Current Events in October 2020

Airlines have been working the sanitation angle for months to try to get travelers to believe that air travel is safe during the pandemic. While some travelers have held onto some of their doubts, a technical bulletin from the faculty at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health might be able to change that perception.

The bulletin -- “Air Cabin Cleaning and Disinfection” -- says that the disinfecting and ventilation efforts that carriers such as Southwest, Delta, United, American, and others have made are effective “when administered properly…on surfaces.” 

Focusing on high-risk areas

Sanitization and ventilation initiatives aren’t an end-all or be-all by themselves, but Harvard officials said that coupling them with individual risk reduction like frequent hand-washing, use of sanitizers, and wearing masks works as a multi-layered strategy that, “taken together, offer(s) significant protection against respiratory infections including COVID-19.”

Nonetheless, the bulletin doesn’t discount the fact that COVID-19 can be transmitted from person-to-person via respiratory particles in a normal setting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says these droplets have the potential to hang in the air for hours.

In trying to separate particles that would stay on surfaces at home or in the workplace from those on a plane, the report says that aircraft lavatories are the most problematic areas because they’re high-frequency touch areas and touched by the greatest number of people.

In comments about the study, Delta Air Lines said that it is already on the case. 

“While in the air, flight attendants regularly make sure lavatories are clean, tidy, fully stocked with supplies and ready for customers,” the airline noted. It also said it’s in the early stages of installing hand sanitizer stations near the boarding portal and the lavatory.

While all airlines that ConsumerAffairs has tracked during the pandemic have some type of systematic cleaning in place, only Delta appears to be cleaning lavatories during a flight. 

Southwest, United, and American do not specifically list in-flight lavatory cleaning as a sanitary measure, but a New York Times report says that Southwest “deep cleans” its aircraft for 6-7 hours every night. The publication also notes that United deploys electrostatic spraying before “most flights.” Airlines tend to replicate nuances that their competitors do, so it’s possible that others will follow in Delta’s footsteps.

Dollar General has announced that it will launch a number of new stores geared primarily towards women in suburban areas. 

The stores, called Popshelf, will sell items in categories such as home decor, cleaning supplies, beauty products, and party goods. The target market will have an annual household income ranging from $50,000 to $125,000, the company said. 

Approximately 95 percent of the items sold at Popshelf will cost $5 or less. To keep customers coming back, the company said merchandise will be “continually refreshed” and seasonal specials will be offered.

The discount retailer said Popshelf “aims to engage customers with a fun, affordable and stress-free shopping experience where they can find on-trend seasonal and home décor, health and beauty must-haves, home cleaning supplies, party goods, entertaining needs and much more.” 

The first two Popshelf stores will open near Nashville, Tennessee in the coming weeks. By the end of 2021, Dollar General plans to have opened about 30 Popshelf stores. 

Citibank is being fined $400 million for “longstanding” unsafe or unsound banking practices. 

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced Wednesday that it’s penalizing Citibank for its “longstanding failure to establish effective risk management and data governance programs and internal controls.” 

The agency added that it will require the bank to take “comprehensive corrective actions” in the areas found to have deficiencies before it can make any significant acquisitions.

In addition to the fine, Citigroup -- Citibank’s parent company -- is facing a separate but related enforcement action by the Federal Reserve Board. The Fed said it also found "significant ongoing deficiencies" in the bank’s risk-management programs. The Federal Reserve Board has given Citigroup 120 days to submit a report detailing how it will fix the shortcomings identified. 

In a statement, Citi said it is "fully committed" to addressing the concerns laid out by regulators. The company plans to invest more than $1 billion this year in its risk management and controls efforts.

“Citi has significant remediation projects underway to strengthen our controls, infrastructure and governance,” the bank said in a statement. “While we have made progress in each of these areas, we recognize that substantial improvement is still required.”

A deadly pandemic and social upheaval have created chaos and change in wide areas of life this year, including relationships.

The changes are on display in Match’s annual Singles In America study, which underscores the obstacles 2020 has brought to relationships. Dr. Helen Fisher, chief scientific advisor at Match, says the changes to the dating landscape this year are unprecedented.

"Prior to 2020, no one expected that singles would consider a date's willingness to wear a mask,” she said. “Recent cataclysmic events have led singles to want more from dating: a desire for a relationship over casual dating; more meaningful conversations, and more honesty and transparency during a date." 

