Current Events in April 2019

Target on Monday launched its own line of sustainable household items. The retailer’s new brand, called Everspring, features an array of about 70 different “clean and natural” versions of items like dish soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, and multi-purpose cleaner.

Target said its line of earth-friendly products -- which includes items that are either biobased or made from recycled materials or natural fibers -- has been in the making for over a year.

“From the sourcing to the packaging, ... we had to do it right. ... We hired the right expertise to make sure the chemical quality was up to expectations,” Christina Hennington, a senior vice president and general merchandise manager at the retailer, told CNBC.

Curbing high prices for sustainable goods

The percentage of shoppers interested in purchasing natural, sustainably-sourced products has been steadily rising in recent years. However, high prices on more sustainable brands are a hindrance to many consumers when making a purchase decision.

Target said the items in its Everspring line are priced about 20 percent lower than comparable products from brands such as Mrs. Meyers and Seventh Generation. The items on Target’s line range in price from $2.79 to $11.99.

"Everspring is a great example of how we're listening – and responding – to the evolving needs of our guests in a way that's uniquely Target," Hennington said in a press release. "Guests can feel confident they're purchasing essentials for their home that include ingredients and components they want and have the efficacy they need to get daily routines done. And, at prices nearly 20 percent less than comparable brands and a focus on fresh design, Everspring offers guests another compelling reason to stock up at Target."

The retailer also noted that Everspring complies with “Target Clean,” a new product standard it introduced last month. Products marked with a Target Clean icon were formulated without chemicals like phthalates, propylparaben, sodium laureth sulfate.

On Monday morning, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D- Mass.) proposed to eliminate existing loan debt for millions of Americans.

“It’s a problem for all of us,” she wrote in a post on Medium, adding that student debt is preventing many people from buying a home or starting a business. "It’s leading fewer people to start businesses. It’s forcing students to drop out of school before getting a degree,” she said.

Student debt has soared to more than $1.5 trillion and affects 42 million Americans. The Massachusetts Senator’s plan would wipe out $50,000 in debt for each person with a household income of less than $100,000.

One-time cost to the government

Calling the plan “an investment in our future,” Warren said the debt cancellation proposal would cost the federal government an estimated $640 billion.

“Experts estimate my debt cancellation plan creates a one-time cost to the government of $640 billion,” Warren said. “The Universal Free College program brings the total cost of the program to roughly $1.25 trillion over ten years.”

She noted that experts concluded that the plan would help the economy through “consumer-driven economic stimulus, improved credit scores, greater home-buying rates and housing stability, higher college completion rates, and greater business formation.”

The Democratic candidate also proposed to eliminate tuition and fees for two- and four-year public college degree programs and called for a $100 billion investment in Pell Grants over the next ten years.

“To allow students to graduate debt-free — especially students from lower-income families — we must expand the funding available to cover non-tuition expenses,” Warren said. “In addition to the existing federal higher education funding that can be redirected to cover non-tuition expenses, we should invest an additional $100 billion over the next ten years in Pell Grants — and expand who is eligible for a Grant — to make sure lower-income and middle-class students have a better chance of graduating without debt.”

In February, Warren unveiled another policy proposal that would aim to reduce the “painfully high” cost of child care, as well as improve the quality of child care services.

Warren argued that the “lack of access to high-quality, affordable care prevents parents from fully participating in the workforce, holding them back from career and educational opportunities and placing a drag on our entire economy.”

Epileptic seizures can come with several complications, and current treatment options aren’t effective for all patients.

Now, researchers have discovered a new course of treatment that would help children who suffer from serious epileptic seizures.

“This study has now given us robust evidence to manage children with prolonged seizures without reverting to intubation and intensive care,” said researcher Dr. Dalziel. “By controlling seizures in the emergency department we will increase the chance of these children recovering more quickly and returning back to their normal lives.”

Discovering what works

The researchers note that current seizure medications either come with serious side effects or don’t get the job done, so they wanted to develop a more effective course of treatment for children who come into the emergency room with serious epileptic seizures.

The first typical course of treatment for children with seizures is benzodiazepines followed by an anti-convulsant drug. However, this plan doesn’t work for all children, and it often leaves lingering side effects. For the study, the researchers decided to try a new anti-convulsant drug, levetiracetam, as the second dose of medication following benzodiazepines.

The study revealed that combining the drugs -- using both levetiracetam and the more popular phenytoin -- was the most successful way to stop seizures and leave kids without any scary side effects.

