Current Events in August 2020

There’s cause for celebration for some 50,000 Americans whose portion of the economic impact payments (EIP) -- aka the stimulus check -- was rerouted to pay their spouse's past-due child support. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says that the catch-up payments are scheduled to be issued sometime in early-to-mid-September. The checks will be mailed to any eligible spouse who submitted Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation when they submitted their 2019 (and, in some situations, their 2018) federal income tax return. The IRS said that it will automatically issue the portion of the EIP that was applied to the other spouse's debt.

Didn’t file a Form 8379?

The IRS says that there were some taxpayers who failed to file a Form 8379, and because of that, they did not receive their portion of the EIP. 

“These individuals also do not need to take any action and do not need to submit a Form 8379,” the IRS said. The agency noted that it “does not yet have a timeframe but will automatically issue the portion of the EIP that was applied to the other spouse's debt at a later date.”

Taxpayers who were affected by the mistake can keep tabs on where their check is in the IRS’ pipeline by using the agency’s Get My Payment tool. For more information, the IRS suggests reading the Receiving My Payment section of the Frequently Asked Questions in the Economic Payment Information Center on IRS.gov.

Recent studies have found ways that napping can be beneficial to consumers’ health, including maintaining healthy blood pressure and improving decision-making. 

However, a new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology highlighted the risks associated with napping for too long. The study found that shorter naps can be beneficial to consumers’ health, but sleeping for more than an hour during the day can increase the risk for several health concerns. 

“Daytime napping is common all over the world and is generally considered a healthy habit,” said researcher Dr. Zhe Pan. “A common view is that napping improves performance and counteracts the negative consequences of ‘sleep debt.’ Our study challenges these widely held opinions.” 

Finding the right nap balance

The researchers looked at 20 earlier studies that tracked the risks and benefits associated with daytime napping. They learned that naps of any length could increase consumers’ risk of death by nearly 20 percent; however, longer naps increased the risk of health complications even further. 

The study revealed that the risk of cardiovascular disease was nearly 35 percent higher when consumers napped for at least one hour, while the risk of premature death was 30 percent higher following longer daytime rests. While the researchers also identified health risks with shorter naps, they recommend that consumers keep their daytime sleeping to shorter time slots. 

“The results suggest that shorter naps (especially those less than 30 to 45 minutes) might improve heart health in people who sleep insufficiently at night,” said Dr. Pan. 

The researchers learned that certain groups, such as older people and women, were more susceptible to adverse effects following a nap of any length. It still remains unclear to the researchers why this association exists, but the results clearly indicate that daytime sleeping can be a health risk to many consumers. 

To ensure optimal health, the researchers encourage consumers to avoid napping if it’s not something they already do regularly. 

“If you want to take a siesta, our study indicates it’s safest to keep it under an hour,” said Dr. Pan. “For those of us not in the habit of a daytime slumber, there is no convincing evidence to start.” 

The White House has unveiled its plans for the establishment of 12 new research institutes focused exclusively on AI research and quantum information science. 

By looking at the institutes involved in the venture, it’s easy to tell that the Trump administration is very serious about the initiative. According to a variety of sources, the National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have all promised to invest tens of millions of dollars in those research centers.

An extra $140 million will be invested in seven of the initiatives, two overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and another five by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The administration was also lucky enough to get tech companies like Microsoft and IBM to write a big check. Those companies are adding in $300 million of their own -- not in cash, but more in value. Described as “technology-services donations” by the Wall Street Journal, the belief is that value will come in the way of cloud computing resources.

Make America a tech winner

Funding emerging technologies has apparently been a top topic in the West Wing, spurred on by policy advisors who expressed their concern that the U.S. is bringing up the rear in the AI and quantum research world, especially compared to tech challengers like China.  

“It is absolutely imperative the United States continues to lead the world in AI and quantum,” said the Department of Defense’s Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios. “The future of American economic prosperity and national security will be shaped by how we invest, research, develop and deploy these cutting edge technologies today.”

The rise in computer science has been on a steep incline over the past few years, but colleges have reportedly had trouble meeting student demand because of a scarcity of staffing. Feeling that Americans were being elbowed out of high-tech jobs, the Trump administration slapped a ban on U.S. entry for non-U.S. tech types, 35 percent of whom have an AI-related degree. 