In other words, people are a little more serious about who they go out with. Fisher says the study found that the typical single now wants to know who you are, where you're headed financially, and what you expect from a possible partnership. 

Social distancing in dating

How exactly do you date in an era of social distancing? Fisher says singles have found a way.

“With the rise of video dating -- a new stage in the courtship process -- singles are saving time, money, and kissing fewer frogs."

According to the study authors, the pandemic sped up a trend that was already unfolding. People are waiting until their late 20s or even later before seeking a relationship. Relationships are also developing more slowly, with singles taking more time to get to know potential partners.

Priorities have also shifted. Forty-four percent of singles in the study said they had more meaningful conversations with a date in the last month than they generally had before the pandemic. For Gen Z, it was 50 percent.

Looks less important

Sixty-one percent of Gen Z daters and 49 percent of millennials say they are less focused on their potential partner’s looks. Sixty-three percent of active Match users say they are spending more time learning about their potential partners, and 69 percent believe those interactions are more honest.

The study clearly shows that the pandemic has brought about new rules in dating, including whether or not to date at all. About two-thirds of singles are open to going out with someone right now, but 36 percent say they have been highly selective about going on a date.

A question that may come up before a date is offered or agreed to is whether the person has been practicing social distancing. Twenty percent say they are more careful about touching and kissing. Face masks have also become a significant part of dating, with 20 percent of singles saying they insist that both people on the date wear a face covering.

The survey shows the pandemic has been a strain on existing relationships. One in four singles broke up with their significant other during the spring’s coronavirus lockdown. Twenty-two percent said they lost contact with someone they hoped to date.

JPMorgan Chase, one of the nation’s largest banks, has committed $30 billion over the next five years to narrow the racial divide when it comes to wealth. It says the spending will be targeted in underserved African American and Hispanic communities to help minority-owned businesses and increase jobs.

In announcing the project, the bank cited an existing racial wealth gap that it says has been made worse by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Chase also says it will use its existing investments, along with its financial expertise, to provide support to minority-owned businesses that have been hard hit by the pandemic.

“Systemic racism is a tragic part of America’s history,” said Jamie Dimon, Chase’s chairman and CEO. “We can do more and do better to break down systems that have propagated racism and widespread economic inequality, especially for Black and Latinx people. It’s long past time that society addresses racial inequities in a more tangible, meaningful way.”

Improving housing options

Much of the money will be used to improve housing options for minorities. Over the next five years, Chase’s investments will include loans, equity, and direct funding to increase affordable housing in underserved communities. That could consist of an estimated 40,000 home purchases using $8 billion in mortgage funding from Chase.

The bank also plans to help 20,000 minority households lower their mortgage payments by allocating $4 billion in mortgage funds for refinancing at lower rates. During the 2008 financial crisis, minority homeowners were saddled with a disproportionate number of subprime mortgages that led to a wave of foreclosures. 

Chase says renters will also benefit. The bank plans to finance 100,000 new affordable rental units, providing $14 billion in loans and equity investments in underserved communities.

Help for businesses

To support minority business development, Chase said it will provide an additional 15,000 loans to small businesses in underserved communities, allocating up to $2 billion. The program will provide assistance to minority entrepreneurs in the form of coaching, technical assistance, and funding.

To promote sound financial habits, Chase said it has set a goal of helping 1 million people open low-cost checking or savings accounts. To support that effort, Chase has committed to hiring 150 new community managers and opening new community center branches in underserved communities.

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, praised the bank’s initiative, saying it “will  bolster the well-being of families across the country, as well as our collective economy.”

Air pollution continues to be a concern for consumers’ health around the world, and recent studies have shown the ways that young people’s physical and mental health are negatively affected by these toxins. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Lancaster University has found that exposure to polluted air can increase the risk of young people developing serious neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and motor neuron disease (MND). 

“It’s critical to understand the links between the nanoparticles you’re breathing in or swallowing and the impacts those metal-rich particles are then having on the different parts of the brain,” said researcher Barbara Maher. “Different people will have different levels of vulnerability to such particulate exposure but our new findings indicate that what air pollutants you are exposed to, what you are inhaling and swallowing, are really significant in development of neurological damage.” 

Neurological risks

The researchers scanned the brainstems of 186 participants from Mexico City to see what effect lifelong exposure to contaminated air can have on neurological health.