Used solo, each drug had between a 50 and 60 percent success rate on the study participants; however, when used together, the team found a 75 percent success rate. The researchers are confident that these two medications will greatly improve children’s outcomes should they enter the emergency room with an epileptic seizure.

“This study is going to profoundly improve treatment for children who are critically ill with epilepsy around the world,” said researcher Franz Babl.

Staying informed

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that epilepsy cases are on the rise in the United States. They also note that there are around 30 different kinds of seizures, and it can often be hard to determine when someone is having one.

"Millions of Americans are impacted by epilepsy, and unfortunately, this study shows cases are on the rise," said CDC Dr. Director Brenda Fitzgerald. "Proper diagnosis is key to finding an effective treatment – and at CDC we are committed to researching, testing, and sharing strategies that will improve the lives of people with epilepsy."

Just 39 percent of workers tried to negotiate a higher salary during their last job offer, according to a survey by staffing firm Robert Half.

The firm surveyed professionals in 27 U.S. cities and found that those in New York, Dallas, and San Francisco were most likely to negotiate their salary. Men were more likely than women to do so, at 46 percent and 34 percent, respectively.

But job seekers shouldn’t shy away from pushing for more pay. In fact, experts say negotiating on salary can signal to the company that you value your own worth.

A separate survey by Robert Half found that many employers are willing -- and even expect -- to make a deal with candidates. A majority (70 percent) of senior managers said they expect to engage in some back-and-forth on salary.

However, before asking for a higher salary, prospective employees should be aware of two common pitfalls, said Paul McDonald, senior executive director at Robert Half.

"First and foremost, avoid negotiating any part of the compensation package until after you've received a formal offer,” McDonald said. “Second, don't go into a negotiation without practicing the conversation in person with a trusted friend or mentor. Someone who has been in your position can help you prepare for the unexpected and make a stronger case."

Salary negotiation pointers

During the interview, it’s best to wait for the hiring manager to bring up salary, Rowan O’Grady, president of Hays Canada told Yahoo Finance. When it does come up, O’Grady recommends reiterating your excitement about the role.

Other salary negotiation tips include:

• Do your research. Before the interview, use an online tool such as Indeed.com to find the average salary for the position you have applied for. Be sure to consider where the job is based and the cost of living in that area.

• Highlight your credentials. When negotiating for a higher salary, highlight your experience or educational level.

• Be confident. Explain your reasoning with confidence, but don’t be overconfident.

• Aim high. Make the first offer and start out with a high number. Research shows that those who start out with a high number anchor this number in their employers’ minds and receive better offers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval of the first generic naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray -- Narcan -- which can often counter the effects of an opioid drug overdose.

The move is part of the agency’s stated goal of getting the life-saving drug into the hands of family members who are trying to help a loved one addicted to the powerful painkillers. It announced plans to expand availability of naloxone at the beginning of the year.

In June, the FDA approved the first generic version of naloxone, which at the time was marketed under the trade name Suboxone. Then-FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said making the drug in generic form would ensure that it reaches more people who need it. The drug is in the form of a thin film that is placed under a patient's tongue.

On Friday, the FDA said it is also planning to fast-track the review of additional generic drug applications for products intended to treat opioid overdose.It previously announced efforts to get an over-the-counter naloxone product on the market as quickly as possible.

Part of a campaign

Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., deputy center director for regulatory programs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said the drug’s release is all part of a plan to reduce the skyrocketing number of deaths from opioid overdose.

"All together, these efforts have the potential to put a vital tool for combating opioid overdose in the hands of those who need it most – friends and families of opioid users, as well as first responders and community-based organizations,” he said. “We're taking many steps to improve availability of naloxone products, and we're committed to working with other federal, state and local officials as well as health care providers, patients and communities across the country to combat the staggering human and economic toll created by opioid abuse and addiction."

The newly approved generic naloxone product is administered as a nasal spray, much like common decongestants. It can be administered by people with no medical training.

The agency previously approved a brand-name naloxone nasal spray and an auto-injector that can also be administered without medical training. The FDA concedes that distribution of the new product is going to depend on business and other considerations.

Death toll

In recent years opioid misuse has become a major public health threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. died from an opioid overdose from 1999 to 2017.

On average, more than 130 Americans died daily from overdosing on fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, as well as illegal drugs such as heroin or drugs sold as heroin.

Jensen Tuna of Louisiana is recalling frozen ground tuna imported from JK Fish.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The ground tuna samples were found negative for Salmonella.

