Current Events in August 2017

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    IRS extends filing deadline for some Harvey victims

    Taxpayers who filed for an extension will have until Jan. 31 to file their return

    The Internal Revenue Service is extending the filing deadline for Hurricane Harvey victims who had earlier filed for an extension. 

    This includes an additional filing extension for taxpayers with valid extensions that run out on Oct. 16, and businesses with extensions that run out on Sept. 15.

    "This has been a devastating storm, and the IRS will move quickly to provide tax relief to hurricane victims," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "The IRS will continue to closely monitor the storm's aftermath, and we anticipate providing additional relief for other affected areas in the near future."

    The IRS is now offering this expanded relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as qualifying for individual assistance. Currently, 18 counties are eligible, but taxpayers in localities added later to the disaster area will automatically receive the same filing and payment relief.

    The tax relief postpones various tax filing and payment deadlines that occurred starting on Aug. 23, 2017. As a result, affected individuals and businesses will have until Jan. 31, 2018 to file returns and pay any taxes that were originally due during this period. This includes the Sept. 15, 2017 and Jan. 16, 2018 deadlines for making quarterly estimated tax payments.

    For individual tax filers, it also includes 2016 income tax returns that received a tax-filing extension until Oct. 16, 2017. The IRS noted, however, that because tax payments related to these 2016 returns were originally due on April 18, 2017, those payments are not eligible for this relief.

    The Internal Revenue Service is extending the filing deadline for Hurricane Harvey victims who had earlier filed for an extension. This includes an add...

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      What new parents should know about car seat safety

      New campaign aims to arm new parents with potentially life-saving info on children's safety

      Kids are the most precious cargo, which is why it’s so important to make sure your little one’s car seat is right for their age and size.

      In the event of a crash, correctly used car seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.

      To give parents all the information they need to travel safely with their child, Safe Kids Worldwide has teamed up with Babies “R” Us to launch a promotional and informational campaign that aims to help protect kids from preventable injuries.

      Safety education event

      In years past, Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us offered parents and caregivers an opportunity to trade in old or outgrown car seats in exchange for a discount. This year, Babies “R” Us is putting a new spin on the Great Trade-In Event.

      Instead of having to drag your old car seat into a Babies “R” Us store, you can receive a 25% discount on all new car seats (in store or online) throughout the entire month of September -- no trade-in required. Babies “R” Us says it will donate 5% of proceeds of each car seat sold to Safe Kids Worldwide to help protect kids from preventable injuries.

      Additionally, the retailer will host an “Ask the Car Seat Expert” event at select locations on Saturday, September 9. At the event, parents will have a chance to obtain personalized car seat recommendations from representatives from Safe Kids Worldwide. New parents can also be briefed on topics like car seat safety, safe sleep environments, in-home childproofing, and bath time.

      Car seat recommendations

      Here’s a quick overview of car seat recommendations for kids, according to the experts at Safercar.gov:

      • Birth to 12 months. Always use a rear-facing car seat for children under age 1.
      • 1 to 3 years. Rear-facing is still the safest option, so continue to use a rear-facing seat until your child reaches the maximum height or weight limit allowed by the car seat’s manufacturer. When this happens, switch to a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
      • 4 to 7 years. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat until they reach the top of the weight or height limit, then switch to a booster seat (still in the back seat).
      • 8 to 12 years. When you child is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly (with the shoulder belt lying snugly across the shoulder and chest, not across the neck or face), they can begin traveling without a car or booster seat. They should still ride in the back seat.

      In addition to choosing an appropriate car seat for your child’s age and size, it’s also important to be aware that car seats expire. The plastic that car seats are made of becomes less durable with age. Be sure to take note of the expiration date listed in your car seat's manual and swap out your old car seat for a new one when necessary.

      Kids are the most precious cargo, which is why it’s so important to make sure your little one’s car seat is right for their age and size.In the event o...

      Domino's, Ford testing self-driving pizza delivery

      Customers will have to walk outside to retrieve their orders

      The kid racing up and down the block in a battered old car with a Domino's Pizza sign on the roof may soon be a thing of the past. Ford and Domino's are working on a self-driving pizza delivery vehicle.