The researchers observed noticeable changes to two parts of the participants’ brains: the cerebellum and the substantia nigra; the former is responsible for overall body movement while the latter is the source of dopamine production. The researchers say these parts of the brain were sites for nanoparticles related to exposure to air pollution.

The researchers explained that these nanoparticles increase the likelihood of inflammation throughout the brain and can also lead to abnormalities in protein levels, all of which can increase the likelihood of Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and MND. 

“Not only did the brainstems of the young people in the study show the ‘neuropathological hallmarks’ of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and MND, they also had high concentrations of iron-, aluminum-, and titanium-rich nanoparticles in the brainstem -- specifically in the substantia nigra, and cerebellum,” said Maher. 

“The iron- and aluminum-rich nanoparticles found in the brainstem are strikingly similar to those which occur as combustion- and friction-derived particles in air pollution (from engines and braking systems,” she continued. “The titanium-rich particles in the brain were different -- distinctively needle-like in shape; similar particles were observed in the nerve cells of the gut wall, suggesting these particles reach the brain after being swallowed and moving from the gut into the nerve cells which connect the brainstem with the digestive system.” 

The researchers only examined participants between the ages of 11 months and 27 years old, but their findings showed that there were already signs of neurological degeneration. The team worries about how negative health effects will manifest over time and hopes that efforts will be taken to better control air pollution. 

Wismettac Asian Foods of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., is recalling Shirakiku brand imported Dried Fungus (also known as Black Fungus or Kikurage).

The product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recall applies to 5-lb. packages of Black Fungus (KIKURAGE), item #60403 with UPC code 00074410604035.

The recalled product was sold to restaurants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and British Columbia in Canada.

What to do

Consumers with questions may contact the company at recall@wismettacusa.com.

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling five model year 2020 Tiguan LWBs.

The third row seat belt anchor bolts may not have been properly torqued.

Improperly torqued bolts may prevent the third row seat belt from performing as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

What to do

No one should occupy the third row seat due to the safety risk.

Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles.

The recall was expected to begin October 2, 2020.

Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298. Volkswagen number for this recall is 69BA.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 7,506,743 (7,464,372)

Total U.S. deaths: 211,108 (210,313)

Total global cases: 35,906,341 (35,559,026)

Total global deaths: 1,051,446 (1,045,390)

Trump ends stimulus talks with Democrats

Consumers and businesses hoping for more help from Washington to cope with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic appear to be in for disappointment. President Trump late Tuesday broke off talks with Democrats over an aid package, saying the issue won’t be taken up until after the upcoming election.

Trump later said he would be willing to sign legislation providing a second round of direct payments to Americans and aid to businesses, but he alleged that Democrats so far have resisted breaking the aid package into smaller parts that both sides appear to accept.

The president’s move came on the same day that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned that the nation’s economy faced “dire consequences” if Congress and the administration failed to quickly agree on another round of aid to consumers and businesses -- from small independent restaurants to industries like the airlines.

Lowe’s hands out more bonus checks to hourly workers

Home improvement services is one category of business that has thrived during the pandemic because home-bound consumers keep finding things they want to change. Lowe’s has announced it’s handing out another $100 million to hourly workers, who have been busier than usual.

All hourly associates in the company’s U.S. stores, distribution centers, and store support centers will receive the bonus on Oct. 16. Full-time hourly associates will receive $300 and part-time and seasonal associates will receive $150. 

"Throughout the spring, summer and now into fall, our front-line associates have shown remarkable resilience and dedication to our communities in the most trying times we have faced together," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's CEO. 

Apple’s brand shines during the pandemic

Apple has been ranked as the “most intimate brand” so far during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to MBLM's Brand Intimacy COVID Study, which measures emotional connections. Amazon was second and Google was third.

The company characterizes brand Intimacy as the emotional science behind the bonds consumers form with the brands they use and love. Mario Natarelli, managing partner at MBLM, says consumers tend to intensify their feelings about a brand during a crisis, which could make them even stronger once the crisis ends.

Other top brands on the list include Walmart, YouTube, Toyota, Disney, Netflix, Chevrolet, and PlayStation. 

COVID-19 leads to Ruby Tuesday bankruptcy

The coronavirus has claimed another national restaurant chain. Ruby Tuesday, a casual dining chain, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, saying the loss of business caused by the pandemic has forced it to reorganize.

The company said it has worked out agreements with lenders to support its restructuring effort and that some of its restaurants will stay open.

