Current Events in January 2019

For many consumers, the summer months are filled with scratching bumpy, red mosquito bites.

While annoying -- and itchy -- mosquito bites can also carry diseases. According to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Arizona, over 500 million people around the globe are affected by mosquito-transmitted diseases, including West Nile Virus, malaria, Zika, and Dengue Fever.

To help combat this troublesome issue, researchers discovered a protein in mosquitoes that is responsible for creating new eggs. When it’s blocked, the result is very similar to the way human birth control works for women.

Over time, the researchers believe this method can be environmentally friendly, while also protecting populations that are plagued by mosquito-transmitted diseases.

Testing DNA

The researchers began by break down mosquitoes’ DNA in order to discover genes that were unique to the insects. The group identified 40 potential genes to target and tested each one individually by injecting RNA interference molecules into female mosquitoes before their first blood meal.

“We specifically looked for genes that were unique to mosquitoes and then tested for their functional role in eggshell synthesis,” said lead researcher Jun Isoe.

If successful, the injection would work to suppress the protein, and ultimately serve as mosquito birth control. The insects would no longer be able to properly create new eggs and reproduce, which would benefit regions where diseases transmitted by mosquitoes are particularly high.

One protein was found to get the job done -- the Eggshell Organizing Factor 1 (EOF-1). When targeted, the mosquitoes were unable to produce any healthy offspring, as any remaining embryos were killed and new eggs couldn’t be formed.

The researchers were also pleased to find out that the injection lasted long-term. The effects from the initial injection lasted for the entirety of the mosquitoes’ two to three-week lifespans, which researcher Roger Miesfeld called a “very attractive target for drugs.”

“We think this strategy may have a much lower chance of harming other organisms than what is being used today,” Miesfeld said. “Since the days of DDT, we have known that mosquito population control works to reduce the incidence of human disease. This could be a next-generation tool that could be applied to bed nets and other areas frequented by mosquitoes.”

Another added bonus was that this new method wouldn’t harm any other insects, like many chemicals often do. It would go right to the source -- hitting the mosquito population and reducing the number of infected humans.

Fighting disease

In another recent attempt to keep consumers’ safe from disease-carrying mosquitoes, researchers developed a unique vaccine at the end of last year that would attack the malaria virus from the inside out.

The group created a transmission-blocking vaccine (TBV), in which a human that received the vaccine would transfer the anti-malaria drug to the mosquito that bites them.

The vaccine wouldn’t be a cure-all and would still need to be used in combination with bed nets, insecticides, anti-parasitic drugs, and other vaccines, but the researchers were confident in the results from the early tests.

“Malaria is a global problem,” said lead author Dr. Jonathan Lovell. “This approach -- using a transmission-blocking vaccine -- could be part of a suite of tools that we use to tackle the disease.”

Grand Strand Sandwich is recalling Lunch Box Italian Subs, Lunch Box Ham & Swiss Croissants and Lunch Box Ham & Cheese Frozen Wedges.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The following products, packaged in clear plastic, are being recalled:

The products were sold between December 17, 2018, through January 4, 2019, primarily in convenience stores and vending machines in North Carolina and South Carolina.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or discard them.

Consumers with questions may contact Kirk McCumbee at (843) 399-2999 Monday – Thursday, 8AM - 4PM, and Friday from 8AM - 3PM (EST).

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 516 model year 2018 Volkswagen Golf R vehicles.

The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak in the engine compartment can increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin December 20, 2018.

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

Oskri Organics Corporation of Lake Mills, Wis., is recalling Oskri Organic Sunflower Butter, Oskri Tahini Butter and Thrive Sunflower Butter.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

• Two Jars of Oskri Organic Sunflower Butter (LOT #099, UPC 666016401295) were sold through retail stores in Ohio.
• Oskri Tahini Butter (LOT # 193, UPC 666016401301) was sold through retail stores or direct delivery from internet sales in California, Arizona, Georgia, Connecticut, Indiana, Texas, Florida, Idaho, South Carolina and new Hampshire.
• Thrive Sunflower Butter (LOT # 233, UPC 671635704825) was sold through direct delivery from internet sales in Indiana.