The recalled product, individually packaged in clear plastic one-pound bags, is sold in white wax 20-lb., boxes as a wholesale case with twenty bags in each case with lot numbers z266, z271 and z272.

It was sold to wholesalers in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York and Washington who further distributed the product from November 30, 2018, to March 15, 2019, to restaurants and retail locations.

What to do

Consumers with concerns should ask their restaurants and retailers whether the tuna dish they are purchasing contained the recalled ground tuna.

Further information is available by contacting Jensen Tuna at (985) 868-8809 Monday-Friday, 8am to 3pm, (CT) or by email at info@jensentuna.com.

On a day when Lyft is blogging about “butt math,” the company should probably be paying attention to the math it used in pitching its initial price offering (IPO), which has resulted in two new lawsuits.

Bloomberg News reports that Lyft investors have sued the company claiming that its IPO was overhyped, which caused the stock to tumble from a high of $88.60 on March 29 down to $58.36 at noon on Friday.

The lawsuits -- both class action suits, but filed separately -- contend that Lyft over-promised in its prospectus, saying that it had 39 percent of the American market based on the number of rides.

In all fairness, Lyft is making some headway -- just not as much as it ballyhoo’ed. According to February 2018 metrics from transaction data science firm Second Measure, Lyft is growing faster than Uber. However, the company’s 30.4 percent share of the domestic ridesharing market is less than half of Uber’s 67.3 percent.

The lawsuits also laid blame on Lyft for failing to give investors the heads-up ahead of its recent electric bike recall.

How will this affect Uber’s forthcoming IPO?

Lyft’s prospectus and subsequent lawsuits might be getting as much scrutiny at Uber’s headquarters as Congress is giving the Mueller report.

Uber sees Lyft quickly approaching in its rearview mirror, noting that “our competitors raised additional capital, increased their investments in certain markets, and improved their category positions and market shares, and may continue to do so” in comments made in its prospectus to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

After this legal dust-up with Lyft’s IPO, investors might be slower on the trigger when it comes to buying Uber stock when it goes public.

“Uber’s reign over the rideshare market has not been short on struggle -- or controversy,” wrote Second Measure’s Kathryn Gessner. “The company has long faced public scrutiny over how fares are determined and how drivers are treated.”

“A new CEO and 2018 brand overhaul have helped Uber clean up its image, but the core challenges of its business remain. Squeezing money from rideshare is expected to get harder, as major cities -- like New York -- have moved forward with proposals to add surcharges to fares and cap the services’ allotment of active vehicles.”

Following news that its proposed merger with T-Mobile may be on the ropes, Sprint has reportedly told regulators that its business may not be as stable as it appeared, according to the Wall Street Journal.

“[Sprint] has touted adding new wireless connections for six straight quarters. What it didn’t say until now is that many of those gains were free lines or existing customers that switched services,” the Journal said.

Sprint’s “recent gains in so-called postpaid connections… were driven by free lines given to existing Sprint customers,” the report continued.

Earlier this week, the WSJ reported that Justice Department staff recently informed the two telecom providers that the merger is unlikely to be approved as currently structured. T-Mobile CEO John Legere refuted that the merger is in trouble, tweeting that the premise of the Journal’s story was “simply untrue.”

Not on a ‘competitive path’

Sprint told regulators that, given the state it’s in, it’s unlikely to survive as a standalone company.

In a recent filing with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Sprint attempted to make a case for the merger by claiming that its ability to compete in the industry would be diminished if the merger isn’t approved.

“Sprint is in a very difficult situation that is only getting worse,” Sprint’s lawyers wrote. “Sprint’s lack of low-band spectrum is at the root of these network problems … Simply put, Sprint is not on a sustainable competitive path.”

The company added that its network is “deficient” and that it’s “losing customers, and it cannot generate enough cash to invest in its network, pay its debt obligations, and compete effectively.”

“Absent completing its transaction with T-Mobile, Sprint will have limited options, and is likely to be forced down either a repositioning path and/or a restructuring path,” the FCC filing continued.

The planned merger of T-Mobile and Sprint would reduce the number of carriers from 4 to 3, which critics argue could hurt competition and drive up costs for consumers. The companies have argued that the opposite would be true, claiming that the merger will result in more efficiencies that allow the combined company to reduce costs.  

Following a heart attack, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is imperative. Now, a new study sheds light on how important eating habits are.

According to researchers, following regular mealtimes is key to optimal health following a heart attack. The study revealed that eating dinner close to bedtime and skipping breakfast can come with dangerous consequences.

