Current Events in December 2020

New York state’s pension fund found itself with a new world record on Thursday when it decided to become the largest pension fund to divest from all of its fossil fuel investments.

The fund -- which is the third largest pension fund in the U.S. with a value of $194.3 billion and more than one million members, retirees, and beneficiaries -- decided that selling off its “riskiest” oil and gas stocks is the right action to take due to growing climate concerns. The state’s final goal is to completely eliminate all carbon polluters from its investment portfolio by 2040. 

With a stroke of New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s pen, a clear message was sent that the smart money is on getting out of the fossil fuel game now rather than later.

“We continue to assess energy sector companies in our portfolio for their future ability to provide investment returns in light of the global consensus on climate change,” state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said in a statement Wednesday morning. 

“Those that fail to meet our minimum standards may be removed from our portfolio. Divestment is a last resort, but it is an investment tool we can apply to companies that consistently put our investment’s long-term value at risk.”

The shape of things to come?

The Paris Climate Agreement is coming up on its fifth anniversary, but its last couple of years have been a tug of war. Once President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the accord, tech executives from Google, Microsoft, Apple, and others came together to voice their concerns. Meanwhile, the world’s five largest publicly traded oil and gas companies fought against governmental measures to curb emissions.

While the consumption side of fossil fuels hasn’t changed dramatically in the last 20 years, renewable energy -- hydroelectric power, geothermal, solar, and wind -- is getting closer in the energy sector’s rear view mirror. At last count, the renewable option was generating 17.6 percent of all electric power.

New York may be the first to come down this hard on fossil fuel, but other states have been working on similar moves. As of late April, 15 U.S. states and territories had taken either executive or legislative action toward a 100 percent clean energy future -- one that includes clean electricity policies and economy-wide greenhouse gas pollution-reduction programs.

What’s the energy future for consumers?

Even more important is the consumer side of the energy consumption equation. While the decrease in gas prices has American consumers moving toward buying more SUVs and trucks, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) keeps pushing for exponentially less polluting and more efficient vehicles. 

At home, clean energy, such as solar power, is also getting the reputation as a more environmentally friendly option. 

“Solar energy is most efficient in terms of environmental impact, whereas coal and natural gas are more efficient by reliable applications,” writes ConsumerAffairs’ Kathryn Parkman in her review of how certain energy resources impact consumers in terms of efficiency, cost, and long-term availability.

And, as for cost? “Given the consumption rate of fossil fuels, the world is reaching a point where there will be little choice in the matter. Nonrenewable fossil fuels are extracted at a much faster rate than they're being replenished. Because of this, some fossil fuels, like coal, are on track to be more expensive than solar within the next decade,” Parkman said.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a group of states, some controlled by Democrats, others by Republicans, are suing Facebook, charging the social media giant of violating antitrust laws.

At issue is Facebook’s acquisition, in recent years, of Instagram and WhatsApp. The government accuses Facebook of purchasing those emerging rivals as a means of reducing competition in the social media space.

“Personal social networking is central to the lives of millions of Americans,” said Ian Conner, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “Facebook’s actions to entrench and maintain its monopoly deny consumers the benefits of competition.”

Conner said the suit seeks to “roll back Facebook’s anticompetitive conduct,” serving notice that the plaintiffs in the lawsuit will seek to force the company to divest itself of Instagram and WhatsApp.

The suit also seeks to prevent Facebook from imposing what it calls “anticompetitive conditions on software developers.” It would also require Facebook to seek prior notice and approval for future mergers and acquisitions.

The suit was joined by the attorneys general of 47 states and the District of Columbia.

‘Revisionist history’

The government had telegraphed its intentions for months and Facebook pushed back hard against the lawsuit, calling it “revisionist history.” In a lengthy statement, Jennifer Newstead, Facebook vice president and general counsel, said the acquisition of both Instagram and WhatsApp was approved by the FTC.

“Now, many years later, with seemingly no regard for settled law or the consequences to innovation and investment, the agency is saying it got it wrong and wants a do-over,” Newstead said. “In addition to being revisionist history, this is simply not how the antitrust laws are supposed to work. No American antitrust enforcer has ever brought a case like this before, and for good reason.”

The suit was filed amid growing government criticism of “big tech” companies that have not only been enormously successful but have also changed the way Americans get information and communicate with others. The mistrust of “big tech” has lately been the one area of agreement between Republicans and Democrats in hyper-partisan Washington.

Among the five FTC commissioners considering the lawsuit, the two Democratic commissioners joined one of the Republican commissioners in voting to file the action. Two Republican commissioners voted no.

