Current Events in February 2020

Cannabis is becoming more popular with consumers due to more states legalizing it and major corporations infusing it into well-known products. However, researchers from the University of Waterloo in Canada have found that many people are still uninformed when it comes to edibles.

In a recent study, the researchers found that the majority of consumers can’t identify what constitutes high or low levels of THC when reading the packaging of cannabis edibles. 

“Using THC numbers to express potency of cannabis products has little or no meaning to most young Canadians,” said researcher David Hammond. “We’ve known for many years that people struggle to understand the numbers on the back of food packages and cigarette packages. Consumers seem to have equal or even more difficulty with THC numbers, which are used to indicate the potency of cannabis products.” 

Understanding potency

The goal of the study was for the researchers to gauge consumers’ understanding of cannabis edibles. To achieve that, they put a group of nearly 900 participants to the test. All of the participants were between the ages of 16 and 30, and the researchers wanted to test two primary figures: if the participants could identify how strong the product was and how many servings were in a particular package. 

When the packaging included THC levels as a percentage, most of the participants couldn’t determine the potency of the product. When it came to serving size, including the number of doses included in the package was important. 

When the dosage was indicated, 77 percent of the participants could identify the proper serving size, compared to just six percent of participants who did the same when the labeling was more ambiguous. When percentages were omitted but packages included descriptive words or symbols -- such as using a traffic light system that signified strength by color -- over 65 percent of the participants correctly determined the potency of the product.  

Rethinking labels

The researchers explained that Canadian law requires that all cannabis edibles are specifically labeled with the ingredients and the THC percentage, which typically indicates how strong the product is. However, this study proves that companies may want to rethink how they’re labeling their products, as using a more consumer-friendly approach could clear up any confusion about the strength of cannabis edibles. 

“Effective THC labeling and packaging could help reduce accidental over-consumption of cannabis edibles and adverse events, which have increased in jurisdictions that have legalized recreational cannabis,” said Hammond. 

It was easier than expected to get hired last month. The Labor Department reports that the economy added 225,000 jobs in January, significantly more than expected.

Some of the biggest gains came in construction, health care, and transportation and warehousing. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.6 percent because more people were looking for work.

Construction jobs increased by 17,000 after averaging 12,000 a month throughout 2019. Jobs in health care rose by 36,000, and transportation and warehousing jobs increased by 28,000.

The ADP National Employment Report, issued two days ahead of the government’s non-farm payrolls, showed where the new jobs are being created. Medium-size businesses with 50 to 499 employees created the most jobs in January -- 128,000. Small businesses, which traditionally have been the employment driver in the economy, produced only 94,000 jobs last month.

Gad Levanon, vice president of Labor Markets at The Conference Board, says the robust January jobs report is, in general, good news for people looking for a job.

“Amid stagnant growth in the working-age population, strong employment growth will likely further tighten the labor market in 2020,” Levanon said. “As a result, we can expect increasing challenges around recruitment and retention, higher labor cost growth, and a further squeeze on corporate profits.”

The advantage goes to employees and job seekers

A tight labor market might not be so good for employers, but it gives employees and job seekers additional leverage. The increase in jobs is drawing more people to the workforce, especially women. Levanon says the labor force participation rate for women aged 25-54 reached 77 percent in January. 

“That marks a near-record, just shy of the record rate in April 2000,” he said. “The improvement in labor force participation will partly offset the impact of strong job growth, slow further tightening in the labor market, and help fuel continued employment and economic growth.”

People with jobs earned more last month as well. Average hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls rose by seven cents to $28.44. On an annual basis, that’s a 3.1 percent increase in pay, slightly higher than the increase in December.

The record-long economic recovery has been marked by a strong demand for labor. The U.S. economy has added jobs for 112 straight months, the longest streak of job gains on record.

Salud Natural Entrepreneur of Waukegan, Ill., is recalling Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (powder) and Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (capsule).

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There are no reports of illnesses to date.

