Current Events in June 2020

Rather than have your transactional data used without your explicit knowledge, it’s now possible for consumers to sell it to financial institutions for cash.

Killi, a company providing consumer privacy services, has developed an app that integrates access to over 20,000 financial institutions so that consumers can opt-in to an agreement to share their data.

If they do, they receive compensation from the participating firms, unlike the normal arrangement, when consumers often are unaware that their data is being sold.

“The current market for transactional data is powered by firms that collect data from credit cards and bank cards, and sell it without explicitly informing or compensating the consumer," said Killi founder and CEO Neil Sweeney. 

Consumers may be told their data is being accessed and sold, but Sweeney says the disclosure is usually masked in the fine print. He says companies will sometimes bait consumers by offering points or other amenities in exchange for financial information. However, the payout only represents a fraction of the real value of the data.

Control and transparency

Sweeney says Killi is changing this system by providing consumers with control and transparency on who is purchasing their data while providing them with direct compensation each time the data is acquired. 

“Additionally, by putting explicit consent at the individual user level, Killi also removes privacy, fraud, and fidelity concerns for those that buy the data,” Sweeney said. “Killi gives full transparency to both buyers and sellers. When purchasing data from Killi, you know exactly where this data is coming from and vice versa.”

How much your data could be worth all depends on what kind of data it is. Industry sources say your Facebook data may be among the most valuable.

Congressional interest

A year ago, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) proposed legislation to provide more transparency in consumer data transactions by requiring data sellers to tell consumers exactly how much their information is worth.

Killi's Fair Trade Data program appears to come close to that goal. It allows for consumer inclusion in the sale of personal data and provides full transparency for buyers of data to see the exact source of what they are buying.

The program launched in April, and the company says it could play a significant role in the movement toward universal basic income for individuals by establishing a new model that regularly sends money back to the consumer. 

Nissan North America is recalling 846,000 model year 2013-2015 Altimas manufactured March 6, 2012, to December 31, 2014.

The secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed.

If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while the vehicle is being driven, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

What to do

These vehicles were previously included in recalls in 2014 and 2015, however the previous remedy plan may not have been performed consistently to remove the safety risk.

To correct this issue, Nissan will re-notify all affected owners and dealers will replace the hood latch with a new one, free of charge.

The recall began on February 17, 2016.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 647-7261.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 1,876,922 (1,856,118)

Total U.S. deaths: 108,334 (107,281)

Total global cases: 6,682,531 (6,551,290)

Total global deaths: 392,321 (386,795)

Protest marches trigger health worries

In the last 24 hours, health officials have counted just over 1,000 additional deaths from the coronavirus (COVID-19), and they fear the number of cases may follow deaths higher within days. That’s because of the widespread protests across the country in the wake of George Floyd’s death while being arrested by Minneapolis police officers.

Health experts worry that the protests will serve to spread the virus. They point to tightly packed groups of marchers, often not wearing masks, and shouting -- which more easily spreads the infection.

Worse still, they say people who have been arrested have been packed into tight quarters where an infected person could easily spread the infection to others. Experts say they’ll be watching the case numbers a week from now to see if their worst fears have been realized.

Vice President Pence doesn’t rule out more stimulus aid

The Labor Department’s shocking May employment report has convinced some economists that the U.S. is recovering from the coronavirus shutdown much faster than anyone expected. But that doesn’t mean Americans won’t be getting more help from the government.

Appearing on CNBC this morning, Vice President Mike Pence said the Trump administration will continue to negotiate with House Democrats about the need for coronavirus relief.

“We’re going to work in good faith to put the interests of the American families and American businesses first,” Pence said.

The government reports that the economy added 2.5 million jobs in May when economists expected the number of job losses to be in the millions.

Fewer homeowners asking for mortgage forbearance

The number of homeowners enrolled in mortgage forbearance programs as of Tuesday was 4.73 million, according to data analytics firm Black Knight. That’s a decrease of 34,000 over the past week, marking the first weekly decline since the crisis began.

"The decline was actually greater among government-backed mortgages, which saw 43,000 fewer total forbearance plans than last week, but this was partially offset by an increase of 9,000 new plans on mortgages held in bank portfolios and private-label securities," said Black Knight CEO Anthony Jabbour.

