Current Events in February 2020

On the same day as the Iowa Caucuses, the first nominating event of the 2020 primary season, Google has issued new guidelines for its handling of political content on YouTube.

YouTube, along with other social media sites, has become a major news source for millions of people. But not all of that content is based on facts -- anyone can upload a video to YouTube, after all -- so Google says it wants to make sure its platform isn’t misused.

Specifically, YouTube will target video content that is purposefully deceptive. It will be on the lookout for -- and take action against -- videos that have been technically manipulated or doctored in a way that misleads users.

It will block content that is designed to mislead people about voting and other important activities, such as taking part in the census. It will also take down content that makes false claims related to the technical eligibility requirements for current political candidates and sitting elected government officials to serve in office.

For example, if someone uploads a video that falsely claims that a candidate is ineligible to hold office, that content will be removed. Videos that try to impersonate a legitimate news channel or misrepresent the author’s country of origin will also be targeted.

Won’t take sides

In a blog post, Google said it will enforce these rules without any regard to the political point of view expressed in the content. The focus, it says, is on deceptive content.

“The best way to quickly remove content is to stay ahead of new technologies and tactics that could be used by malicious actors, including technically-manipulated content,” the company said. “We also heavily invest in research and development. In 2018, we formed an Intelligence Desk to detect new trends surrounding inappropriate content and problematic behaviors, and to make sure our teams are prepared to address them before they become a larger issue.”

The issue gained traction after the 2016 election when Facebook revealed that a political marketing firm gained unauthorized access to Facebook user data and used it to target political ads in favor of presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Boosting legitimate news sources

Google says it will make an effort to raise the profile of video content from legitimate news organizations in search results and “watch next” panels. 

“Millions of search queries and recommendations are getting this authoritative ranking treatment today, and we're continuing to improve and expand our systems,” the company said.

Consumers, meanwhile, often have difficulty getting access to articles in well-known newspapers. Almost all newspapers have erected “paywalls” that require consumers to pay a monthly subscription fee to access their content.

While stress and exhaustion running rampant among many high school students, a new study conducted by researchers from Yale University found that negative feelings associated with school are rather common for this demographic. 

In a survey that consisted of over 21,000 high school students, nearly three-quarters of students reported negative feelings when asked about their overall high school experience. 

“It was higher than we expected,” said researcher Zorana Ivcevic. “We know from talking to students that they are feeling tired, stressed, and bored, but we were surprised by how overwhelming it was.” 

Understanding emotions

The researchers surveyed high school students across the country to assess their feelings about their overall school experience. The students spanned all 50 states and came from a range of suburban neighborhoods, rural towns, and big cities. 

The survey had several different sections that allowed the participants to rank their emotions -- both positive and negative -- in addition to filling in their own answers about how their time in school affects them emotionally. 

Feeling stressed was the most popular answer by students, with nearly 80 percent of participants reporting that feeling. It was followed up by an overall feeling of boredom, which affected nearly 70 percent of the students. Feeling tired was the third most popular answer given by students. 

“Boredom is in many ways similar to being tired,” said Ivcevic. “It’s a feeling of being drained, low-energy. Physical states, such as being tired, can be at times misattributed as emotional states, such as boredom.” 

Bad for well-being

Overall, 75 percent of students reported some kind of negative feeling when asked to describe or rate their time at school. 

These findings are concerning to the researchers, as not only were there minimal reports of positive or energizing emotions, but these feelings can affect students’ performance in school and their overall well-being. 

“Students spend a lot of their waking time at school,” Ivcevic said. “Kids are at school to learn, and emotions have a substantial impact on their attention. If you’re bored, do you hear what’s being said around you?” 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed the lawsuit to stop the $1.37 billion acquisition of Harry’s Inc. -- a start-up razor company -- by its competitor Edgewell Personal Care Company, the parent company of Schick and Wilkinson Sword.