The recalled product comes in plastic 16-oz. jars, with the LOT Number either on the top or bottom of the jar near the expiration date. Oskri Organic Sunflower Butter is greenish-khaki color (expiration 10-2019). Oskri Tahini Butter is a light tan color (expiration 1-2020) and the Thrive Sunflower Butter is greenish khaki color (expiration 2-2020).

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should discard them.

Consumers with questions may contact Oskri at (920) 648-8300 Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm., or by email at info@oskri.com.

If you’re planning a winter getaway to one of the U.S.’ national parks, you might want to double-check whether the park is actually open or not.

The U.S. government’s shutdown is causing issues for consumers all across the board -- from electronics consumers buy to recipients of food aid -- but the " the Blackberry Inn’s Steve McCorkle told travel industry documenter Skift. "It is getting more and more difficult to operate a hospitality business in this area, and others, I’m sure."

Typically this time of year, places like the Blackberry Inn Bed and Breakfast, neighboring California’s Yosemite National Park, would be busy taking reservations for when it reopens in March. Now, as the shutdown creeps closer to a third week, and many parks are left with reduced means, the Blackberry can only hope Yosemite will be back up to full speed and fully accessible to tourists come that time.

"The phones are not ringing, the email inquiries not there in the mornings and the reservations for 2019 are not coming in as expected," the Blackberry Inn’s Steve McCorkle told travel industry documenter Skift. "It is getting more and more difficult to operate a hospitality business in this area, and others, I’m sure."

A 100-million-dollar-a-day-hit

The U.S. Travel Association reports that the shutdown is taking a toll on travel-related services to the tune of $100 million each day it’s in effect. That $100 million includes nearly $50 million in direct domestic travel spending, plus over $50 million in indirect and induced travel-related output.

Out of that figure, the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA) estimates that the Park Service is losing $400,000 per day from entrance fee revenue alone. The National Park Service (NPS) reported that several states, private concession companies, and nonprofit groups ponied up to $2 million in donations and in-kind services to help some 40-odd parks continue to provide essential visitor services, but that barely made a dent.

Proceed with caution

The grizzly bears and elk aren’t roaming amok, but "many national park sites are experiencing problems with human waste in open areas, along roads and at overflowing toilets, a serious concern for human health as well as wildlife health," the NCPA wrote in a blog post.

"Increased waste and litter; dog-walking, parking and camping in unpermitted areas; and the unauthorized use of drones have threatened wildlife and habitat in some parks. And because of the lack of park staff to educate visitors and supervise operations, visitors are driving, hiking, using off-road vehicles, parking and camping in areas where these activities are not permitted. These activities create unsafe conditions for people, wildlife, plants and park resources. Additionally, the lack of personnel increases the risk of vandalism to historically important sites."

Smart to press pause on travel plans?

ConsumerAffairs reached out to Hannah Sampson, Senior Enterprise Editor at Skift, to dig deeper into what other travel-related issues the shutdown might cause.

"While many travelers who had plans to visit national parks and Washington, D.C. during the holiday break likely went through with their trips, it wouldn't surprise me to find people putting off plans to go to those destinations in the near future, given the uncertainty that still surrounds the shutdown," Sampson told Consumer Affairs.

"Coverage of waste-ridden scenes at some popular parks, as well as reports of injuries and deaths, may keep travelers away in the near term. And confusion over which parks are open, closed or something in between won't help circumstances."

And, let’s not forget the shutdown’s effect on air travel. Sampson said that "as air traffic controllers, TSA inspectors, and pilot unions warn about safety concerns due to the shutdown, the impact is likely to resonate with a much broader swath of travelers. The warnings are unsettling; who wants to fly with that extra worry in the back of their mind?"

If you have travel plans that include a national park, the NPS recommends that you check in with the National Park Service for updates on parks and sites you plan on visiting.

Lawyers representing Sears Holdings told a bankruptcy judge Tuesday that former CEO Eddie Lampert’s bid to buy the assets wasn’t adequate and said it wants to proceed with plans to liquidate, according to several published reports.

It would bring an end to a retail name that goes back to 1893. It also closes the curtain on Kmart, which is owned by Sears Holdings. Under the plan the remaining Sears and Kmart stores would close, meaning about 68,000 employees would lose their jobs.

Before the stores close, however, the company is expected to liquidate current inventory by drastically slashing prices. Sears stock is trading at 22 cents a share on the New York Stock Exchange.