      Of course, the pizzamobile won't be able to deliver the pizza to your door. Instead, what would normally be the right rear passenger window will open to a storage compartment containing your pizza.

      A prototype pizza wagon, using a Ford Fusion hybrid, will soon be deployed in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There will be a Ford engineer driving the car but customers will have to dash out and get the pizza themselves, just as though there was no human driver.

      Domino's says the test isn't so much to prove the concept of a self-driving delivery car but rather to see how customers react to the idea. Randomly selected pizza eaters in Ann Arbor will soon be able to specify automated delivery when they place their order.

      Last 50 feet

      "We're interested to learn what people think about this type of delivery," said Russell Weiner, president of Domino's USA, according to Automotive News. "The majority of our questions are about the last 50 feet of the delivery experience. For instance, how will customers react to coming outside to get their food?"

      Weiner said Domino's wants to be sure that self-driving pizza delivery is "as seamless and customer-friendly as possible."

      In the Ann Arbor test, customers will be able to track their orders through GPS and will receive a text message with instructions on unlocking the storage compartment and retrieving their pizza.

      The idea certainly has promise. Besides eliminating the often-cited problem of exuberant young drivers speeding through neighborhoods, it would also eliminate the equally annoying problem of pizza delivery workers being held up at gunpoint. 

      It also eliminates the question of how much to tip. 

      The kid racing up and down the block in a battered old car with a Domino's Pizza sign on the roof may soon be a thing of the past. Ford and Domino's are wo...

      Average student loan borrower has 3.7 loans

      Student loan balances are up $833 billion in the last 10 years

      A new report from Experian, one of the three credit reporting agencies, underscores how student loan debt is negatively affecting a sizable segment of consumers.

      The report shows that 13.4% of U.S. consumers, from the very old to the very young, are paying on a student loan balance, eating into their monthly cash flow and ability to save for the future. Student loans are the largest amount of non-household debt and are the fastest growing debt segment in the U.S. economy.

      Since 2007, student loan balances have grown $833 billion and now total $1.4 trillion.

      "Student loan balances are on the rise, which is a result of the increasing cost of higher education," said Michele Raneri, vice president of analytics, Experian.

      Tuition up 260% since 1980

      According to Business Insider, college tuition costs grew 260% between 1980 and 2014, while the cost of everything else in the economy went up 130%. Most students find that without generous student aid or scholarships, they have to take out a student loan to get a college degree. And often, more than one loan.

      The Experian report shows that students who borrow for college have an average of 3.7 student loans. The average student loan balance is $34,144.

      There is also the suggestion that juggling student loans makes it more difficult to properly manage personal finances. The average VantageScore for consumers with at least one student loans is 650, while the national average credit score is 675.

      Worth the cost?

      Despite the financial hardships student loans cause, the prevailing wisdom is that they are worth it. Rod Griffin, director of public education at Experian, says the loans usually pay off in the form of higher income over a lifetime. But he says it's important for young people to understand the terms of their loans.

      "Failure to repay even one of the loans or poor payment behavior could do long-lasting damage to your credit history and scores," he said. "Just as the value of your degree is measured over your entire career, how you manage your student loans will impact your financial future."

      For students looking for ways to pay for college, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has created an online resource, that also includes a financial aid shopping sheet.

      Photo (c) Ljupco Smokovski - FotoliaA new report from Experian, one of the three credit reporting agencies, underscores how student loan debt is nega...

      Men have a better chance of 'marrying up' these days, study finds

      Research shows the number of highly educated single women exceeds the number of highly educated unmarried men

      As the dating pool has become more saturated with highly educated women, the chance of ‘marrying up’ has significantly increased for men, a new study finds.

      The study, led by University of Kansas sociologist ChangHwan Kim, found that the number of highly educated and paid women exceeds the number of highly educated men in the marriage market.

      “The pattern of marriage and its economic consequences have changed over time,” said Kim, an associate professor at University of Kansas. Women are now more likely to be married to a less-educated man -- and men aren’t complaining, says Kim.