The FTC objects to the deal on the grounds that it would reduce competition in the shaving industry and ultimately drive up prices for consumers. 

“The loss of Harry’s as an independent competitor would remove a critical disruptive rival that has driven down prices and spurred innovation in an industry that was previously dominated by two main suppliers, one of whom is the acquirer,” the agency stated. 

“Harry’s is a uniquely disruptive competitor in the wet shave market, and it has forced its rivals to offer lower prices, and more options, to consumers across the country,” added Daniel Francis, Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. 

Anti-competitive deal

Harry’s began as an online, direct-to-consumer start-up in 2016. Eventually, the company grew large enough to move into brick-and-mortar stores. Regulators say Harry’s presence forced competitors Procter & Gamble and Edgewell to lower their prices to maintain their customer base. 

The FTC asserts that allowing Edgewell to buy up Harry’s would “eliminate important and growing competition among suppliers of wet shave razors, and would inflict significant harm on consumers of razors across the United States.” 

The agency’s administrative complaint requests that a temporary restraining order and injunction be placed on the acquisition until an administrative trial can be conducted to determine whether the deal is anti-competitive for the industry. It was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 477 model year 2020 Konas.

The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). An incorrect GAWR could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers displaying the correct GAWR over the affected areas of the certification label free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 20, 2020.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 187.

Polaris Industries of Medina, Minn., is recalling about 760 model year 2019 Polaris PRO XD Utility Vehicles (UTVs).

The rear brake line can become punctured causing the rear brakes to fail, posing a collision and crash hazard to the rider.

The firm has received eight reports of rear brake failures. No collisions, crashes, injuries or deaths have been reported.

This recall involves model year 2019 Polaris PRO XD utility vehicles in two- and four-seat configurations of models 4000D, 2000D and 200D 4X2.

The utility vehicles are gray, black, and orange with “POLARIS” stamped on the front grille, “POLARIS COMMERCIAL” on the sides of the utility bed, and “PRO XD” on the front fenders.

Vehicle identification numbers (VIN) can be found on a label affixed to the vehicle frame in the left front wheel well

The UTVs, manufactured in the U.S., were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from November 2017, through November 2019, for between about $14,600 and $17,750.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled utility vehicles and contact a Polaris dealer to schedule a free inspection and repair. Polaris is notifying dealers and contacting affected registered owners directly.

Consumers may contact Polaris at (800) 765-2747 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday, or online at www.polaris.com and click on “Off Road Safety Recalls” at the bottom of the page, and check their vehicle identification number (VIN) to see if their vehicle is included in any other recalls.

Five Star Food of Garden City, Mich., is recalling 100 cases of Excellent Tahina.

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses are reported to date.

The following item, which comes in 800 gram (1.76-lb) and 400 grams (14.1-oz) containers with Best By Nov 2020, is being recalled:

The recalled product was sold in Michigan, Ohio, New York, Florida, North Dakota, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Texas

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop using and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Mr. Omar at (810) 919-3519 Monday – Friday from 9AM – 5PM.

The number of infections in the U.S. related to the 2019 coronavirus outbreak (2019-nCoV) continues to grow, and illnesses and deaths around the world continue to climb to new heights. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed the 11th case of coronavirus infection within the U.S., with health officials investigating another 82 potential cases as of Monday. Consumers under investigation range across 36 U.S. states. 

This outbreak of coronavirus is believed to have originated in the Wuhan area of China, where officials believe it first spread through animal-to-person contact at a large seafood and live animal market. The number of severe illnesses have skyrocketed, with over 360 deaths worldwide and 17,000 possible infections.

Despite the rising tide of infections across the globe, government officials maintain that U.S. consumers are not yet in danger from members of their own communities.

“Imported cases of 2019-nCoV infection in travelers have been detected in the U.S. Person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV also has been seen among close contacts of returned travelers from Wuhan, but at this time, this virus is NOT currently spreading in the community in the United States,” the CDC stated.