To build a higher hurdle for foreign techsters, Trump has reportedly flirted with the notion of suspending the Optional Practical Training Program, which allows foreign students to work for one year on a student visa towards getting practical training to complement their education.

Consumers continue to increase their caffeinated beverage consumption. Although there have been benefits associated with drinking caffeine, it can be difficult to know how much is too much. 

While research varies when it comes to your everyday consumers, researchers have determined that the popular beverage ingredient can increase the risk of several complications in pregnant women.

“The substantial majority finding from observational studies and meta-analyses is that maternal caffeine consumption is reliably associated with major negative pregnancy outcomes,” the researchers wrote. “Consequently, current evidence does not support health advice that assumes ‘moderate’ caffeine consumption during pregnancy is safe.” 

Ditching the morning coffee during pregnancy

The researchers analyzed nearly 50 earlier studies, all of which looked at pregnancy outcomes when women consumed caffeine. The overwhelming takeaway from all of these assessments was that drinking caffeine during pregnancy can lead to adverse outcomes. 

The researchers learned that caffeine can increase health risks for both mothers and babies, even in the smallest doses. When it came to pregnancy-related issues, the study revealed that caffeine intake can be linked to stillbirth, miscarriage, or premature delivery, while infants can experience a low birth weight, childhood obesity, or childhood leukemia. 

These findings are consistent with the findings of another recent study, which found that high levels of caffeine can be bad for newborns’ growth and development. Similarly, the researchers of that study said they don’t believe any level of caffeine is free of side effects, and their analysis revealed complications occurred regardless of how much caffeine was consumed during pregnancy. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that recommendations regarding caffeine consumption during pregnancy change to ensure that women have the healthiest pregnancies possible. Despite the health benefits associated with caffeine, this study emphasized the importance of steering clear of caffeine during pregnancy. 

“Specifically, the cumulative scientific evidence supports pregnant women and women contemplating pregnancy being advised to avoid caffeine,” said researcher Jack James. 

Bed Bath & Beyond is continuing its restructuring efforts by eliminating thousands of positions at corporate headquarters and across its retail businesses. 

In a press release, the company announced that it was reducing its workforce by 2,800 roles, effective immediately. Company officials say the move will help it save up to $350 million over the next two-to-three years as it tries to reorganize and become more profitable during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Saying goodbye to colleagues and friends is incredibly difficult, but this component of our comprehensive restructuring program is critical to rebuild the foundation of our business, construct a modern, balanced and durable business model, and meet the structural shift in customer shopping and service preferences that we have seen accelerate as a result of COVID-19,” said Bed Bath & Beyond CEO Mark Tritton. 

Trending towards success?

Tritton goes on to say that reducing the company’s workforce will help simplify its operations and help it emerge as a stronger competitor when the pandemic is finally over. He points to “significant progress” that the company has already made in 2020 as a sign of good things to come. 

“As we work to re-establish our authority in Home, Baby, Beauty and Wellness, we are encouraged by the strong customer response to new services such as BOPIS and Curbside Pickup, and the continued strength in our digital channels as we improve the curation of our product assortment, enhance the ease and convenience of the shopping experience, and make it easier to feel at home," he said.

Despite Tritton’s rosy outlook, Bed Bath & Beyond’s recent actions show just how much the retailer has been struggling in the current retail landscape. Last month, the company closed 200 stores after sales plunged by 48 percent. At the time, Tritton told CNBC that company officials saw many stores that were “dragging us down.”

​The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its COVID-19 testing guidelines to state that people without symptoms of the virus don’t need to be tested if they were in contact with someone known to have the virus. 

Under its previous guidelines, the agency recommended that “all close contacts of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection” be tested. The CDC said prompt testing would help quickly identify the virus in the event that the exposed individual was asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. 

On Monday, the CDC changed its website to reflect a different recommendation for people exposed to the virus. 

"If you have been in close contact (within 6 feet) of a person with a COVID-19 infection for at least 15 minutes but do not have symptoms, you do not necessarily need a test unless you are a vulnerable individual or your health care provider or State or local public health officials recommend you take one,” the agency’s website now says. 