Despite the good news, Jabbour says the report shows a drop in the number of homeowners making their mortgage payments on time in May than in April.

CDC chief ‘very concerned’ Americans’ behavior could cause cases to spike

As the economy opens up across the country, Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said he’s “very concerned” that Americans are abandoning precautions put in place over the last three months.

In a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, Redfield said he has seen “a lot of people” not wearing masks in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he expressed concern that Memorial Day, recent protests, and Saturday’s SpaceX launch have led to the formation of crowds. 

Apple reportedly testing returning staff for COVID-19

As Apple employees begin returning to offices, the company is reportedly testing them for the coronavirus. Bloomberg News cites people knowledgeable about the policy as saying the testing is optional, but wearing a mask at work is not. Office snack rooms are also being closed.

Apple began reopening the main Apple Park office in May, bringing back some hardware and software engineers. If they choose, they can undergo a nasal-swab test to check for the virus, according to people familiar with the process. Temperature checks are required.

Around the nation

• Kentucky: Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a Republican, is asking state lawmakers to place limits on the emergency powers Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, has used over the past few months to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. Cameron said there are currently inadequate checks on the governor’s emergency power.

• Pennsylvania: Gov. Tom Wolf says that more counties will be allowed to enter the “green” phase of his pandemic reopening plan, which allows greater public activities. That’s in addition to the 16 that he already announced will enter that phase today. So far, 34 counties are under the “green” phase.

• Virginia: Most of the state entered Phase 2 of coronavirus restrictions today as Virginia sees its number of cases rising toward 50,000. Under Phase 2, restaurants can have outdoor seating at 50 percent capacity and gyms can have indoor workouts and classes at 30 percent capacity.

Amazon has been hit with a lawsuit accusing it of failing to adequately protect its warehouse workers, specifically at a fulfillment center in New York. 

One of the plaintiffs, Barbara Chandler, believes she contracted COVID-19 in March while working at a warehouse in the state. She claims she experienced “a culture of workplace fear reinforced by constant technological supervision, retaliation against those who speak out, and the threat of automatic and immediate job loss in a job market where it may be impossible to find work elsewhere.” 

She says she brought the virus home to her family, and her cousin died less than a month later after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Several other Amazon workers are plaintiffs in the suit.

The group of warehouse employees and their relatives say Amazon failed to enforce safety measures to keep workers and their families from contracting COVID-19. The lawsuit doesn’t seek damages, only “an order requiring Amazon to comply with public health guidance to prevent more harm in the future.” 

Criticism over safety standards

Amazon has faced criticism from workers and lawmakers alike over its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Lawmakers have previously accused the company of not doing enough to protect warehouse workers. 

Some workers have said they were still required to work in close proximity during the coronavirus outbreak, and others said they feared they would be fired for speaking out about their concerns. 

Amazon fired at least four workers who were outspoken about their experience working at a warehouse during the pandemic, prompting the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to look into the matter. 

‘Facade of compliance’

The lawsuit filed this week in federal court in New York is different from others like it because it accuses the company of causing the death of the plaintiff’s cousin. 

“Amazon’s failures have already caused injury and death to workers and family members of workers. At least one JFK8 worker has died from COVID-19, and there are rumors of additional deaths among JFK8 workers. Workers have brought the virus home to family members, some of whom have also tragically died,” the complaint says. 

Chandler and the other plaintiffs claim that, in actuality, Amazon created a “façade of compliance” with safety standards in the midst of the pandemic. The complaint accuses Amazon of purposefully miscommunicating with workers, engaging in “sloppy” contact tracing, and instilling a “culture of workplace fear” at JFK8 to “ensure it can maintain productivity while reducing costs.”

Subsequently, workers “come to work sick and cannot engage in proper hygiene, sanitizing, or social distancing while at work in order to stay healthy,” the suit claims.

Amazon responds

Amazon’s measures to deal with the outbreak in terms of both the surge in demand and worker safety have included implementing hazard pay, expanding sick policies, and adding 175,000 new warehouse and delivery workers. 