“It is said that the best way to live is to breakfast like a king,” said researcher Dr. Marcos Minicucci. “A good breakfast is usually composed of dairy products (fat-free or low fat milk, yogurt, and cheese), a carbohydrate (whole wheat bread, bagels, cereals), and whole fruits. It should have 15 to 35 percent of our total daily calorie intake.”

Cause for concern

The researchers examined over 100 participants to see how eating habits affected them following a heart attack. All of the participants involved in the study had a heart attack known as STEMI -- ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. According to Dr. Minicucci, “one in 10 patients with STEMI dies within a year.”

The researchers observed the participants eating habits, noting when they ate a late dinner -- eating a meal within two hours of going to bed three times per week -- and when they skipped breakfast -- eating nothing before lunch, not including drinks, three times per week.

Over 50 percent of the participants in the study ate late dinners, while nearly 60 percent skipped breakfast at least three times per week. In total, over 40 percent of the participants did both.

“Our research shows that the two eating behaviours are independently linked with poorer outcomes after a heart attack, but having a cluster of bad habits will only make things worse,” Dr. Minicucci said. “People who work late may be particularly susceptible to having a late supper and then not being hungry in the morning.”

The researchers found that these poor habits came with some serious consequences. In not eating at regular mealtimes, participants increased their likelihood of having chest pain, having another heart attack, and dying, all within the first 30 days post-heart attack.

In addition, Dr. Minicucci and his team believe that the “inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and endothelial function” could play a role in “unhealthy eating behaviours and cardiovascular outcomes.”

Staying healthy

Though a recent study found that heart attacks aren’t as common or deadly as they were in the 90s, it’s important for consumers to maintain healthy lifestyles and prevent cardiovascular episodes in any way they can.

A recent study found that going back to work, which can be difficult for many consumers post-heart attack, is possible and can be done safely.

“Patients who believe they can still do their jobs and want to go back will make a success of it,” said researcher Dr. Rona Reibis. “After a heart attack it is very rare for patients to be physically unable to perform their previous duties, including heavy work.”

​Uber has announced that its self-driving car unit received a $1 billion investment from Toyota, Denso, and Softbank. Denso, a Japanese auto parts maker, and Toyota will contribute about $667 million, while SoftBank's Vision Fund will invest about $333 billion, CNBC reported.

The investment comes eight months after Toyota invested $500 million in Uber’s self-driving car division, known as the Autonomous Technology Group (or A.T.G.). At the time, the two companies said the investment would help Uber create an autonomous vehicle based on Toyota’s Sienna minivan.

CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a statement that the latest investment will help Uber develop self-driving technologies, which may, in the next few years, “transform transportation as we know it.”

"This investment and our strong partnership with the Toyota Group are a testament to the incredible work of our ATG team to date, and the exciting future ahead for this important project, alongside great partners," Khosrowshahi said.

“The development of automated driving technology will transform transportation as we know it, making our streets safer and our cities more livable. Today's announcement, along with our ongoing OEM and supplier relationships, will help maintain Uber's position at the forefront of that transformation,” he continued.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter, which will be several months after Uber’s initial public offering. Uber released its IPO prospectus earlier this month and is expected to make its stock market debut in early May with a valuation of up to $100 billion. Uber said in its initial public offering filing that it recorded a $1.8 billion loss in its most recent financial year.

The USDA announced Thursday that it has officially kicked off a two-year pilot program that allows those who receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits to shop for groceries from online retailers.

“People who receive SNAP benefits should have the opportunity to shop for food the same way more and more Americans shop for food – by ordering and paying for groceries online,” Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a statement.

“As technology advances, it is important for SNAP to advance too, so we can ensure the same shopping options are available for both non-SNAP and SNAP recipients,” Secretary Perdue said. “We look forward to monitoring how these pilots increase food access and customer service to those we serve, specifically those who may experience challenges in visiting brick and mortar stores.”

Online SNAP transactions

At launch, the pilot is available to consumers in New York state, and other states are likely to join the program soon.

“Information regarding expansion will be available after this launch is determined successful and other pilot states indicate their readiness to implement,” the Department noted.

Amazon and Walmart are participating in the initial pilot launch, and ShopRite will be joining early next week. Amazon and ShopRite are providing the service to SNAP recipients in the New York City area, while Walmart will extend the service to those in upstate New York locations.