“This announcement does not mean ‘Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday,’” said CEO Shawn Lederman. “Today’s actions will allow us an opportunity to reposition the company for long-term stability as we recover from the unprecedented impact of Covid-19.”

Billionaire wealth is up 25 percent

A study by Swiss bank UBS and PwC underscores the differences in how the pandemic has impacted people around the world. In many respects, the rich have gotten richer.

Researchers say wealth held by billionaires rose more than 25 percent during the pandemic, largely because world stock markets have surged to new highs after dropping sharply in late March.

People who did not own stocks didn’t fare nearly as well. Unemployment from the economic shutdown during the spring took a steep toll, though it was partially offset by aid from Congress, that has now expired.

Around the nation

• Virginia: State Senator Jill Holtzman Vogel attended the Sept. 26 White House reception for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, which may have been a coronavirus super-spreader event. Vogel attended two senate sessions afterward, calling legislative pandemic protocols into question.

• New Mexico: New Mexico is the latest state to be added to New York’s quarantine list. Travelers from New Mexico will have to self-quarantine for 14 days upon their arrival in New York.

• Nebraska: Scientists and physicians from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Nebraska Medicine are worried about the latest uptick in coronavirus cases in the state. They say hospitalization rates have risen to a level where they worry facilities could be overwhelmed. 

New research shows that the COVID-19 pandemic had a silver lining for one particular segment of the world population -- a very large silver lining that helped lift total billionaire wealth to an all-time high of $10.2 trillion during the coronavirus crisis.

The latest edition of Billionaires Insights from Swiss bank UBS and accounting firm PwC shows that the $10.2 trillion mark came quickly. Billionaire wealth was at $8 trillion at the start of April, but a V-shaped market bounce helped total wealth grow by more than 27 percent by the end of June. The total number of nouveau riche billionaires also grew by 31, hitting a new high at 2,189 extra-fat cats.

Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos had a particularly sweet ride up, adding more than $68 billion of worth year-to-date, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. 

How they did it

The report suggests that the billionaires club was fed by every single industry, but those in the industrial, technology, and health care sectors saw their wallets fatten the most. These wealthy elite increased their wealth by 36 to 44 percent during the three-month period between April and June.

Investments in technology and health care produced the largest growth, more than quadrupling the growth billionaires made off the 2009 global financial crisis and nearly double what they reaped off the 2015 oil price crash.

“Industrials benefited disproportionately as markets priced in a significant economic recovery, while tech companies performed well both due to the corona-induced demand for their goods and services, and markets discounting the value of their future cash flows in a low interest rate environment,” the report said.

“By contrast, real estate lagged with a 13.2 percent rebound as equity markets doubted the strength of future demand for office and retail property.”

Paying their due?

Given the windfall the billionaire class is experiencing during the pandemic, it’s fair to wonder where all that money will go. PwC surveyed 84 of its partners that deal with billionaire clients and learned that most billionaires are anticipating additional increases in both wealth taxes and direct taxation. 

Some members of the über-rich have donated money towards combating the pandemic, and this most recent study found that some 209 billionaires have publicly committed a total of $7.2 billion through financial donations, manufactured goods and equipment, and other commitments. In an optimistic view, the researchers say the wealthy class will be integral to repairing damage caused by COVID-19. 

“When the storm passes, a new generation of billionaire innovators looks set to play a critical role in repairing the damage. Using the growing repertoire of emerging technologies, tomorrow’s innovators will digitize, refresh and revolutionize the economy,” their report stated.

Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google are finding themselves in the crosshairs of Democrats in the House. A staff report recommends changes to antitrust laws that would require those large technology companies to spin off parts of their businesses and make it harder to acquire companies in the future.

The report is the culmination of a 16-month investigation into how the four companies operate and how they went about acquiring other companies, including potential competitors. The report concludes that the companies are monopolies that need to be cut down to size.

House Democrats apparently are not the only government officials who feel that way. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also looked into the size and power of large tech firms and reportedly plans to file an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook before the end of the year.

Facebook apparently saw what was coming and has prepared a brief against a break-up that would force the spin-off of Instagram and Whatsapp. The leaked documents prepared by a high-powered law firm contend that such a break-up would hurt consumers who use the apps.

