Current Events in February 2021

With Daylight Savings fast approaching and many consumers feeling stuck in the final push of the long winter months, researchers continue to explore the effects that these seasonal changes have on our well-being. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Turku has found that seasonal changes in daylight may have an effect on consumers’ brain function. Using data pulled from tests on both mice and humans, the researchers found that varying exposure to daylight can affect the brain’s opioid receptors, which can impact motivation and pleasure, among other things. 

“On the basis of the results, the duration of daylight is a particularly critical factor in the seasonal variation of opioid receptors,” said researcher Lauri Nummenmaa. “These results help us to understand the brain mechanisms behind seasonal affective disorder.”  

How daylight affects our mental processes

The researchers had two test subjects involved in this study: mice and humans. The mice were kept in very controlled environments that allowed the team to manipulate how much light they were exposed to each day; one group of mice was exposed to constant daylight for the duration of the study while the second group experienced seasonal changes. The researchers also analyzed PET scans for more than 200 human participants and observed how their opioid receptors changed seasonally based on exposure to daylight. 

Ultimately, the researchers observed similarities in the brains of both the mice and the humans involved in the study. They found that the opioid receptors were significantly impacted during the fall and winter months to the point where it affected overall mood, appetite, and sleep quality.

The mice’s brain scans produced similar results. The researchers found that having less exposure to sunlight as the seasons changed caused the mice’s stress hormones to spike. They were also more susceptible to weight gain during this time. 

“In this study, we observed that the number of opioid receptors was dependent on the time of the year the brain was imaged,” said researcher Lihua Sun. “The changes were most prominent in the brain regions that control emotions and sociability. The changes in the opioid receptors caused by the variation in the amount of daylight could be an important factor in seasonal affective disorder.” 

Moving forward, the researchers believe that these findings can play an important role in how we understand seasonal affective disorder. Having fewer daylight hours during the winter months can significantly impact consumers’ mental health, and knowing the biological and psychological effects can help them be prepared for these seasonal changes. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki has found that young people who experience higher levels of loneliness could have an increased risk for internet addiction.

These findings come nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, a time during which adolescents have missed out on a great deal of socializing. Instead, they have spent more time home by themselves, which the researchers say could ultimately lead to extensive time on the internet. 

“In the coronavirus period, loneliness has increased markedly among adolescents,” said researcher Katarina Salmela-Aro. “They look for a sense of belonging from the internet. Lonely adolescents head to the internet and are at risk of becoming addicted. Internet addiction can further aggravate their malaise, which can cause depression.” 

Compulsive internet use can turn problematic

For the study, the researchers monitored 1,750 study participants’ internet use from the time they were 16 through the time they turned 18. In addition to time spent on the internet, the researchers evaluated the teens’ social and home lives and analyzed how these factors ultimately impacted their mental health. 

The study found that loneliness played a big role in how the teens utilized the internet; those who felt isolated on a regular basis were more likely to spend excessive amounts of time in front of screens. 

It’s also important to note that loneliness didn’t just stem from not seeing friends. The researchers found that kids who came from homes with inattentive parents were also more likely to turn to the internet to pass a large majority of their time. 

The biggest concern with compulsive time spent on the internet was the impact it had on the participants’ mental health. Teens who spent a large portion of their time on the internet were also more likely to struggle with depression than those who spent less time online. 

Teens can grow past internet addiction

The researchers found that a lot of internet time during the teenage years doesn’t always correlate to the same patterns during adulthood. While this is true in some cases, they explained that once teens grow beyond their adolescent years, their internet habits tend to grow and evolve with them. 

“It’s comforting to know that problematic internet use is adaptive and often changes in late adolescence and during the transition to adulthood,” said Salmela-Aro. “Consequently, attention should be paid to the matter both in school and at home. Addressing loneliness too serves as a significant channel for preventing excessive internet use.” 

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its list of the safest 2021 vehicles just a day after golf legend Tiger Woods survived a horrific highway crash in his Genesis GV80 SUV.

