Current Events in November 2018

Insecticides may do their job around the house, but they could also be causing a slew of health problems.

In an effort to protect consumers’ health, a group of researchers from the University of California-Davis is calling for the ban of several common insecticides, known as organophosphates. The researchers are most concerned for pregnant women, as the chemical has been linked to developmental issues in newborn babies following exposure.

“There is compelling evidence that exposure of pregnant women to very low levels of organophosphate pesticides is associated with lower IQs and difficulties with learning, memory, or attention in their children,” said the study’s lead author Irva Hertz-Picciotto.

No level is safe

In recent years, regulations were put on organophosphates to help limit consumers’ exposure to the chemical. However, the researchers found that even levels originally considered safe aren’t safe -- particularly for pregnant women.

The study found that even low-level exposure to the chemical had massive health implications on newborns. Organophosphates get rid of insects by targeting their central nervous systems, which may be why many babies are experiencing neurological issues.

“Acute poisoning is tragic, of course, however the studies we reviewed suggest that the effects of chronic, low-level exposures on brain functioning persist through childhood and into adolescence and may be lifelong, which is also tragic,” Hertz-Picciotto said.

Consumers can be exposed to organophosphates through the air, drinking water, or food, which is why the researchers are advocating for a ban and a push towards more organic insect killers. Additionally, they are calling on officials to monitor drinking water for any traces of organophosphate.

Until a ban is possible, the researchers are hoping consumers make the switch to less toxic products to reduce the levels of organophosphate in the air. They are also pushing education initiatives for both healthcare providers and agricultural workers so that workers handle the chemical responsibly and consumers who are exposed to the chemical receive the best treatment methods.

Dangerous side effects

The dangerous side effects that come from exposure to widely-used chemicals have been widely documented as of late.

Glyphosate, a chemical found in many weed killers, has been making headlines recently. Not only has exposure to the chemical been linked to shorter pregnancies, but Monsanto, an agricultural company that produces Roundup, a commonly used weed killer, has been embroiled in lawsuits for the better part of two years.

Most recently, the company was sued by Dewayne Johnson, a 46-year-old school groundskeeper who developed Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after exposure to glyphosate. Johnson is arguing that the chemical is behind is cancer diagnosis, and that Monsanto knew the chemical’s side effects but chose not to inform consumers.

Johnson was initially awarded $289 million in damages, until Judge Suzanne Bolanos voted to reduce the award amount by $211 million. Last week, Johnson agreed to accept the reduced settlement, leaving with a total near $78 million. Though Johnson accepted, Bayer -- Monsanto’s parent company -- is appealing the decision, as it is adamant that glyphosate does not cause cancer.

As dangerous as these chemicals are for humans, a recent study conducted by researchers at Cornell University found that consumers’ pets may also be affected. The study found that several popular dog and cat foods contain traces of glyphosate, though in doses that were considered to be safe for humans.

This was the first study of its kind, and the researchers were unable to determine any negative side effects that could impact the animals’ health over the long term.

To combat the “epidemic” of teen electronic cigarette use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to issue a ban on the sale of fruit and candy flavored e-cigarettes at convenience stores and gas stations, The Washington Post reports.

The ban -- which is expected to be announced by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb as soon as next week -- could hit Juul Labs the hardest, since it will mean that only tobacco, mint, and menthol flavors will be permitted to be sold at these stores.

In addition to restricting e-cigarette flavors, the FDA will introduce stricter age-verification requirements for online sales of e-cigarettes. The upcoming restrictions on flavors will not apply to vape shops or other specialty retail stores, officials said.

Surge in teen use

“E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous ‒ and dangerous ‒ trend among teens,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in September. “The disturbing and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the resulting path to addiction, must end. It’s simply not tolerable.”

The agency’s move to restrict e-cigarette flavors follows its warning to Juul and other top e-cigarette manufacturers to disclose their proposed steps to curb use among youth within 60 days.

Sales of Juul vaping devices surged from 2.2 million in 2016 to 16.2 million last year, according to the CDC. The products are especially attractive to minors because they come in flavors such as mango, mint, and fruit and creme (previously called creme brulee).

A recent study found that Juul’s Twitter account has amassed a large number of teen followers, many of whom regularly spread the brand’s messages.