The suit claims Facebook only acquired Instagram and WhatsApp because they posed a threat to Facebook’s social media dominance. The FTC approved Facebook’s merger with Instagram in 2012 and its acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged General Electric (GE) with misleading stockholders about the financial problems in its insurance and power businesses prior to the tumbling of its stock. 

The SEC said Wednesday that GE didn’t adequately explain to stockholders that its insurance and power businesses had been deteriorating, or about how cash flowed between its industrial and financial businesses. 

In its order, the SEC further accused GE of misleading investors in 2016 and 2017 about the source of profitability in its power unit. The agency also said GE didn’t do a good enough job of explaining to investors the risks related to its portfolio of long-term health insurance liabilities between 2015 and 2017.

‘Disclosure failures’

The company’s stock plunged nearly 76 percent from the beginning of 2016 through the end of 2018. The SEC opened an investigation into the company’s accounting practices in 2017 after it recorded an accounting charge of $6.2 billion. 

GE has agreed to pay $200 million to settle the three-year investigation. 

“Investors are entitled to an accurate picture of a company’s material operating results,” said Stephanie Avakian, Director of the Division of Enforcement in a statement.  “GE’s repeated disclosure failures across multiple businesses materially misled investors about how it was generating reported earnings and cash growth as well as latent risks in its insurance business.”

GE told Reuters that it’s “never a proud moment for a company to have to settle an SEC accounting investigation and pay a civil fine.” However, officials said the company considers the settlement reached Wednesday to be a “favorable outcome for GE.” 

Under the settlement, the company does not have to admit wrongdoing or make any further corrections or revisions to financial statements. GE will be required to report to the SEC on its accounting and disclosure controls for one year. 

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement that puts the matter behind us," GE said in a statement. "Under the current leadership team, we have significantly enhanced our disclosures and internal controls and are a stronger company today."

McDonald’s is giving away food for the holidays. Every day from Monday, December 14, through December 24, the fast food icon is offering daily deals on menu items that feature favorite holiday characters from TV and film.

“After a year like 2020, I think we could all use some extra cheer this season,” said McDonald’s U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Morgan Flatley. 

Before you schedule a family trip to McDonald’s in hopes of taking advantage of the free feeding frenzy, you should know that each daily-promoted menu item requires a $1 minimum purchase -- and the purchases have to be made through the “deals” section of the McDonald’s app.

However, in a nod to Santa, a 2-pack/3-pack of chocolate chip cookies will be available completely free on Christmas Eve, no minimum purchase required.

The daily deals

As you’ll see, McDonald’s daily deals all have some sort of a connection to a character in a classic holiday movie or TV episode. Here’s the list: 

Dec. 14: The Griswolds, free Double Cheeseburger. Note: The company did not list any exceptions for Cousin Eddie or his “tenement on wheels,” nor did they say if Clark Griswold might be dropping by with free eggnog refills.

Dec. 15: The Abominable Snowmonster, free Big Mac

Dec. 16: Grinch, free Egg McMuffin

Dec. 17: John McClane, free McDouble. This tie-in is a bit of a stretch, but John McClane was the role Bruce Willis played in ‘Die Hard,’ which opened up with Willis traveling to Los Angeles to attend a Christmas Eve party.

Dec. 18: Rudolph, free medium Fry

Dec. 19: Gizmo, free 6-piece McNuggets. By the way, Gizmo is that furry little pet Billy’s dad gave him for Christmas in the ‘Gremlins’ movie.

Dec. 20: Buddy the Elf, free Hotcakes

Dec. 21: Scrooge, free any-size Hot or Iced Coffee

Dec. 22: Frosty the Snowman, free any size McFlurry

Dec. 23: On this day, McDonald’s is paying homage to ‘Seinfeld’s’ Frank Costanza and his idea for creating a “festivus for the rest-of-us” when he couldn’t get the doll George wanted for Christmas. As the daily freebie, customers can get a bakery item -- Apple Fritter, Cinnamon Roll, or Blueberry Muffin -- of their choice.

Dec. 24: Santa, free 2-pack or 3-pack Chocolate Chip Cookies (No minimum purchase required)

Though many consumers have already gotten a head start on their holiday shopping, a new study is exploring a trend that could lead consumers to make more unplanned purchases. 

According to researchers from the University of Innsbruck, consumers need to keep their focus while shopping if they don’t want to take home any unexpected items. Their study revealed that wandering glances while shopping are the biggest factors in consumers straying from their shopping lists, and many stores use this to their advantage to get shoppers to add more to their shopping carts.