The following lot numbers, which can be found on the bottom back of the product label, are being recalled:

Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (powder, 1 lb. bags) UPC 890523000720

• Lot # 62.19 / 9 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/7/21
• Lot # 62.19 / 2 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/7/21

Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (powder, 1 lb. bags) UPC 890523000720

• Lot # 64.19 / 3 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/21/21

Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (powder, 1 lb. bags) UPC 890523000720

• Lot # 65.19 / 1 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/24/21
• Lot # 65.19 / 2 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/24/21

Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (powder, 2 lb. bags) UPC:890523000843

• Lot # 64.19 / 2 # 52.1 Best if used by 10/21/21
• Lot # 64.19 / 2 * 2Lb # 52.1 Best if used by 10/21/21

Nopalina Flax Seed Fiber (capsules, 120 count) UPC 890523000867

• Lot # 23.19 1C120 # 07 Best if used by 10/7/21
• Lot # 23.192C120 # 02 Best if used by 10/7/21
• Lot # 23.19 / 2C120 # 02 Best if used by 10/7/21
• Lot # 23.19.2C120 # 02 Best if used by 10/7/21
• Lot # 23.19.3C120 # 02 Best if used by 10/7/21

The recalled products were sold at retail stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico and on the firm's website

What to do

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

Consumers with questions may contact the company at (877) 296-6845Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm) or online at https://www.nopalinaonline.com/certificate/.

Toyota is recalling about 44,00 model year 2020 Avalon Hybrids, Camrys, Camry Hybrids; model year 2019-2020 RAV4s, RAV4 Hybrids and model year 2020 Lexus ES 300h vehicles.

Some of the vehicles may be equipped with an engine block that was manufactured incorrectly, which may cause coolant to leak internally and/or externally during normal engine operation.

This can lead to engine noise, engine smoke, warning lights/malfunction indicator illumination, an audible chime sounding, and/or, in some cases, engine overheating and possible internal mechanical engine damage.

In a conventional gasoline vehicle, the vehicle could stall while being driven at higher speeds without prior warning, increasing the risk of a crash.

For both hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicles, the mechanical engine damage could cause engine oil to leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, can lead to an increased risk of fire.

What to do

Toyota and Lexus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine block casting serial number to determine if it is involved. In the cases where an involved engine block is identified, dealers will replace the engine including the engine block with a new one free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin by early April.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331 or Lexus customer service at (800) 255-3987.

The rising cost of health care affects consumers of all ages, and the ambiguous -- and often lofty -- price tags associated with certain procedures or treatments can prevent patients from receiving the proper care that they need. 

Now, experts from West Health Institute, a group of nonprofits that works to reduce health care costs for older people, are exploring the rise in health care costs and trying to put initiatives in place that would lessen the financial burden of medical care for seniors. 

“Skyrocketing health care costs represent a significant and growing public health crisis that requires more action and less debate,” said Shelley Lyford, president and CEO of West Health. “We can all agree that Americans are hurting, in some cases dying or going bankrupt, because of a broken system that costs too much and delivers too little. We can no longer delay or defer common sense reforms and better and more cost-effective models of care when the health and financial security of millions hang in the balance.” 

Creating better policies and practices

While there are countless factors at play that influence the cost of seniors’ health care, some of the top findings included at-home care, prescription drugs, and what stance employers take to maintain reasonable health care costs. 

Similarly, when trying to remedy these concerns, experts brainstormed several viable options for policymakers to implement, all of which would help keep health care costs down while providing seniors with the highest level of care. 

One article suggested creating geriatric emergency departments, which would ensure that older people are getting care tailored specifically to their needs. It would also reduce the number of emergency room visits, as trips to the ER can have a rather high price tag. 

The experts also wanted a more active role from employers, who often make the big decisions when it comes to health care coverage. If employers were more vocal about switching to value-based payment options, which put the financial burden on medical providers rather than on patients, it would save seniors a lot of money. 

Lowering costs

Lowering the cost of prescriptions would also help considerably, and West Health recommended that Medicare should work directly with drug companies to get the lowest prices for consumers. Though this would require legislative intervention, the end goal would greatly benefit the older demographic. 