Former Sears CEO Eddie Lampert, through a hedge fund he controls, attempted to rescue the venerable retailer, bidding $4.4 billion for the firm, which declared bankruptcy in October. Even though no other bidders stepped forward, Sears Holdings’ board decided the offer wasn’t good enough since nearly a quarter of it was in the form of debt forgiveness.

Lampert still trying

Lampert’s lawyers were in court to argue his offer was the only way to keep Sears in business. If the court sides with Sears, the company will go ahead with a scheduled auction of company assets January 14.

Sears and Kmart have been undergoing a slow collapse over the last decade as more retail sales have moved to online channels. Even as Sears’ brick and mortar competitors established effective e-commerce operations Sears -- a pioneer in catalog sales -- failed to do so.

The hemorrhaging picked up speed in the third quarter of 2016 when the company reported a net loss of $748 million, almost double what it lost in the same quarter a year earlier. The company responded by closing unprofitable stores.

The only problem was, there were a lot of them. At one point the following year, it opened one new store but closed 20 others. Store closings continued throughout 2017 and 2018, with Sears Holdings declaring bankruptcy in mid-October 2018.

Reuters reports the negotiations between Lampert and the company broke down over the structure of his bid, as well as the former CEO’s request to not be held liable for actions he took while servicing as the company’s chief executive.

Sears, Roebuck, and Company, began as a mail order retail company, the late 19th century’s version of Amazon.com. It began opening retail stores in 1925.

A lot of factors go into setting a consumer’s insurance rate but California officials say rates should mostly rest on the consumer’s driving record, not other things they can’t control.

The California Insurance Commission has issued new rules that bar insurance companies from using a policyholder’s sex to determine their rates. The state already prohibits insurance companies from using credit scores to influence a consumer’s rate.

“My priority as insurance commissioner is to protect all California consumers, and these regulations ensure that auto insurance rates are based on factors within a driver’s control, rather than personal characteristics over which drivers have no control,” said California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.

The rules, which took effect in early January, bring car insurance rates into line with provisions of Proposition 103, which was approved by California voters. That proposition prohibits unfair and discriminatory prices. It orders insurance companies to set rates based upon a consumer’s driving record.

Has no bearing on safety

The new rules were applauded by the consumer group Consumer Watchdog.

“Gender and sex have no more place in what we pay for auto insurance than race or ethnicity do,” said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. “These new rules will finally end gender-based discrimination in auto insurance pricing in California.”

The state’s Proposition 103 requires car insurance premiums to be based primarily on factors that a consumer can control. Legitimate factors include the consumer’s driving record, the number of miles they drive, and how many years they’ve had a license. It strictly applies California’s civil rights laws to insurance, banning the use of sex, race, or sexual orientation to determine what a consumer pays for insurance.

It’s a common belief that insurance companies always charge male drivers more than females for insurance, but a Consumer Federation of America (CFA) study suggests that is not always the case.

Different companies had different policies

CFA has reported that, in some markets, one insurance company would give a break on rates to a female driver while another insurance provider, in the same state, would charge a female customer more.

According to Consumer Watchdog, Geico often classifies women drivers as a higher risk. At the same time, studies have shown that State Farm usually treats men and women the same.

The California Department of Insurance found that gender’s effect on insurance rates previously tended to vary widely by geographic location.

An analysis by researchers at security firm Trend Micro recently revealed that a total of 85 apps on the Google Play store were guilty of including full-screen ads, hidden ads, and ads running in the background to siphon money out of users.

The researchers said the deceptive apps, which included dozens of popular games and TV and remote control simulators, were downloaded at least 9 million times around the world.

“This adware is capable of displaying full-screen ads, hiding itself, monitoring a device’s screen unlocking functionality, and running in the mobile device’s background,” the researchers said in a blog post. “After verifying our report, Google swiftly suspended the fake apps from the Play store.”

Some of the now-suspended adware-fueled apps included: A/C Air Conditioner Remote, Police Chase Extreme City 3D Game, Easy Universal TV Remote, Garage Door Remote Control, and Prado Parking City 3D Game.

The full list of apps can be viewed here.

Having amassed five million downloads, the Easy Universal TV Remote was the most downloaded of the bunch. The app claimed to allow users to use their smartphones to control their TV. However, a large number of reviews stated that ads were “hidden in the background.” Some users said there were “so many ads, [they] can’t even use it.”