The wide-ranging recommendations contained in the House Antitrust Subcommittee staff report, if enacted into law, would significantly alter the technology landscape. Under it:

• Dominant companies couldn’t go into adjacent lines of business;

• Large tech companies would face harsher scrutiny in proposed mergers;

• Big Tech companies would be prevented from using their platforms to favor their own content;

• Big Tech’s services would have to be compatible with competitors; and

• Forced-arbitration clauses and limits on class-action lawsuits would be banned.

Republican allies

Democrats may find some Republican allies for some of their proposals to rein in Big Tech. Both parties tend to have issues with large technology companies, but for different reasons.

Democrats have complained about what they see as anticompetitive behavior that harms consumers and stifles competition. Republicans have long maintained that Silicon Valley tech firms discriminate against conservative viewpoints.

Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), in a draft response obtained by Politico, sides with his Democratic colleagues on some items in the report but calls others “non-starters.” Buck is a key member of the House Judiciary Committee, which will have a lot to say about how antitrust laws are changed and enforced.

Consumers and small business owners won’t be getting additional help from Washington until after the Nov. 3 election. President Trump late Tuesday abruptly cut off talks on another coronavirus (COVID-19) stimulus bill.

“I have instructed my representatives to stop negotiating until after the election when, immediately after I win, we will pass a major Stimulus Bill,” Trump posted on Twitter.

In a series of tweets, the president laid out his reasons for ending the talks, accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of negotiating in bad faith.

“Nancy Pelosi is asking for $2.4 Trillion Dollars to bail out poorly run, high crime, Democrat States, money that is in no way related to COVID-19,” Trump wrote. “We made a very generous offer of $1.6 Trillion Dollars and, as usual, she is not negotiating in good faith. I am rejecting their request.”

“Walking away from coronavirus talks demonstrates that President Trump is unwilling to crush the virus,” Pelosi responded in a statement.

‘Unnecessary hardship’

The president’s move came on the same day that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell warned that the nation’s economy faced “dire consequences” if Congress and the administration failed to quickly agree on another round of aid to consumers and businesses -- from small independent restaurants to industries like the airlines.

“The expansion is still far from complete,” Powell said during a virtual conference of private-sector economists Tuesday morning. “At this early stage, I would argue that the risks of policy intervention are still asymmetric. Too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship.”

Trump said Congress should act now to provide support to the airline industry, which has faced mounting losses after a huge drop in passenger traffic since March. The airlines have said they will have to furlough thousands of employees this month without help from Washington.

Trump also said Congress should approve another round of $1,200 payments to American adults, matching the stimulus payments Americans received under the CARES Act, passed in March. 

House Democrats have approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package that contains direct payments to Americans, but individual aid measures that both parties agree on have not yet been passed.

Trump’s tweet ending the talks came just before the stock market closed on Tuesday, and Wall Street didn’t like it one bit. A major market rally disappeared in minutes, with stocks losing all of the session’s gains and closing lower on the day.

If you’re a senior citizen and Medicare insurance subscriber, you probably know that open enrollment is nearly upon us. This year, Walmart has decided to enter the Medicare insurance arena.

During the annual enrollment period (AEP) beginning October 15 and running through December 7, Walmart’s new licensed insurance brokerage -- Insurance Services, LLC -- will help interested parties enroll in insurance plans. While it’s not calling out its competitors, Walmart is posturing itself by saying it’s simplifying what has historically been a “cumbersome, confusing process.” 

“Health care can be complicated. But we think quality health care should be within reach of everyone, and pricing should be transparent and affordable,” said Lori Flees, SVP and COO, Walmart U.S. Health & Wellness, in the company’s announcement.

“Our money-saving $4 generic prescription program and, more recently, Walmart Health locations are helping customers save money and live healthier. Similarly, our Healthcare Begins Here program has helped customers navigate the very complex health insurance system for years.”

Ready for competition

Walmart has its geographic ducks in a row and is licensed in all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., but its move into Medicare insurance won’t be a cakewalk. There are beaucoup insurance brands offering direct-to-consumer Medicare plans already. However, Walmart thinks it has a way to circumnavigate all those issues. 

At launch, Walmart Insurance Services will provide Medicare plans (Part D, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans) offered by many of the larger insurers: Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Amerigroup, Simply Health, Wellcare (Centene), Clover Health and Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 

And that’s just the starting point. Flees said that more carriers may be added in the future. 

Bill Gates said Tuesday that it’s “truly a sad thing” that the United States still hasn’t increased the availability of COVID-19 tests or shortened the testing result turnaround time enough to get the crisis under control. 

