Current Events in August 2017

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    Why costs for treating dementia fall primarily on patients and their families

    A simulation shows that expenses rise dramatically based on the level of care

    Around 5 million consumers in the U.S. suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or a related neurological condition, and that number will only swell as Baby Boomers get older.

    Unfortunately, these conditions can be very costly to treat, so who will be footing the bill when the number of affected consumers begins to surge? While many hope that the federal government will step in with programs like Medicare and Medicaid, a new simulation created by researchers at Brown University says that probably won’t be the case.

    "A lot of people, I think, believe that Medicare will pay for their long-term care," said assistant professor and lead author Eric Jutkowitz. "That's not the case. Private long-term care insurance may help, but benefits can be exhausted and few families have policies. For a disease like dementia, the burden and cost falls on the individual and the family."

    Costs falling on patients and families

    The simulation that Jutkowitz helped create uses data from several sources – including the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set, the Aging Demographics and Memory Study, and federal Medicare records – to estimate how medical costs for dementia patients will change and develop.

    "Each of the data points are part of the broader picture. By themselves, they can't tell us anything about how costs unfold over the course of the disease, but they all come together to develop this picture,” said Jutkowitz.

    For the purposes of the study, researchers ran 16,000 hypothetical seniors through the simulation, adjusting for factors like progressively worsening cognition, behavior and psychological symptoms, and losses in function or independence in basic daily tasks. The findings showed that costs increased dramatically when the level of care went up.

    The simulation showed that the average cost to care for a person with dementia came to over $321,000 over a five-year period, while the average cost of treating someone without dementia was just over $137,000. The researchers say that around 70% of that total cost burden fell on patients and their families. Additionally, the results showed that the cost of care for acute hospitalizations went as high as $89,000 by itself.

    A powerful tool

    While the findings of the study are disheartening from a cost perspective, the researchers say that the simulation could prove useful for determining ways that consumers can save money. This, they say, makes it a powerful tool for shaping policy and focusing on factors that are cost-intensive.

    For example, Jutkowitz points out that projections for interventions such as reducing the rate of functional decline by 10% for a year could save $3,880 per affected consumer; reducing the number of behavioral and psychological symptoms by that same amount would save an additional $680 per person.

    The full study has been published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

    Around 5 million consumers in the U.S. suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or a related neurological condition, and that number will only swell as B...

    Mortgage rates move mostly lower

    Both the Freddie Mac and Bankrate surveys show little substantial movement

    The cost of financing a home purchase showed little change over the last week.

    The Primary Mortgage Market Survey taken by Freddie Mac shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.89% for the week ending August 17, versus 3.90% the week before. A year ago, it averaged 3.43%.

    The 15-year FRM was down two basis points this week to 3.16% from 3.18%. At this time last year, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.74%.

    The rate for the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM)rose two basis points to 3.16%, versus an average of 2.76% the year before.

    “Following a mild decline last week, the 10-year Treasury yield rose 1 basis point this week,” said Freddie Mac Chief Economist Sean Becketti “The 30-year mortgage rate similarly remained relatively flat, falling just 1 basis point to 3.89%. Mortgage rates are continuing to hold at low levels amidst ongoing economic uncertainty."

    Bankrate survey

    Bankrate.com's weekly national survey put the 30-year FRM rate at 4.05%, up one basis point from a week earlier percent, and both the 15-year FRM and 5/1 ARM unchanged at 3.27% and 3.49%, respectively.

    At the current average 30-year FRM rate of 4.05%, the monthly payment for a $200,000 loan is $960.60.

    Analysts at Bankrate note that what they call, “the placidity of financial markets,” transformed into more of a subtle yo-yo action in the past week, with markets responding first to heightened tensions with North Korea, then to an easing of those tensions.

    With the unpredictability in Washington, financial markets and mortgage rates could quickly find themselves at the whim of geopolitical worries, a forthcoming debt ceiling debate, or the expected initiation of the Federal Reserve's balance sheet reduction.

    The cost of financing a home purchase showed little change over the last week.The Primary Mortgage Market Survey taken by Freddie Mac shows the 30-year...

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      J.D. Power: great time to be a credit card customer

      Firm finds increased competition resulting in more perks

      There's growing competition among banks and credit card companies to sign up new customers, and they're rolling out one incentive after another.

      As a result, J.D. Power and Associates reports it's a really good time to be a credit card customer.

      “Overall satisfaction is up across the board, and growing numbers of card companies and regional banks are coming to the market with new products that offer rich sign-up bonuses, increased cash-back rewards and new benefits," said Jim Miller, senior director of the banking practice at J.D. Power.

      Signing up new customers is only part of the challenge, Miller says. Companies also have to keep those new customers satisfied, which will discourage attrition and encourage increased card use. That all works to consumers' benefit.

      Cash back is king

      Among the key findings in J.D. Power's customer satisfaction survey, consumers like cash back over all other types of perks and rewards. While scores were higher for all credit cards, they were higher for those that pay cash back.