“While the fake apps can be removed manually via the phone’s app uninstall feature, it can be difficult to get there when full-screen ads show up every 15 or 30 minutes or each time a user unlocks the device’s screen,” Trend Micro noted.

Thwarting malicious apps

Malware has been a persistent problem on the Google Play store. In January 2018, the tech giant pulled around 60 gaming apps from its Play store because they contained “a new and nasty malicious code.” In late November, Google removed 13 apps disguised as car racing games that were infected with malware.

In the past year, Google has removed more than 700,000 malicious apps from its Play store and has taken steps to prevent bad apps from ending up in the store in the first place.

“Google had to step in and increase their security systems like a bouncer, and created Google Play Protect,” Lukas Stefanko, a malware researcher at ESET, told Wired. “Attackers are constantly trying to penetrate [Google’s] security systems."

In an effort to compete with Amazon and Walmart, Kroger and Microsoft are teaming up to create grocery stores filled with automated features intended to save shoppers time.

The companies announced on Monday that their collaboration will yield “grocery stores of the future,” with digital shelves, price tags, and advertisements.

Two pilot stores will be built in Ohio and Washington State, near each company's headquarters. At these stores, customers using Kroger’s Scan, Bag, Go self-checkout app will be guided through the store to items on their shopping list.

As the customer nears the aisle and approaches a particular item on their list, a “personal avatar — like a banana or an avocado —will light up that directs them to the right one,” according to Bloomberg. “They'll scan the item to check out, and the system will route the customer to the next item on their list.”

Through its partnership with Microsoft, Kroger will be able to display digital tags instead of paper price tags and advertisements, which will help the grocery chain save money. Going digital will also be a time-saver for store associates, since it will eliminate the need for employees to change prices manually.

Competing with Amazon

In recent months, Amazon has made it clear that it’s diving headfirst into the world of automated grocery stores. In September, reports surfaced that the e-commerce giant may open as many as 3,000 of its cashier-less Amazon Go stores by 2021.

Walmart has also been experimenting with the use of technology to make shopping easier for customers. In October, the retailer opened its first cashier-less store in Dallas, Texas. Sam’s Club Now relies on scan-and-go technology, as well as an app that makes it possible for customers to pay for items on their phones.

To stay ahead of the competition, Kroger has been working with companies such as electric vehicle startup Nuro, Ocado, and Walgreens to speed up grocery delivery and pickup and deploy digital tools to bolster its network of physical stores.

With the help of Microsoft, Kroger now says it’s building a “seamless ecosystem driven by data and technology to provide our customers with personalized food inspiration.”

"Our partnership brings together Kroger's world-class expertise in the grocery industry with the power of Azure and Azure AI," Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, said in a statement. "Together, we will redefine the shopping experience for millions of customers at both Kroger and other retailers around the world, setting a new standard for innovation in the industry."

On Monday, Sprint revealed that it plans to debut a Samsung 5G smartphone this summer.

The carrier didn’t say exactly when the upcoming device will be released, nor did it provide device specifications. Those details will be announced “later.”

However, Sprint said the phone will be able to connect to its 5G network and its existing LTE network. The upcoming phone’s “dual-mode” connectivity means connectivity over 2.5GHz spectrum, 1.9GHz spectrum (band 25), 800MHz spectrum (band 26), and other LTE bands.

Although the company hasn’t released the name of the device, it’s widely expected to be a Galaxy S10 model that supports 5G.

“The Samsung device is likely a Galaxy S10 model that supports 5G, which is what we assume AT&T and Verizon plan to launch later this year too. If that’s the case, it should be quite high-end,” according to Droidlife.com.

Preparing for 5G

The launch of the device will coincide with the rollout of Sprint’s 5G network.

"Samsung is one of our key 5G network infrastructure Massive MIMO providers, so we are delighted that they will also deliver one of our first 5G smartphones, putting blazing fast connectivity right into our customers' hands," Sprint CTO Dr John Saw said on Monday.

5G boasts several major changes, including the ability to move more data with greater speed, the power to connect more devices at the same time, and more responsive access with lower latency. The network promises to make data speeds 10 to 100 times faster than the current average internet speed.

All four major wireless carriers are working toward the deployment of 5G. Verizon has already launched its first version of 5G in four U.S. cities, and AT&T has said it will continue to expand the service in 2019.