"Not everyone needs to be tested," the new guidelines state. "If you do get tested, you should self-quarantine/isolate at home pending test results and follow the advice of your health care provider or a public health professional."

Experts say policy change ‘will kill’

Infectious disease experts have expression confusion and concern over the policy change, which wasn’t explained by the CDC. Alison Galvani, director for the Center for Infectious Disease Modeling and Analysis at Yale School of Medicine, said testing people without symptoms is crucial. 

“Our work on the ‘silent’ spread underscored the importance of testing people who have been exposed to COVID-19 regardless of symptoms,” Galvani tweeted. “This change in policy will kill.”

Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University, told CNN that the new guidelines threaten to derail contact tracing efforts. 

"I'm concerned that these recommendations suggest someone who has had substantial exposure to a person with Covid-19 now doesn't need to get tested," Wen said. "This is key to contact tracing, especially given that up to 50% of all transmission is due to people who do not have symptoms. One wonders why these guidelines were changed -- is it to justify continued deficit of testing?"

In an effort to offset the drop in sales due to the coronavirus pandemic, McDonald’s will soon introduce two new menu items. The fast-food chain has announced that it will add Spicy McNuggets and a Chips Ahoy McFlurry to its menu for a limited time starting September 16. 

“This is the first time we’ve introduced a new flavor of our classic Chicken McNuggets in the U.S. since they came to menus in 1983,” said Vice President of Menu Innovation, Linda VanGosen in a statement. “As our customers have been asking for Spicy McNuggets for some time now, we couldn’t think of a better time to bring them to our menus. We can’t wait for McNuggets fans to get a taste of these new spicy options.”

McDonald’s said the new Spicy McNuggets will be made with a tempura coating that includes cayenne and chili peppers. The nuggets will be complemented by a new “Mighty Hot Sauce,” which McDonald’s says will boast a “powerful blend of crushed red peppers and spicy chilis.”

The Chips Ahoy McFlurry, meanwhile, will include crushed cookies and caramel swirls. 

“This delicious treat features vanilla soft-serve, caramel topping and Chips Ahoy! cookie pieces blended throughout,” the company said in a statement. “The Chips Ahoy! McFlurry will be available in Snack and Regular sizes for a limited time at participating U.S. restaurants nationwide beginning September 16.” 

COVID-19 safety measures

To help customers feel safe, McDonald’s is highlighting its new COVID-19 related safety measures. The fast-food giant says it has worked with the Mayo Clinic to ensure proper sanitation protocols are followed in restaurants and at the drive-thru. 

McDonald’s is also requiring staff and all customers who enter U.S. restaurants to wear a face covering.

“While nearly 82% of our restaurants are in states or localities that require facial coverings for both crew and customers today, it’s important we protect the safety of all employees and customers,” the company said. “We cannot emphasize enough the importance of continuing to follow PPE procedures including proper mask use by crew.” 

The U.S. government has secured an indictment against Teva Pharmaceuticals’ U.S. unit on price-fixing charges.

The generic drugmaker was charged under a Justice Department complaint filed in federal court in Pennsylvania, accusing it of engaging in anticompetitive actions that resulted in consumers paying $350 million more than they should for prescription medications.

Specifically, the complaint accuses Teva of dividing up customers in three different conspiracies and fixing prices for pravastatin, a prescription cholesterol drug marketed under the brand name Pravachol.

The suit also charges Teva with conspiring to fix prices on several drugs prescribed to treat arthritis, seizures, pain, skin conditions, and blood clots. The company also stands accused of conspiring to fix prices for drugs used to treat brain cancer, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, and hypertension.

“Today’s charge reaffirms that no company is too big to be prosecuted for its role in conspiracies that led to substantially higher prices for generic drugs relied on by millions of Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.  “The division will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that companies that blatantly cheat consumers of the benefits of free markets are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Teva will fight the charges in court

Teva issued a statement in response to the indictment in which it disputed the allegations and said it would defend itself against the charges in court. It also said it is “deeply disappointed that the government has chosen to proceed with this prosecution.” 

Teva Pharmaceuticals is the seventh drug company to be indicted in the Justice Department’s ongoing probe of alleged price-fixing in the generic drug market. In January, a group of states filed sweeping generic drug price-fixing charges against 26 corporate and 10 individual defendants. That complaint charged the defendants with attempting to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for generic drugs.