“Over the past decades, retailers have developed many sales strategies that focus on the visual attention of customers,” said researcher Mathias Streicher. “All these strategies maximize the journey through the store and increase the probability to remember a forgotten need or discover a new product.” 

The power of persuasion

To see how powerful it can be to harness consumers’ attention while shopping, the researchers conducted multiple shopping experiments that focused on the difference between narrow and broad focus while participants were shopping. 

Shoppers were shown images of available items on a digital display screen; however, the narrow focus group saw the same images in the middle of the screen while the broad focus group saw different images projected all around the periphery of the screen.  

One test involved participants in a supermarket, with the researchers assessing how far participants walked through the store and whether they were able to stick to their shopping lists. The researchers were interested in the distance travelled throughout the store because they explained that many stores keep essential items far away from the entrance to ensure that customers have to walk through more of the store so they can be enticed to make more purchases

The researchers learned that participants were more likely to peruse more items in the store if they were exposed to them prior to shopping, and this led to twice as many unplanned purchases and much more travel throughout the store.

“In looking at shelves, shoppers always see a subset of the assortment and which subset they see critically depends on their visual attention,” Streicher said. “We were able to show that attentional patterns can be unconsciously broadened or even narrowed down by simple in-store communications.” 

Staying focused in the store

What is Streicher’s advice to help consumers through their holiday shopping? He said it’s important for consumers to have a list on hand and stick to it.

“Our research shows that unplanned purchasing already begins at the level of visual attention,” he said. “To reduce unplanned purchases, it is therefore better to avoid wandering glances in shopping situations -- preferable with the support of a shopping list.” 

With an effective COVID-19 vaccine about to be deployed, Google is ramping up its efforts to combat vaccine misinformation. 

The tech giant announced Thursday that it’s launching a new Search feature that will display a list of authorized vaccines in a user’s location. The tool will also provide information on each type of vaccine.

Google said it’s crucial to address “misperceptions and hesitance” about vaccines during the time before COVID-19 vaccines start rolling out on an “unprecedented pace and scale.” 

“This will require sharing information to educate the public, including addressing vaccine misperceptions and hesitance, and helping to surface official guidance to people on when, where and how to get vaccinated,” Google said.

The company has chosen to launch the first iteration in the U.K. because it was the first Western country to approve and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine to its residents. 

“As health authorities begin authorizing vaccines, we’ll introduce this new feature in more countries,” wrote Google’s chief health officer Karen DeSalvo, MD and Kristie Canegallo, vice president of trust and safety.

Curbing misinformation

Earlier this year, Google added COVID-19 panels with the aim of providing users with fact-checked information about the virus. Now, Google said it’s taking other steps to provide users with accurate health information. 

The company said its Google News Initiative will funnel an additional $1.5 million into the creation of a COVID-19 Vaccine Media Hub. 

“Led by the Australian Science Media Centre, and with support from technology non-profit Meedan, the hub will be a resource for journalists, providing around-the-clock access to scientific expertise and research updates,” DeSalvo wrote. “The initiative includes science media centers and public health experts from Latin America, Africa, Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region, with content being made available in seven languages.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Thomas Jefferson University found that a genetic skin disorder detected at birth could predict future heart problems. 

According to the researchers, epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a skin condition that makes the skin incredibly fragile, and it can also affect bruising and hair growth. The researchers discovered that a specific gene mutation that is associated with EB is also linked with the heart condition arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), which weakens the heart over time and can be life-threatening. 

“By looking into the skin of newborns, we can predict the development of a devastating heart disease later in life,” said researcher Dr. Jouni Uitto. “This is predictive personalized medicine at its best.” 

Identifying genetic risks

The researchers analyzed the DNA of 360 patients with EB to try to determine what part of the genetic make-up was responsible for the skin condition. They learned that two participants -- a toddler and a young woman in her early twenties -- had a common mutated gene: the JUP gene.

Upon closer research, the team learned that both study participants had exhibited the same EB symptoms during infancy. However, as the woman grew and developed, she was diagnosed with ARVC. At the time of the study, the toddler wasn’t experiencing any heart-related issues; based on the way the JUP gene mutates, the researchers predict that EB patients with this specific gene mutation are highly likely to develop ARVC.

These findings show just how serious a condition ARVC is. Not only does the heart weaken over time, but patients as young as 30 are incredibly vulnerable to cardiac arrest. 

“This is a serious disease that can require a heart transplant if the damage is too severe because of heart failure and life threatening fast rhythms,” said researcher Dr. Reginald Ho. 