      Improves family standard of living

      “Men don’t complain a lot about this,” he says, likely because it improves their economic well-being. Wives’ increase in earning potential contributes to an improvement of the family standard of living, the researchers pointed out.

      “It seems fine for men because their wife is now bringing more income to the household,” he said. “One implication of these findings is that the importance of marriage market has increased for men's total economic well-being."

      From a marriage-equality standpoint, the findings are “a really good sign,” says Kim. The increase in women with high-level degrees and well-paying jobs has helped to shrink the gap in income equality between husbands and wives.

      “Marriage is now becoming more egalitarian and becoming equal,” he says.

      The research is based on U.S. Census data from 1990 and 2000 and the 2009-11 American Community Survey. Kim and co-author Arthur Sakamoto, of Texas A&M University, focused on education and earnings of people 35-44 years of age.

      The full study has been published in the journal Demography.

      As the dating pool has become more saturated with highly educated women, the chance of ‘marrying up’ has significantly increased for men, a new study finds...

      Consumers less satisfied with new car choices

      Foreign manufacturers make gains while domestic car companies lose ground

      As a result of the catastrophic flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast, perhaps millions of cars and trucks have been submerged and will have to be replaced.

      That may turn out to be a huge lift to the flagging auto industry, which has seen sales slide in recent months, but a new survey suggests consumers are going to be a lot more discerning about what they choose as replacement vehicles.

      In fact, as new car prices have continued to hit new highs, consumers appear to be less impressed. The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) shows satisfaction with new cars is down 1.2%, mainly on a big drop by U.S. manufacturers.

      GM managed to hold its own with consumers, but satisfaction with Ford and Fiat Chrysler took a tumble. Foreign manufacturers seemed to do best with U.S. consumers and have widened the gap between vehicles made by U.S. companies and those carrying an international brand.

      'Seen this movie before'

      "Chances are that we have seen this movie before," said Claes Fornell, ACSI Chairman and founder. "There was a surge in demand and increasing customer satisfaction with foreign cars in the 1980s, mostly because the domestic auto industry had difficulty keeping up. While U.S. cars have improved much over the years, they have not been as consistent in quality and customer satisfaction compared with their international counterparts."

      Fornell says U.S.-based car companies can improve their brands only by renewing focus on their products and their customers. Toyota, meanwhile, is apparently doing something right as it scored highest in both the mass market and luxury segment. Ford's Lincoln, which led the luxury segment only a year ago, fell 5%.

      In the mass market segment, five of the top six are from international manufacturers and all five improved their customer satisfaction standing over last year. Subaru is in second place, followed by GMC -- the only domestic nameplate -- Hyundai, Kia, and Mazda.

      Buick and Jeep prove to be exceptions

      Even after a number of safety recalls, Honda managed to tie Chevrolet. Among domestic brands, Buick and Jeep were among the few showing improvement.

      Even Volkswagen is showing signs of bouncing back from its emissions cheating scandal, with satisfaction with the brand going up 1%.

      Declining satisfaction has coincided with declining new car sales in recent months, though the two may be unrelated. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) predicts new car sales bounced back this month, posting a 1.5% year-over-year gain when the final accounting is done. It expects strong gains by GM and Toyota, with sharp declines by Ford and Chrysler.

      As a result of the catastrophic flooding along the Texas Gulf Coast, perhaps millions of cars and trucks have been submerged and will have to be replaced....

      Volkswagen recalls Volkswagen CC, Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles

      The fuel pump could fail, causing the engine to stall

      Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 280,915 model year 2009-2016 Volkswagen CCs, and model year 2006-2010 Passats and Passat Wagons.

      Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail causing the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

      What to do

      Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed on October 13, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available.

      Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.

      Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 280,915 model year 2009-2016 Volkswagen CCs, and model year 2006-2010 Passats and Passat Wagons.Interruption o...

      Mexico offers help to Harvey-stricken Texas

      The neighbor to the south sent troops and food to New Orleans after Katrina

      Besides federal disaster relief agencies, states and cities around the United States are offering to send help to storm-stricken Texas. So is Mexico. In a Sunday night telephone call, Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott that Mexico will help Texas "as good neighbors should always do in trying times."