Hyundai Motor Group, which makes the Genesis -- as well as Hyundai and Kia -- drove off with 12 regular Top Safety Picks and five pluses, the most of any manufacturer. Woods is recuperating in a Los Angeles hospital with serious leg injuries while his SUV is a twisted pile of metal.

IIHS says its annual awards demonstrate that the cars and trucks on American roads are getting safer. This year, 41 vehicles earned Top Safety Pick designations, bringing the total number of 2021 award winners to 90, compared with 64 in February 2020.

“With these awards, we want to make it easy for consumers to find vehicles that provide good protection in crashes, sufficient lighting, and effective front crash protection,” said IIHS President David Harkey. “Manufacturers have stepped up to meet the challenge, and the list of great options has grown to an impressive size this year.”

To receive either award, a vehicle must earn good ratings in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests: driver- and passenger-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength, and head restraints. 

Vehicles must also be available with front crash prevention that earns a superior or advanced rating in both vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian evaluations. Finally, Top Safety Pick winners must be available with good or acceptable headlights.

Honda makes a strong showing

Besides Hyundai, Honda also made a strong showing. Six Honda models earned a Top Safety Pick rating or better with three -- Accord, Insight, and Odyssey -- achieving the coveted Top Safety Pick+ rating. 

In addition, the 2021 Accord, two Civic models, CR-V, Insight, and Odyssey each achieved a "Good" in all six IIHS crashworthiness tests. 

Two minivans, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna, qualified this year for the Top Safety Pick+ award. A pickup truck, the Ram 1500 crew cab, is also a Top Safety Pick and is the only winner from Stellantis, the company created by the recent merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot. A year ago, there were no minivans or pickups in the safest categories.

IIHS noted that Mitsubishi failed to earn a single award so far and that General Motors recorded only two.

Nissan North America is recalling 2,146 model year 2021 Nissan Rogues.

The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated.

An improperly secured fuel hose may leak, increasing the risk of a fire. The fuel hose also may disconnect completely, causing the engine to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and -- as necessary -- reposition and secure the fuel hose and lock ring free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 1, 2021.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC791.

El Abuelito Cheese of Paterson, N.J., is recalling all Queso Fresco (fresh, soft cheese) products.

The products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The CDC reports seven people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes from four states.

A list of the recalled products with sell by dates through March 28, 2021, may be found here.

The recalled products were sold through February 16, 2021, in supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores as El Abuelito Cheese brand in Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York; Rio Grande Food Products brand in Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland; and Rio Lindo brand in North Carolina and Maryland.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact El Abuelito at (973) 345-3503 Monday -- Friday from 8 a.m. -- 5 p.m. (EST) and Saturday from 8 a.m. -- 12 p.m. (EST).

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling 1,292,258 model year 2016-2021 CLA-Class, GLA-Class, GLE-Class, GLS-Class, SLC-Class, A-Class, GT-Class, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, CLS-Class, SL-Class, B-Class, GLB-Class, GLC-Class, and G-Class vehicles.

Specific vehicle model details may be found here.

The software design of the communication module may fail to communicate the correct vehicle location for the emergency call system (eCall) in a crash.

Failure of the eCall system may result in emergency responders being dispatched to the wrong location.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and the communication module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin April 6, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267.

President Biden announced Tuesday that his administration has made a commitment to deliver 25 million masks as part of its national strategy to defeat COVID-19. 

The White House said the mask deliveries are focused on vulnerable populations in communities that were hit hardest by the pandemic. The 25 million masks will go to more than 1,300 Community Health Centers and upwards of 60,000 food pantries and soup kitchens.

The White House said many low-income Americans still lack access to this basic protection even though mask-wearing is a critical step to help slow the spread of the virus and protect people from getting COVID-19 and its recent variants.

The specifics of the rollout

The White House laid out the specifics of how each component in its mask delivery plan will be accomplished. The details include: 

When they’ll be available: The masks will be available beginning in March and into May, presumably while supplies last.

