Current Events in March 2021

The winter storm that recently shook Texas may be an aberration for the Lone Star State's typically mild winter, but it put both homeowners and insurers in a tough spot when it came to resolving the damage. The Insurance Council of Texas said it anticipated that hundreds of thousands of claims for water damage, leaking roofs, fallen trees, and auto accidents would be filed, and that one single week was the costliest in the state's history.

But a more profound pain may be waiting for Texans seeking insurance relief for their damaged homes and property: will I be protected?

Spring promises more bad weather and potential problems for homeowners

What happened in Texas can happen anywhere. In fact, Mother Nature has already started her move from winter to spring, and with that comes flooding and tornado season. Tornado activity is forecast to be slightly above normal this year, with the number of tornadoes expected to hit somewhere between 1,350 to 1,500, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The mid- to lower-Mississippi Valley and the mid-Atlantic regions will have the highest risk for severe weather this spring, and activity can last well into June across the Plains.

A study from last year found that 14 million homes in the U.S. have a higher chance of being affected by flooding than they might think. That could result in millions of dollars in damages if they’re not covered.

When it comes specifically to floods, ConsumerAffairs has prepared a guide on flood insurance with added tips, expert opinions, and brand comparisons. You can find that guide here.

Getting ahead of the problems

ConsumerAffairs reached out to insurance law expert John Kelly of the Kelly Law Team to determine what consumers should look for in getting coverage for potential flood or wind damage. Here's what we found:

What should someone look for regarding the language of a homeowner's insurance policy? "The language of your homeowner's policy is important, especially when you need it the most when disaster strikes. In the wake of the historical power outages in Texas, homeowners need to understand how to protect themselves," Kelly told ConsumerAffairs.

"If you look closely at the insurance industry, you know that insurance companies like to mitigate their own risk of costly payouts during disasters. Homeowners can take some simple steps to ensure they have the best chance of getting coverage in the future if disaster strikes again."

What should be at the top of every homeowner's checklist? Kelly told ConsumerAffairs that the first step is to make sure you are covered. "You may be surprised to hear that there are countless claims denied because the insurance policy has lapsed due to lack of payment or failure to renew. Many people who have set up autopay options forget to update the insurance company when they get new credit cards or change banks. This can result in unexpected policy terminations and therefore a denial of coverage."

Is there specific documentation a homeowner should have? After making sure you’re covered, Kelly says to request a copy of your homeowners' policy from your insurance company -- and be prepared because it could be dozens of pages long. 

"You should read it carefully and be sure to understand it to the best of your ability. There may be exclusions in your policy that may restrict the types of damage you thought would be covered. For instance, many policies exclude flood damage unless you specifically elect to include the additional coverage under the policy," Kelly said.

How do homeowners know if they are covered for all the various weather scenarios? "If you are uncertain, call your insurance company, and talk about some scenarios that you expect to be covered. For instance, tell them that you want your insurance to include any damage from power outages, including water and fire damage," Kelly said. 

"Ask them to refer you to any exclusions in the policy that may apply. Watch out for 'Force Majeure'* clauses that may give an insurance company a reason to deny coverage during unexpected circumstances.  (*"Force Majeure" clauses are provisions that are common to contracts. In essence, they free both parties from any obligation if an extraordinary or unpredictable event -- like a tornado -- prevents either party from fulfilling their obligation.)

What does a homeowner do if their coverage is denied? If that happens, Kelly says to consult with a local attorney who focuses on "insurance bad faith claims." "They may be able to direct you to a winning argument, but they may also have other resources for recovery such as Federal funding through FEMA," Kelly said.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,158,244 (29,104,508)

Total U.S. deaths: 529,377 (527,950)

Total global cases: 118,222,254 (117,717,343)

Total global deaths: 2,623,286 (2,613,276)

House sends stimulus bill to the White House

A flood of money is headed for the U.S. economy with Wednesday’s House vote that gave final approval to a $1.9 trillion coronavirus (COVID-19) stimulus bill. President Biden is expected to sign the measure Friday.

Consumers may be focused on the $1,400 payments that most Americans will receive, but there is so much other money in the bill that some in Congress who voted for it are concerned about the government’s capacity to get it out in a timely manner.