Gottlieb has said that protecting children from tobacco-related disease is his first priority, and addressing the surge in underage e-cigarette use is crucial to achieving that goal. Research has shown that many e-cigarette users go on to become addicted to nicotine and will likely end up using regular cigarettes. Additionally, the health risks of e-cigarettes are still being studied.

“In order to firmly confront and reverse these trends – and fulfill the central premise of our public health mandate – we may need to take actions that might narrow the off-ramp from smoking for adults in order to close the on-ramp to nicotine addiction to kids,” Gottlieb said last month.

It’s not April Fools Day, right?

Then, why is MoviePass sending out an email to its customers saying that the company’s marketing department is now being run by a… dog?

MoviePass sent out a note on Thursday to its dwindling email list, saying "Woof! I’m Chloe, the Director of Barketing at MoviePass. I’d like to explain why from time to time you may have had a "ruff" experience with us but it turns out that I’m a dog and I can’t talk."

"What I do know is that I see these humans working like crazy to make MoviePass better and better for you as fast as possible. They are so grateful for your membership and support while they work it out. We’re listening. We’re learning. We’re changing."

Well, Chloe, your "humans" need to work a little harder and a lot faster.

Between jerking customers around with plan changes, trying to 'restore' users’ accounts without permission, an investigation for fraud, borrowing $5 million to keep the company afloat, and racking up hundreds of millions in losses quarter after quarter, 2018 is indeed "the year of the dog" at MoviePass.

Holding out hope?

Psychoanalysis aside, MoviePass’ perky "barketing" seems like just another deflection to keep subscribers, investors, and the legal world distracted.

But, the company may have too much invested in developing and releasing movies to pull down the shade, yet. It could be holding out hope that one of its new releases -- like the sports flick "In Search of Greatness," "The Irishman” with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, or any of the 12-15 movies it wants to produce and/or release every year -- hits big at the box office and reverses the company’s fortunes.

"We have envisioned owning and developing our own studio content and using the power of our several million subscribers to bolster the success of the box office for our films," MoviePass’ CEO Mitch Lowe told Forbes earlier this year.

"I believe MoviePass Films will accelerate those efforts and demonstrate the power of MoviePass to drive movie theater attendance and downstream sales, for the benefit of moviegoers, movie theaters, studios and the film entertainment ecosystem as a whole."

Lowe has the credentials -- as a Netflix co-founder and president at Redbox -- to run the company, but MoviePass’ parent, Helios and Matheson (HMNY), isn’t helping matters.

HMNY’s track record runs toward deplorable. Accusations of pump-and-dump schemes and claims that its technology division (HMIT) defrauded thousands in the company’s home country of India do little to keep a positive spin on the company’s perception, no matter how many box office smashes MoviePass churns out.

It seems ironic that hospitals, where you go to improve your health, can also be dangerous places.

A recent study in the British Medical Journal finds medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the U.S. The latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades assessed more than 2,600 hospitals across the country and concludes that serious harm and even death from medical errors remain a threat.

The report, which is reviewed by a national expert panel and receives guidance from the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality at Johns Hopkins Medicine, assigns traditional letter grades to hospitals based on the incidence of medical mistakes.

In the latest accounting, about one-third of states have hospitals that received A’s. The five states with the highest percentage of A-rated hospitals are New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Texas.

The states with the with the lowest percentage of A-rated hospitals are Connecticut, Nebraska, Washington, D.C., Delaware, and North Dakota.

Health care as a political issue

The study authors linked a state's performance with how it typically votes politically and found there was little correlation.

"Health care was an important issue in the 2018 midterm elections, yet both parties are still neglecting the third leading cause of death in America—errors and infections in hospitals," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "Every elected official, from city councilors to senators, to the president, should hold hospitals accountable and support efforts to improve patient safety."

Hospital patients can be at risk from mistakes in medication as well as infections. A 2017 study by researchers from Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute of Patient Safety found ways to reduce infections from ventilators, one of the most common forms.

"These complications prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation, and they keep patients in the hospital longer," Dr. Sean Berenholtz said at the time. "This, in turn, leads to higher complications, higher mortality, higher lengths of stay and higher costs. So decreasing these complications is a national priority and helps our patients recover sooner."

While a third of the hospitals in the most recent Leapfrog Group study received top scores, 24 percent earned Bs and 37 percent scored a C. Fortunately, just 6 percent were rated D and fewer than 1 percent received a failing grade.

The hospitals that received F ratings are located in California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Carolina. There are no A-rated hospitals in Delaware, North Dakota, or Washington, DC.

Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart stores, continues to get smaller.

The company has announced it is closing an additional 40 stores by early 2019. That's in addition to the 142 unprofitable stores it expects to close before the end of this year.

The venerable retailer filed for bankruptcy protection last month after shrinking its footprint to just 700 stores. The footprint will get smaller, however, as the company desperately seeks additional capital to stay afloat while it shops around for a potential buyer.

To date, most of the financial support has come from ESL Investments, the hedge fund headed by Sears Chairman Eddie Lampert. ESL has already come through with $300 million in cash infusions and bankruptcy documents show Sears is in talks with ESL to double that.

According to CNBC, talks with ESL have broken down and the company is now looking for alternative financing. That likely was a contributing factor to closing the 40 additional stores. The liquidation of the additional stores is expected to be completed by the end of February.

Trouble stems from two factors

Sears Holdings’ problems have been years in the making and stem from two factors -- declining brick and mortar sales and rising debt. In 2016, Sears Holdings announced it would turn things around by getting smaller, a strategy that has failed to yield results.

At the same time, Black Friday is approaching so it's still business as usual. The retailer has rolled out plans to compete for what is expected to be record holiday spending. The company has announced Sears and Kmart Thanksgiving/Black Friday doorbuster deals.

Sears will have special deals on Craftsman Tools -- the brand it sold years ago in an effort to raise cash -- and many of the toys found at Kmart.

"It has been very humbling to see the outpouring of love and support from across the country and our 'Thanks for the Love' social media campaign reflects that," said Peter Boutros, chief brand officer for Sears and Kmart.

Despite the continued bad news, Boutros says he remains optimistic about the company's prospects during the upcoming holiday season.

Holiday shoppers should have a little more money in their pockets this month because they're spending less on gasoline. The combination of soft oil prices and week gasoline demand provided some relief at the gas pump this week.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.72 a gallon, down six cents from last Friday and 18 cents cheaper than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.29 a gallon, also down six cents in the last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.26, down two cents from seven days ago.

AAA says the winter lull in gasoline demand appears to be arriving sooner than expected. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that gasoline demand fell to 9.1 million barrels a day last week, down 160,000 from the previous week. It was down 400,000 barrels a day from the same week in 2017.

Prices could go lower

"If demand continues to trend at this rate or drops even lower, American motorists will likely see gas prices continue to fall," AAA said in its latest market update.

Both the high-priced West Coast and low-priced Southeast markets saw declines in gasoline prices, but one of the biggest turnarounds occurred in the Midwest. In Ohio, the statewide average price of regular plunged 11 cents a gallon in the last seven days, making it the eighth-cheapest state for fuel.

But gasoline prices could be headed higher in neighboring Michigan. GasBuddy's Patrick DeHaan says Michigan Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer has signaled support for raising the state's gasoline tax.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.91)

• California ($3.73)

• Washington ($3.49)

• Alaska ($3.36)

• Oregon ($3.31)

• Nevada ($3.26)

• Idaho ($3.09)

• Utah ($2.99)

• Montana ($2.95)

• Connecticut ($2.94)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

These states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas, the survey found:

• Missouri ($2.42)

• South Carolina ($2.43)

• Oklahoma ($2.44)

• Texas ($2.44)

• Louisiana ($2.45)

• Alabama ($2.46)

• Mississippi ($2.47)

• Ohio ($2.47)

• Arkansas ($2.48)

• Virginia ($2.49)

Kubota Tractor Corporation of Grapevine, Texas, is recalling about 121,000 Kubota zero turn mowers, compact tractors, and ride-on mowers.

Hot coolant can spray out from the overheated and pressurized coolant reservoir tank, posing a burn hazard.

The firm has received three reports of burn injuries from coolant ejecting.

This recall involves model year 2014 to 2018 Kubota with model numbers BX, GR, ZD and ZG, diesel and gasoline-powered zero turn mowers, compact tractors, and ride-on mowers.

The model number is printed on the side of the unit. Kubota is printed on the side of the mowers and tractors. The data plate has the serial number and is also located on the side of the unit.

Recalled units are orange and black.

The mowers and tractors, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Kubota dealers nationwide from July 2014, through September 2018, for between $5,000 and $35,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled mowers and compact tractors and contact Kubota to receive a free replacement coolant reservoir tank cap. Kubota is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact Kubota toll-free at (888) 458-2682 (888-4KUBOTA) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday or online at www.kubotausa.com and click on Service & Support at the top of the page, then Safety, then Safety Notices for more information.