Delivery of masks to community health centers: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in partnership with the Department of Defense (DOD), will deliver millions of masks to “Federally Qualified Community Health Centers” across the country. 

Anyone in those communities will be eligible to pick up masks from their local Community Health Center at no cost. Recipients will be encouraged to take an individually wrapped package of two masks for each person in their household.

Distribute masks through the nation’s food bank and food pantry system: The DOD, in alliance with the Department of Agriculture (USDA), will deliver masks to approximately 300 of the country's food banks.

Like health center visitors, recipients will be encouraged to take an individually wrapped package of two masks for each person in their household.

About the masks: According to the White House, the masks are “high-quality, washable, and consistent with the mask guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” and they’re all American-made. The intention of the distribution is to take care of the designated communities and populations, and officials say it will not impact the availability of masks for health care workers.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 28,265,193 (28,194,840)

Total U.S. deaths: 502,856 (500,617)

Total global cases: 112,282,725 (111,878,487)

Total global deaths: 2,488,895 (2,478,131)

FDA staff backs Johnson & Johnson vaccine

More coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines could soon be on the way. In a report released today, the staff of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assigned to review Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine candidate recommends that it be granted emergency approval for use.

The report was submitted to the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, which meets Friday to review the data and decide whether to grant the vaccine emergency use authorization (EUA).

If approval is granted, Johnson & Johnson said it has millions of doses that can be immediately distributed, supplementing the vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna. It holds an advantage since it requires only a single shot.

NYT: FDA will approve lower temperatures for vaccine storage

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration is reportedly poised to approve a request from Pfizer and BioNTech to allow the companies to store their COVID-19 vaccine at higher standard freezer temperatures.

The New York Times reports that the agency is preparing to grant the request to resolve logistical issues and make distribution easier. The current ultra-low temperatures required to store the vaccine prevent some clinics, which lack such storage facilities, from using the vaccine in large quantities.

The companies last week petitioned the FDA to ease requirements for their COVID-19 vaccine. With the change, the vaccine can be stored in most pharmacy freezers. 

CVS adds states to its vaccine network

CVS says it has added Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to the list of states where some of its retail pharmacies will offer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible people. It began the program two weeks ago in 11 states.

In some of the early states, the appointments filled up within hours of the launch. CVS says appointments for the latest allocation of approximately 570,000 doses will start to become available for booking today, with shots beginning February 25.

"Feedback on every aspect of the vaccination process has been incredibly positive, from the digital experience to interacting with our team of health care professionals," said Karen S. Lynch, CEO of CVS Health. 

House vote on $1.9 trillion stimulus bill could come Friday

House Democrats say they are planning to bring the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion stimulus bill to the House floor on Friday for a vote. Democrats, who control the chamber, say the measure will be approved.

“The American people strongly support this bill, and we are moving swiftly to see it enacted into law,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a tweet.

Senate Democrats say they hope to be able to pass the measure before March 14, when extended unemployment benefits expire. Republicans have questioned the size of the spending bill, noting that it contains provisions not directly related to the pandemic.

Is the worst behind us?

Despite the fact that the U.S. COVID-19 death toll just exceeded 500,000, there is growing optimism that the worst may be behind us.

New cases have plunged in recent weeks. This week, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines reported that bookings for the first quarter had risen sharply, mostly for passengers who were 65 and older who had been vaccinated.

New York magazine offers nine reasons the worst may be over, noting new cases continue to drop, the vaccine appears to work really well, and seasonality may be working against the virus.

Around the nation

• Illinois: The state government is increasing its food assistance to families that were hard-hit economically by the pandemic. Within days, the Illinois Department of Human Services will mail out P-EBT cards to help families who qualify purchase breakfast and lunch for their kids.

• New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo has announced that movie theaters in New York City will be allowed to reopen next month. They have remained closed even as some other public venues, such as restaurants, have been allowed to reopen on a limited basis.