“As the U.S. population ages, it is increasingly vital to support common sense steps that can reverse the runaway health care costs,” said Robert Blancato. “Unless we advocates take bold actions now to lower health care costs, our nation’s older adults cannot hope to successfully age in place in the communities they cherish.” 

West Health, in partnership with the American Society on Aging, shared their full review on this subject, and even more suggestions, in a special issue of the Journal of the American Society of Aging. That review can be found here. 

A New Jersey state court jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $750 million in damages to four plaintiffs who claimed asbestos in the company’s talc powder products caused their lung cancer.

The judge in the case said she will lower the amount of the damages, but it will still be the most ever awarded to claimants suing Johnson & Johnson over their illness. The company said it will appeal.

The damages award was the final phase of a trial that began last year. The jury initially awarded the plaintiffs $37.3 million in compensatory damages. Judge Ana Viscomi of New Jersey Superior Court said state law limits punitive damages to five times the amount of compensatory damages, therefore the punitive damage award would be lowered to around $186.5 million.

The trial focused on the safety of two of the company’s powder products, Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.

Plaintiffs claim the products contained asbestos

This was the latest case in which consumers of Johnson & Johnson powder products brought an action against the company, claiming the powder contained small amounts of asbestos, a cancer-causing substance.

Johnson & Johnson has vigorously denied that is the case. In the trial, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky took the stand and testified that the company took extensive measures to make sure that its powder products containing talc were safe and did not contain asbestos.

In rendering its punitive damages verdict, the jury found otherwise. It found Johnson & Johnson was responsible for causing the plaintiffs to suffer from mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer.

Basis of appeal

Attorneys for Johnson & Johnson immediately served notice that they would appeal the court’s verdicts in both phases of the trial. They point to what they called “numerous legal errors” that prevented the jury from hearing “meaningful evidence.”

Johnson & Johnson insists that it has always acted responsibly and points to more than 40 years of testing that it says has confirmed that Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, doesn’t contain asbestos, and doesn’t cause cancer.

But in a report last year, Reuters quoted officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as saying it isn’t accurate to say the powder products have always been free of asbestos. The officials noted that Johnson & Johnson had already recalled nearly 33,000 containers of baby powder after the FDA said it found trace amounts of asbestos in powder taken from a container the agency purchased online.

Consumers might rightly wonder how asbestos, a known carcinogen, could end up in a commercial talc powder product. According to Mesothelioma.com, a site sponsored by a law firm handling mesothelioma cases, talc is often naturally found near asbestos in the earth. It says the talc can easily become contaminated by the toxin while being mined.

Many airline carriers faced an up-and-down year in 2019. Boeing’s 737 MAX debacle caused logistical problems, and the recent coronavirus outbreak that began in December has forced many companies to alter their schedules.

But despite those pitfalls, airline employees working for Southwest will happily receive a well-earned profit-sharing bonus. The company announced on Thursday that it would be doling out $667 million to 60,000 employees who are eligible under the program. 

“Our Employees delivered outstanding results despite a challenging year, and it’s a pleasure to reward our People for all they contribute to our continued success,” said Southwest CEO Gary Kelly. “We recognize their resolve, persistence, resilience, and devotion to each other, our Customers, and our cause.”

In total, the bonus payments will reportedly equate to about 6 weeks of extra pay for employees who receive them. 

More headwinds in 2020

Despite the good news for employees, Southwest as a company is facing some more headwinds as we progress through 2020. 

A Department of Transportation report leaked at the end of January and expected to go public this month will allegedly hold the company accountable for unsafe practices. The Wall Street Journal claims that the report will also admonish the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for not holding Southwest accountable.

In one instance, a Southwest jet’s wing tips were reportedly smashed when trying to make a landing in gale force winds. 

For the consumers pulling out another swath of their hair every time they receive a robocall, Google may have come to the rescue.

While the world waits for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make TRACED -- the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act -- a reality, all consumers have at their disposal are anti-robocall apps and some self-control in not answering each and every call that comes their way. 

But Google’s new “Screen Call” feature may represent a well thought out antidote, at least for the time being.