“We are excited to be part of the USDA’s pilot program and to be able to make our Grocery Pickup and Delivery service available to more and more people, regardless of their payment method,” a Walmart spokesperson said in a statement. “Access to convenience and to quality, fresh groceries shouldn’t be dictated by how you pay. This pilot program is a great step forward and we are eager to expand this to customers in other states where we already have a great online grocery business.”

The USDA said additional retailers are slated to participate in the pilot “in coming months.”

For many consumers, finding the time to hit the gym or go for a run can be difficult to fit into an already tight schedule. However, a new study may have some people rearranging their schedules to see optimal results.

Researchers recently conducted a study and found that our circadian clocks could affect the way our bodies respond to exercise, meaning some times of day might be better to work out than others.

“It’s quite well known that almost every aspect of our physiology and metabolism is dictated by the circadian clock,” said researcher Gad Asher. “This is true not only in humans but in every organism that is sensitive to light. We decided to ask whether there is a connection between the time of day and exercise performance.”

What’s the best time

To see how our internal rhythms affect our response to exercise, two groups of researchers ran experiments with mice, having them run on treadmills at different times of day according to their active and resting phases.

“Circadian rhythms dominate everything we do,” said researcher Paolo Sasone-Corsi. “Previous studies from our lab have suggested that at least 50 percent of our metabolism is circadian, and 50 percent of the metabolites in our body oscillate based on the circadian cycle. It makes sense that exercise would be one of the things that’s impacted.”

The level of intensity in the exercise regimen varied over the course of the first study. The researchers also studied the mice’s DNA to see if genetic makeup influenced the outcome of the study.

Based on the mice’s exercise performance, the researchers determined that the hours near the tail end of the active phase -- which would translate to human nighttime -- were optimal in getting the most out of the workout. The DNA test yielded similar results, as the researchers found that there were higher levels of a metabolite known as ZMP, which works to regulate the metabolism, when the mice exercised later.

The second trial also had mice running on treadmills, but it looked solely at DNA testing for possible explanations and found that muscle tissue responds differently when the mice exercised at different times of the day.

The last component of the test was to include human participants. The researchers had 12 people complete similar exercise tests and found that their bodies were performing at peak levels during nighttime workouts compared with morning exercise sessions.

Despite these promising findings, the researchers warn that there is more here than meets the eye.

“You may be a morning person, or you may be a night person, and those things have to be taken into account,” said Sassone-Corsi.

Putting in the time

Many recent reports have detailed how crucial exercise is, particularly for long life.

While time can restrict many consumers, researchers have found how even small increments of time, like short intervals of stair climbing, or how the body can feel the effects of one workout days later, can be beneficial.

Additionally, researchers have busted the myth that exercising at night interrupts sleep.

“People can do exercise in the evening without hesitation,” said researcher Jan Stutz. “The data shows that moderate exercise in the evening is no problem at all. However, vigorous training or competitions should be scheduled earlier in the day, if possible.”

The price of gasoline has not stopped going up, but at least it’s not going up as fast.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the average price of regular has risen three cents a gallon to $2.83 in the last week. That follows a nine cent rise during the previous seven days.

The average price of premium is $3.39 a gallon, six cents higher than the previous Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.07 a gallon, two cents higher than last week.

Prices have begun to moderate ahead of their expected peak around Memorial Day weekend, but the exception is in California. The average price of regular gas in the Golden State is $4.02 a gallon -- the only state to cross that $4 benchmark. The price is up 10 cents a gallon in the last week and has risen 68 cents over the last month.

According to AAA, the price spike has been caused by both the planned and unexpected maintenance in the state’s oil refineries.

“Out of California’s 10 refineries, six have seen a reduction in refined products output, including gasoline, due to maintenance upgrades and necessary repairs,” AAA said in its latest market update.

At the same time, refineries are switching over to the production of summer-grade gasoline, which is more expensive than winter blends. Currently, there is a 52 cents a gallon difference between California’s average gas price and the average price in Alabama, the cheapest state.

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:

• California ($4.02)

• Hawaii ($3.60)

• Washington ($3.44)

• Oregon ($3.34)

• Nevada ($3.30)

• Alaska ($3.23)

• Pennsylvania ($2.98)

• Arizona ($3.01)

• Illinois ($2.95)

• Idaho ($2.86)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Alabama ($2.50)

• Mississippi ($2.52)

• Arkansas ($2.53)

• South Carolina ($2.53)

• Louisiana ($2.54)

• Texas ($2.58)

• Virginia ($2.58)

• Missouri ($2.59)

• Oklahoma ($2.60)

• Tennessee ($2.61)