      Interestingly, airline cards and store-branded Visa/MasterCard rewards credit cards had the lowest levels of satisfaction among rewards cards.

      The survey also found regional banks are making strong headway in the credit card marketplace. Active accounts for regional bank cards have risen 24% since the end of 2014. Satisfaction with these cards is on par with cards from large national banks, the study found.

      The study also found a pronounced age breakdown. Consumers over 40 years old are becoming increasingly satisfied with their rewards cards while those under 40 are becoming less happy with their cards. The survey didn't suggest a reason for that, but noted that younger consumers are more likely to spread spending across more than one credit card.

      Favorite cards

      According to the report, consumers are most satisfied with American Express branded credit cards, followed by Discover and Capital One.

      When selecting a cash back card, it's always a good idea to select one that rewards the kinds of spending you do most. For example, if you buy a lot of groceries, try to select a card that pays the most for supermarket spending.

      And pay attention to fees. Paying an annual fee could cut deeply into any cash back rewards you might get. There are plenty of attractive cash back rewards cards that don't charge an annual fee.

      There's growing competition among banks and credit card companies to sign up new customers, and they're rolling out one incentive after another.As a re...

      Lawsuit claims Poland Spring water doesn't come from springs

      Company says it meets government definition of spring water

      A class action lawsuit, filed in Connecticut, seeks damages from Nestle Waters, claiming its Poland Spring bottled water doesn't actually come from springs.

      Eleven consumers are listed as plaintiffs in the case, charging Nestle has used the association between spring water and purity as a marketing ploy to sell, what the suit claims, is essentially filtered ground water, charging a premium price.

      In a statement, Nestle Waters, based on Stamford, Conn., said the suit has no merit, and further branded it an attempt to “manipulate the the legal system for personal gain.” It also said Poland Spring meets the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) legal definition of spring water.

      Defining spring water

      In fact, the FDA's regulations covering bottled water and how it is defined are both extensive and specific. Among the criteria to be called spring water are:

      • The water flows naturally to the surface of the earth
      • The water is collected only at the spring or through a bore hole tapping the underground formation feeding the spring
      • A natural force causes the water to flow to the surface through a natural orifice
      • The location of the spring is identified
      • Water collected with the use of an external force shall be from the same underground stratum as the spring, as shown by a measurable hydraulic connection using a hydrogeologically valid method between the bore hole and the natural spring, and shall have all the physical properties, before treatment, and be of the same composition and quality, as the water that flows naturally to the surface of the earth

      Previous litigation

      This is not the first time the issue has been raised. The Portland (Maine) Press Herald reports Nestle Waters faced a similar lawsuit in 2003, with the plaintiffs alleging that the company's marketing was misleading about where the water originated.

      According to the report, the suit was settled out of court, with the company providing about $8 million in consumer discounts and more than $2 million given to charitable organizations.

      Bottled water has become big business in the U.S. over the last two decades. In March, Beverage Marketing Corporation reported that bottled water overtook carbonated beverages in U.S. sales last year.

      "Bottled water effectively reshaped the beverage marketplace," said Michael Bellas, CEO of Beverage Marketing Corporation, said at the time. "When Perrier first entered the country in the 1970s, few would have predicted the heights to which bottled water would eventually climb.”

      He says bottled water sales have increased every year from 1977 to 2016, with the exception of two year during the Great Recession.

      A class action lawsuit, filed in Connecticut, seeks damages from Nestle Waters, claiming its Poland Spring bottled water doesn't actually come from springs...

      How do smartphones affect your child’s happiness?

      What parents can do to curb smartphone-related anxiety and depression

      Renowned business philosopher Jim Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” So where does that leave kids, who often spend hours each day with their smartphone? 

      Unhappy, according to Dr. Stephanie Marcy, a psychologist and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics. Research has shown a link between smartphone use and the spike in anxiety and depression in youth, says Marcy.

      She says she’s seen a lot more anxiety and obsessive/compulsive disorder in kids who were already naturally anxious. “It can be attributed to the constant reminders and availability and access to your social worth, your social value, how many people ‘like’ you. It’s constant and it’s easily public to anyone to see it.”

      Like an addiction

      Receiving a negative reaction from peers in response to a public social media post can lead to a cascade of unhappiness, starting with embarrassment and ending with despair, depression, and anxiety.

      But often, kids can’t keep themselves from diving right back into the digital world within their device. Marcy finds that kids are spending so much time on devices that they are neglecting responsibilities and forgetting to attend to their ‘basic’ needs.

      “For a strong majority of kids and adolescents, smartphones are like an addiction. It fits the mold of addiction because there is lying, cheating, stealing to get to their ‘substance’ – in this case their device,” she explained.

      “They will neglect social relationships, self care including exercise, showering, going to the bathroom. They don’t want to get off their device for any reason and risk missing something.”