Does this work?

With scammers ceaselessly adding new gotchas to hook a consumer, no fix is guaranteed to last forever.

When ConsumerAffairs put the feature into action, it did everything it advertises -- from automatically detecting spam calls, to telling the caller that their call is being screened, and giving the consumer the opportunity to listen live to the caller’s reason for calling. If the consumer wants to talk to them, all they have to do is press a button to start a conversation. If that sounds like how the world used to screen calls back in the answering machine days, bingo -- it’s exactly the same.

Built into Google’s modern day call screener are two additional options: 1) if you want to decline all first-time callers, private, or hidden numbers automatically, you can; 2) if you want to automatically screen and decline ALL private, first-timers, or hidden numbers, you can do that, too.

Will it work on your phone?

Call Screen comes part and parcel with Google Pixel phones, but ConsumerAffairs found that the feature worked on a Moto G7. Reports indicate that it works on other Android phones as well. Those include:

• OnePlus 7T

• ASUS ROG Phone II

• Huawei Mate 30 Pro

• Xiaomi Redmi 8A

• Realme X2

• Google Pixel 4 XL

And an iPhone? Apple does have its own way of blocking callers with a similar feature called “Silence Unknown Callers, but it’s arguably not quite as intuitive as Google’s feature… yet. In a touch of snark tweeted out by media critic Joanna Schroeder, “I really don't know how you iPhone users survive without the Pixel's AI that answers spam calls for you and talks to them.”

Although a classroom may not be a student’s favorite place to spend their time, a new study conducted by researchers from UCLA has identified yet another variable that could affect students’ health: sitting. 

The study revealed that sitting for extended periods of time, as most college students are used to doing during class, can increase the risk of disease. The researchers say it’s important that universities make a concerted effort to create opportunities for students to stand up, walk around, and stretch throughout class. 

“A cultural change has to take place -- that it’s OK to take a stretch break, to stand up during a lecture, to fidget when needed -- it’s ‘good’ for health’s sake,” said Angelia Leung, a professor in the World Arts & Cultures/Dance Department. “My students have an excuse because dance classes naturally involve movement, but we can extend these benefits to any class on campus with something as simple as short stretching breaks -- no dancing required.” 

Misconceptions about moving

The researchers were most interested in learning what students and faculty already knew about sitting still for too long and how they felt about incorporating more movement into class times. They conducted focus groups with undergraduate and graduate students, as well as with several faculty members, to gauge their understanding of the risks associated with being sedentary for long periods of time. 

None of the students were concerned about the health risks associated with sitting throughout longer class times, though they did mention feeling self-conscious about getting up or walking around in the middle of class -- even in classes with fewer students. Professors were similarly unaware of how being still for too long can be bad for students’ health. 

A number of the participants also thought that being active later in the day would be able to reverse the effects of sitting for long periods of time, which researcher Burt Cowgill explained is false. 

“Many people thought they would be fine if they also squeezed in a 30-minute jog, and that’s just not what research shows us,” Cowgill said. 

Health risks

The researchers cited previous studies which have linked prolonged sitting with increased risks for diseases and conditions ranging from obesity and heart disease to cancer and diabetes. 

While both students and professors expressed interest and acceptance in having time during class to move around, the researchers explained that the push needs to come from professors. If instructors take the time to normalize these breaks and encourage their students to walk around and stretch for a few minutes, students wouldn’t feel that they’re breaking an unspoken social norm. 

“We need to change the way we teach so that we can offer more standing breaks, create opportunities for in-class movement, and even change the built environment so that there’s more room for moving around,” said Cowgill.  

As it suffers shocks to its economy from the spreading coronavirus, China has announced it is cutting tariffs on $75 billion in U.S. imports, reducing the duty by 50 percent.

The move is a reciprocal act that follows the Trump administration’s announced plan to cut tariffs on about $112 billion in Chinese imports. Those tariffs are also being cut in half. It signals a lessening of trade tensions that have roiled financial markets for the last 18 months. Both tariff reductions will take effect next week.