Sprout Creek Farm of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is recalling 132 wheels of "Margie" cheese that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product, consisting of 132 wheels, was distributed to the following locations, which have all been notified of the recall and instructed to dispose of the cheese:

The product being recalled is a soft, white rind, cow's milk cheese packaged with a green round label and wrapped in white milk paper in one pound wheels. It can be identified with the lot number make date of 10-9-18 and best by dates of 12-9-18.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should dispose of it immediately.

Consumers with questions may call Sister Margo Morris at Sprout Creek Farm at (845) 485-8438 from 9:00am – 5:00pm, Monday - Friday.

Walmart has taken the wraps off its plans for Black Friday deals, publishing its ad in hopes that shoppers will add those items to their shopping lists.

The retailer has also introduced 18 Black Friday deals that are available starting today online. Those deals include an RCA 65-inch Class 4K Ultra HD LED TV for $399, marked down from $899. They also include a Lenovo IdeaPad 330s 15.6" Laptop with Windows 10 and an Intel processor, for $349. The regular price is $499.

The Black Friday Ad slick shows a 65-inch 4K Roku smart TV for $398; a Hisense 40-inch HDTV for $99; an iPhone 6 on the Straight Talk wireless plan for $99; a Sony PlayStation 4 1TB Slim with the Spiderman bundle for $199; and the Google Home Hub for $99, a $50 savings.

The company has also revealed additional details about how it plans to entice consumers on the big shopping day. Black Friday deals will go live on Walmart.com at 10 p.m. ET on Nov. 21. , two hours earlier than last year.

In-store parties for customers

On Nov. 22, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. local time, Walmart stores will throw special Black Friday parties for customers. Once the party ends, in-store events get underway with new tools to make it easier to shop.

Earlier this month, Walmart announced it would station cashiers throughout the stores who will be able to check out shoppers without them having to stand in line.

“There really is no bigger or better day of the year than Black Friday; that’s why we are pulling out all the stops to make it a great night for our customers,” said Steve Bratspies, chief merchandising officer, Walmart U.S. “We’re more confident than ever that our customers will find incredible prices on everything on their holiday wish list at Walmart."

Retailers like Walmart are going all-out this year because more may be at stake. With low unemployment and a growing economy, retail analysts expect consumers will significantly move the needle on retail spending. Some estimates suggest spending could reach $1 trillion for the first time.

Target outlines its plans

Earlier this month, Target revealed some of its Black Friday promotions, including roving associates with portable checkout scanners who can help customers skip long checkout lines.

Target has also published its Black Friday ad slick with deals, which include more than 15 TVs under $300 and the lowest price ever on an Element 55” Smart UHD TV -- $199.99. It also promises the lowest price on popular video games such as Madden 19, Destiny 2, NBA 2K19, and FIFA 19.

Target says its Black Friday deals will go live early in the morning of Thanksgiving on Target.com. For consumers who prefer in-store shopping, stores will be open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving until 1 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 23. Stores will open again on Friday morning at 7 a.m.

The American Psychiatric Association recently published a study that explored the trends of college students’ mental health.

While the study hits on several different areas, the researchers found that over the course of the last year, the number of mental health-related diagnoses and treatments among college students has increased, and public perception has improved.

Over the last decade, the overall numbers are even more telling. Both counseling and use of medication have gone up from 19 to 34 percent, while overall diagnoses increased from 22 to 36 percent.

Though those numbers appear to be on the rise, the researchers also tested public and personal perception, as well as stigmas associated with mental health treatments. The researchers had participants respond to statements gauging their positive or negative connotation regarding either their own or someone else’s mental health treatments.

Over the same time span, perceived stigma went down from 64 to 46 percent, while personal stigma was down from 11 percent to 6 percent.

The researchers found the numbers to most affect counseling centers, which often struggle with having enough personnel to help everyone in need. While expanding resources is of the utmost importance, the researchers are also looking to increase “preventive and digital mental health services, such as those delivered via mobile apps.”

Mental health numbers on the rise

A recent study confirmed that mental health diagnoses are on the rise among college students. Researchers from Columbia University found that over one-third of college students in eight industrialized countries were found to have a mental health disorder.

Like the researchers from the American Psychiatric Association, the Columbia team echoed that many clinics are understaffed and are looking to incorporate mobile treatments in an effort to help more students in need.