The company says it has updated 150 processes to protect worker safety and spent more than $800 million in the first half of this year on new safety programs.

“We are saddened by the tragic impact COVID-19 has had on communities across the globe, including on some Amazon team members and their family and friends,” said Amazon spokesperson Lisa Levandowski in a statement. “From early March to May 1, we offered our employees unlimited time away from work, and since May 1 we have offered leave for those most vulnerable or who need to care for children or family members.”

Health officials are concerned that people are becoming more lax with current guidelines regarding mask wearing and social distancing, which could lead to an increase in the number of cases across the country. 

Robert Redfield, CDC Director and member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, said Thursday that he’s “very concerned” about the public’s current response to the agency’s guidelines. 

In a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee, Redfield said he has seen “a lot of people” not wearing masks in Washington, D.C. Additionally, he expressed concern that Memorial Day, recent protests, and Saturday’s SpaceX launch have led to the formation of crowds. He said protests stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis could be a “seeding event” for additional coronavirus outbreaks. 

Masks still recommended

Given that the U.S. is still seeing around 20,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, the threat of the virus hasn’t yet abated. However, all 50 states have begun easing stay-at-home restrictions. Redfield said the agency will “continue to message as well as we can.” 

“We’re going to encourage people that have the ability to wear masks when they are in their environment to continue to do that,” he said. 

Redfield encouraged people who recently participated in protests to get tested for the coronavirus in the next few days. 

“I do think there is a potential, unfortunately, for this to be a seeding event,” he said. “And the way to minimize that is to have each individual to recognize it is an advantage of them to protect their loved ones, to [say] ‘Hey, I was out, I need to go get tested.’”

While previous studies have found that consumers’ unhealthy diets can have a negative impact on longevity, a new study conducted by researchers from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging found that following a healthy diet isn’t always a guarantee for longer life.  

The researchers learned that everyone’s body responds differently to diet interventions, and consumers shouldn’t bank on the fact that a healthy diet will add years to their lives. While a healthy diet is an important component of an overall healthy life, the researchers emphasize that individual genes are also important to consider when thinking about longevity. 

“Dietary restriction works, but may not be the panacea for those wanting to extend healthspan, delay age-related disease, and extend lifespan,” said researcher Pankaj Kapahi, PhD. 

“Our study is surprising and gives a glimpse into what’s likely going to happen in humans, because we’re all different and will likely respond differently to the effects of dietary restriction. Furthermore, our results question the idea that lifespan extension will always be accompanied by improvement of healthspan.” 

Healthy living should be the goal

The researchers conducted their experiment on fruit flies, as they share many molecular similarities with humans. Nearly 200 different kinds of fruit flies were analyzed for the study, and the researchers were interested in learning if healthier diets improved both lifespan and healthspan. 

“It’s hard to ask and get relevant results in individuals,” said researcher Kenneth Wilson, PhD. “With this method, we can ask questions in a much more robust manner and get answers at the population level.” 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the varying genetic make-up of the fruit flies yielded different results. Overall, just half of the fruit flies experienced improvements to their lifespans and healthspans following diet interventions. 

Over 30 percent of the flies remained neutral after improving their diets, showing no improvements to their health or lifespan, but also not worsening over time. Five percent of the flies lived longer following the change in diet, but were in poorer health because of other age-related conditions. 

“The majority of people are much more interested in being healthy for as long as possible,” said Dr. Kapahi. “I think most people, if given the choice, would choose an intervention that would give them extra years of good health over extra years of disability.” 

Genetics play a role

The researchers hope that consumers’ biggest takeaway is that interventions to improve health and lifespan are different for everyone, as genetics do play a large role in both factors. 

“Lifespan-extending discoveries tend to get a lot of hype in the media as a way to cure all age-related maladies,” said Dr. Kapah. “People need to be aware that their genetic background will likely have a major impact on how they will respond to an intervention. There is a need to develop markers in the field so we can predict how an individual will react to any particular intervention in terms of improving health and lifespan.”  

If you’re a wanderluster who’s itching to once again get back on the roads and in the skies, you’ve got company. A new travel industry analysis from Comscore shows an upswing in consumer interest across several travel categories, a sign that the industry may be getting its groove back.