Because EB can be detected at birth, the researchers hope that these findings can work to identify patients who could be genetically predisposed to ARVC from the earliest stages of development. 

“This means that with mutation analysis, you can predict when looking at EB patients at birth, whether they will have this very severe heart condition later in life,” said Dr. Uitto. “These patients need to be monitored carefully for heart problems.”

As home prices rose during the pandemic, homeowners in the United States have collectively gained around $1 trillion in equity, according to a report from CoreLogic. 

Homeowners with mortgages in the U.S. have seen an equity increase of 10.8 percent, or about $17,000 per homeowner. CoreLogic said that’s the largest equity bump seen since the first quarter of 2014.

Since the onset of the pandemic, home prices have been trending upward. Many people decided to move for various reasons related to the work- and school-from-home conditions necessitated by the health crisis. Others opted to move to less densely populated regions in the interest of safety, and some decided to buy homes this year due to record-low mortgage rates. But while housing demand grew stronger, supply remained lean. 

CoreLogic said homeowners will probably see their equity grow even more in the months ahead before the numbers moderate at some point over the next year.

“Equity gains are likely to persist over the next several months as strong home-purchase demand is expected to remain high and continue pushing prices up,” the report said. “However, the CoreLogic HPI Forecast shows home prices slowing over the next 12 months as new home construction and more existing for-sale homes ease supply pressures. This could moderate the pace of both home price growth and equity gains.” 

Varied by market

The amount of equity gained per homeowner varied by location, with homeowners in locations with the hottest home prices seeing the biggest gains. 

Washington had the highest year-over-year average increase at $35,800. Homeowners in California gained $33,800, and those in Massachusetts gained an average of $31,200. The smallest equity gain was seen in North Dakota, where homeowners gained just $5,400 in equity. 

Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic, said the equity gains of 2020 can provide “an important buffer to protect families if they experience financial difficulties.” Borrowers who aren’t able to keep their homes due to financial hardships may still be able to sell into the market and make a profit.

Consumers shopping for a new or used car for the holidays are finding a slightly improved selection on dealers’ lots, but bargains have been hard to come by. 

To help stretch car payment dollars, more dealers are offering 0 percent financing. Jonathan Smoke, chief economist at Cox Automotive, says an increasing number of consumers took advantage of interest-free financing last week.

“The share of financing at 0 percent rose to 13.4 percent from 6.7 percent at the beginning of November,” Smoke said. 

Tighter supplies

One of the problems consumers have faced is having fewer cars to choose from. Even though inventories ticked up last week, the new car inventory level at the beginning of December is down 20 percent year-over-year.

The total U.S. supply of available unsold new vehicles stood at 2.87 million as December began. That’s up from 2.67 million at the start of November, but it’s well below last year’s 3.56 million vehicles. Last week, there was a 74-day supply of new vehicles on dealers’ lots, which was an improvement. For used cars, supplies are even tighter.

“Retail used supply declined to 47 days in the latest data, which is normal given the pace of sales,” Smoke said. "Wholesale supply was down to 25 days.”

The COVID-19 factor

The dangerous rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases dampened consumer sentiment last month, and even though the number of cases is steadily rising, Smoke says people are still purchasing new and used vehicles, just not at the pace they did before the pandemic.

“Our estimated retail sales, using a same-store methodology, shows momentum improved for both new and used sales last week,” he said. “Sales for the seven days ending Saturday were down 22 percent year-over-year for used and down 14 percent for new. December has started better than November ended.”

Smoke says it may be all about timing. He says many serious buyers may be acting before they think conditions could get worse.

With inventories tight, buyers are finding fewer incentives -- beyond 0 percent financing -- at new car dealers. Used car prices have run up since the start of the pandemic, but they dipped slightly last week.

Cox Automotive reports that model year 2017 wholesale prices declined 0.3 percent last week, and retail prices declined by 0.5 percent. However, both are now up 6.5 percent from the beginning of the year.

American Honda Motor Co. of Torrance, Calif., is recalling about 118,600 Honda Pioneer 700 & 1000 Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles (ROVs) with Electric Power Steering (EPS).

The ROV can lose steering control, posing crash and injury hazards.

The firm has received eight reports of the ROV’s having either play in the steering or losing control of steering. No injuries or accidents have been reported.

This recall involves model year 2017-2019 & certain model year 2020 Honda Pioneer 700 and model year 2016-2019 & certain model year 2020 Pioneer 1000 Side-by-Side vehicles equipped with Electric Power Steering (EPS).