• Nevada: Motorists in the state have filed 10 class-action lawsuits against car insurance companies, claiming they should have lowered rates more during the pandemic. “With fewer people driving fewer miles, there are fewer automobile accidents and, therefore, fewer automobile insurance claims,” the complaint states.

In the wake of more than a dozen battery-related fires, Hyundai has announced that it will replace the battery systems in around 82,000 Kona EVs. 

The cost of replacing the batteries will come to around $900 million, but the automaker said its focus is on mitigating the fire risk. In total, 15 fires have occurred in connection to the batteries -- 11 in South Korea, two in Canada, one in Finland, and one in Austria. 

"Our priority is to dispel potential risks against customer safety despite the low possibility of fires and high financial burden," Hyundai said in a statement. 

Hyundai’s battery replacement initiative follows its recall of the Kona EV in South Korea and North America. After recalling the vehicles, Hyundai upgraded the Kona’s battery management system to cap charging at 90 percent to prevent overcharging. However, one vehicle that had received the update recently caught fire in South Korea. 

Cause not yet determined

The batteries in question were manufactured by LG Chem, which said it’s continuing to work with Korea's Transport Ministry to determine what is causing the fires. 

According to Reuters, LG Chem said in a statement that Hyundai “misapplied LG’s suggestions for fast-charging logic in the battery management system” and said that adding the battery cell should not be seen as the direct cause of the fire risks. Hyundai hasn’t commented on the cause of the fires.

Until a replacement battery system is installed, Hyundai urges Kona and Ioniq owners to limit battery charging to 90 percent of capacity. 

U.S. military personnel say their training helped them cope with the financial uncertainties of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but a survey shows that many had difficulty getting access to credit when they needed it.

According to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) 2020 Military Financial Readiness survey, military households were generally prepared to deal with the crisis that began nearly a year ago. But as the situation continued, the survey showed active duty and veteran households had difficulty maintaining their income. Gig economy jobs were harder to find, and credit opportunities dried up.

As a result, this community encountered a trend toward increased reliance on borrowing. Active duty households struggled more than veterans. Rebecca Steele, President and CEO of the NFCC, said the survey uncovered some distinct challenges faced by members of the military community.

“By clearly outlining the unique financial challenges of military families and veterans, our survey presents a roadmap that helps us take action based on areas of greatest need,” she said.

Reliance on payday lenders

Among the troubling findings, the survey suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may be a contributing factor to increased payday loan usage. Fifty-percent of households in the survey reported difficulty finding adequate loan options during the pandemic.

That burden fell heaviest on active duty service members; they were twice as likely to have taken out a cash advance or payday loan in 2020 than in 2019.

While citing their military training as preparing them to adapt to the crisis conditions brought on by the pandemic, the survey shows that many military families lacked the financial resources to meet the challenge. One in five military spouses reported being financially unprepared when the economy shut down.

Disruptions in spouses’ employment

Part of that may have been due to disruptions to employment. Complications with Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves during the pandemic may have contributed to military spouses’ employment challenges and resulted in a loss of income at a critical time, forcing many families to seek credit anywhere they could find it.

“The pandemic has amplified the need for more affordable sources of credit for service members who may be facing gaps in income,” said Darlene Goins, head of Financial Health Philanthropy at Wells Fargo. 

Goins said the bank supports NFCC’s program of free access to financial coaching to help military households plan, create a budget, and prepare for future emergencies. 

“Ultimately, the goal is to create a safe space to work through financial challenges,” she said.

The survey found veterans faced their own financial struggles during the pandemic. Forty-nine percent said they would have liked to have more information about financial resources that were specifically tailored to veterans.

Several studies about pregnancy and COVID-19 have yielded positive results for both mothers and their babies.

Now, researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine have found that pregnant women can pass antibodies to their babies in the womb. The researchers speculate that pregnant women who are vaccinated are also likely to share their positive immune response with their newborns. 