In the early and peak stages of the pandemic, Comscore’s Media Metrix shows that visits to travel sites were down by as much as 70 percent from the beginning of the year. However, a fresh analysis of May’s data shows that the momentum is now swinging upward, at least for airline, accommodations, and online travel agent sites.

Comscore found that it’s the vacation rental and budget hotel sites that are driving the increase in traffic to the hotel and vacation rental category, not the major hoteliers. Those two segments improved by 40 points and 18 points, respectively. Meanwhile, the major hotel chains have collectively only improved three points.

Airlines are picking up again, too

Drilling down Comscore’s data for a look at airline websites, ConsumerAffairs found that the average time a consumer spent on one of those sites has eclipsed 13 minutes per visitor -- a definite increase from prior to the pandemic

Airline stocks are also destined for a new high. CNBC reports that the NYSE Arca Airline Index, which tracks 16 airlines, is up nearly 50 percent this week, qualifying for its biggest weekly percentage gain ever.

In early Friday trading, American Airlines took a 23 percent leap, United Airlines was a touch over 15 percent higher, and Delta Air Lines was up 8 percent.

As dental offices across the country begin reopening, dentists have tacked on a new $10-$20 “infection control fee” to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Most consumers’ insurance won’t cover the new fee. 

Some patients are annoyed with the extra charge because infection control is assumed to be industry standard, not an extra service. 

Dentists say they’re putting the money towards the cost of masks and other equipment to help keep their offices clean. After months of being shut down, dentists say they need the extra money to pay for face shields, air purifiers, and other sanitization tools. These supplies have gotten pricier recently as a result of high demand. 

Dentists say they’re seeing fewer patients since some people still don’t feel comfortable going back to the dentist. Offices are also spacing out appointments to promote social distancing in waiting rooms.

Nearly two-thirds of dental offices across the U.S. have reopened for routine care, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). A spokesperson for the ADA told NBC News that dentists who plan to charge the new fee should let patients know about it before their visit. 

"The infection control fee is helping us mitigate the costs of the extra expenses," said dentist Michael Scialabba, vice president of 42 North Dental, whose 75 dental offices in New England are charging an extra $10.

While previous studies have highlighted how important it is for consumers to get adequate sleep, a new study explored how a lack of sleep can affect consumers’ heart health. 

According to researchers, consumers who aren’t sleeping well at night could be at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Their study found that inflammation is much more likely when sleep isn’t continuous and consumers are awake for portions of the night. That, in turn, increases the risk for heart disease. 

“These findings may help inform public health guidelines that seek to increase the continuity of sleep as a way to improve health and decrease the burden of heart disease on society,” said researcher Matthew Walker. 

Nighttime risks

To understand how consumers’ sleeping patterns can affect their heart health, the researchers had over 1,600 participants involved in the study. 

For one week of the study, the participants’ sleep was monitored using a wearable wrist monitor. For one night of the study, sleep was monitored using polysomnography, which is a more formal type of sleep study that assesses overall sleep quality. The researchers also collected blood samples, as white blood cell count can often indicate inflammation. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the participants were more likely to experience inflammation throughout their bodies when their sleep was disrupted. 

Poor sleep was also associated with a higher count of neutrophils, which are a type of white blood cell that increases inflammation. This was cause for concern because this was associated with an increased risk of another condition known as atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart disease. Atherosclerosis occurs when there is a build up in the arteries, and those who have it often don’t feel symptoms. 

The researchers hope that these findings can be beneficial for both consumers and medical professionals in the future, as analyzing sleep habits can be a key component of maintaining consumers’ heart health. 

“Improving sleep may be a novel way to reduce inflammation and thus reduce the risk of atherosclerosis,” said Walker.  

The Children’s Place -- a specialty retailer of children’s apparel and accessories -- is facing a class action lawsuit brought by one of its customers who alleges that the chain baits shoppers with emails advertising bogus sales. 

Washington state resident Elaine Dougan -- the customer behind the lawsuit -- claims that the “sales” promoted in emails sent to her were phony because the items that were supposedly discounted were never even offered at the higher, “original” price, or if they were, it was a rare occurrence.