The recalled vehicles were sold in various colors including: Red, blue, green, gray and yellow.

The name “HONDA” is on the front, sides and the rear of the vehicle.

The model name Pioneer 700 or Pioneer 1000 is printed on a label located on both sides of the vehicle.

The serial number (VIN #) is stamped in the frame at the left rear, below the tilt-up bed/seat.

A list of the recalled ROVs may be found here.

The ROVs, manufactured in the U.S, were sold at authorized Honda Powersports dealers nationwide from August 2015, through March 2020, for approximately between $10,000 and $21,000.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ROVs and contact an authorized Honda Powersports dealer to schedule an appointment for a free inspection and repair, if necessary. Honda is contacting all known purchasers directly.

Consumers may contact American Honda toll-free at (866) 784-1870 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday or online at http://powersports.honda.com/ and click on “Recall Information” at the bottom of the page for more information.

Continental Glatt Kosher Meats of Spring Valley, N.Y., is recalling approximately 61,504 pounds of turkey, chicken and beef products that did not undergo federal inspection.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions.

A list of the recalled items, were from June 26, 2020, through November 20, 2020, with various sell-by dates ranging from October 2, 2020, through April 18, 2021, may be found here.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “EST. 40009” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to retail locations in New York.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Abraham Gruenzweig at (845) 659-4733.

Royal Caribbean may have gotten a little too eager in its desire to start cruising again. Just weeks after the cruise line set out to recruit 100,000 volunteers for test cruises, one of its ships was forced to return to port in Singapore after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19.

According to a report by CNN, the Quantum of the Seas ship was hosting a three-night, four-day "cruise to nowhere" itinerary sailing around Singapore and had been at sea for two days before the incident occured. The passenger, whose name has yet to be released, is an 83-year-old male who contacted ship personnel after he began experiencing diarrhea, a symptom of coronavirus.

The “healthy return” that went wrong

While Royal Caribbean had joined other cruise lines in moving its sailing dates back to 2021, it left Singapore departures off that list. When the company announced the Quantum voyage, it said it was celebrating its “healthy return to sailing” after “months of careful planning and collaboration with Singapore's health and tourism authorities.”

Once the passenger’s test was confirmed as positive, the ship informed Singaporean officials and headed back to port. However, CNN reports that guests have not yet been permitted to disembark from the ship. They likely won’t be able to leave until contact tracing measures have been carried out and the 1,679 passengers and 1,148 crew members remaining onboard are tested for the coronavirus and produce a negative test result.

In all fairness, Royal Caribbean had reason to think it was playing things safe. The Quantum was operating at 50 percent capacity, and every passenger had to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in order to board. All guests were also required to wear masks at all times when outside their staterooms. 

Given the fact that Singapore had only one positive COVID-19 case in the last week, it seemed prudent to only allow Singaporean citizens to buy tickets for the cruise. Royal Caribbean also went the extra mile by having crew members spend 14 days quarantining in the city-state in order to be cleared for work. However, all bets are off when it comes to COVID-19. 

"We worked closely with the government to develop a thorough system that tests and monitors all guests and crew and follows public health best practices," a Royal Caribbean representative said. "That we were able to quickly identify this single case and take immediate action is a sign that the system is working as it was designed to do."

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 15,189,410 (14,975,348)

Total U.S. deaths: 286,521 (284,131)

Total global cases: 68,469,834 (67,803,057)

Total global deaths: 1,561,953 (1,549,332)

U.K.: Pfizer vaccine not for people with allergies

Two days into the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine rollout, British health officials have a warning for people with a “significant history of allergic reactions” -- they should not take the vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech.

The warning was issued after two hospital workers received the vaccine and had “adverse reactions.” Officials said both suffered from allergies.

"Any person with a history of a significant allergic reaction to a vaccine, medicine or food (such as previous history of anaphylactoid reaction or those who have been advised to carry an adrenaline autoinjector) should not receive the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine," British health officials said in an advisory.

New York may require residents to be vaccinated

With polls showing hesitation on the part of the public -- including New York City firefighters -- to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, a state lawmaker is proposing a bill that could make it mandatory.

Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal of Manhattan introduced a bill that would require the state to "safely and effectively" distribute an FDA-approved vaccine "in accordance with the department [of health]'s COVID-19 vaccination administration program." 

The bill would give the state health department authority to “mandate vaccination” if state officials determined that not enough people are getting the vaccine to promote herd immunity.