The Justice Department indictment accuses Teva of conspiring with three other pharmaceutical companies -- Tarco Pharmaceuticals, Taro Pharmaceuticals, and Sandoz, Inc. The Justice Department says Sandoz admitted to its role in this conspiracy, as well as to conspiracies with other generic drug manufacturers. In March, the company agreed to pay a $195 million penalty.  

“During these difficult times, it is absolutely essential that our pharmaceutical companies conduct business with the well-being of the consumer in mind,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Steven Stuller, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General. “When generic drug companies conspire to artificially increase prices, they do so to the detriment of many who depend on these medications to maintain good health.”

Five previous drug price-fixing cases were resolved by deferred prosecution agreements. The Justice Department said Glenmark Pharmaceuticals is awaiting trial. Four executives have also been charged; three have entered guilty pleas, and one is awaiting trial.

Consumers’ attitudes about the economy took a sharp turn this month on the heels of declining confidence recorded in July.

The Conference Board reports that its Consumer Confidence Index for August fell to 84.8 from 91.7 in July. Consumers appear to be most concerned about current conditions, with the Present Situation Index falling nearly 11 points to 84.2.

The Expectations Index -- based on consumers' short-term outlook for income, business, and labor market conditions -- also fell, but not by much; it dropped from 88.9 in July to 85.2 this month.

"The Present Situation Index decreased sharply, with consumers stating that both business and employment conditions had deteriorated over the past month,” said Lynn Franco, senior director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board. “Consumers' optimism about the short-term outlook, and their financial prospects, also declined and continues on a downward path.”

Something else may be at work. The expiration of some benefits under the CARES Act -- particularly the extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits -- likely weighed heavily on consumers’ economic concerns.

Those benefits, plus the $1,200 direct payment to every adult in the second quarter, could have buoyed consumers’ confidence in the early months that they were going to navigate the financial turmoil caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Reality check

The fact that Congress was unable to reach an agreement on extending some of the benefits before leaving on a month-long vacation may have served as a reality check for struggling small business owners and employees thrown out of work.

Franco says the data presents a mixed picture. On one hand, consumers are still behaving as though things are under control. The latest survey suggests that could change in the weeks ahead.

“Consumer spending has rebounded in recent months but increasing concerns amongst consumers about the economic outlook and their financial well-being will likely cause spending to cool in the months ahead," Franco said.

Consumers are also expressing growing doubts about the job market. The percentage of consumers saying jobs are "plentiful" declined from 22.3 percent to 21.5 percent, while those claiming jobs are "hard to get" increased from 20.1 percent to 25.2 percent.

Kroger Delta Division is recalling cheese dips sold in the stores' deli departments.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

A list of products, sold in plastic containers from May 15, 2020, to August 6, 2020 in West Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky (Murray, Paducah) and Missouri (Poplar Bluff) may be found here.

What to do          

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but return them to a store for a full refund or replacement.

Consumers with questions may contact Kroger at (800) 576-4377.

If Congress can’t come through with an extension of the Paycheck Protection Program soon, tens of thousands of airline employees could see themselves without a job come October 1.

The first flare went up on Tuesday at the headquarters of American Airlines when the company announced that it will cut 19,000 employees from its payroll when the federal aid that protected those jobs expires. 

The 19,000 American employees include 17,500 flight attendants, pilots, and mechanics, plus 1,500 administration and management jobs. All told -- when combined with pink slips American handed out earlier and the 39,000 employees who opted for voluntary leave or early retirement -- American’s total workforce is about 41 percent smaller than the total workforce it had at the onset of the pandemic

“We have come to you many times throughout the pandemic, often with sobering updates on a world none of us could have imagined,” wrote American Airlines CEO Doug Parker along with the company’s president, Robert Isom, in a note to its staff announcing the cuts. 

Expect other airlines to follow suit

American isn’t the only airline trying to keep itself afloat. On Monday, Delta Air Lines also announced that it will have to furlough 2,000 pilots if it can’t get some relief from its labor union.

In June, United Airlines did its best to get ahead of the situation by coming to terms with the pilots union over early retirements and voluntary furloughs.