Recent research has shown that children are being treated for mental health disorders at an alarming rate across the country.

With over 17 million children affected nationwide, mental health disorders have become one of the leading pediatric illnesses. Between 2012 and 2016, nearly 294,000 children received a mental health diagnosis, and children from low-income neighborhoods were affected disproportionately.

Moreover, researchers have found that anxiety sufferers could be triggered by smartphones, lack of sleep, or even the upcoming holidays. Educating children and assuring them that their feelings are normal is a key step in helping reducing anxiety.

Physical activity has also been found to help with bot anxiety and depression, as it allows younger kids the chance to clear their minds and focus on activity.

Postpartum depression affects roughly one in nine women nationwide. Symptoms and treatment may differ between women, but the effects can be lingering and powerful.

As more researchers look for ways to inform women of potential risks, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Kent found that women who give birth to baby boys are at a greater risk of developing the condition.

“The finding that having a baby boy or a difficult birth increases a woman’s risk gives health practitioners two new and easy ways to identify women who would particularly benefit from additional support in the first few weeks and months,” said researcher Dr. Sarah Johns.

Importance of support

The researchers studied medical records from nearly 300 women to study risk factors associated with developing postpartum depression.

The two biggest findings were that women who gave birth to baby boys were at an increased risk of developing postpartum depression, as were women who experienced difficulties while giving birth. Mothers who had baby boys were anywhere from 71 to 79 percent more likely to have postnatal depression, whereas women that experienced birthing complications were 174 percent more likely to develop postnatal depression.

The researchers also examined the ways that women with a history of mental health or anxiety disorders fared after giving birth, and how preventative measures could be beneficial in identifying and treating postnatal depression.

The study found that though these women are typically at a higher risk for developing postnatal depression, upon experiencing birthing difficulties, they were less likely to experience depressive symptoms than other women with a similar experience.

“Postnatal depression is a condition that is avoidable, and it has been shown that giving women at risk extra help and support can make it less likely to develop,” Dr. Johns said.

Associated risks

Previous studies have explored the various risk factors associated with postpartum depression, but this most recent study shows that treatment is still possible for the condition.

A study conducted by researchers from the University of San Francisco found that fewer hours of daylight can contribute to an increased risk of developing postpartum depression. The study concluded that women who are in their third trimesters during the darker months of the year, and seeing fewer daylight hours, are more likely to experience postpartum depression.

However, the researchers suggest creative ways for pregnant women to incorporate natural light into their day-to-day routines. Taking daily walks during daylight hours can help prevent postpartum depression, as can utilizing light boxes and spending time outdoors.

Another study found that women who incorporate fruit-based supplements that have amino acids and antioxidants into their daily routine were better able to ward off postpartum symptoms in the first days after birth.

Over time, the regimen was found to be successful in lowering many women’s risk of developing postpartum depression and keeping mood boosted.

Comcast is developing a video-streaming set-top box for broadband-only customers that would be available sometime in 2019, CNBC reports.

The set-top box will have a voice-activated remote control, similar to devices from Apple and Amazon, according to a source familiar with the matter. The box will aggregate offerings from online streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Prime and YouTube into a single place.

Executives haven’t decided on the final number of apps and services that will be made available through the product, nor have they decided on a monthly price for the service. Comcast’s new product won’t have cable TV, but it will give users option to rent movies and shows.

Comcast also wants the set-top box to serve as a smart home hub for its internet-only customers. The upcoming box would enable users to control things like thermostats, smart-locks, and anything else that is connected to the internet.

News of the company’s planned hardware follows a recent report showing that more than a million consumers ditched their traditional TV subscription in the third quarter.

Comcast announced last month that it added 334,000 residential broadband subscribers in third quarter. The company currently has about 25 million home broadband customers.

Ford announced Thursday that it purchased Spin, a San Francisco-based scooter-sharing startup, as part of a larger strategy to expand its last mile transportation options and tap into the growing “micro-mobility” business.

The acquisition was initially reported to be worth $40 million, but multiple sources told Axios more recently that the deal is worth close to $100 million.

Spin rents its “dockless” scooters for a $1 flat rate in addition to charging 15 cents per minute, the same as its competitors Bird and Lime. The startup is currently permitted to operate in nine cities and on five college campuses across the U.S. It aims to be in 100 markets over the next 18 months.