Senators claim gaps in U.S. testing capacity

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) say they have discovered “significant gaps” in the nation’s ability to administer and collect COVID-19 tests.

In a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the two lawmakers said they made their discovery after consulting with the major diagnostic testing labs in the U.S. The letter said the labs reported a significant spike in testing demand during the summer that stretched resources, making more federal aid necessary.

At a White House event Tuesday, President Trump defended U.S. efforts to test for the virus and said new tests are on the way that will make the process easier.

Roche partnering with Moderna in last stage of vaccine trial

Moderna is in the final stages of its vaccine clinical trial, and it’s teaming up with Roche’s diagnostics unit to determine how well the vaccine works. Moderna will use a Roche test, which received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month, to measure antibodies produced by the vaccine.

“Measuring the quantitative levels of anti-RBD SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using Roche’s test will help Moderna to gain valuable insights into the correlation between protection from vaccination and antibody levels,” Roche said in a press release. 

The company said the information could play a role in assessing if, or when, an individual needs revaccination. It could also help “answer other clinically relevant questions.”

UC Davis joins Novavax trial

Pfizer and Moderna are likely to get conditional FDA approval for their vaccines in the coming days, but that doesn’t mean the search for a vaccine to stamp out COVID-19 has ended. Other vaccine efforts are still underway.

University of California (UC) Davis is partnering with Novavax in a clinical trial for that company’s vaccine. The vaccine, called NVX-CoV2373, has a subunit from the spike protein in SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. The subunit is combined with an adjuvant, a boosting agent to improve the body’s immune response to the vaccine.

“The vaccine contains protein antigens that cannot replicate or cause COVID-19. The antibodies generated to the vaccine will help protect the body from the real, fully-potent virus,” said Stuart Cohen, head of Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Health. 

Around the nation

• New York: A restaurant trade group in New York has taken aim at Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that indoor dining may shut down in New York City soon if COVID-19 hospitalization rates keep going up. “Governor Cuomo has given New Yorkers a one-week warning that indoor dining will likely be shut down, regardless of the number of positive cases that are specifically tied back to restaurants,” Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of the New York State Restaurant Association, said in a statement.

• Tennessee: State health officials have reported 100 deaths in a day for the first time since the pandemic began. The state also reported 6,019 new cases of COVID-19, as well as an 18.47 percent positive for Tuesday.

• Oklahoma: Doctors and nurses at SSM St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City invited TV reporters into the ICU, hoping state residents would be shocked into wearing masks and social distancing. “Just do the right things and wear a mask, and follow CDC guidelines because honestly, we’re strained to the point where this is not sustainable. We can’t do this anymore,” said critical care unit charge nurse Stephanie Collier.

The price of McDonald’s Happy Meals could rise in 2021 as a result of the end of a deal between the fast food giant and its franchisees. Previously, the deal subsidized the price of the toys that come with Happy Meals. 

About 95 percent of U.S. McDonald’s locations are owned and operated by independent franchisees, which are in charge of setting prices for menu items. For years, McDonald's has been giving each franchise around $300 per month to keep the cost of Happy Meals down. Without the contribution, many franchisees say they will be forced to raise the price of the popular menu item. 

The company told franchisees that it’s doing away with the subsidy because it’s "no longer fueling growth in the way it once was.” As a result, franchises have been cleared to increase the price of a Happy Meal by 20 cents starting next year if they so choose. 

The National Owners Association, a group of McDonald's franchisees, said in a team message that it "does not support, nor did we endorse" the elimination of the financial support, according to CNN Business.

"We believe the Happy Meal rebates represent a token of partnership and acknowledgment by the company that each owner [and] operator invests to drive affordable family business to our restaurants," the group said in the letter.

The release of a COVID-19 vaccine could be impacted by dry ice supplies in the U.S., Reuters reports. 

Dry ice is a crucial factor in keeping doses of many vaccinations at the required temperature. For example, the Pfizer vaccine needs to be kept at -70 Celsius. Failure to keep vaccinations at the proper temperature could render them ineffective. 

But some dry ice suppliers are anticipating a level of “vulnerability” in dry ice supplies during the vaccine rollout because it’s unclear how much of it will be needed. 

“There’s going to be spots in other parts of the country that there’s vulnerability or weakness in supply,” Steve Atkins, executive vice president of gases at nexAir in Memphis, Tennessee, told Reuters.

Tight supplies

Dry ice is made from carbon dioxide and is often used in the food and grocery industry, in addition to medical settings. Experts say its use for vaccine distribution threatens to cause a ripple effect that could lead to wavering supplies.