“Since we can now say that the antibodies pregnant women make against COVID-19 have been shown to be passed down to their babies, we suspect that there’s a good chance they could pass down the antibodies the body makes after being vaccinated as well,” said researcher Dr. Yawei Jenny Yang. 

Passing down antibodies

The researchers had nearly 90 pregnant women with COVID-19 antibodies involved in the study, and they all gave birth at New York Presbyterian Medical Center between March and May of 2020. After giving birth, the researchers tested the babies’ umbilical cord blood to see if the mothers’ antibodies were shared in the womb. 

Nearly 80 percent of the newborns were born with COVID-19 antibodies in their umbilical cord blood. This was true despite the fact that nearly 60 percent of the women involved in the study never had COVID-19 symptoms, even though they were exposed to the virus. However, having an asymptomatic case affected both the mothers’ and babies’ antibody count; women who were asymptomatic had lower antibody totals, and so did their babies. The opposite was also true -- symptomatic cases led to more antibodies for women and babies. 

It’s important to note that all of the infants tested negative for COVID-19 at birth. This is encouraging because the newborns were still able to receive the benefits of the antibodies without experiencing the virus firsthand. 

How will vaccinations play a role?

Now knowing that women can pass their antibodies through the placenta to their newborns during pregnancy, the researchers are interested in seeing how vaccinating pregnant women will affect their babies in the womb. 

“The $1 million question is: Will the group of women who are now being vaccinated get the same type of protection?” said researcher Dr. Laura Riley. “We don’t know that yet. Getting those answers is going to be really important.” 

On Wednesday, Facebook announced that it plans to invest at least $1 billion on news content over the next three years. 

The announcement comes a week after Facebook blocked Australian users from viewing news on its platform in response to a debate with the Australian government over how much Facebook should pay news publishers for the right to surface links to their content. 

At the time, Facebook said the proposed law left it facing “a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia.” 

“With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter,” the company added. Less than a week later, Facebook ended up making a deal with the Australian government that will put news links back on Australian users’ feeds. 

Supporting news 

Facebook said it believes the debate was born from “a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between Facebook and news publishers.” 

If passed, the company said the Australian law would force Facebook to pay “potentially unlimited amounts of money to multi-national media conglomerates under an arbitration system that deliberately misdescribes the relationship between publishers and Facebook.”

“It’s like forcing car makers to fund radio stations because people might listen to them in the car — and letting the stations set the price,” the company wrote. 

In order to support the news industry, Facebook has pledged to invest at least $1 billion in news over the next three years on top of the $600 million it’s already invested in the sector since 2018. 

“Facebook is more than willing to partner with news publishers,” Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs at Facebook, said in a blog post published on Wednesday. “We absolutely recognize quality journalism is at the heart of how open societies function — informing and empowering citizens and holding the powerful to account.”

Google, which has also expressed opposition to Australia’s proposed law, said it also plans to invest $1 billion in the news industry over the next few years. 

“The business model for newspapers — based on ads and subscription revenue — has been evolving for more than a century as audiences have turned to other sources,” Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a blog post. “The internet has been the latest shift, and it certainly won’t be the last ... We want to play our part by helping journalism in the 21st century.” 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Wednesday that it found Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to be both safe and effective in combating the virus. 

The federal health agency said it’s review found that the vaccine was 66 percent effective at preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. That figure was based on a trial involving 44,000 people. 

The vaccine was found to be somewhat less effective among adults older than 60 who had risk factors for severe illness. However, the FDA said there were no deaths or cases requiring medical intervention among this subgroup following vaccination. 

Prevents hospitalizations

Regulators said the vaccine was 100 percent effective at stopping hospitalization 28 days after people received the shot. 

“We know this vaccine prevents 85 percent of the severe disease. . . . It was 100 percent effective in preventing hospitalization and deaths, and that’s really what’s important,” said Nancy M. Bennett, a professor of medicine and public health sciences at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. “Those facts are the most important thing to recognize.”