Sprint’s 5G network will arrive in the following cities later this year: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix, and Washington, D.C.

Allegion is using the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this week to unveil its latest entry into smart home security. The company’s Schlage door hardware division is offering a new smart lock, called the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt.

The product features built-in WiFi connectivity that allows a homeowner to enable secure remote access from anywhere, without the need for a hub. The product will first be integrated to work with the Key app to provide homeowners with a convenient solution for access management that can be used without a camera or hub. The product is not yet on the market, but it is available for pre-sale orders.

It joins a growing list of smart home security products, including the Ring doorbell, which gives a homeowner video access to who is at their front door.

"Even with all the advancements in the category, we recognized there was still a gap in simple, secure, high-performance and cost-effective all-in-one solutions," said Lee Odess, vice president, solutions providers business at Allegion. “Schlage Encode was designed to be the most versatile smart lock to date to provide homeowners with one trusted device – no gateway or hub needed – that could operate across home ecosystems and platforms and deliver the performance consumers expect from a category leader."

Breakthrough

Schlage is no stranger to smart devices. It has previously introduced other smart locks, but company officials say the Smart Deadbolt is a breakthrough.

They describe it as easy to install and easy to connect to a home’s Wi-Fi system, giving homeowners easy access to lock and unlock the door from any remote location. Customers can choose to add an Amazon Cloud Cam to their Key Smart Lock Kit to monitor entries and deliveries, but it is not required for the Schlage Encode to work.  

The product is also designed to work with Ring. In the future, consumers who have installed the Ring doorbell will be able to lock and unlock their Schlage Encode directly from the live feed of their Ring doorbell or camera in the Ring app. They will also be about to enable the Key skill within their Alexa app to control the lock with voice commands.   

ADT redesign

ADT is also using CES to roll out new home security products. The company says it has redesigned its popular home security system to incorporate more smart home technology.

The ADT system on display at CES includes new partnerships with various digital assistants, a new video-empowered doorbell, and updated interactive crime maps.

The opioid crisis continues to be a growing problem across the United States.

Researchers from Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan have conducted a new study that shows the way opioids have spurred the dramatic increase in both unintentional drug overdoses and suicides -- particularly in the last 17 years.

According to the researchers, over 41,000 people died from either unintentional overdose or suicide in 2000. Seventeen years later, that number grew to nearly 111,000.

“Unlike other common causes of death, overdose and suicide deaths have increased over the last 15 years in the United States,” said Dr. Amy Bohnert. “This pattern, along with overlap in the factors that increase risk for each, support the idea that they are related problems and the increases are due to shared fundamental causes.”

Risk factors

While Dr. Bohnert and her team identified several risk factors in their research, they also found that men were at a greater risk than women for both overdoses and suicides.

White men under the age of 40 were the most likely to die from an unintentional overdose, and white men in general were also the most likely to commit suicide, tied with American Indian/Alaskan Native men. However, African American men’s likelihood to overdose surpassed white men’s as they grew older into middle age.

For women, overdosing was more probable than suicide, particularly for white, African American, and Native American women under the age of 65.

Possible solutions

The researchers explain that prescriptions for opioid painkillers have been on the rise recently, as has the use of heroin, which could be one reason why overdoses and suicides are trending upwards.

To help combat this growing problem, the researchers suggest several possible solutions, many of which involve treating both overdoses and suicides in similar fashions.

“Individuals with chronic pain are at a clearer elevated risk for both unintentional overdose and suicide,” said Dr. Mark Ilgen. “To date, many system-level approaches to address overdose and suicide have addressed these as if they are unrelated outcomes.”

“Our goal was to highlight the fact that these adverse outcomes likely go together and effective efforts to help those with pain will likely need to simultaneously consider both overdose and suicide risk,” he said.

The researchers suggest reducing the number of opioid painkiller prescriptions and lowering the doses of the prescriptions could be an effective starting point, as it reduces the risk of temptation for those who could be at risk of suicide or overdose.

Additionally, the group recommended medication-assisted treatment, which often goes hand-in-hand with counseling and other treatment method and has previously been found to reduce overdose-related deaths.

Similar findings

A recent study conducted by researchers from Binghamton University explored the effects that life stressors and low self-esteem have on consumers’ likelihood of using opioids.