“What is going to happen is as the Pfizer vaccine needs to get distributed at -70C, all of the dry ice is going to get sucked up for vaccine distribution or healthcare related activities and it is just sitting there now,” Evan Armstrong, president of Milwaukee-based supply chain consultancy Armstrong & Associates, told Logistics Management.

“That is going to impact all of the food and grocery stuff that happens on the frozen side, so the ripple effects of that are going to be pretty extreme, when it comes to all of the distribution of non-healthcare products that require dry ice as well.”

Armstrong said dry ice quantities have taken a hit due to pandemic-related declines in oil prices.

“Dry ice manufacturing happens next to oil refinery plants, because they capture the CO2 out of the process,” Armstrong said. “When the price of oil dropped, it really created a lot less C02 and because the production went down, it impacted it…and right now dry ice supplies are very tight.”

States rushing to secure dry ice

Ahead of the rollout of a successful COVID-19 vaccine, Reuters said many states are already scheduling dry ice deliveries. Gehm and Sons in Akron has agreed to provide Ohio with 15,000 pounds per week of dry ice pellets for 55 cents a pound.

More than a dozen states told the publication that they are working hard to secure enough dry ice to replenish shipping containers sent over from Pfizer. 

Pfizer has said that the suitcase-sized containers can house vaccines for a total of 30 days as long as they are re-iced every five days. The pharmaceutical giant said it believes the dry ice supply will be able to support the rollout of its vaccine -- but challenges could still crop up. 

“This is the most challenging vaccination program ever attempted. (It) will be especially complicated in rural and remote communities,” said Dr. Kelly Moore, an advisor to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine program and associate director at the Immunization Action Coalition. 

With the coronavirus vaccine about to shine some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, Delta Air Lines is reframing some of its typical restrictions in hopes of attracting millions of Americans who are more than ready to get out and travel again.

Topping the list of changes is an extension to an existing waiver that promises no change fees for all tickets purchased through March 30, 2021, for travel at any time to anywhere in the world. According to a Delta spokesperson, that includes Basic Economy fares, “which typically can’t be changed or canceled.” Delta is hoping that the modification will make it easier for travelers to book their 2021 spring break or summer vacation.

The other change Delta is making is to permanently eliminate change fees for international travel originating from North America -- including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners (Air France, KLM, et al) -- effective immediately. 

While this sounds like great news, there is one important note that wanderlusting consumers should make -- namely, that “permanently” isn’t exactly permanent in the general sense. Delta clarified to ConsumerAffairs that Basic Economy fares for international flights are excluded from this change after March 30.

“No year has better demonstrated the value of flexibility than this one,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian. “Our approach has always been to put people first, which is why we’re extending our current change fee waiver and making lasting changes to our practices, so customers have the trust and confidence they need long after the pandemic ends.”

Pay attention to the details on every flight

The COVID-19 pandemic has put airlines on an emotional rollercoaster as carriers look for ways to keep their planes in the air and passengers in seats. American, Southwest, JetBlue, and countless other airlines all took steps to be as consumer-sensitive as possible.

Delta’s latest move is likely to prod its competitors to do the same if not more. However, as ConsumerAffairs noted in the caveat about change fees for Delta’s Basic Economy fares, the devil is in the details. 

Anyone looking to purchase a ticket for future flights that look like great deals should always click on the “more details” or “other fees may apply” links in a reservation before clicking on the “book now” button. If there is still confusion, the next best option is to email the airline and ask for clarification. And, by all means, keep a copy of the airline’s response in case something goes wrong.

FireEye, one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity firms, has shared details of a hack targeting its “Red Team” tools, which it uses to test customers’ security. The firm said there is concern that the hackers could publicly release the tools they accessed or use them to carry out other attacks. 

In a blog post, FireEye CEO Kevin Mandia said the attack was “different from the tens of thousands of incidents we have responded to throughout the years.” 

“The attackers tailored their world-class capabilities specifically to target and attack FireEye. They are highly trained in operational security and executed with discipline and focus,” Mandia wrote. “They operated clandestinely, using methods that counter security tools and forensic examination. They used a novel combination of techniques not witnessed by us or our partners in the past.” 

Russia reportedly a suspect

FireEye said it doesn’t currently have evidence that any customer information was taken. 

Although the company didn’t say in its report who it believes is responsible for the attack, the Wall Street Journal reported that state-sponsored Russian hackers are a likely suspect. A source familiar with the matter told the Journal that Russia is currently being viewed by investigators as “the most likely culprit.” 