Unprecedented travel restrictions

Despite those claims, officials in the U.S. have instituted what the CDC has hailed as “unprecedented steps” for the sake of security. 

Late last week, the government issued a proclamation on global travel that suspended entry of foreign nationals who had visited China within the previous two weeks. Regulators have also implemented measures at airports to detect the virus and lessen the risk to public health. The New York Times reports that those measures include quarantines on certain flights returning from China. 

The CDC still maintains a Level 3 travel warning, which recommends that travelers avoid any nonessential travel to China. Travel into and out of the Wuhan area of the country has already been closed by Chinese officials, and there is limited access to “adequate medical care” in affected areas. 

For more information on the outbreak, including live updates, visit the CDC’s website here.

Apparently, with nothing else better to do, cybercrooks have decided to ride the wave of fear connected to the coronavirus outbreak in hopes of fleecing some consumers.

Reports are starting to pop up that phishers are sending out malicious links and PDFs masquerading as information consumers can use to protect themselves from the virus. In Los Angeles County, public health officials put the public on notice that a letter to locals about a coronavirus in Carson City was completely bogus. 

North of Los Angeles, the school system raised a red flag on false social media reports about the outbreak. School districts in San Diego and Arizona also put out a similar alert. 

What to be on the outlook for

The cyber security firm Mimecast took to Twitter to report it had detected one of the phishing emails, and it read like this:

Dear Sir

Go through the attached document on safety measures regarding the spreading of the corona virus. This little measure can save you.

Use the link below to download (followed by a link to a PDF entitled “Safety Measures”.

Symptoms Common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties.

Regard

Dr. (name redacted)

Specialist wuhan-virus-advisory

(Company/practice redacted)

In ComputerWeekly’s coverage of the scam, security software company Kaspersky reported that its researchers had come across at least 10 different messages, some with a movie file (mp4) or a Microsoft Word file (.docx). 

IBM’s X-Force uncovered another that appeared to be sent from a disability welfare service provider in Japan, simply saying that there have been reports of coronavirus patients in the Gifu prefecture in Japan. It urges the reader to view an attached document, but clicking on the link allows hackers access to their system and information. 

Don’t put your trust in an email or a social media post

Swindles riding on the back of a health outbreak or a major disaster aren’t going away anytime soon.

"Unfortunately we see this often in geopolitical events and world events," Francis Gaffney, the director of threat intelligence at Mimecast, told Wired. "This is when cybercriminals seek opportunities to use the confusion that vulnerable people have. They’ll click on links because they’re not sure."

When a consumer gets an email or sees a social media post that offers a solution, help, etc., the smartest thing to do is go all the way up the food chain and contact the federal agency or topmost business related to the situation BEFORE opening any attachment, responding to any email, or putting any charge on a credit card. In short, stay vigilant.

“One fascinating aspect of phishing and online malware infections (including ransomware), is that the same concept is generally true,” Dan Lohrmann, Chief Security Officer & Chief Strategist at Security Mentor Inc. told GovernmentTechnology. If the bad actors are not successful in getting the user to click on Coronavirus-labeled content today, they will be back tomorrow with a new technique.”

In the coronavirus case, the best place to go is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It has a complete rundown of everything related to the virus and can answer any questions you might have.

“So we all must prepare now and spread the word,” Lohrmann concluded.

People living with a severe peanut allergy need to be hyper aware of which foods and drinks they consume to avoid a potentially fatal reaction, but a new drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could provide some additional peace of mind.

The agency has announced its approval of Palforzia, a drug intended to reduce the risk of anaphylaxis and other severe allergic reactions linked to accidental peanut exposure in children and teens aged 4 to 17. While those who are allergic to peanuts will still need to avoid them, FDA officials say the treatment could be monumental in protecting young children.

“Peanut allergy affects approximately 1 million children in the U.S. and only 1 out of 5 of these children will outgrow their allergy. Because there is no cure, allergic individuals must strictly avoid exposure to prevent severe and potentially life-threatening reactions,” said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. 