      Carlos Gonzalez Gutierrez, the Mexican consul general in Austin, said he has been in constant communication with the governor's office to determine how Mexico can best help, the Dallas Morning News reported

      "As we have done in the past, Mexico stands with Texas in this difficult moment," Gonzalez said.

      The offer of help came as President Trump tweeted his insistence on Sunday that Mexico would be forced to pay for the wall he proposes to build along the U.S.-Mexico border. 

      Mexico sent troops and a ship filled with food, medicine, and water to New Orleans 12 years ago after Hurricane Katrina. 

      Besides federal disaster relief agencies, states and cities around the United States are offering to send help to storm-stricken Texas. So is Mexico. In a...

      Tips for filing Hurricane Harvey insurance claims

      Contact your insurance company quickly and take lots of pictures

      The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey along the Texas Gulf Coast is widespread, and will likely extend into the billions of dollars.

      Once area residents are rescued and out of harm's way, the clean-up will begin in earnest. And that means companies and individuals will be filing insurance claims.

      To make the claims process go more smoothly, and to speed up your insurance check, the Insurance Information Institute (III) says there are six steps consumers should follow.

      First, contact your insurance company as soon as possible. That might sound obvious, but people who have suffered catastrophic damage may need some time to collect their wits. The point is, make contacting your insurance company a priority.

      You'll need to provide a policy number and the best phone number and email address where you can be reached. Here's something else to consider -- insurance adjusters will first visit property with the most extensive damage. Be ready to provide an accurate description of your damage over the phone, along with any special needs your family has.

      Document all losses

      While waiting for the adjuster to arrive, document your loss. Take photographs of everything that was damaged or destroyed and provide them to your insurance company.

      Don't throw anything away before checking with your insurance company first. If your local government requires that damaged possessions be removed as a safety precaution, take plenty of photographs first.

      Make sure you sign up for text alerts. Most insurance companies offer them and its a great way to keep up with the status of your claim.

      Take advantage of emergency services, if needed and available. If you need help removing water from your home, covering a damaged roof, or closing off damaged doors and windows, many insurance companies will send a licensed and approved provider to take care of it.

      Besides documenting your claim visually, keep a good claim diary. Make a list of everyone you speak to about your claim, including the date and time, and what you talked about.

      The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey along the Texas Gulf Coast is widespread, and will likely extend into the billions of dollars.Once area resi...

      Gasoline shortages caused by Harvey will boost prices

      But the unanswered questions are by how much and for how long?

      Hurricane Harvey drew a bead on the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast's oil refinery district, and motorists in all parts of the U.S. are likely to feel the pain, at least for a while.

      Gasoline futures prices rose 5% early Monday but the market may not be able to fully absorb the extent of Harvey's impact for several days. In the meantime, consumers should not be surprised to see gasoline prices rise quickly this week in anticipation.

      Fuel prices have already been running a little higher than last year. The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas today is $2.36 a gallon, up three cents from a week ago and seven cents higher than a month ago.

      Port of Houston is closed

      The storm has caused flooding damage to many Gulf Coast oil refineries. It has also shut down the Port of Houston, meaning oil tankers have not been able to resupply to refineries that are still operating. The result has been a huge bottleneck in gasoline distribution that should not only affect price, but perhaps supply.

      Gasbuddy senior analyst Patrick DeHaan Tweeted late Friday that numerous stations in the Houston area were out of fuel, not surprising as many evacuating consumers gassed up on the way out of town. He told ConsumerAffairs that the full impact of the storm on supply and price won't be known right away.

      In a bulletin on Friday, AAA said Harvey has the potential to push prices up in the aftermath, but the effect could be temporary.

      “A hurricane like this typically causes an increase in fuel purchases in the market and a slowdown in retail demand,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Spikes in pump prices due to the effects of hurricanes tend to be brief but dramatic. This impact is starting in Texas, where the average price for unleaded gas has already jumped up two cents since Tuesday to $2.15/gallon.”