Hook, line, and sinker

According to TopClassActions, Dougan contends that since March 2019 -- and possibly before -- The Children’s Place blasted out hundreds of emails, all promoting fake sales. 

She says that the deception starts right in the subject line, touting discounts like “XX% Off Entire Site,” “XX% Off Entire Store,” or similar language. 

“Allegedly, The Children’s Place is well aware that consumers are more likely to make a purchase if they believe it is being offered on sale, because they perceive its value to be higher than the price,” commented TopClassAction’s Emily Sortor regarding the case. 

“According to Dougan, the store took advantage of this essential way that consumers attempt to understand value, and misled them by misrepresenting the value of the items.”

Other consumers raise issues

The Children’s Place gets one star (out of five) from ConsumerAffairs reviewers. Complaints include a lack of follow-through, unauthorized charges, and unfulfilled refunds. One reviewer -- Tiffany of Hanover, IN -- detailed an experience similar to Dougan’s.

“I ordered from The Children's Place on May 12th because they are having a 60-70 percent off storewide/online sale. I understand that shipping is taking longer than usual. ... HOWEVER I most definitely am not pleased that they have taken multiple transactions out that I did not make,” Tiffany writes. 

“They are stealing from all customers and do so by drawing you in with the sale. I ordered $143.43 of product and saved $201. Since May 12th I have had 11 transactions come out totaling $546.50. I have bought from the actual store multiple times so I had no reason to believe they would do this.”

The Children’s Place has not yet replied to ConsumerAffairs’ request for comment on this issue.

In a report that turned conventional wisdom on its ear, the Labor Department says the economy actually added jobs in May after millions of people were laid off in April.

Total nonfarm payrolls increased by 2.5 million last month as the unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent. Some Wall Street estimates put the May unemployment rate at 20 percent.

“These improvements in the labor market reflected a limited resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed in March and April due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and efforts to contain it,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in a press release.

It was rehiring in leisure and hospitality businesses, devastated by quarantines across the country, that helped lead the unexpected resurgence. But there was also very heavy hiring in construction, education, health services, and retail trade. By contrast, employment in government continued to decline sharply.

Major surprise

Economist Joel Naroff of Naroff Economic Advisers says the May report was a major surprise, showing that the reopening of the economy is going a lot faster than expected.  

“The rise in payrolls and the decline in the unemployment rate indicate that the collapse in the economy brought on by the virus-related shutdowns is coming to an end,” Naroff told ConsumerAffairs. “Hopefully, that means we will be able to start moving forward and recoup the losses we saw during the shutdowns.”

Businesses in the leisure and hospitality sector led the way, increasing their payrolls by 1.2 million after slashing 7.5 million jobs in April and 743,000 in March. Bars and restaurants, which began to reopen in some states as early as late April, accounted for about half of the job gains.

Contractors go back to work

Construction hiring surged by 464,000 in May, gaining back almost half of April’s losses, with growth about equally split between the residential and nonresidential sectors. 

Education and health services added 424,000 jobs in May, after giving up 2.6 million in April. Health care employment increased by 312,000 over the month, with many of the gains in dentist offices and other health care practitioners.

Retail businesses, shut down during the height of the pandemic, also contributed to last month’s wave of hiring. Retail hiring rose by 368,000 after that sector shed 2.3 million jobs in April. Hiring was the greatest among clothing retailers, car dealers, and general merchandise stores.

At the same time, the pain continued for some types of retailers. Electronics and appliance stores and businesses selling auto parts and tires continued to lose employees.

The price of gasoline has reached a post-COVID-19 milestone, inching back over the $2 a gallon mark for the first time since the virus forced millions of Americans to stay home and demand for gasoline crashed.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline hit $2 a gallon today, higher than it’s been in months but 80 cents a gallon cheaper than it was a year ago. The average price of premium gas is $2.60, only two cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.40 a gallon, a penny cheaper than last Friday.

Prices have risen over the last three weeks as states begin to lift travel restrictions. Even so, gasoline supplies are abundant though demand for fuel has suddenly accelerated.