Southwest -- which has enough money in the bank to survive the pandemic for at least two years -- said it doesn’t foresee cutting jobs in 2020 because a fourth of its workers have signed up for either a buyout package or voluntary leave. 

Holding out for hope

While the $25 billion in payroll support the CARES Act provided U.S. airlines evaporates on October 1, there’s some hope that there could be an extension of that support.

A couple of weeks ago, 16 Republican senators wrote a letter urging Congress to consider a “clean extension” of the payroll support for airline employees who were included in the CARES package. There are reports that the rallying cry has also received support from some Democrats as well.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 5,746,940 (5,709,839)

Total U.S. deaths: 177,536 (176,901)

Total global cases: 23,694,646 (23,472,067)

Total global deaths: 814,354 (809,747)

Fauci: Don’t rush a vaccine

Nearly a dozen pharmaceutical companies are working at increased speed to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus (COVID-19), but one health expert is advising caution.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), says giving emergency approval to a vaccine that has not been thoroughly tested in clinical trials is not a good idea. He said it could disrupt trials on other vaccines that might prove to be more effective.

“The one thing that you would not want to see with a vaccine is getting an EUA (emergency use authorization) before you have a signal of efficacy,” Fauci told Reuters. 

AstraZeneca ramps up vaccine production

Drugmaker AstraZeneca’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine, AZD7442, is still in clinical trials, but the company is so confident in it that plans for production of large quantities of the vaccine have already begun. 

Once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants approval, the pharmaceutical giant says it will have the capacity to produce 3 billion doses for widespread distribution.

The vaccine is currently in a Phase I clinical trial. Should AZD7442 prove to be tolerated and have a favorable safety profile in the trial, AstraZeneca said it will progress it into larger late-stage Phase II and Phase III trials to evaluate its efficacy as a potential preventative and treatment approach against COVID-19.

COVID-19 appears to be altering cancer screening

Doctors are increasingly worried about the ways COVID-19 has had a negative impact on treatment and screening for other diseases, particularly cancer. A team of international researchers has concluded that some important cancer screenings are being delayed.

Among the negative impacts has been a 30 percent decrease in melanoma checks in Victoria, Australia. The researchers have also identified the suspension of clinical trial activities as another downside risk.

“In light of physical distancing restrictions due to COVID-19, standard cancer procedures are being altered or delayed, including surveillance imaging; non-emergency surgical procedures; and clinical trials,” said health sociologist Alex Broom.

EPA approves American Airlines’ new disinfectant

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has granted emergency authorization for American Airlines’ new disinfectant, used to sanitize its aircraft cabins to kill the coronavirus. 

EPA Commissioner Andrew Wheeler said the product, called SurfaceWise2, can kill viruses and bacteria for up to seven days after being applied. However, it’s important to note that it does not combat airborne particles of the virus.

The airline said it plans to eventually use the disinfectant on all its aircraft. Chief operating officer David Seymour says he hopes the extra step will go a long way in making consumers more comfortable with air travel.

From now on, use a napkin

In the age of the coronavirus, you’re not supposed to even touch your face, so it goes without saying that no one should be encouraged to lick their fingers. That’s the thinking at KFC, which has retired its famous slogan, “It’s Finger Lickin’ Good!”

In a press release, the fast-food franchise admitted its slogan doesn’t feel quite right for the times. 

“We find ourselves in a unique situation—having an iconic slogan that doesn’t quite fit in the current environment. While we are pausing the use of It’s Finger-Lickin’ Good, rest assured the food craved by so many people around the world isn’t changing one bit,” said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, global chief marketing officer at KFC.

Around the nation

• New Jersey: New Jersey remains in shutdown mode as a recent spike in coronavirus cases put off reopening plans. But Gov. Phil Murphy said this week that there may be light at the end of the tunnel. “The data is unquestionably good of late,” Murphy said, suggesting there could be news coming on gyms and indoor dining.

• Georgia: Despite criticism of the state’s mitigation rules, the numbers appear to be moving in the right direction. State health officials report new cases declined by 11 percent between August 10 and 17. The seven-day average is down 30 percent.