At The Wall Street Journal CEO Summit, the global health philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder noted that other countries were quicker to get COVID-19 outbreaks under control through the implementation of strict lockdowns. He also said other nations were able to control outbreaks through efficient, widespread testing.

“Other countries did very good testing early on. They activated the commercial sector,” he said. “The U.S., to this day, has that you don’t get quick test results. It’s truly a sad thing that we haven’t organized testing.”

Stronger response needed

Although COVID-19 test processing times have improved since the start of the pandemic, Gates has said there is still room for improvement. Rapid test results are crucial so that infected individuals can isolate themselves as soon as possible after confirming that they are COVID-19 positive. 

Gates said that taking steps to speed up test processing times is an effective way to keep the virus from being spread by people who don’t know they have it. Ramping up the availability and speed of tests could help circumvent the need for shutdowns. 

“People are so tired of being restricted,” he said. “And the clarity of leadership about, ‘hey, this saves lives,’ has been particularly weak in the U.S. and a few other countries. Even what we do know about things that we shouldn’t be doing, particularly as the fall is going to drive the numbers up quite a bit, we’re not able to execute on that.”

China underwent a more effective lockdown and has reported a total of 90,660 cases, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Last month, the country had just a few dozen confirmed new cases per day. Meanwhile, the U.S. is still reporting upwards of 40,000 new cases per day. 

“The U.S. never did a lockdown. And China proved that if you do an effective lockdown, you can drive disease to zero,” he said. “It was extreme. It’d be hard to execute in most countries, but they got to zero.”

Petco announced Tuesday that it will stop selling electronic “shock” collars for pets. 

The products -- which deliver electrical pulses when an unwanted behavior is exhibited -- have been labeled as “controversial” by the Humane Society. Animal rights groups have argued that they cause animals unnecessary distress. 

Aware of the potential harm these collars may cause, Petco will be pulling the collars from its shelves and website. The retailer is doing so, in part, to align itself with its mission of becoming a health and wellness brand.

"Electricity may be critical to powering your microwave, but it has no role for the average pet parent training their dog," Petco CEO Ron Coughlin said in a release. "Shock collars have been shown to increase fear, anxiety and stress in dogs, and we believe there's a better way – Positive Reinforcement Training.” 

In addition to causing pain, Coughlin added that the collars have the potential to be abused. He referenced viral internet videos that show people doing normal activities and being unexpectedly shocked by a shock collar. 

"You see those human shock collar challenges," he said. "They're funny, but sad because pets don't know what's coming their way, and they didn't ask for it to happen."

“Stop the Shock” movement 

In the year ahead, the pet supply chain plans to rebrand as “Petco, The Health + Wellness Co.” 

“As a health and wellness company, our mission is focused on improving pet lives and we think selling shock collars does the opposite,” Coughlin said. “It's our responsibility to ensure that we, and others, aren't putting potentially harmful products in the wrong hands."

Petco is hoping its action will encourage other pet retailers to halt sales of all human- and bark-activated electronic pet collars. The company has started a petition to have these collars regulated and used only by certified training professionals. 

“We're calling on the rest of the pet industry, pet parents and anyone who loves pets to help us create new guidelines, engage in responsible self-regulation and consider legislative change for the retail sale of certain shock collars to general consumers,” the company said in the petition description.

While the risk of kids contracting scarlet fever hasn’t been a serious concern in nearly 80 years, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland found that the highly contagious infection has reemerged in recent years. Their work revealed that clones of the bacteria that cause scarlet fever are at the root of this resurgence, and keeping kids healthy is of the utmost importance. 

“The disease had mostly dissipated by the 1940s,” said researcher Dr. Stephen Brouwer. “After 2011, the global reach of the pandemic became evident with reports of a second outbreak in the U.K., beginning in 2014, and we’ve now discovered isolate outbreaks here in Australia.” 

“This global re-emergence of scarlet fever has caused more than a five-fold increase in disease rate and more than 600,000 cases around the world.”  

Bacterial clones

Because scarlet fever has been dormant for so long, the researchers were interested in discovering how the infection has reappeared in recent years. They began studying the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria, which is what causes scarlet fever. They learned that copycat bacteria had evolved and added new toxins that produce an even greater immune response. 