      Damage less than 12 years ago

      At last report, the Port of Houston had suffered no serious damage and was preparing to reopen once the flooding subsides. Hannover Re, one of the world's largest insurers, told CNBC Monday morning that the damage to refining operations is expected to be significantly less than the damage inflicted 12 years ago, by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

      Oddly, oil futures prices went down late Sunday, even as gasoline futures rose. Then again, there appears to be plenty of crude oil and production capability does not appear to have been significantly affected. The problem, at least in the short term, is turning that oil into gasoline and getting it to your neighborhood gas station.

      Hurricane Harvey drew a bead on the heart of the Texas Gulf Coast's oil refinery district, and motorists in all parts of the U.S. are likely to feel the pa...

      Poll shows consumers want Net Neutrality law

      Large majority would like to take the issue out of the hands of the FCC

      Net Neutrality can be something of a complex subject, but another poll shows consumers not only understand what it is, they want to keep it.

      In short, Net Neutrality holds that internet service providers (ISP) have to treat all web content the same. That means they can't charge extra to sites that use more bandwidth, and they can't favor the content of one site over another.

      Some ISPs have protested, saying they've spent millions of dollars building out their networks and should be allowed to manage them as they see fit.

      In the latter years of the Obama Administration, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established Net Neutrality as policy, over the protests of some ISPs.

      Change in policy

      President Trump's FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is a long-time critic of Net Neutrality, and under his leadership the FCC has taken steps to reverse the policy. But it might not be either good business or good politics.

      A new poll of U.S. consumers has found 74% supporting legislation that enshrines the principals of Net Neutrality -- namely a law enabling consumers to use the internet free from government or corporate censorship, while setting up one set of rules that applies to all internet companies.

      The poll suggests consumers are comfortable with Congress taking the issue out of the hands of the FCC and setting the policy in stone.

      Permanent Net Neutrality law

      "Americans overwhelmingly favor a permanent net neutrality law over FCC regulations that can be changed from administration to administration," said Mike Montgomery, Executive Director of CALinnovates, a non-partisan tech advocacy group based in San Francisco, which conducted the survey.

      Previous research has suggested consumers are growing more concerned about Net Neutrality issues, such as potential throttling, blocking, and the creation of so-called fast lanes.

      Younger consumers appear to feel more strongly about the legislative route than their older counterparts. In fact, 18 to 29 year-olds were almost twice as likely to support making Net Neutrality the law of the land than continuing to leave the issue up to the FCC.

      Net Neutrality can be something of a complex subject, but another poll shows consumers not only understand what it is, they want to keep it.In short, N...

      FTC announces refund process for victims of alleged tech support scam

      The agency has begun sending emails to affected consumers who can apply for a refund

      Back in December, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled with a company for allegedly running a tech support scam.

      According to the agency’s original complaint, Advanced Tech support, also operating under the name Inbound Call Experts, deceived consumers about malware and viruses that were found on their computers in order to pressure them into buying tech support products and services.

      In December, the defendants agreed to pay $10 million to settle the charges and agreed to no longer misrepresent that they had identified performance or security issues on consumers’ electronic devices. Today, the FTC announced the refund process for victims of the scam and said that it would be sending email notices to affected individuals who bought products between April 2012 and November 2014.

      If you received an email from the FTC, you can use an online form to apply for a refund or call a refund administrator at 877-793-0908. All claims must be filed by October 27, 2017 in order to be eligible.

      For more information, you can visit the FTC’s site here.

      Back in December, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) settled with a company for allegedly running a tech support scam.According to the agency’s origina...

      High salt intake doubles the risk of death from heart failure

      A study provides further evidence that the heart just doesn't like salt

      Doctors and medical professionals have long cautioned consumers about the dangers of consuming too much salt, but the findings of a 12-year study show just how harmful it can be.

      In a presentation over the weekend at ESC Congress, researchers revealed findings which show that high salt intake effectively doubles the risk of heart failure. The team’s work adds to previous findings, which have connected high salt intake to a myriad of cardiovascular problems.

      "High salt (sodium chloride) intake is one of the major causes of high blood pressure and an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke," explained Pekka Jousilahti, a research professor at the National Institute for Health and Welfare in Helsinki, Finland. “The heart does not like salt. High salt intake markedly increases the risk of heart failure.”