• Colorado: School has been in session for at least two weeks, but a number of districts have already canceled classes because of outbreaks of COVID-19. “I don’t want anybody to be surprised in our state when classes, and even schools, do need to be shut down,” said Gov. Jared Polis.

Nearly 80 percent of economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) said they believed there’s a 1-in-4 chance of a “double-dip” recession. 

Two-thirds of respondents to the August survey said the U.S. economy is still in the recession that began as lockdown measures were put in place earlier this year. Once the economy rebounds, a majority of those surveyed said there’s at least a 25 percent chance of a second dip.

Roughly 40 percent of the panel’s 235 members said Congress’ fiscal response to the COVID-19 pandemic was “insufficient.” Thirty-seven percent said the stimulus was "adequate,” and just 11 percent called it "excessive," according to the survey.

Most economists said they see the economy getting worse before it gets better. Only one panelist believed a return to pre-pandemic levels would happen this year. 

“Forty-one percent of respondents do not expect the global economy to get back to its pre-COVID-19 (Q4 2019) level until at least 2022, while 30 percent suggest it will do so in 2021,” the report said. “Sixteen percent of panelists do not believe that output will have completely recuperated until 2023 or later.” 

Survey respondents said the next administration should prioritize addressing the following three issues: combating COVID-19, promoting economic recovery, and making changes to the health care system. These three policy priorities were cited more frequently than a dozen other choices, according to NABE.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the economic hammer blow that accompanied it have had a huge but uneven impact on small businesses.

A survey by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) found that 20 percent of business owners say they will not be able to remain open if business conditions don’t improve. Another one in five expressed doubts about whether they can last another 12 months.

“The health crisis is not impacting small businesses equally,” Holly Wade, NFIB director of research and policy analysis, told The Hill.

Small hardware stores appear to be doing quite well. On the other hand, full-service restaurants have struggled to keep the doors open, and many have already closed for good.

Wade says the pandemic has changed the landscape for small businesses, forcing them to adapt to abrupt shifts in consumer behavior, ever-changing information on health and safety, and new rules and regulations from varying levels of government.

Most took advantage of PPP

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) passed by Congress proved to be a valuable lifeline for many small businesses. Seventy-eight percent of small businesses that responded to the survey say they applied for a PPP loan, and the overwhelming majority received funds.

But the deadline for applying for new loans passed earlier this month, and Congress is still negotiating ways to extend support for businesses. Lawmakers are bogged down in many of the same partisan arguments that have blocked the extension of aid programs for consumers.

One problem in crafting a program to help small businesses and their employees is to determine which businesses need the help. The NFIB survey shows that the crisis severely impacted most small businesses in the beginning, but the economic recovery has been less uniform since then. 

Some are actually doing better

Sales levels are still about half of what they were before the crisis, but 22 percent of businesses have restored sales to as high as 74 percent of pre-crisis levels. Fourteen percent said they are actually doing better than they were before the pandemic hit, but there are many more that have seen sales dry up.

“About one-in-five of small business owners report that they will have to close their doors if current economic conditions do not improve over the next six months,” the authors write. “Another 19 percent of owners anticipate they will be able to operate no longer than seven to 12 months under current economic conditions.”

Assuming they can produce enough sales to stay open, small business owners are also worried about surviving coronavirus-related lawsuits. Fifty-five percent of owners said liability is either a serious or moderate concern.

Two hurricanes approaching the Gulf Coast could impact oil refineries and cause a short-term increase in gasoline prices. On the other hand, changes in Americans’ commuting patterns since late March may mitigate the effect.

With millions of Americans now working from home, gasoline demand has dropped, keeping fuel prices stable. New research published by Cars.com shows 66 percent of workers are no longer commuting to the office, and it’s not clear if and when they’ll return.

"As much of the American office workforce continues to work remotely, there is a major shift in commuting behavior, which is likely to have a lasting impact long after we return to the office," said Matt Schmitz, assistant managing editor for Cars.com. "Workers are saving up to an hour or more a day by not commuting, and finding significant value in this newfound gift of time.”

But the fuel savings may not last forever. The study found that because of the pandemic, mass transit may be less of a factor when workplaces reopen.

Less reliance on mass transit

“When they do finally return to the office, it won't be via mass transit,” Schmitz predicts. “Personal vehicles will dominate the work commute as distrust in public transport and ride-sharing continues."