      What parents can do

      Removing a child’s ability to access their device, whether because there’s no wi-fi or a parent takes it away, can lead to behavioral regressions and even tantrums in adolescents. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to set ground rules for device use early on.

      To keep your child’s smartphone use from spiraling out of control, Marcy recommends taking control and setting up the rules and limitations before your child gets their first device. Monitor their usage and making it something your child earns. Device use should be treated as a privilege not a right, she says.

      “If you set the precedent early on, it’s easier to build and increase privileges rather than try to take them away,” she said. “It’s like any other responsibility.”

      Renowned business philosopher Jim Rohn once said, “You’re the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” So where does that leave kids,...

      Why stress management is important during pregnancy

      Researchers say highly stressed mothers are more likely to have a child with behavioral issues

      In order to protect the health of an unborn baby, it’s crucial to stop bad habits like smoking and drinking. Now, new research suggests mothers-to-be should also make an effort to squash another bad habit -- getting stressed out.

      According to researchers from the University of Ottawa, a mother's stress can alter brain development in the fetus leading to an increased risk of behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity.

      The research team, led by Dr. Ian Colman, found that mothers who experienced a significant amount of stress during their pregnancy were more likely to give birth to a child with behavioral issues.

      Twice as likely

      "Mothers who are exposed to high levels of stress during pregnancy have kids who are more than twice as likely to have chronic symptoms of hyperactivity and conduct disorder," Dr. Colman said.

      "Generally speaking, we found that the higher the stress, the higher the symptoms," he said.

      About 10 percent of school-age children are affected by hyperactivity (a symptom of ADHD) or conduct disorder. Behavioral disorders can lead to problems in school and trouble in kids' relationships with family and friends, he said.

      But lowering prenatal stress may play a big role in helping to prevent behavioral problems in children, the researchers said in their recently published findings.

      What to do

      "We can't avoid most stressful events in our lives and since we can't always prevent them, the focus should be on helping mothers manage stress in order to give their children the best start in life,” Dr. Colman said.

      Combating stress can be a difficult feat under normal circumstances, but pregnancy brings with it a unique crop of fears and anxieties. So what can a mom-to-be do to shrink their stress level?

      Here are a few tips that can help expectant mothers manage their stress, according to the researchers:

      • Identify the root. Determine what is causing your stress and be proactive in addressing it.
      • Talk about it. Talk to your loved one about what’s stressing you out. Help them help you.
      • Simplify your life. Ease your mental load during pregnancy by shortening your to-do list and learning to say ‘no.’
      • Meditate. Quiet your mind by practicing mindfulness and/or doing yoga.
      • Carve out time for yourself. Find time to do what you love, whether it’s a hobby or physical activity.

      In order to protect the health of an unborn baby, it’s crucial to stop bad habits like smoking and drinking. Now, new research suggests mothers-to-be shoul...

      Feds sued for not requiring rear seat belt warning indicators in cars

      A 2012 law instructed safety regulators to draft a rule providing for the devices

      A few days ago, we reported that Americans are still not buckling up when they sit in the back seat. Now, a lawsuit blames the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for not requiring a warning system in cars similar to the one that reminds front-seat passengers to buckle up, as it was supposed to do under legislation signed by President Obama in July 2012. 

      The non-profit groups Center for Auto Safety and Kids and Cars Inc., say nearly 1,000 people are killed annually in the rear seats of U.S. passenger vehicles because they do not buckle up, and proper belt usage would lower the risk of death by 44 percent.

      “To have to bring a lawsuit in federal court to compel NHTSA to simply write a regulation required by law – one that is widely recognized as having significant lifesaving potential – is, to use a word, sad,” said Jason Levine, the new Executive Director of the Center for Auto Safety.

      “Instead of fulfilling its job as an expert safety agency on behalf of all consumers, NHTSA has spent five years hitting the snooze button. Hopefully, this action spurs a sense of urgency for something so non-controversial,” Levine said.

      28% don't buckle up

      The lawsuit follows a recent report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) that Levine said confirmed the need for such a warning system.

      IIHS found up to 28% of adults surveyed admitted to not wearing their seat belt in the rear seat all the time, and of those, 4 out of 5 say that when they take short trips or travel by taxi or ride-hailing service they frequently do not wear a seat belt. The same report noted that unrestrained passengers in the rear-seat were almost 8 times as likely to sustain a serious injury in a crash as restrained rear seat occupants.

      Many of those responding to the survey said they feel safer in the back seat. Others said they just found the belts uncomfortable or inconvenient. But safety advocates say that's a potentially fatal error.

      “The importance of seat belts in saving lives is indisputable. This is one area where the government, auto industry, and safety groups are in complete agreement. Everything possible should be done to ensure that all passengers are correctly restrained all the time; on every ride,” said KidsAndCars.org, founder and president, Janette Fennell. "It’s time for NHTSA to stop stalling and the auto industry to begin installing."