“Even with strict avoidance, inadvertent exposures can and do occur. When used in conjunction with peanut avoidance, Palforzia provides an FDA-approved treatment option to help reduce the risk of these allergic reactions in children with peanut allergy.”

Multi-phase approach

Palforzia isn’t a drug that can be used to stop an allergic reaction in an emergency situation. The treatment relies on a multi-phase approach in which children are exposed to multiple powders over several months while under the supervision of a health care professional.

In the first and second phases (Initial Dose Escalation and Up-Dosing), consumers are given a powdered form of the drug that is manufactured from peanuts. The initial dose is given on one day and the up-dosing sessions occur over several months, with doctors monitoring patients each time they occur.

If consumers are able to tolerate all the up-dosing phases, they move on to the third phase and are given a daily maintenance dose of Palforzia to take home. These doses can be mixed into certain semi-solid foods and consumed to continue the treatment. 

In clinical trials, over two-thirds of Palforzia recipients (67.2 percent) were able to consume a 600 mg dose of peanut protein with only mild allergic symptoms after six months of treatment. That compared to only 4 percent of recipients who received a placebo. Despite the promising results, the FDA is still requiring treatments to be given under certain circumstances to help reduce risks inherent with its administration.

“Palforzia will only be available through specially certified healthcare providers, health care settings, and pharmacies to patients who are enrolled in the REMS program. The FDA is requiring that healthcare providers who prescribe Palforzia - and healthcare settings that dispense and administer Palforzia - are educated on the risk of anaphylaxis associated with its use,” the agency said.

For more information about the FDA’s approval, consumers can call the agency’s hotline at 888-INFO-FDA.

The Committee on Education and Labor wants the Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, to further explain her new formula towards processing claims by bamboozled borrowers from now defunct Corinthian Colleges and ITT Technical Institute. 

The Committee’s pushback came early Monday, less than 48 hours before DeVos is scheduled to face the Committee on Education and Labor again. 

After receiving DeVos’ new plan, which she claims is “a scientifically robust statistical methodology to determine harm,” regulators wasted no time in firing a letter back telling the Secretary that the methodology of her formula is not only absurd, but it makes it darn near impossible for borrowers from Corinthian and ITT to ever qualify for full relief from those debts.

“The importance of this formula for hundreds of thousands of borrowers demands the Department be as transparent as possible and provide comprehensive data and methodology information to the public,” the members wrote. 

“This Administration’s pursuit of a partial relief formula runs counter to both recommendations of career Department staff and the policies of the previous Administration, and we fear will result in defaulted borrowers continuing to be saddled with debt that predatory colleges mislead them into incurring based on the false promise that their education would be an investment in their future.”

The shell game continues

It was only six weeks ago that Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) caught the Education Department quietly taking down the last plan that DeVos presented and replacing it with another version. And Scott is determined to find out why DeVos is keeping her charade going.

“The importance of this formula for hundreds of thousands of borrowers demands the Department be as transparent as possible and provide comprehensive data and methodology information to the public,” the members wrote. 

“This Administration’s pursuit of a partial relief formula runs counter to both recommendations of career Department staff and the policies of the previous Administration, and we fear will result in defaulted borrowers continuing to be saddled with debt that predatory colleges mislead them into incurring based on the false promise that their education would be an investment in their future.”

It’s no secret that consumers in rural America don’t have the technology infrastructure found in urban areas, but the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken a step to ensure that they can catch up.

The FCC has approved a $20.4 billion investment to beef up broadband internet access in rural America. 

“Without access to broadband, rural Americans cannot participate in the digital economy or take advantage of the opportunities broadband brings for better education, healthcare, and civic and social engagement,” the FCC said in a release explaining the program. 

The first phase of the program, called the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, will get underway later this year and target census blocks that are completely unserved with fixed broadband at speeds of at least 25/3 Mbps. 