GasBuddy demand data shows demand for gasoline was 5.5 percent higher by mid-week from the previous week and 8 percent higher than a month ago.

“Americans are slowly but steadily returning to driving, causing gas prices to increase across the country,” said Jeanette Casselano, a AAA spokesperson. “The good news is gas is still cheap. Motorists can fill-up for $2/gallon or less at 70% of gas stations across the country.”

Prices were mostly stable across the U.S., rising two to three cents a gallon in most states. Idaho was an outlier, with the average statewide price jumping seven cents a gallon.

At week's end, the greatest uncertainty about fuel prices centered on a tropical depression moving north through the Gulf of Mexico. Should it strengthen to hurricane status before Monday's expected landfall, it could pose a threat to the region's oil refineries.

The states with the most expensive gas

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

• Hawaii ($3.19)

• California ($2.92)

• Washington ($2.55)

• Nevada ($2.48)

• Oregon ($2.46) 

• Alaska ($2.30)

• Illinois ($2.25)

• Utah ($2.25)

•  Pennsylvania ($2.24)

• Idaho ($2.24)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Mississippi ($1.61)

• Louisiana ($1.66)

• Texas ($1.66)

• Arkansas ($1.67)

• Alabama ($1.67)

• Oklahoma ($1.68)

• Missouri ($1.68)

• South Carolina ($1.69)

• Kansas ($1.71)

• Tennessee ($1.73)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.)

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 1,856,118 (1,835,681)

Total U.S. deaths: 107,281 (106,312)

Total global cases: 6,551,290 (6,425,284)

Total global deaths: 386,795 (381,528)

New unemployment claims stubbornly high

Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 1.8 million last week. The report by the Labor Department shows the economy is continuing to shed jobs at a faster-than-expected rate, though the number is much lower than when the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown began in late March.

Continuing claims for benefits, a number that shows how many Americans remain unemployed, totaled 21.5 million for the week, rising 649,000 over the previous week. It, too, was worse than expected.

The insured unemployment rate, a ratio of those collecting benefits compared with the total labor force, rose 0.5 percentage points to 14.8 percent.

The Las Vegas Strip lights up again

Casinos in Las Vegas opened their doors again just after midnight, but gamblers were met with a number of new safety protocols as they returned. Dealers and other personnel wore masks, and hand sanitizer was as plentiful as cocktails.

Actually, it was hotel casinos in suburban Las Vegas that were the first to open at 12:01 a.m. They were followed later in the morning by a restart of the iconic Bellagio fountain and reopenings of several resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

“We are excited to get our employees back to work and to welcome guests to the entertainment capital of the world,”  Derek Stevens, owner of two downtown Las Vegas casinos, told ABC News.

A slow return to the sky

In another sign that consumers are shedding concerns about air travel, American Airlines says it expects to operate about 55 percent of its flights next month. It’s also resuming lounge service June 22 at 11 Admirals Club lounges in 10 key U.S. cities.

American expects the biggest increase in passenger traffic to come from its hubs, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). Based on customer searches and bookings, it expects increased flights to Asheville, N.C., (AVL), Savannah, Ga., (SAV), and Charleston, S.C., (CHS) for business and leisure travelers.

“We’re seeing a slow but steady rise in domestic demand. After a careful review of data, we’ve built a July schedule to match,” said Vasu Raja, American’s senior Vvce president of Network Strategy. “Our July schedule includes the smallest year-over-year capacity reduction since March. We’ll continue to look for prudent opportunities to restore service so our customers can travel whenever and wherever they are ready.

Some health insurers are lowering premiums

Anthem is the latest major health benefits provider to announce a premium reduction. The company said it is returning $2.5 billion to its policyholders and health care providers with premium credits of up to 15 percent next month.

Other major providers have already instituted customer rebates, including UnitedHealth Group, which announced last month that it was cutting premiums by 20 percent in the month of June, citing fewer health care expenses. The company estimated that the move will put $1.5 billion back in customers’ pockets.

Many Auto insurers also lowered premiums in April when stay-at-home orders drastically reduced traffic on highways and led to fewer accidents. Most major carriers, including Allstate and Geico, temporarily reduced policyholder premiums by up to 15 percent.