      A few days ago, we reported that Americans are still not buckling up when they sit in the back seat. Now, a lawsuit blames the National Highway Traffic Saf...

      Would repealing Net Neutrality hurt small businesses?

      An analysis by a business outplacement firm says it would

      An analysis of internet rules by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas concludes that rolling back Net Neutrality rules would not just hurt consumers, but small businesses as well.

      In 2015 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a set of guidelines that bars Internet service providers like Verizon, AT&T, and Comcast from speeding up, slowing down, or blocking any content, applications, or websites. In other words, all content must be treated equally.

      The reasoning behind Net Neutrality is one company's content shouldn't get preferential treatment, just because the company pays a big fee to the ISP.

      ISPs have argued that they spend a lot of money building and maintaining their networks, and it's only fair that companies like Netflix, which requires huge amounts of bandwidth, pay extra for the use of that capacity.

      Pre-Net Neutrality actions

      Challenger, Gray & Christmas said it reviewed internet policies prior to 2015 and found many ISPs, both domestic and foreign, engaged in actions that unfairly affected smaller companies.

      It points to the period of 2011 to 2013, when it says AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon blocked Google Wallet, which happened to compete with a service in which the ISPs held a stake.

      In 2012, it says AT&T announced plans to disable the FaceTime video-calling app on its customers' iPhones unless they subscribed to more bandwidth, at a higher price.

      Internet Privacy Bill

      The 2015 Net Neutrality Rule prevents those kinds of actions, but from the start the new chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, has targeted Net Neutrality for reversal. John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, notes that President Trump recently signed the "Internet privacy bill," which he says will repeal vital internet-related consumer protections. In the end, he says that hurts businesses.

      "The slicing up and selling of the Internet will make it vastly more difficult for companies to remain innovative,” Challenger said. “Not to mention the cost to small businesses and entrepreneurs to have access to the Internet."

      Challenger also maintains there is no demand, except from big ISPs, to rollback Net Neutrality. He says polls consistently show that a large majority of people, both Republicans and Democrats, support the concept of Net Neutrality.

      An analysis of internet rules by the outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas concludes that rolling back Net Neutrality rules would not just hurt co...

      Perceptions of your partner's spending habits could lead to financial conflict

      Researchers say couples tend to view each other as 'tightwads' or 'spenders'

      Does your partner spend too much money of your hard-earned money, or are they maybe too tight-fisted? A new study shows that regardless of whether they are, your perception could be harmful.

      Researchers from BYU and Kansas State University say that couples who handle money differently tend to view each other as either “tightwads or spenders.” They say that these perceptions, regardless of whether they’re true, can bring about financial conflict and negatively impact the relationship over time.

      "The fact that spouses' perceptions of each other's spending behaviors were so predictive of financial conflict suggests that when it comes to the impact of finances on relationships, perceptions may be just as important, if not more important, than reality," said graduate student and study co-author Ashley LeBaron.

      Financial conflict

      Among the findings, the researchers say that husbands who viewed their wives as “spenders” -- and, subsequently, wives who knew their husbands had this perception -- was the highest contributor to financial conflict. This was found to be true for both high-income and low-income couples.

      Additionally, the results showed that husbands tended to equate having more children with increased financial conflict, while wives pointed to a lack of financial communication as the main contributor.

      While couples can consult with a financial planner or family therapist to hash out these problems, the researchers say that establishing good financial communication in the beginning of a marriage or relationship can make all the difference.

      "Couples need to communicate about finances, especially early in marriage," said Kansas State professor Sonya Britt-Lutter. "Don't think that financial problems will magically go away when circumstances change. The study showed that circumstances weren't the issue here, perception was, and perception doesn't always change when circumstances do."

      The full study has been published in the Journal of Financial Planning.

      Does your partner spend too much money of your hard-earned money, or are they maybe too tight-fisted? A new study shows that regardless of whether they are...

      BRIO recalls baby rattles

      The wooden rings on the rattles can crack, posing a choking hazard

      BRIO of Sweden is recalling about 1,700 BRIO soft hammer rattles sold in the U.S. and Canada.

      The wooden rings on the hammer rattles can crack, posing a choking hazard to children.

      The firm has received seven reports of the wooden ring cracking. No injuries have been reported.

      This recall involves BRIO soft hammer baby rattle toys. They have a wooden handle with a white plastic teething ring at one end and a red, yellow, white and green hammer head at the other end.

      BRIO is stamped on the hammer head. The rattle is about five inches long.

      The rattles, manufactured in China, were sold at Home Goods, Kidding Around, Nordstrom and other specialty toy and mass retailer stores nationwide and online at Amazon.com from March 2015, through June 2017, for about $13.

      What to do

      Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled baby rattles and contact BRIO for instructions on how to receive a full refund or a replacement product of similar value.

      Consumers may contact BRIO, through North American distributor Ravensburger, at www.brio.us and click on Recalls at the bottom of the page or call 800-886-1236 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information.