Initial phase

The initial phase of the program could allocate up to $16 billion to census areas where existing data shows there is little to no high-speed internet access. Funds will be divvied up through several rounds of a reverse auction that was similar to the one used in 2018’s Connect America Fund (CAF) Phase II auction. The FCC estimates that about six million rural homes and businesses are located in areas initially eligible for bidding in the Phase I auction.

Phase II of the program will provide another $4.4 billion to enhance service in partially served areas, including census blocks where some locations lack access to at least 25 megabytes per second download service. The program is designed to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

The FCC says the Connect America Fund has been a success in distributing resources to help bridge the digital divide and that success will be carried forward in the new Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.

The program is supported by the Universal Service Fund, which is part of the FCC’s ongoing effort to provide rural America with the same opportunities available in urban areas. That fund was established in the mid-20th century to provide telephone service to rural America.

While many teachers struggle with getting their students to focus throughout the school day, a new study found one such way to keep kids engaged during lessons. 

According to the researchers, students are more likely to stay focused and respond positively when teachers highlight good behavior, whereas calling out bad behavior doesn’t yield the same effect. 

“Everyone values being praised and recognised for their endeavours -- it is a huge part of nurturing children’s self-esteem and confidence,” said researcher Dr. Paul Caldarella. “Also from a behavioral perspective, behavior that is reinforced tends to increase -- so if teachers are praising students for good behavior -- such as attending to the teacher, asking for help appropriately, etc. -- it stands to reason that this behavior will increase, and learning will improve.” 

Better classroom behavior

To assess students’ classroom behavior and their teachers’ interventions, the researchers observed over 2,500 students for three years, ranging in age from kindergarten through sixth grade. 

The students and teachers involved in the study spanned 151 different classrooms. While half of the teachers went about their lessons and behavior management skills as usual, the other half implemented a program that instructed students on appropriate classroom behavior. The students who received that instruction were also rewarded for good behavior. 

The researchers found that the more teachers yelled at students for exhibiting bad behavior in the classroom, the more difficult it became to hold the students’ attention and carry on as usual with their lessons and activities. 

However, when teachers took the opposite approach, praising students for a job well done, that good behavior was more consistent. Moreover, teachers were able to get through more of their lessons with high levels of student engagement and focus. 

Though highlighting good behavior proved to be an effective classroom management strategy, the researchers explained that it isn’t always as easy as just praising students; teachers also need to use their best judgement when trying to maintain control of the classroom and their students’ attention. 

“Unfortunately, previous research has shown that teachers often tend to reprimand students for problem behavior as much or more than they praise pupils for appropriate behavior, which can often have a negative effect on classrooms and student behavior,” said Dr. Caldarella. “Praise is a form of teacher feedback, and students need that feedback to understand what behavior is expected of them, and what behavior is valued by teachers.” 

Apparel retailer Forever 21, which filed for bankruptcy protection last year, has agreed to sell its retail business to a group of mall operators.

In a court filing, the company said the group -- which is led by Brookfield Property Partners, Authentic Brands, and Simon Property Group -- has agreed to pay $81 million for the assets. Other interested parties have until the end of this week to enter a competing bid.

If there is another offer, the bankruptcy court will order an auction to be held February 10. Forever 21 plans to complete the transaction by the following day.

The retailer declared bankruptcy at the end of September. At that time, company officials expressed were optimistic that they could turn things around. They said bankruptcy would allow the company to restructure and focus on the “profitable core part of its operations.” 

Closed some stores

At the time it declared bankruptcy, Forever 21 had 815 stores in 57 counties. Since then, it has closed many of its international stores, as well as nearly 180 U.S. locations.

"The decisions as to which domestic stores will be closing are ongoing, pending the outcome of continued conversations with landlords,” the retailer said in a September statement.

Like many retailers lately, Forever 21 has faced stiff competition from major online channels. It has also faced challenges in marketing to the latest generation of younger shoppers, who often frequent thrift stores looking for high-quality clothing at bargain prices.