Planning that first post-virus vacation

Americans cooped up at home for the last three months may be longing to hit the road for a vacation this summer, but a survey from ValuePenguin suggests they won’t head for some exotic playground.

Nearly half said the first trip they'll take when travel restrictions are lifted will be to visit family. Visiting friends came in second at 14 percent.

Florida, California, and New York will be the first states that respondents visit as travel restrictions are lifted. Other popular destinations include Texas and New Jersey.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: Health officials have cleared restaurants to reopen with outdoor seating on June 15. The rules are similar for restaurants and bars in other states. Tables must be six feet from each other; establishments must  have a limit of eight customers to a table; and they must post signs that say patrons with a fever or symptoms of the coronavirus shouldn’t enter.

• Michigan: The Detroit Zoo will reopen June 8 for members only. Attendees must also make reservations and observe social distancing rules. The zoo will start accepting reservations on Friday.

• Missouri: While first responders have rightly been a priority in getting protective gear, the state’s “last responders” appear to be at the back of the line. Don Otto, with the Missouri Funeral Directors and Embalmers Association, tells Missourinet that protective gear purchased through vendors is long gone, and funeral homes are not part of the emergency supply chain.

The U.S. Senate was burning the midnight oil on Wednesday. It approved a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) reform bill to support small businesses, clearing the way for President Trump's signature.

The bill -- titled the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act -- had already passed the House of Representatives.

In a nutshell, the upside of the legislation for business owners is that they would have more flexibility when it comes to how much of the relief funds they receive are required to be applied to payroll. Previously, PPP recipients were required to spend 75 percent of the money on employee pay if they wanted to have the loans forgiven. With the new bill, that number drops to 60 percent, guaranteeing that a maximum of 40 percent will be used for other costs.

The finer points

Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) took to the Senate floor to highlight the new bill's critical aspects. Here's what he outlined:

1. "First, it expands the loan period from eight weeks to 24 weeks. Currently, workers may be brought back for the eight weeks, but what good is it if they're then laid off at the end of that short period? It's unrealistic. And small businesses need assistance that can cover the full length of this crisis.

2. Second, the legislation removes the 25 percent restriction imposed by the Trump administration on the use of loans for a fixed cost, rents, mortgages, utilities, and replaces it with a new 60-40 payroll to non-payroll expenses. This change will continue PPP support of bringing workers back on the payroll but will give small businesses more flexibility to survive this crisis, which is essential to the long-term employment prospect of the workers.

3. Third, the proposal extends the program to the end of the year and makes December 31st the deadline to rehire workers in order to get full forgiveness on the loan."

"We can't wait any longer. Businesses are really suffering for lack of these changes," Schumer said. "We must get this done. Businesses are going under every day."

Will there be more?

The pandemic's light at the end of the tunnel moves day by day. In the PPP's situation, it's had its own hot mess to clean up leading up to the new legislation. 

While there's no guarantee for more relief or a further relaxing of requirements, anything is possible. PYMNTS reports that two banking groups -- the Consumer Bankers Association and the Bank Policy Institute -- have called for all loans less than $150,000 to be forgiven. Their reasoning? They believe a move like that could relieve small business owners of the stresses and time-consuming paperwork of applying for forgiveness.

If your health insurance provider hasn’t reduced your premiums during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, maybe you should be shopping for a new provider.

As counterintuitive as it may sound, when a virus has hospitalized millions of Americans, major health insurance companies have begun reducing premiums for policyholders because of the money they are saving. Despite the threat of the coronavirus, overall health care spending has plunged since early March.

Over the last three months, the health care system has focused entirely on the virus. Elective surgery was postponed. Many patients, fearful of contracting the virus, put off going to the doctor for routine matters.

As a result, health insurance companies have been paying out a lot less money. Auto insurers found themselves in the same situation in April when stay-at-home orders drastically reduced traffic on highways and led to fewer accidents. Most major carriers, including Allstate and Geico, temporarily reduced policyholder premiums by up to 15 percent.

Anthem cuts premiums

Anthem has become the latest major health benefits provider to announce a premium reduction. The company said it is returning $2.5 billion to its policyholders and health care providers with premium credits of up to 15 percent next month.