Johnson & Johnson said its data suggests that it’s vaccine could reduce asymptomatic cases. In a trial, the company found 16 asymptomatic cases in the placebo group versus two in the vaccine group -- an efficacy rate of 88 percent. 

Closer to receiving authorization 

The FDA’s review brings the pharmaceutical giant’s vaccine one step closer to receiving emergency authorization. 

An independent committee of scientific experts is set to meet Friday to advise the FDA on whether to authorize the shot. The FDA isn’t required to heed to the recommendation of those experts, but it did approve both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines the day after meeting with the advisory committee. 

Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccines, Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine can be administered in a single dose and stored in normal refrigerators at temperatures that aren’t ultra-cold. 

After sweating through challenges from both President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) and broadband groups, the state of California can finally enforce its landmark net neutrality law.

Ending a three-year battle for a state’s right to regulate the internet, Judge John Mendez ruled in favor of California by allowing the law (SB-822) to go into effect, leaving one last wrinkle to be ironed out. Mendez declined to grant the telecom industry a preliminary injunction that it had asked for, and he thinks its chances of winning are slim. 

“Mendez says it should be up to Congress, not federal courts, to regulate #NetNeutrality," tweeted MLEx journalist Mike Swift and The Hollywood Reporter’s Eriq Gardner as they watched Mendez announce his decision. 

The judge said from his bench that he will deny an injunction that would block the bill purely for legal reasons, not because of political views.

“When you have to deal with legislation drafted in 1934 in 2021, I don’t think anyone is well served ...That is Congress' job. They have to keep up with what is going on in the real world,” Mendez said.

FCC official applauds the decision

Jessica Rosenworcel, the acting chairwoman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) toasted the decision from Capitol Hill. 

“When the FCC, over my objection, rolled back its #netneutrality policies, states like California sought to fill the void with their own laws. Tonight a court in California decided that the state law can go into effect. This is big news for #openinternet policy,” Rosenworcel tweeted.

Rosenworcel has been pushing for a move like this for years. When the FCC issued its Open Internet Order in 2015, she voiced her opinion strongly. 

“Our Internet economy is the envy of the world. We invented it. The applications economy began here on our shores. The broadband below us and the airwaves all around us deliver its collective might to our homes and businesses in communities across the country,” she wrote when the Order was released.

“What produced this dynamic engine of entrepreneurship and experimentation is a foundation of openness. Sustaining what has made us innovative, fierce, and creative should not be a choice -- it should be an obligation.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Delaware is highlighting the importance of toddlers sticking to a consistent sleeping schedule.

Their findings showed that toddlers’ health may be impacted when they don’t have a set bedtime routine and are frequently going to bed and waking up at different times. Specifically, they found that body mass index (BMI) scores were higher in toddlers with inconsistent sleeping patterns. 

“We’ve known for a while that physical activity and diet quality are very strong predictors of weight and BMI,” said researcher Lauren Covington. “I think it’s really highlighting that sleep may be playing a bigger role here than it’s given credit for.” 

Family income plays a role

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 200 toddlers who wore accelerometers for up to one week at a time to track their physical activity and sleep; their parents also reported on their typical daily diets.

The researchers found that kids whose sleep schedules varied greatly day-to-day were more likely to have higher BMIs than kids with more consistent sleeping patterns. However, the team also believes that socioeconomic status plays a large role in many of these cases. Because so many of the families involved in the study were struggling financially, with 70 percent living at or below the poverty line, it’s important to recognize how income can affect kids’ routines and health.

“There [are] so many factors that are at play and not necessarily controllable, especially in disadvantaged communities,” said Covington. “There’s so much stigma and stereotypes out there and people are just so quick to judge. These families just want to do what’s right for their children. They either just don’t personally know how to or they don’t have the resources to do it.” 