Chinese media outlets quoted an official from the country’s Ministry of Finance as saying the tariff reductions are being made to “ease economic and trade tensions and expand cooperation.”

"It is our hope that both sides will work together toward ultimately removing all additional tariffs," the unidentified official said.

Only a slight impact

Despite concerns expressed at the outset of the trade war, the tariffs have not posed an undue burden on consumers. Importers and retailers have absorbed some of the additional costs and inflation has barely budged, if at all. Consumer spending remained strong throughout the holiday shopping season.

Chinese tariffs on U.S. agricultural products have had a serious impact on U.S. farmers, but a side effect from that has been lower consumer prices for some food products, such as pork. The Phase One trade agreement signed last month in Washington calls for China to increase spending on U.S. agricultural products, which may provide some relief for U.S. producers in the months ahead.

The easing of trade tensions comes as the Commerce Department reported this week that the U.S. trade deficit fell for the first time in six years. The government says the difference between imports and exports fell 1.7 percent in 2019 to $616.8 billion.

During the reporting period, which coincides with the trade war with China, the U.S. exported less but also imported less. The trade deficit in finished goods like cars and appliances was offset by a trade surplus in services like tourism and banking.

Reviews of products and services are essential for savvy consumers who want to do their homework and make the best financial decision. But one such site that offered these reviews has caught the ire of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 

The agency says that LendEDU -- which offers comparisons on financial products like student loans, personal loans, and credit cards -- misled consumers by not remaining objective and unbiased when ranking various services. Regulators also charge the company of using fake reviews to make certain products appear more desirable. 

“LendEDU told consumers that its financial product rankings were based on objective and unbiased information about the quality of the product being offered, but in fact LendEDU sold its rankings to the highest bidder,” said Andrew Smith, the director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. 

“These misrepresentations undermine consumer trust, and we will hold lead generators like LendEDU accountable for their false promises of objectivity.”

Misleading reviews

The FTC’s complaint states that LendEDU misrepresented that the rankings on its site were not affected by payments from advertisers, even though that wasn’t the case. But officials say the deception didn’t stop there.

Although LendEDU claimed that reviews on its site were based on actual experiences from impartial consumers, officials say that many of them were written by company employees, their family or friends, or other people who had a professional relationship with the company. Many of these reviews were also used on other third-party sites.

Under a proposed settlement, LendEDU has agreed to pay $350,000 to settle the FTC’s charges. It is also barred from making these kinds of misrepresentations in the future. 

A plunge in oil prices due to the fast-spreading coronavirus in China is giving motorists a break at the gas pump. Oil prices stabilized this week, but the effects of cheap crude are being felt nationwide.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $2.45 a gallon. That’s only three cents lower than a week ago but 13 cents lower than a month ago, as gas prices have drifted lower since the start of 2020. The average price of premium gas is $3.06, down from $3.09 last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.92 a gallon, also three cents less than a week ago.

GasBuddy counts nearly 8,000 stations under $2 a gallon, according to Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. He reports on Twitter that the average gas price continues to fall in most states while gyrating in “price cycling” states like Indiana, Ohio, and Florida. Price cycling refers to a strategy by gas stations in which they slowly lower their prices to gain market share and then raise them again when prices are so low that they’re losing money.

States in the Southeast and Midwest saw the biggest price declines this week. The statewide average fell six cents a gallon in South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi. It fell nine cents in Ohio and seven cents in Illinois.

Gas prices should continue to fall over the next few weeks. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported Thursday that U.S. gasoline stockpiles continue to grow while wintertime demand for fuel continues to decline.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

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

• Hawaii ($3.63)

• California ($3.51)

• Washington ($3.09)

• Nevada ($2.95)

• Oregon ($2.98) 

• Alaska ($2.95)

• Arizona ($2.80)

• Pennsylvania ($2.65)

• New York ($2.64)

• Vermont ($2.61) 

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Missouri ($2.09)

• Texas ($2.11)

• Mississippi ($2.13)

• Louisiana ($2.14)

• South Carolina ($2.14)

• Oklahoma ($2.16)

• Arkansas ($2.18)

• Kansas ($2.18)

• Alabama ($2.18)

• Tennessee ($2.21)

General Motors is recalling 554 model year 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibes with a front passenger airbag assembly replaced under a prior recall.