Consumer desire

Spin plans to launch in the following cities by the end of 2018: Washington, D.C.; Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Durham, North Carolina, as well as nearby Duke University; and Towson University in Maryland. The scooters will be distributed in Detroit on Thursday.

“Living in California, I’ve seen firsthand the electric scooter trend unfold and when I finally took a spin to try them out, I understood why they’re so popular,” Sunny Madra, vice president, Ford X, told the Detroit Free Press.

“We are excited to work with the Spin team. The fast-paced, often experimental mobility sector requires businesses to keep up with agile and adaptable customers — and that’s what we intend to do.”

Madra noted that data from transportation research firm Populus showed that half of all trips in the U.S. are three miles or less.

"Some of the leading companies in this space were getting upwards of 10 million rides in less than a year," Madra told CNBC. "And if you compare that to the most disruptive transportation company in the last 10 years, being Uber, it took them three years to get to get the same level of usage. So it became obvious there was consumer desire in this space."

News of Ford’s acquisition follows General Motors’ announcement last week that it will sell electric bikes next year. Daimler said recently that it will launch a scooter-sharing pilot in a Southern European city this year with plans to expand into Germany in 2019. Last week, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said his company is considering making an electric bike.

Getting the best price on a used car depends a lot on the car and your negotiating skills. But getting the best value can mean knowing where to look.

Online automotive marketplace Autotrader has compiled a list of the best November offers on certified pre-owned (CPO) cars, which are late-model used cars that carry renewed or extended warranties from the manufacturer and special financing terms.

Finding a good deal on a used car can be important for consumers since the price of new vehicles continues to go up, despite a recent slowdown in new car sales. Kelley Blue Book recently reported the average transaction price for a new car or truck in October rose above $37,000.

"For consumers looking to save even more on their car purchase, certified pre-owned vehicles can be a great option," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. "CPO vehicles undergo thorough inspections, come with warranty coverage and often have low mileage. The savings on the car purchase can be particularly helpful at a time of year when spending on other items goes up."

The average transaction price on used cars is significantly lower than $37,000, so smart shoppers can often find a car loaded with options for thousands less than if they bought the same vehicle new.

For November, here's where you may find good values:

Your Cadillac dealer

Cadillac's certified pre-owned program offers six years or 100,000 miles of comprehensive coverage, and this month the company is offering an attractive incentive on CPO versions of its Escalade and its SRX.

Actually, the deal runs through the end of the year. Qualified buyers can purchase both models with 2.9 percent interest for up to 36 months, an exceptionally-low rate for used vehicles.

Your Ford dealer

Ford's certified pre-owned program has a similar end-of-the-year offer in its CPO program. Qualified buyers can get 3.99 percent interest on all CPO Ford models for up to 60 months. Even with the higher interest rate than offered by Cadillac, the longer term payment plan will result in a lower monthly payment.

Ford's warranty offers seven years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage from the original sale date, and the CPO program provides extended comprehensive coverage.

Your Honda dealer

Honda's CPO program boasts two warranties: powertrain coverage that lasts for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date, and limited bumper-to-bumper protection that adds an additional year of warranty coverage.

This month, qualified purchases of a CPO vehicle can get 1.99 percent interest for up to 36 months on certain Honda models.

Your Nissan dealer

Nissan's certified pre-owned program offers excellent powertrain coverage, boasting a warranty that lasts for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date.

Throughout November, Nissan is combining the Altima and Rogue with its CPO program and is offering a special financing incentive. Qualified buyers who select an Altima or Rogue in the CPO program can get 2.99 percent financing for up to 60 months.

The program also offers solid powertrain coverage that includes a warranty that lasts seven years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date. Since most CPO vehicles are three-years-old or less, buyers enjoy several years of extended coverage.

In addition to these four manufacturers, Autotrader says Lexus, Mazda, Subaru, and Volkswagen are also offering special deals this month. You'll find complete details here.

Voters in two states carried by President Trump in 2016 passed referendums Tuesday raising the minimum wage for workers in those states.

In Missouri, voters approved a ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage within the state from $7.85 per hour to $12 by 2023. Under the measure, the minimum wage will rise gradually over that five year period.

In neighboring Arkansas, the current $8.50 an hour minimum wage will rise to $11 an hour by 2021. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) estimates that will affect at least 300,000 workers.