      BRIO of Sweden is recalling about 1,700 BRIO soft hammer rattles sold in the U.S. and Canada.The wooden rings on the hammer rattles can crack, posing a...

      Federal government rethinks stance that a potent new class of herbicides is 'safe for everyone'

      Farmers say their livelihoods are at risk from an agricultural chemical that is killing their crops

      An Environmental Protection Agency spokesman says that the agency is now “very concerned” about dicamba, an agricultural chemical that regulators had previously claimed was “safe for everyone” shortly before giving Monsanto and competitors the greenlight to sell dicamba-based weedkillers late last year.

      “EPA is very concerned about the recent reports of crop damage related to the use of dicamba in Missouri, Arkansas and other states,” an EPA spokesman tells ConsumerAffairs via email. 

      Even before the  EPA allowed the agrochemical industry to sell its potent new class of herbicide sprays, Texas grape growers and Missouri peach farmers complained that dicamba has a tendency to “drift” from its intended target. The farmers said that their own crops were destroyed after their neighbors used dicamba. Their complaints were backed by reports from food scientists and environmental advocacy groups, who also said that the chemical could pose health concerns.

      But the EPA assured the public dicamba is safe and said that the problematic incidents came from farmers who used illegal, unapproved versions of dicamba sprays. The agency had allowed Monsanto to sell soybean and cotton seeds that are tolerant to dicamba over a year before Monsanto’s accompanying dicamba spray was available.

      Even safe for infants

      “When used according to label directions, dicamba is safe for everyone, including infants, the developing fetus, the elderly and more highly exposed groups such as agricultural workers,” the EPA wrote in a November 2016 post. “It also meets the safety standard for the environment, including endangered species.” 

      With the promise that “restrictions on the product label” will “reduce spray drift,” the EPA allowed Monsanto and BASF to sell dicamba-based weedkillers to farmers late last year. That was followed by a decision in February to let DuPont to sell its own dicamba-based weedkiller.

      In the past year, Southern states have seen a surge in complaints from farmers who say that the industrial chemical is invading their land. The EPA promises to look into it. “We are reviewing the current use restrictions on the labels for these dicamba formulations in light of the incidents that have been reported this year,” the EPA spokesman adds to ConsumerAffairs. “The underlying causes of the various damage incidents are not yet clear, but EPA is reviewing the available information carefully. We will rely on the best information available to inform our assessment.”

      More herbicides to control problem created by herbicides

      Agrochemical companies Monsanto, Dow, DuPont and BASF market their dicamba-based weedkillers as an upgrade of sorts to glyphosate, which remains the most heavily used agricultural chemical in the world.

      That distinction didn’t happen by accident. Glyphosate-based weedkillers like Monsanto’s Roundup Ready spray are sold in conjunction with soybeans and cotton seeds that are genetically modified to survive glyphosate, allowing farmers to spray the weedkiller en masse across their fields.

      But a new breed of superweeds, evolved to survive glyphosate spraying, has emerged on farms as a result, creating a massive and expensive headache for workers. In response, Monsanto several years ago introduced soybean and cotton seeds that are genetically modified to withstand both glyphosate and dicamba, an older, more volative chemical that had been phased out years ago in favor of the former.

      Without an accompanying dicamba-based spray on the market, farmers who purchased Monsanto's new seeds instead turned to illegal, older variations of dicamba sprays to kill weeds, critics later charged.

      The problem was supposed to be resolved in November 2016,  when Monsanto won EPA approval to market its dicamba spray called RoundUp Ready Xtend, “an advanced weed management tool,” the company said, “designed to help maximize weed control, quality and yield potential in dicamba tolerant products.”

      The industry and the federal government publicly told farmers that following instructions on the product label would ensure that nobody’s neighbor would be afflicted with unwanted dicamba drift. "We have not seen any kind of issues at all about off-target drift. We've been following the label, to the tee, and we haven't seen any kind of issues,” a grower named James Wray is quoted as saying in promotional materials for BASF.

      States take action

      But farmers across the United States farm belt who do not use dicamba-tolerant seeds are reporting that the volatile spray is traveling from other fields and killing their own crops. “...not every farmer chose to plant DT [dicamba-tolerant] fields,” BASF later acknowledged.  “And, they shouldn’t be forced into any new technology. It’s their farm.”

      University of Missouri plant scientist Dr. Kevin Bradley reports getting calls daily from soybean farmers, homeowners and vegetable producers about the agricultural menace. Using public records, Bradley in July found that states have launched a total of 1,411 dicamba-related investigations this year. By his estimates, approximately 2.5 million acres of farmland across the United States have been damaged due to dicamba.

      Much of the damage is concentrated in Arkansas and Missouri. Arkansas officials had already imposed restrictions on dicamba use, but last month the state’s plant board opted to ban dicamba outright, at least for the following 120 days. Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson supported the ban, saying that the “volume of complaints justify emergency action.” 