The researchers found that many people turned to opioids as a coping mechanism when faced with stressors like romance, family, health, money, or work.

Because opioids can change the way people feel about themselves, it isn’t uncommon for people to turn to the drug when they want to escape from their problems or feel better about themselves.

The researchers suggest that people seek out healthy coping mechanisms to help them deal with their stress.

Hy-Vee of West Des Moines, Iowa, is recalling cheesecakes made with Diamond Crystal brands cheesecake mix.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall includes 32 varieties of cheesecakes in both 8-oz. and 32-oz. packages with best if used by dates of Dec. 6, 2018, through Jan. 11, 2019.

The mixture was distributed to 117 of Hy-Vee’s 249 grocery stores across its eight-state region of Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The product comes in a plastic container with a plastic lid with an expiration date range between Dec. 6, 2018, and Jan. 11, 2019, found on the label. 

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should dispose of them or return them to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 772-4098.

General Motors is recalling 154 model year 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cabs and GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cabs.

The passenger-side front airbag module may have been damaged during assembly, possibly resulting in the airbag not inflating properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag module, free of charge.

The recall was expected to begin on December 26, 2018.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 and GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N182198820.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 1,104 model year 2018 Audi TT Roadsters, TT Coupes, A3 Sedans and A3 Cabriolet.

The fuel hose quick connector may detach from the fuel supply line in the engine bay, resulting in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak in the engine compartment can increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will secure the fuel line connection, as necessary, free of charge.

The recall was scheduled to begin December 20, 2018.

Owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20BK.

There’s no better time than January to start thinking about your annual vacation, right? In addition to airlines’ continuing efforts to improve customer service, there are super sleuth fare watchers already mining great 2019 travel deals.

One of those -- Rick Seaney at FareCompare.com -- recently released a rundown of the cheapest days to fly in 2019.

Seaney analyzed nearly 300 million flight combinations for every origin and destination around the world, then boiled down daily prices to come up with the average “cheapest fares” for the U.S. and beyond.

Domestic flight shopping by season

If you’re a domestic flyer looking for cherry deals within the U.S., the best days to book are:

Winter: Prices are generally low starting at the beginning of January and lasting through most of February. Seaney says there tends to be a bump up in good deals towards the last two weeks of the month.

Spring: Weekend fares start creeping up in March, with some prices up 35 percent over weekdays, but weekends will shoot even higher in April. In late May, Seaney predicts higher prices on Thursdays and Fridays as well.

Early summer: Fares in the first couple of weeks of June are usually relative bargains when compared to peak summer season prices. The two dates to avoid are June 13 and June 23, which marks the start of peak season. And, by all means, don’t wait until late June. Consumers will find that fares run about 20 to 25 percent higher than at the start of the month.

And overseas?

Winter: Most anytime between January and March is a cheap time to fly to Europe, but those seasonal deals yield to sharp increases starting March 20.

Spring: Weekend fares in April become increasingly expensive according to the study, but spring prices are cheaper than those found in the summer. The bottom line here is to try and fly before the early summer season kicks in on May 23.

Summer: If you’re invited to a wedding in late June, your ticket will likely cost around 60 to 70 percent more than you would have paid flying out in January. The silver lining inside the Summer fare cloud is that prices drop a tad in July and then again from late August through early September. “To save on summer, simply avoid flights in the second half of June,” Seaney said.

Travel deals you can expect in 2019

ConsumerAffairs reached out to Scott Keyes of ScottsCheapFlights.com, a subscription-based service that emails users when his team discovers cheap airline tickets, to see what he saw from his vantage point.

“New Zealand and Australia have historically been some of the most expensive destinations to reach from the United States, but even fares there have been falling in the past six months,” said Keyes.

“Whereas it used to be unheard of to see fares under $1,200, these days it's fairly commonplace to see them as low as $600 round-trip from the west coast and $800 elsewhere.”

For those looking for added peace of mind, Global Peace Index winners Norway and Iceland are high on Keyes’ list. Thanks to two of the top intercontinental bargain airlines (Norwegian and a la carte-oriented carrier WOW), flyers to Norway and Iceland have experienced much lower fares in the past few years. Keyes pointed to east coast departure cities where travelers can often find fares to those destinations for less than $250 round-trip (excluding checked baggage).