      Doubles risk of death

      Using 24-hour sodium extraction, considered the gold standard for salt intake estimation, the researchers conducted a follow-up study that analyzed over 4,600 randomly selected men and women between the ages of 25 and 64. Baseline data was collected at the outset of the study and followed up on for 12 years using computerized register linkage to national health records.

      The findings showed that people who consumed more than 13.7 grams of salt daily were twice as likely to die from heart failure when compared to those who consumed less than 6.8 grams per day. However, Jousilahti points out that even 6.8 grams is probably an unsafe amount of salt to consumer daily.

      "The optimal daily salt intake is probably even lower than 6.8 grams. The World Health Organization recommends a maximum of 5 grams per day and the physiological need is 2 to 3 grams per day," he said.

      Although their work was extensive and detailed, the researchers say that further studies using larger populations will be needed to confirm the study’s findings. 

      Doctors and medical professionals have long cautioned consumers about the dangers of consuming too much salt, but the findings of a 12-year study show just...

      U.S. Marshals seize 'unapproved' cancer treatment

      Food and Drug Administration says the use of the smallpox vaccine is potentially dangerous

      Agents acting on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration have seized what they said are unproven, and "potentially dangerous" stem cell treatments at two California clinics.

      The seizures took place at the California Stem Cell Treatment Centers in Rancho Mirage and Beverly Hills, California, where U.S. Marshals said they confiscated five vials of Vaccinia Virus Vaccine (Live) – a vaccine the FDA said belonged to StemImmune Inc. of San Diego. The vaccine has been given to people at high risk for smallpox, such as some members of the U.S. military, but in this case was reportedly being used to treat cancer.

      The FDA says Vaccinia Virus Vaccine (Live) is not commercially available, and therefore it is concerned about its origin. The FDA said an active investigation is underway to determine how the company obtained the vaccine.

      "StemImmune, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in cutting edge R&D of adult human stem-cell based therapies for the treatment of cancer, is fully cooperating with the FDA about the development of its stem cell-based investigational cancer therapy," the company said in a statement to ConsumerAffairs. "We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the FDA as we seek to bring this important cancer therapy to cancer patients."

      "Speaking as a cancer survivor, I know all too well the fear and anxiety the diagnosis of cancer can have on a patient and their loved ones and how tempting it can be to believe the audacious but ultimately hollow claims made by these kinds of unscrupulous clinics or others selling so-called cures," said FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb.

      FDA says cures 'lack proof'

      Gottlieb said the agency is concerned that potential cures are being offered vulnerable patients without offering any proof they actually work.

      "I especially won't allow cases such as this one to go unchallenged, where we have good medical reasons to believe these purported treatments can actually harm patients and make their conditions worse," he said.

      According to the FDA, clinics were using the product by injecting it directly into patents' tumors. The danger, the agency says, is when unvaccinated people are in close contact with someone who has been vaccinated, and are accidentally infected.

      For its part, Steminnune notes on its website it provides "a potent new class of immunotherapies to wage a targeted, stealth attack on cancer."

      Agents acting on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration have seized what they said are unproven, and "potentially dangerous" stem cell treatments at tw...

      Southwest airlifts stranded passengers out of Houston

      Five Southwest jets managed to lift off after the airport lost power

      Folks are stranded all over Texas as flood waters from Hurricane Harvey continue to rise. Many are in their homes, others in emergency shelters, and more than a few are at airports closed by the horrific storm.

      Southwest Airlines gave an unexpected lift to about 500 stranded travelers at Houston Hobby Sunday. The airport was officially closed because it was without power but Southwest rolled out five 737s, loaded 'em up and headed out, dropping the grateful travelers in Dallas.

      The airlift was carried out quickly, since the flights had to depart before sundown, there being no runway lights. There was no other traffic in the area since the airport was closed, so the pilots used what's called VFR -- visual flight rules, also known as see and be seen. It's also called looking out the window.

      While it may sound unorthodox, the flights were perfectly legal and safe and had been given Federal Aviation Administration approval. 

      Folks are stranded all over Texas as flood waters from Hurricane Harvey continue to rise. Many are in their homes, others in emergency shelters, and more t...