Although Forever 21 earned a fairly high rating from ConsumerAffairs readers, some recent reviewers have reported frustrations in dealing with the company, especially when it came to getting orders delivered on time. 

“Whether the shipping is free or you pay for it, the shipping time is horrible,” Alexis of Saylorsburg, Pa., wrote in a December 22 ConsumerAffairs post.

But unlike some other retailers -- such as Toys “R” Us -- Forever 21 is unlikely to disappear from the retail landscape. The store is considered a major draw for many shopping malls, which have struggled of late to draw customers. CNBC reports that that’s a big reason mall operators are interested in keeping the store running.

“The fear for many of America’s mall owners has been that a liquidation of Forever 21 would leave them with too much vacant space,” CNBC notes. “Simon and Brookfield are two of Forever 21′s biggest landlords.”

As the 2020 home buying season gets underway, prospective buyers are finding the most attractive mortgage rates in years. Current homeowners can also take advantage of the low rates if they refinance.

Freddie Mac reports the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rate has fallen to a three-year low, reaching 3.51 percent last week. It was 4.46 percent a year ago. The average 15-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3 percent, while the average 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage is 3.28 percent.

Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, says the drop in rates has led to a flurry of home shopping activity as well as a sharp increase in refinancing. 

“Borrowers who take advantage of these low rates can improve their cash flow by lowering their monthly mortgage payments, giving them more money to spend or save,” Khater said.

Why rates are falling

Mortgage rates are falling because they are tied to the yield on the 10-year Treasury bond, and that rate fell even further last week to below 1.6 percent. Lower rates attracted more applicants for loans, with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reporting a 7.2 percent increase in consumers seeking mortgages to buy or refinance homes.

Joel Kan, MBA's associate vice president of Economic and Industry Forecasting, says borrowers are benefitting from concern about the economic impact from China's coronavirus outbreak, in addition to existing concerns over trade and other geopolitical risks. Those worries are driving bond rates lower and mortgage rates are falling as a result.

"With the 30-year fixed rate at its lowest level since November 2016, refinances jumped 7.5 percent,” Kan said. “Purchase applications grew 2 percent and were 17 percent higher than the same week last year. Thanks to low rates and the healthy job market, purchase activity continues to run stronger than in 2019."

Lower monthly payments

Lower mortgage rates can make buying a home more affordable since monthly payments will be lower. But as we’ve previously reported, finding a home to buy this year could be a bigger challenge. A recent analysis by Zillow shows the inventory of available homes hit a seven-year low in December.

The lower rates might be a bigger benefit to current homeowners who refinance their mortgages. An analysis from Black Knight, a company that crunches financial numbers, shows the average homeowner could save $272 per month by refinancing their mortgage at present rates.

Since loans normally carry closing costs, whether you should consider refinancing depends on a number of factors, including your present rate and how long you plan to live in the home.

Greg McBride, Bankrate’s chief financial analyst, says refinancing could pay off if you can reduce your present rate by one-half to three-quarters of a percent. But he cautions that you probably need to stay in the home for at least a couple of years to justify the cost of refinancing.

If you’re considering refinancing, ConsumerAffairs has collected thousands of reviews of mortgage companies here.

General Motors is recalling 699 model year 2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500s & 3500s, and GMC Sierra 2500s and 3500s with non-desiccated, passenger front airbag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls.

The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the front passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger airbag inflators free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 24, 2020.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 or GMC customer service at (866) 522-9559. GM's number for this recall is N192290990.

Alliance Tire Americas is recalling 1,178 Galaxy DH241-G 16H commercial truck tires in size 11R24.5 with DOT date codes 2519 through 4619.

The tires may have been improperly vulcanized, allowing the tread to separate from the casing.

Tread separation can reduce vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash

What to do

Alliance Tire will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tires free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin February 4, 2020.

Owners may contact Alliance Tire customer service at (844) 921-2778.