“Moscow’s foreign-intelligence service, known as the SVR and one of two Russian groups that hacked the Democratic National Committee ahead of the 2016 presidential election, is believed to be responsible, the person said,” according to the Journal. 

FireEye didn’t specify when the hack took place or when it became aware of it. The hack is currently being investigated by FireEye, as well as the FBI and industry partners like Microsoft.

Since becoming aware of the attack, FireEye said it’s developed hundreds of countermeasures that can detect or block the use of any of its stolen tools. The firm said it has integrated the measures into its own security products and shared them with “colleagues in the security community.” 

FireEye said it will “continue to share and refine any additional mitigations for the Red Team tools as they become available.” 

Recent studies have shown how environmental factors can play a large role in future pandemics, but a new study conducted by researchers from NASA and the Goddard Space Flight Center is looking at how the environment has changed since the start of the current COVID-19 pandemic.

According to their findings, the pandemic could be responsible for a great deal of positive environmental change that has occurred this year. In comparing data between 2019 and 2020, the researchers noted improvements in air pollution, deforestation, and water quality in several parts of the world. 

“But we will need more research to clearly attribute environmental change to COVID,” said researcher Timothy Newman.

Improved environmental outcomes

The researchers used remote sensing data to look at specific environmental outcomes across different parts of the world to understand how things have changed since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ultimately, they learned that things are environmentally very different from where they were before the pandemic.  

The study revealed that air pollution levels have improved greatly in India in recent months. Results showed that levels of the pollutant particulate matter (PM) 10 decreased significantly since the start of this year; that could be a result of fewer construction projects happening across the country because of pandemic-related lockdowns. 

Cleaner air in India also had an effect on snow in the Indus River Basin. The researchers learned that snow in this area has been less susceptible to pollutants since they are at reduced levels; that has led to an increase in the amount of time it takes the snow to melt. They explained that the snow was melting slower than it has in the last two decades, which is incredibly beneficial for the environment and the planet’s temperature. It also affects how quickly consumers in the River Basin have access to fresh water.

The researchers also looked at how water quality has changed since the start of the pandemic. They learned that New York City experienced significant improvements in this area. By eliminating millions of daily commuters, the water was less polluted overall, and it was found to be 40 percent clearer than it was at the start of the pandemic. 

In looking at deforestation efforts, the researchers learned that different areas have had different outcomes during the pandemic. While deforestation slowed in parts of Peru and Colombia, large parts of the Brazilian rainforest weren’t as lucky. 

Can the benefits last?

While many of these pandemic-related changes are beneficial to the environment, there’s a good chance that they won’t be long-lasting. 

Though consumers have been forced to change their behaviors in recent months, the researchers predict that once things revert back to how they were pre-pandemic, these environmental advancements won’t hold up.

Ford’s F150 pickup truck is its best seller, so the automaker is doubling down and introducing an off-road version -- the F150 Tremor.

The new model looks a lot like the standard F150, at least at first glance. But it includes an all-terrain equipment upgrade to handle uneven surfaces. Other features include upgraded suspension and driveline hardware, increased suspension travel, approach, break-over, and departure angles. It also comes with a standard rear locking differential and an available front Torsen limited-slip differential. 

Other available features include new off-road technologies such as enhanced Trail Control, Trail One-Pedal Drive, and Trail Turn Assist.

The Tremor, when it goes on sale in summer 2021, will come in three versions. Each version will have a standard F-150 Raptor-style bash plate, plus other design features that will distinguish it from the standard F150. Todd Eckert, Ford truck group marketing manager, said the model is the result of research into how customers use the F150. Apparently, many owners take it into some fairly rugged territory.

“F-150 Tremor provides the additional off-road capability they’re looking for with our latest off-road technologies,” Eckert said.

Major profit center

The F150 truck is a significant profit center for Ford. The company launched the F-Series trucks in 1948. In addition to the full-size pickup, now in its 14th generation, the line also includes larger Super Duty trucks.

According to CNBC, Ford’s F-Series trucks generate a majority of the automaker’s profits and about $42 billion in annual revenue. In 2017, Ford announced it was phasing out sedans to focus on trucks and SUVs, which have a higher profit margin.

The F150 Tremor will have plenty of competition. In September, U.S. News and World Report rated the available off-road trucks and put the Chevrolet Colorado, Nissan Titan Pro 4X, and Toyota Tundra TRD Pro at the top of the heap.

The 16 trucks in the rankings carry sticker prices of between $48,000 and $52,000. In Tuesday’s announcement, Ford did not disclose any pricing information for the F150 Tremor.