      Missouri followed suit last month, with Missouri’s Director of Agriculture explaining that “feedback and research” inspired the decision. Tennessee officials announced shortly after they they would restrict dicamba use, and Kansas officials say they are investigating the issue. 

      But for now, the Kansas Department of Agriculture is taking a stance similar to that of the agriculture industry and the federal government, that the problem is not with dicamba itself, but with off-label use of dicamba. 

      “KDA strongly encourages all users of herbicides, including products containing dicamba,” the agency writes, “to be attentive to label requirements when selecting and applying products (not all dicamba products are labeled for soybean application), to be aware of vegetation on surrounding properties, and to be vigilant of weather conditions.”

      Separate of complaints to state agencies, a group of Arkansas farmers in June filed a class-action lawsuit against Monsanto, BASF and DuPont over dicamba drift. Unlike the lawsuits filed by environmental groups over the issue, the Arkansas farmers say that they are not opposed to pesticide-intensive agriculture as a whole.  

      “This is not an anti-GMO lawsuit,” the farmers write. Their case instead centers on the decision of Monsanto to begin selling dicamba-resistant seeds, which the company marketed as XtendFlex, before the company’s dicamba spray had been approved.

      “Monsanto’s ‘plan’ to prevent drift and volatilization damage to non-target crops and plants was...simply to publicly tell XtendFlex purchasers not to use dicamba,” the plaintiffs say in court papers. 

      Environmental and food safety groups contend in lawsuits against the federal government that dicamba is unsafe even in its approved forms. 

      An "open letter"

      Monsanto addressed the controversy on August 2 in “An Open Letter to Our Farmer-Customers.”

      “You told us you needed additional tools to combat tough-to-control weeds. We responded by developing Roundup Ready 2 Xtend® soybean and Roundup Ready® XtendFlex® cotton seeds that are tolerant to dicamba,” writes Monsanto’s Chief Technology Officer Robert Fraley.

      Fraley claims that “the overwhelming majority of farmers are experiencing tremendous success during this first year of commercial launch.”

      “However, we have also heard reports that some farmers are noticing signs of leaf cupping in nearby soybean fields, which could be attributable to dicamba,” he goes on.

      Fraley says that the company is addressing the reports of “potential crop injury” by deploying its own scientists to study the issue and sending company representatives out to educate farmers about proper use of dicamba. Fraley also urges farmers experiencing dicamba damage to call a company hotline.

      BASF similarly tells angry customers or those affected by dicamba to contact company representatives, rather than, say, a government investigator. “We encourage farmers to work together and reach out to our field staff to address any issues they are seeing in their fields,” BASF writes in a recent post addressing dicamba drift. “We pledge our ongoing support.”

      An Environmental Protection Agency spokesman says that the agency is now “very concerned” about dicamba, an agricultural chemical that regulators had previ...

      Deaths from lightning strikes on pace for record low

      Consumers are being more proactive about staying safe when a storm rolls in

      In past decades, it wasn’t completely uncommon for consumers to be struck by lightning. Nearly 330 people died each year from this tragic, natural phenomenon in the 1940s, but experts say that those numbers have dropped significantly over time.

      Courthouse News reports that only 13 people in the U.S. have died after being struck by lightning this year, which is on track to be the lowest recorded number ever. So, what changed? Researchers say that consumers are now much more aware of the dangers of lightning and are more proactive in taking steps to avoid it.

      “We’ve equipped the public by saying, ‘When thunder roars, go indoors .’ Three-year-olds can remember that,” said Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, professor emerita of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago.

      Less time outside

      Of course, going inside when a storm is coming only explains part of the reason why lightning deaths have dropped. Harold Brooks, a scientist with the National Weather Service’s National Severe Storms Laboratory, points out that as a society we generally spend less time outside altogether.

      That’s especially true of professions that have typically required spending a lot of time outdoors, such as farmers. National Weather Service lightning safety specialist John Jensenius Jr. says that in the past, farmers were often the tallest object in fields, which made them much more likely to be struck.

      But advances to agricultural technology have cut the amount of time that farmers are exposed to dangerous conditions. Other developments, such as vehicles with metal roofs, also play a part in keeping consumers safe when they’re not safely indoors.

      On top of all that, experts say that improvements to medical care have played a big role in reducing the number of lightning-related deaths. Devices such as defibrillators are now much more commonly used, and more bystanders are trained in CPR. Additionally, doctors are now much more focused on neurological damage caused by lightning strikes than they were in the past.

      Still dangerous

      Despite improving outcomes, experts still warn that being struck by lightning is a serious risk to those who don’t take proper precautions. Two men vacationing in Florida just last month were struck by lightning on a beach, killing one of them.

      “We ignored it. We were just thinking it was going to pass over soon,” said survivor Andre Bauldock. “We could see the sun in the distance. I was admiring the lightning out in the ocean and I thought it was far away.”