If cerveza and three-toed sloths are more your thing than lingonberries and the Northern Lights, Costa Rica continues to prove itself as the cheapest Central American country to fly to -- with fares regularly under $300 roundtrip and often dropping below $250, according to Keyes.

The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas increasingly resembles a car show, since automakers show up to tout their latest automotive technology.

The show officially begins Tuesday, but there have already been plenty of preliminary speeches, news conferences, and product demonstrations.

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) is showing off a number of new technology features, including the self-driving Chrysler Pacifica hybrid. It uses Google’s Waymo technology.

The company will also display the electrified Chrysler Pacifica hybrid, equipped with its plug-in hybrid powertrain and hybrid electric pages that provide customers with helpful information and access to charging schedules via the Uconnect 8.4 system's 8.4-inch touchscreen.

Mercedes CLA introduction

Daimler North America is using CES as its venue to introduce the new Mercedes-Benz CLA. The luxury car features an evolved Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX), which revolves around an upgraded infotainment system. The company says new functions have been added since the system was introduced at last year’s CES.

Daimler will also demonstrate the latest automated driving features in its line of trucks and buses at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Companies that make technology for cars will also be displaying their latest products. Aptiv, an automotive parts supplier, plans to demonstrate its newest autonomous driving features. The technology has been installed in a fleet of Lyft vehicles that will be on hand to move attendees around the city.

Digital cockpit

BlackBerry is introducing what it says is the first digital cockpit solution that allows automakers to enhance the in-car experience safely, securely, and reliably. The QNX Platform for Digital Cockpits powers the vehicle’s instrument cluster and infotainment system.

"After two years of constant improvement and testing, we have built the world's first safety-certified digital cockpit that enables secure Android apps in the car,” said John Wall, a senior vice president at BlackBerry. “We believe being able to provide this level of security will be a key differentiator for automakers as consumers begin to weigh security and data privacy when purchasing a vehicle."

CES President and CEO Gary Shapiro says the government shutdown, now in its third week, will affect some CES programming. He reported that some government officials who were scheduled to speak at the week-long event have canceled, saying they aren’t authorized to travel on government business during the shutdown.

In its 10th annual report to Congress detailing how states collect and use 911 fees, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it identified six states and one territory that are still diverting 911 fees for non-911 purposes.

Last year, fee diversion was identified as an issue in the following states: Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Rhode Island, West Virginia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“When Americans pay 911 fees on their phone bills, they rightfully expect that money to fund 911-related services,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. “Unfortunately, the FCC’s annual report shows that, once again, several states have siphoned 911 funding for unrelated purposes. This is outrageous and it undermines public safety.”

Of the nearly $3 billion collected in fees, about $285 million in funds were diverted for other uses, the report said. But Pai added that there’s some good news.

“Thanks to Commissioner O’Rielly’s efforts to shine a light on the issue of 911 fee diversion, as well as the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s ongoing work, this is the first time that every jurisdiction has responded to the FCC’s annual 911 fee survey. Hopefully, drawing attention in this way to the unacceptable practice of 911 fee diversion will help end it,” he said.

Putting an end to the practice

Under a federal statute, states are allowed to collect taxes on cell phones. However, they must use all the money for emergency communications services.

In an effort to end the practice of fee diversion in West Virginia, governor Jim Justice said he intends to introduce a bill during the 2019 legislative session to bring the state's use of E911 fees into compliance with FCC regulations.

"My proposal will ensure that 100% of the state's E911 fee revenue will be directed to the local Public Service Answering Points," Justice wrote in a letter to O’ Rielly. "Our current 'diverter' expenditures will be funded through an alternative source."

Other states and counties are testing the use of new a new program called RapidSOS that targets the exact location of a cell phone calling 911, not just the tower the call is hitting.

The service doesn’t charge public safety and emergency responders for that information. Those who do pay for the service are Internet of Things vendors and insurance companies that want their data shared by RapidSOS.

In addition to circumventing fee diversion, RapidSOS could deliver faster and more accurate caller location information for 911 calls.

"I've been in 911 for over 20 years and for the longest time we had to wait for someone else to fix the wireless location challenge," said Bob Finney, 911 Communications Director at Collier County Sheriff's Office. "With ELS and RapidSOS, we can actually take action in the emergency communications center to improve the safety of our citizens."