The replacement airbag may not unfold as designed during inflation in high temperature conditions, possibly resulting in improper inflation.

An air bag that does not inflate properly increases the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the passenger air bag module -- as necessary -- free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 9, 2020.

Owners may contact Pontiac customer service at (800) 762-2737. GM's number for this recall is N192278940.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 138,842 model year 1998-2000 RAV4s, model year 1998-1999 RAV4 EVs & Celicas and model year 1997-1998 Supras.

The vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver Airbag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant.

Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the airbag cushion to underinflate.

An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.

What to do

The remedy for this recall is still under development.

The recall is expected to begin March 22, 2020.

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (888) 270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB01 and 20TA01.

While most of what happens in Washington, D.C. happens at a snail’s pace, it was only a matter of months after the Trump administration called for a ban on e-cigarettes that it was put to work. Effective Thursday, that plan went into effect.

The ABC’s of the policy

The essential things consumers need to know about the policy are pretty straightforward:

• While it’s called a “ban,” it’s not a law and it’s not binding -- at least not at the moment.

• What’s covered is the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of flavored (e.g. fruit and mint) vaping cartridges or pods. An example of those would be what Juul was offering prior to the ban.

• Disposable vapes that use an open-tank system, and their respective flavored e-liquids, are not banned.

• Flavored “e-liquid” that’s not packaged in a cartridge is not banned, either.

If you happen to see an e-cigarette on the market, it’s there illegally. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not given any e-cigarette manufacturer “premarket authorization” and it continues to put violators in its crosshairs. 

“Our review of premarket product applications will help evaluate the public health benefits and harms of a tobacco product to ensure that those authorized for marketing are appropriate for the protection of public health,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless, M.D. 

“This will include understanding the likelihood that those who do not use tobacco products – such as kids – will start using them, as well as the likelihood that tobacco users will stop.” The FDA’s intention is to prioritize the shutdown of flavor cartridge-based vaping products. Menthol and tobacco flavors are not included in the policy.

Teens continue to be the focus

The number one goal of both the FDA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is keeping teens from falling into the e-cig trap. 

“The United States has never seen an epidemic of substance use arise as quickly as our current epidemic of youth use of e-cigarettes,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. “HHS is taking a comprehensive, aggressive approach to enforcing the law passed by Congress, under which no e-cigarettes are currently on the market legally.”

To that end, the FDA just rolled out “The Real Cost,” a video campaign featuring teenagers sharing cautionary tales about their e-cigarette addiction. In one of the series, called “My Vaping Mistake,” teenagers get personal about the physical and emotional effects vaping addiction had on their lives. 

“We will not stand idly by as this crisis among America’s youth grows and evolves, and we will continue monitoring the situation and take further actions as necessary,” Azar said.

Getting around the ban

Agencies behind the ban have their work cut out for them. The New York Times reported just last week that teens have already found a loophole in the ban and are working it to their advantage.

The wrinkle in the ban? Disposable vapes.

“Students were telling me that everybody had gone to Puff Bars, which are disposable,” Lauren W. Williams, a teacher at McCracken County High School in Kentucky told the Times. “The one we confiscated here this week is Banana Ice. Students are not using Juuls anymore because no one wants menthol or tobacco.”

Possible exceptions

It’s important to note that individual states may have their own vaping bans. Two examples are North Carolina and Missouri. According to Bloomberg Government, law-enforcement agencies in two states have told stores that sell cigarettes that state enforcement of tobacco rules isn’t changing yet, even though federal law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping devices to minors. 

The reason isn’t a lack of desire. It has more to do with the layers and layers of getting statewide regulations into play. 

“You can’t just turn a battleship around on a dime,” Mike O’Connell, communications director for the Missouri Department of Public Safety, told Bloomberg.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says the states investigating Google for possible antitrust violations could seek any number of remedies, including breaking up the company.