      “Our victims are at the wrong place at the wrong time," said Jensenius. "The wrong place is anywhere outside. The wrong time is anywhere that you can hear thunder."

      In past decades, it wasn’t completely uncommon for consumers to be struck by lightning. Nearly 330 people died each year from this tragic, natural phenomen...

      'Free cruise' spam calls could net consumers up to $900 in restitution

      Claimants need to file by November 3 to be eligible

      If you’ve received spam phone calls congratulating you for winning a free cruise, then you may have an unexpected and lucrative payday coming your way.

      The Sacramento Bee reports that consumers could be eligible for up to $900 in restitution as part of a class action lawsuit if they received these types of calls from Resort Marketing Group. The suit, filed as "Charvat v. Carnival et al," charges three popular cruise lines – Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line – of authorizing the group to make recorded robocalls to consumers between July 2009 and March 2014.

      However, the suit claimed that these actions violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which places restrictions on calls that telemarketers can make. A settlement on the issue was reached in July, which established a fund consisting of $7 million to $12.5 million that would pay consumers who received the calls.

      The settlement stipulates that consumers can collect a maximum of $300 per call up to a maximum of three, capping the maximum potential restitution at $900. Consumers can check to see if they are part of the settlement and file a claim by visiting this site here. All claims must be filed by November 3, 2017 to be eligible. 

      If you’ve received spam phone calls congratulating you for winning a free cruise, then you may have an unexpected and lucrative payday coming your way....

      Researchers warn of toxic chemicals in beauty products

      Commentary suggests minority women are at greatest risk

      Environmental health researchers at George Washington University (GW) are cautioning young women to be aware of the chemical make-up of the beauty products they're using.

      In a commentary published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, they say many beauty products contain toxic materials that, even with small amounts of exposure, can lead to health problems.

      They also say minority women tend to have higher levels of beauty-product-related chemicals in their bodies compared to white women.

      “Pressure to meet Western standards of beauty means black, Latina and Asian American women are using more beauty products and thus are exposed to higher levels of chemicals known to be harmful to health,” said Ami Zota, an assistant professor of environmental and occupational health at GW.

      'Reproductive harm'

      Zota says beauty product use is a critical but underappreciated source of reproductive harm in young women. Zota and Bhavna Shamasunder of the Occidental College in Los Angeles co-authored the commentary.

      In their commentary, the authors suggest minority women spend a disproportionate share of the $400 billion the cosmetics and beauty products industry brings in each year. They say women of color tend to purchase products like skin lightening face cream which they say often contains ingredients like topical steroids or the toxic metal mercury.

      Beauty products have suddenly come under increased scrutiny. As we reported last week, two environmental groups have sued the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), charging the agency with allowing hair products with "unsafe levels of formaldehyde" to remain on the market.

      Hair straightening products

      Specifically, the groups point to hair straightening products, primarily used by African American consumers. The groups contend the products pose a threat to both consumers and hair salon employees.

      The authors of the commentary say health professionals, particularly those with patients who may become pregnant, can help by counseling their patients about the potential risks associated with some beauty products.

      They also say health care providers and researchers should advocate for health protective policies such as improved testing and disclosure.

      Environmental health researchers at George Washington University (GW) are cautioning young women to be aware of the chemical make-up of the beauty products...

      New Jersey couple accused of scamming Lowe's for thousands in free merchandise

      Officials say the defendants used a computer glitch to have items sent to their home without payment

      Growing up, just about everyone learns that you shouldn’t do something wrong just because you can get away with it. Unfortunately, that lesson may not have sunk in for one New Jersey couple.

      According to a report from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. Romela and Kimy Velazquez have been charged with exploiting a glitch on home improvement retailer Lowe's’ website to have $258,000 worth of merchandise shipped to their address without paying for it.

      County prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato says that the Lowe's Organized Retail Crime Manager brought the case to the attention of the Brick Township police and alleged that the defendants posted several stolen merchandise items on a local Facebook Group “Buy and Sell” page, offering “New in Box” items for less than half their original price.

      On August 3, agencies executed a search warrant on the Velasquez’s home and say they recovered enough stolen merchandise to fill an 18-foot trailer. Some of the more expensive items included a Honda Lawn Mower, a Stainless Steel Weber Grill, a Dewalt Power Washer, and an Aluminum Gazebo.

      In all, the authorities say that the couple obtained merchandise totaling over $258,000, although only just under $13,000 of it was found to be Lowes merchandise. An investigation is ongoing to determine which other retailers were victimized by the alleged scheme.

      Romela Vasquez has been charged with 2nd degree Computer Criminal Activity for accessing a computer system with the purpose to defraud, 2nd degree Theft by Deception for attempting to obtain stolen merchandise, and 3rd degree Theft by Deception for the receipt of nearly $13,000 worth of merchandise without payment. Her husband was charged with 3rd degree receipt of stolen property and 3rd degree fencing.

      Growing up, just about everyone learns that you shouldn’t do something wrong just because you can get away with it. Unfortunately, that lesson may not have...

