation for a high cost of living, the Coldwell Banker survey finds two of the state's cities among the 10 most affordable markets. Utica, just west of Syracuse, has a population of 62,225 and an average home price of $92,891.

Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Pennsylvania also adds two housing markets to the list. Wilkes-Barre is city of 41,000 people, clustered with Scranton and Hazelton, convenient to both Philadelphia and New York. The average house goes for $94.436.

Scranton, Pa.

Scranton, one of Wilkes-Barre's partner cities, has a population of 76,000 and is home to the fictional Dunder-Mifflin paper company, of the TV sitcom “The Office.” The real life price of a home is $108,842.

Huntington, Ind.

Huntington, with a population of 17,000, is located southwest of Ft. Wayne. Its average four bedroom house goes for $105,614.

Augusta, Ga.

Augusta is in a beautiful part of the world, as evidenced each April when it becomes the center of the professional golf universe. A home in the home of The Masters goes for an average of $106,567.

Palatka, Fla.

Florida real estate prices have made a comeback since the housing crash, but you can still find bargains, especially if you look in Palatka, a town of 10,000 on the St. John's River. The average home there sells for $110,655.