To achieve the best health outcomes, experts recommend that kids’ bedtimes stay within the same one-hour window each night. However, they admit that this can be difficult for some parents. The researchers suggest that parents and caregivers start small and work up to a more structured nighttime routine to ensure that toddlers are getting enough sleep and achieve positive health outcomes. 

“Implementing a consistent bedtime could be one behavioral change that a family could potentially do,” Covington said. “It’s maybe more attainable than getting healthy food at the grocery store or playing outside on the playground, especially now with the cold weather. Just having a consistent bedtime can help provide some of the structure, but they may have better implications for health and BMI as well.” 

People who have shopped for a home in the last year know that home prices are going up. The latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Indices show just how much.

Closing out 2020, the indices for December show home prices rose 10.4 percent, up from 9.5 percent in November. Broken down into a 10-City Composite -- looking at the key markets -- prices were up 9.8 percent.

Phoenix, Seattle, and San Diego maintained their lead as the hottest real estate markets with Phoenix home prices gaining 14.4 percent. Prices were 13.6 percent higher in Seattle and were up 13 percent in San Diego.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic did nothing to slow the price rise and the rush by homebound consumers to purchase homes may have contributed to the acceleration in prices.

Double-digit gains

"Home prices finished 2020 with double-digit gains, as the National Composite Index rose by 10.4% compared to year-ago levels," says Craig J. Lazzara, managing director and global head of Index Investment Strategy at S&P DJI. "As COVID-related restrictions began to grip the economy in early 2020, their effect on housing prices was unclear. Price growth decelerated in May and June and then began a steady climb upward, and  December's report continues that acceleration in an emphatic manner.” 

In fact, Lazzara says the 10.4 percent gain in home prices in 2020 marks the sharpest calendar year rise in home prices since 2013. He also says the data supports the belief that the pandemic has encouraged potential buyers to move from urban apartments to suburban homes. 

“This may indicate a secular shift in housing demand, or may simply represent an acceleration of moves that would have taken place over the next several years anyway,” he said. “Future data will be required to address that question.”

Prices kept rising in January

Individual real estate firms have more recent sales data and one broker, Redfin, reports there has been no letup in rising home prices in the new year. It notes much of the price increase is being driven by a shortage of available homes.

"The imbalance between supply and demand reached a new high in January," said Redfin’s chief economist Daryl Fairweather. "Buyers were eager to make offers and make them quickly to take advantage of historically low mortgage rates while they last.”

That’s posing challenges for would-be buyers, who often find that the house they like goes under contract before they can even see it. Even when they put in an offer, Fairweather says they can lose out to other buyers in a bidding war.

General Motors is recalling 18 model year 2021 Chevrolet Tahoes and GMC Yukons.

The fuel tank assemblies may be missing adhesive between two layers of the fuel tank shell which may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

What to do

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin March 29, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020, and GMC customer service at (800) 462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212327720.

Anker Play Products of Miami, Fla., is recalling about 13,000 10-in-1 Incredible Inventions Science kits.

Paint on the red and blue magnet contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead paint ban and -- if ingested by young children -- can cause adverse health issues.

In addition, the product packaging lacks the required warning labels for magnets and balloons.

No incidents or injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the Anker Play Products 10-in-1 Incredible Inventions Science Kit.

The kit contains a red and blue painted rectangular magnet bar, two yellow balloons, a small light bulb, metal clips, paper clips, a sticker page, three red coated wires and various other wires, screws and small mechanical parts.

The “Adventure Club” logo is printed in yellow, blue and green on the bottom left on the front of the box.

The affected magnet is painted red and blue and measures about 2 inches by 0.5 inches by 0.375 inches.

The kits, manufactured in China, were sold at Menards and small independent toy stores nationwide from August 2020, through November 2020, for about $6.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled science kit, take the included red and blue magnet away from children, and contact Anker Play Products to receive a full refund.

Consumers may contact Anker Play Products toll-free at (877) 236-1945 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at customerservice@ankerpp.com or online at www.ankerpp.com for more information.