      Lenders making fewer subprime loans

      TransUnion report finds big drop in personal loans and auto lending

      For the first time since 2012, lenders are making fewer subprime loans, according to a new report from TransUnion, one of the three credit reporting agencies.

      Subprime loans are those made to consumers with lower credit scores and usually carry less-favorable terms than prime loans. In most cases they carry higher interest rates and may have other disadvantages.

      The TransUnion report found 4.63 million consumers received a subprime auto loan or lease, personal loan, or credit card in the first quarter of this year. That compares to 4.89 million in the first quarter of 2016.

      “Across product lines, we saw a decline in subprime originations at the beginning of 2017, and for the first time in a number of years we observed this for consecutive quarters,” said Ezra Becker, senior vice president of research and consulting for TransUnion.

      Played a role in the financial crisis

      Subprime mortgages played a major role in the financial crisis of 2008. Millions of consumers who could not really afford to buy a home were able to do so with subprime mortgages that had very low interest rates to start, but quickly rose to unaffordable levels. It created a wave of foreclosures that threatened to bring down the financial system.

      “Immediately following the recession, many lenders pulled back on subprime originations to control delinquency, Becker said. "As the economy recovered, lenders loosened their underwriting standards and allowed more subprime consumers greater access to credit."

      Now, says Becker, that trend may be changing. It's not clear, however, why it's happening. It could be a case of lenders turning down more consumers with challenged credit, or it could be a case of fewer consumers with low credit scores are attempting to borrow money.

      Big drop in personal loans

      The biggest decline can in subprime personal loan origination, which dropped 10.6% year-over-year. It was an abrupt reversal since, in the first quarter of 2016, subprime personal loans surged 11%.

      There was also a nearly 9% drop in subprime auto loans, after that sector had propelled a recent growth in auto sales. Subprime credit card origination dropped by a much smaller amount, 1.8%.

      Becker says a combination of factors may be discouraging subprime lending. After years of growth in subprime auto lending, he says lenders may be concerned about an uptick in auto loan delinquency.

      For consumers, getting out of the subprime category will not only improve chances of loan approval, it will also gain more favorable loan terms. Heather Battison, vice president of consumer communications for TransUnion, advises consumers to focus on improving their credit. Paying your bills on time, she says, is a good place to start.

      For the first time since 2012, lenders are making fewer subprime loans, according to a new report from TransUnion, one of the three credit reporting agenci...

      Five annoying things about air travel, and how to overcome them

      Travel pros offer some advice for staying sane at 30,000 feet

      Air travel isn't what it used to be. For one, it's a lot safer. For another, it can be a lot more annoying.

      The folks at Brandpoint surveyed a group of frequent flyers and came up with five major annoyances of modern air travel, along with suggestions for overcoming them.

      Noisy passengers

      If you're lucky, there isn't a crying baby within 12 rows of you. Even so, being on a crowded airplane can tax the auditory senses.

      The solution? A pair of noise-canceling headphones will dampen the surrounding sounds, help you focus on your work, more closely follow the plot of the movie you're watching, or even catch 40 winks. Best of all, they may discourage a chatty seatmate from trying to engage you in annoying conversation.

      Seat kickers

      After a screaming baby in the seat behind you, probably nothing is worse than a child who constantly kicks the back of your seat. It's made more jarring because you can't see the little seat-kicker and don't know when the next jolt is coming.

      Instead of taking your frustration out on the kid and his parents, travel pros suggest staying calm and asking the child's parents if they could help him avoid kicking your seat. Suggest putting a carry-on under the child's feet to create a foot rest. Be empathetic with the parents, not confrontational.

      Flight delays

      Sometimes the annoyances begin before you even board the aircraft. When you get the bad news that your flight will be delayed, just be glad you aren't already on board and sitting on the tarmac for a couple of extra hours.

      When faced with a delay, treat yourself to a cold beverage in an airport lounge, or grab one of those massage chairs on the concourse. Remember, it could be worse.

      Terrible Wi-Fi service

      Comedian Louis C.K. does a funny bit about an air traveler whining about the slow and unreliable internet speed on board the aircraft.

      "He's complaining about something he didn't know existed just 10 seconds ago," the comedian quipped on the Conan O'Brien Show.

      While it's true that airborne Wi-Fi can face some technical limitations now and then, the travel pros suggest downloading plenty of entertainment content on your laptop before you leave the ground.

      Cabin air

      Climate control can sometimes be an issue aboard an airliner, particularly when you're parked on the tarmac for a while. Brandpoint says airline air filtration systems are in the process of being upgraded, and are much improved.

      To increase comfort travel pros suggest selecting wardrobe carefully, wearing moisture-wicking active wear to keep things breathable in a warm environment.

      Air travel isn't what it used to be. For one, it's a lot safer. For another, it can be a lot more annoying.The folks at Brandpoint surveyed a group of...