That’s been borne out of new and used car sales data over the last three months. Consumers who might not have considered buying a vehicle before are buying cars now, some for the first time. Not only is mass transit ridership down, but consumers have also greatly reduced their reliance on ride-sharing.

How all of this affects gasoline prices in the months ahead remains to be seen. An increase in people driving personal vehicles could easily send gasoline demand back to pre-pandemic highs.

Lasting changes

On the other hand, the Cars.com research suggests some of the changes in consumer behavior may be lasting. Even after workplaces reopen, 35 percent of employees say they believe they’ll have the option of working remotely and will probably commute to the office less often.

Last week, a survey by KPMG found that there is almost no clamor among workers to return to the office, with 79 percent telling pollsters they believe they are more productive working from home. Fifty-five percent said they would like to have the flexibility to work remotely from now on.

The Cars.com study found two-thirds of employees say they have gained between 30 minutes and an hour a day because they aren’t commuting to the office. Forty-three percent say they’re using the time to watch TV, 38 percent are exercising, and 33 percent are spending it with family and friends.

On Monday, a flavored tobacco product ban (SB 793) was unanimously approved by the California Assembly. 

SB 793 will prohibit the retail sale of flavored tobacco products, flavored e-cigarettes, and flavored vaping products in the state. The legislation is part of a larger effort to curb rates of flavored tobacco use among children, to whom the products tend to appeal.

Supporters of the legislation said it would help reduce rates of smoking and vaping among children and teenagers who use them specifically because they come in flavors like menthol, cotton candy, and gummy bears. 

Health experts have raised concerns that the high rate of flavored tobacco use among minors threatens to derail progress in curbing overall smoking rates. 

“These flavors are marketed to kids and people of color to ensure tobacco companies have a clientele on the hook for life,” said Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood).

Exemption for some products 

During the legislative process, the bill was modified to include an exemption for some premium cigars. The bill defines “premium” as “any cigar that is handmade, is not mass produced by use of mechanization, has a wrapper that is made entirely from whole tobacco leaf, and has a wholesale price of no less than twelve dollars ($12). A premium cigar does not have a filter, tip, or non-tobacco mouthpiece and is capped by hand.”

“It’s the most deadly consumer product ever created,” Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Healdsburg) said during Monday’s floor debate. “In a perfect world, there would be no exemptions to this bill, but we all know we don’t live in a perfect world.”

Assemblyman Heath Flora (R-Ripon) said exempting cigars, hookah products, and cannabis threatens to leave open a loophole that could put kids at risk. 

“If we actually cared about the kids, we would deal with some of the other industries as well,” he said.

The measure -- which is supported by the American Lung Association in California, American Heart Association, and American Cancer Society -- now faces one more vote in the Senate before heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. 

Recent studies have highlighted the countless health benefits associated with yoga, as the practice has been found to help everything from migraines to brain health. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the European Society of Cardiology has found that following a yoga practice can also be beneficial for those struggling with atrial fibrillation -- a common heart condition that affects consumers’ heart rate. 

“The symptoms of atrial fibrillation can be distressing,” said researcher Dr. Naresh Sen. “They come and go, causing many patients to feel anxious and limiting their ability to live a normal life.” 

Reducing symptoms

To understand the effect that yoga can have on consumers’ heart health, the researchers tracked 540 participants over a seven-month period. During the first three months, the group lived normally with no interventions but were asked to record any symptoms of atrial fibrillation that they experienced. For the final four months, the researchers asked them to continue recording symptoms while taking yoga classes several times per week and practicing poses and breathing exercises at home. 

The researchers found that the four months of yoga was beneficial to the participants in several ways. Not only were atrial fibrillation symptoms roughly half as likely after introducing yoga to the participants, but they reported overall better physical and mental health outcomes due to the practice. 

Consistent with findings from another recent study, the researchers also learned that four months of yoga was effective at lowering participants’ blood pressure. Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings can be beneficial to those struggling with atrial fibrillation, as there are several ways that a yoga practice can help ease symptoms. 

“Our study suggests that yoga has wide-ranging physical and mental health benefits for patients with atrial fibrillation and could be added on top of usual therapies,” said Dr. Sen.