In Missouri, voters approved the minimum wage ballot question by a margin of 62 percent to 38 percent. In Arkansas, voters approved the higher minimum wage by an even wider margin, 68 percent to 32 percent.

“Across the board, voters responded to a progressive agenda that included key worker issues such as expanded health care access, higher minimum wages, and fair elections," said Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project. “That platform propelled a historically diverse group of candidates – including a record number of women – to victory in states from Maine to Utah.”

Owens said she expects the new Democratic-led House will push for a $15 minimum wage and advocate other measures to protect workers and improve jobs.

'Overwhelming' vote

She notes the votes in Missouri and Arkansas to raise the minimum wage were "overwhelming" and that voters in other states approved measures to make life better for workers.

“At the state level, with new governors or legislative leadership in states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Maine, and New York, we expect to see new action on working-family issues like the minimum wage, overtime pay, and earned sick days – and on vital democracy reforms," Owens said.

For the first time, higher minimum wages appear to be gaining traction within both the Democratic and Republican parties. Incomes have stagnated since the Great Recession, particularly among low and middle-income workers. At the same time, executive salaries have risen dramatically.

Exit polls in Tuesday's election showed both Republican and Democratic voters believe the current federal $7.25 an hour minimum wage should be higher.

Less than a year after a self-driving Uber struck and killed a woman in Arizona, the company is vying to bring its experimental test cars back to public roads.

Uber is reportedly applying to restart its self-driving car tests in Pittsburgh. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has until November 13 to decide on the application. According to local news reports, the state may issue a requirement that the cars go no faster 25 mph.

In an interview with The Washington Post, Uber executive Noah Zych said that the company hopes to regain the public’s trust by placing two human backup drivers in each test vehicle.

“Our goal is to really work to regain that trust and to work to help move the entire industry forward,” Zych told the Post. “We think the right thing to do is to be open and transparent about the things that we are doing.”

A fatal accident and previous missteps

In February, a test Uber in self-driving mode hit 49-year-old Elaine Herzberg as she walked her bike across the street in Tempe, Arizona. Though local police initially tried to pin blame for the fatal crash on Herzberg, a May review by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that Uber’s technology failed to brake for her because company engineers had disabled the cars’ automatic emergency braking system.

When the Uber initially “saw” Herzberg, its technology determined that she was an object, not a pedestrian. Just 1.3 seconds before the crash, the car then determined that “an emergency braking maneuver was needed to mitigate a collision.” But with no emergency braking system functioning, the car plowed forward. Only after the impact did the test driver begin to brake.

Concerns were raised about the safety of Uber’s self-driving technology even before the fatal crash. Last year, cyclists in California said that Uber’s test cars were not ready for public streets. And witnesses last year also caught a self-driving Uber running a red light in San Francisco. Uber initially blamed its test driver, but a report by the New York Times showed evidence that the car was in self-driving mode at the time.

The nine largest traditional TV providers lost about 1.1 million subscribers between July and September 2018, according to research firm MoffetNathanson.

The latest figure represents another staggering quarterly subscriber loss for cable and satellite TV providers.

Satellite services DirecTV and Dish Network lost the most subscribers last quarter, accounting for two-thirds of the industry losses. Dish lost 367,000 customers -- its highest quarterly loss ever. DirecTV lost a net 297,000 subscribers during the quarter.

Cord cutting accelerates

In August, MoffettNathanson said the rate at which consumers were canceling their pay TV subscriptions appeared to be dropping. The firm found that pay TV subscriptions declined by 3.3 percent in Q2, a one-tenth of a percentage point improvement over the prior year.

However, the latest tally suggests the trend of cord cutting isn’t slowing down at all. Rich Greenfield, a media and technology analyst with financial services firm BTIG in New York, said the last quarter was TV’s “third-worst quarter in industry history and worst since Q2 2016."

The 1.1 million figure doesn’t account for live TV streaming services such as Dish’s Sling TV, AT&T’s DirecTV Now, Hulu with Live TV, and YouTube TV. But streaming alternatives haven’t reported growth high enough to offset subscriber losses to traditional TV, partially due to competition from other digital live TV alternatives such as Google's YouTube TV, Sony's PlayStation Vue and Fubo TV and non-live TV alternatives like Amazon and Netflix.

Analysts at MoffetNathanson said slowing growth for DirecTV Now and Sling TV could suggest "price sensitivity" of broadband-delivered TV services may be "turning out to be greater than expected" after several of the services raised their prices.