Other major providers have already instituted customer rebates, including UnitedHealth Group, which announced last month it was cutting premiums by 20 percent in the month of June, citing fewer health care expenses. The company estimated that the move will put $1.5 billion back in customers’ pockets.

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney and some of his colleagues in other states had been lobbying health benefits providers to do just that, and in May he was quick to praise UnitedHealth Group’s action.

“The coronavirus pandemic has placed a financial strain on thousands of people,” Chaney said in a statement. “The virus has disrupted how people are receiving care and negatively impacted our economy. I commend UnitedHealthcare for their response to relieve some of the burden consumers are facing.”

It’s possible more health insurance providers will follow suit. The Wall Street Journal reports that there are a number of reasons providers may decide its good business to cut policyholders a break.

“They don’t want to report windfall profits amid so much economic distress,” Matthew Borsch, an analyst with BMO Capital Markets, told The Journal. “It just won’t look good.”

Apple Stores were impacted by looting and protests stemming from the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and have subsequently been closed. 

Now, those who looted or purchased stolen iPhones are finding that they don’t work; in fact, they may even be tracked by Apple or U.S. authorities. The problem could affect consumers who purchase second-hand iPhones in the coming months. 

Those with devices that were allegedly looted from Apple stores found that they had been automatically disbaled and displayed messages like, “Please return to Apple Walnut Street. This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.” 

Apple’s mission

Apple has used special OS images on demo devices in the past, as well as a software “kill switch” that disables them when they go out of range of the store’s Wi-Fi. 

Company CEO Tim Cook said in a memo to employees that “there is a pain deeply etched in the soul of our nation and in the hearts of millions. To stand together, we must stand up for one another, and recognize the fear, hurt, and outrage rightly provoked by the senseless killing of George Floyd and a much longer history of racism.”

Cook added that “at Apple, our mission has and always will be to create technology that empowers people to change the world for the better. We’ve always drawn strength from our diversity, welcomed people from every walk of life to our stores around the world, and strived to build an Apple that is inclusive of everyone.”

For now, Apple hasn’t said when it plans to reopen its stores. 

Video conferencing platform Zoom has confirmed that its free users won’t get end-to-end encryption -- which is strongly recommended by privacy advocates -- because law enforcement may need to access these calls in the event that the platform is “misused.” 

“We think this feature should be a part of our offering” for professional customers, said Zoom CEO Eric Yuan in a meeting with investors Tuesday. “Free users — for sure we don’t want to give [them] that, because we also want to work together with the FBI, with local law enforcement, in case some people use Zoom for a bad purpose.”

The policy has drawn criticism from security experts, who have taken issue with Zoom’s requirement of a payment in exchange for end-to-end encryption. 

“This is a bizarre policy to say the least. Zoom. Perhaps it should have said ‘Y’all free users are just potential criminals. Y’all don’t deserve e2e protection,’” tweeted user PrivacyMatters.

Privacy problems

Zoom has dealt with a number of security issues in recent months, some of which transpired due to the unexpected surge in the number of Zoom users. One such issue was a phenomenon known as “Zoombombing," where hackers infiltrate and disrupt private chats. 

Zoom has also been accused of sending data from users of its iOS app to Facebook and making false claims that video calls were encrypted. Additionally, half a million Zoom accounts have surfaced on the darknet.

In an effort to address security shortcomings, Zoom acquired Keybase, an end-to-end encryption start-up. But based on the latest information, a majority of Zoom calls will remain unencrypted. 

A company spokesperson said that Zoom “does not proactively monitor meeting content, and we do not share information with law enforcement except in circumstances like child sex abuse.” Additionally, Zoom says it doesn’t, and will never, have “backdoors where participants can enter meetings without being visible to others.” 

“Zoom’s end-to-end encryption plan balances the privacy of its users with the safety of vulnerable groups, including children and potential victims of hate crimes. We plan to provide end-to-end encryption to users for whom we can verify identity, thereby limiting harm to these vulnerable groups. Free users sign up with an email address, which does not provide enough information to verify identity.”