Paxton is leading a 50-state investigation into Google and other tech giants to determine if they have used their size and clout to illegally take market share or engage in other anti-competitive activities. At the Justice Department in Washington for a meeting this week, Paxton told reporters that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to possible remedies.

“Most people are just not aware of Google’s dominance,” Paxton told Reuters. “Everyone thinks that the internet’s free.The pricing reflects the fact that there’s only one player.”

Bipartisan issue

The attorneys general launched their investigation in September after Paxton, along with others, charged Google of dominating both advertising and search on the internet. While there are other search engines -- Yahoo and Microsoft’s Bing among them -- most people seem to use Google. In fact, “to Google” something has become synonymous with an internet search.

“When there is no longer a free market or competition, this increases prices, even when something is marketed as free, and harms consumers,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said when the investigation launched.

Both Moody and Paxton are Republicans, taking part in what is often seen as a Democratic issue. But when it comes to Big Tech, party lines have blurred. President Trump has been as vocal in his criticism as Sen Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Google responds

Paxton said Google has a role to play in determining the outcome of the probe and said the company can shorten it by cooperating and telling its story. Google shot back that it has been cooperating.

“We have been working constructively with the Texas attorney general and have produced a substantial volume of information in response to his inquiry even as we seek assurances that our confidential business information won’t be shared with competitors or vocal complainants,” Google said in a statement to the media.

What hasn’t been said is what a broken-up Google would look like. It’s an important question for consumers who rely on Google as a go-to source for information. Would it be more than one search engine or would search simply be separated from advertising?

The Justice Department is also reportedly investigating large digital firms with a goal of wrapping up the probe by the end of 2020. Meanwhile, Google is not the only tech firm in the government’s crosshairs -- Facebook, Amazon, and Apple are also reportedly under scrutiny.

Convenience store chain 7-Eleven is testing a cashierless store, a concept pioneered by Amazon. But unlike Amazon, which must build each store it opens, 7-Eleven has a huge footprint of existing stores that could one day be converted to cashierless outlets.

So far, only one 7-Eleven has opened with no one behind the counter, and it’s not open to the general public. It’s a 700 square foot facility at the company’s corporate headquarters in suburban Dallas. For the pilot, the store is only open to company employees.

"Retail technology is evolving at a rapid pace and customer expectations are driving the evolution," said 7-Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto. "Our team is dedicated to continuing 7-Eleven's legacy of innovation with industry-leading digital solutions.”

The company is mixing algorithms with predictive technology to track what customers are buying in the store. Smaller than a typical 7-Eleven, the pilot store’s inventory is limited to the most popular products sold in the chain’s stores, including beverages, snacks, food, groceries, over-the-counter drugs, and non-food items. As the project goes forward, 7-Eleven says the product mix will be refined.

Amazon blazed the trail

Amazon began the move to cashierless stores in 2016 when it announced the launch of Amazon Go, a convenience store where you walk in, pick up what you want, and walk out. An app on your smartphone records the purchase and charges it to your credit card.

Amazon says the technology that makes the checkout-free store possible is very similar to what is used in self-driving cars. It combines computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning.

Since 2016, Amazon has opened Amazon Go stores in Seattle, Chicago, and New York. But the concept has gotten serious pushback from some city policymakers who claim it discriminates against the poor. They point out that the stores would exclude consumers who don’t have a smartphone or don’t have a credit card.

Cities may erect barriers

San Francisco officials even went so far last year to consider a ban on cashierless stores in the city. Amazon quickly did an about-face, saying it would accept cash at its stores -- which sort of defeats the purpose of a cashless store.

The 7-Eleven cashierless store works on a model similar to Amazon Go. The company says employees who want to shop at the test store simply download the app, sign up, and check in at the store. After shopping, they leave and a detailed receipt appears in the app automatically after the customer exits.

Mani Suri, 7-Eleven senior vice president and chief information officer, says the ultimate goal is to create a seamless shopping experience. He says introducing the concept to company employees has so far proven to be a very productive way to test and learn before launching to a wider audience.