“The toxins would have been transferred into the bacterium when it was infected by viruses that carried the toxin genes,” said researcher Mark Walker. “We’ve shown that these acquired toxins allow Streptococcus pyogenes to better colonise its host, which likely allows it to out-compete other strains. These supercharged bacterial clones have been causing our modern scarlet fever outbreaks.” 

The researchers explained that scarlet fever is spread the same way most bacterial infections are spread -- by an infected person coughing or sneezing near an uninfected person. Because young children are most susceptible to the virus, it can spread rather quickly. Case numbers have been low recently because of measures currently in place to protect consumers against COVID-19; however, the researchers worry about how that will change as children go back to school and social distancing protocols begin to ease up. 

“We need to continue this research to improve diagnosis and to better manage these epidemics,” said Walker. “Just like COVID-19, ultimately a vaccine will be critical for eradicating scarlet fever -- one of history’s most pervasive and deadly childhood diseases.” 

Ruby Tuesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Wednesday and announced that it will be permanently closing 185 restaurants.

The restaurant chain said the challenges that it and other sit-down dining chains have battled in recent years have only been exacerbated by the pandemic. The company said it remains hopeful that its restructuring efforts will help it bounce back.

“This announcement does not mean ‘Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday,'"  CEO Shawn Lederman said in a statement. "Today’s actions will allow us an opportunity to reposition the company for long-term stability as we recover from the unprecedented impact of COVID-19."

Impact of COVID-19 

The pandemic has had a drastic impact on Ruby Tuesday’s operations. Previously, 90 percent of its sales came from dine-in business.

While other restaurant chains swiftly implemented new COVID-19 protocols, Ruby Tuesday wasn’t as quick to do so. The company’s efforts to adapt to the current conditions included launching “virtual kitchens,” expanding delivery and takeout, and selling raw food on its website. 

But Lederman said sales have remained poor, especially at the chain’s mall locations. In a court filing, Lederman said that the company was “not immune to the overall shift in customer spending from casual dining to fast food and fast casual.”

Ruby Tuesday said it has "reached an understanding with its secured lenders to support its restructuring." After closing 185 restaurants, the chain will have 236 remaining company-owned and operated locations. 

The company has nearly $43 million in senior debt. In 2020, Ruby Tuesday tried to avoid bankruptcy by renegotiating leases and loan agreements and cutting corporate costs, according to a court filing.

Recent studies have highlighted how low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy can affect newborns’ development. Now, a new study is exploring how the supplement can be effective in maintaining healthy blood pressure for infants. 

According to researchers from Johns Hopkins University, vitamin D is an important supplement for women with preeclampsia because it has been found to promote better blood pressure for newborns through childhood. 

“There is increasing evidence that cardiovascular disease risk is, to a great extent, programmed in the womb, and we now see that it may be vitamin D that alters this programming in a beneficial fashion,” said researcher Noel Mueller, PhD. 

The benefits of vitamin D

To see how vitamin D could affect newborns’ blood pressure, the researchers analyzed data from Boston Medical Center, which included information on over 750 mothers and infants. The study included data on the mothers’ vitamin D levels during pregnancy, with the researchers regularly checking children’s blood pressure from the time they were three years old through the age of 18.  

The researchers kids were more likely to have high blood pressure when their mothers experienced preeclampsia during pregnancy. However, they also learned that vitamin D could be an effective way to reduce the risk of kids developing high blood pressure. 

Kids who received the highest levels of vitamin D maintained healthy blood pressure readings throughout childhood, regardless of what their mothers’ blood pressure status was during pregnancy. Conversely, those who received the lowest levels of vitamin D during pregnancy were more likely to have elevated blood pressure readings -- especially when their mothers struggled with preeclampsia. 

While consumers should always consult with their doctors before starting a new supplement regimen, these findings are important because they could lead to better health outcomes for kids. Moving forward, the researchers hope that more research is done in this area to better understand this link between maternal vitamin D levels and blood pressure. 

“If other epidemiological studies confirm these findings, then randomized trials would be needed to determine conclusively if higher vitamin D in mothers at risk of preeclampsia protects against childhood high blood pressure,” said Dr. Mueller. 

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 23 model year 2018 Volkswagen Golf R & Atlas, model year 2017 Golf Alltrack & E-Golf and model year 2016-2018 Passat vehicles.

The internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale.

Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to occupants.

What to do

Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles.

The recall is expected to begin November 13, 2020.

Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at (800) 893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.