“Few Americans have benefited so far from the $25 billion in rental and utility assistance that lawmakers approved in December, housing experts said, and other programs to help workers and businesses pay their bills have not yet fully come online,” The Washington Post reported.

Study shows pneumonia vaccine works against COVID-19

The news regarding treatments for COVID-19 continues to get better. The latest news comes from researchers at Kaiser Permanente who show that a type of pneumonia vaccine, the PCV13 vaccine, may affect the course of COVID-19 for some older adult patients. The study was published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases.

"Kaiser Permanente members who received the PCV13 vaccine appeared to be diagnosed with COVID-19 less often, and when they were, they seemed to have less severe outcomes, overall," said the senior author Sara Tartof, PhD, MPH.

She also notes that patients who received PCV13 received some protection against COVID-19, while those who received PPSV23, another pneumococcal vaccine, did not.

New jobless claims continue to fall

Hiring is increasing as the economy begins to open up, and that trend is showing up in the weekly jobless claims numbers. New claims for unemployment benefits were down again last week.

The Labor Department reports that initial claims totaled 712,000. That’s close to the lowest weekly total since unemployment surged a year ago when the economy shut down.

The previous week's level was revised up by 9,000 from 745,000 to 754,000. The four-week moving average of claims was 759,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised average.

Despite warnings, many states are getting back to normal

With millions of Americans already vaccinated and serious COVID-19 cases dropping sharply, several states are dropping virus mitigation orders that have been in place for nearly a year. Texas and Mississippi were the first to announce that they are getting back to normal, but others have since followed suit.

Maryland this week announced steps to bolster businesses adversely affected by pandemic restrictions. Starting Friday, retailers and restaurants will be allowed to operate at normal capacities.

Connecticut, Arizona, West Virginia, and Wyoming have recently moved in the same direction. Federal health officials have expressed varying levels of alarm, warning that these states risk a new wave of COVID-19 infections.

Homeowners created their own ‘stimulus’

Over the last 12 months, Congress has pumped trillions of dollars into the economy to help people struggling with the economic effects of the pandemic. But a large group of Americans -- those who own homes -- were able to create their own stimulus by refinancing their mortgages and taking out cash.

Freddie Mac reports so-called “cash-out” refinancings hit their highest level last year since the financial crisis, with homeowners pulling nearly $153 billion in equity from their homes. They were able to do that because home prices surged last year while interest rates declined. 

“The support coming from home equity is unparalleled in helping smooth out the degradations from [COVID-19],” Susan Wachter, an economist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania told The Wall Street Journal. “For those who are in the position to refinance, it’s a major source of support.”

Around the nation

• Wisconsin: A statewide mask mandate is scheduled to expire next week, but officials fear there could be a patchwork of local rules in its place that could create confusion. Some municipalities have said they will keep the order in place while others have indicated that they will let it expire.

• Virginia: Some residents of suburban Richmond who went to their Kroger pharmacy to get a coronavirus vaccination received a shot of saline solution instead, officials say. Kroger executives called it “an honest mistake.” Kroger didn’t say how many people were affected.

• Arizona: CVS Health officials are adding nine more COVID-19 vaccination sites across the state and will begin taking appointments on Saturday. Officials declined to name the additional stores to avoid having people crowd them in an effort to get the vaccine.

As the number of individuals immunized against COVID-19 continues to grow, health officials have updated their guidance for safely visiting nursing home residents during the pandemic. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), along with the CDC, said in updated guidance that nursing homes and long-term care facilities should now allow “responsible indoor visitation at all times and for all residents, regardless of vaccination status of the resident or visitor.” 

The agencies added that there are certain scenarios that warrant extra precaution and limited visitation, including: 

• Unvaccinated residents, if the COVID-19 county positivity rate is greater than 10 percent and less than 70 percent of residents in the facility are fully vaccinated;

• Residents with confirmed COVID-19 infection, whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met the criteria to discontinue transmission-based precautions; and

• Residents in quarantine, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, until they have met criteria for release from quarantine.

The health agencies said “compassionate care” visits -- meaning visits for residents whose health has taken a significant turn for the worst or those who have experienced a major change in circumstances -- should be allowed at all times, regardless of a resident’s vaccination status or the county’s COVID-19 positivity rate. 

Facilities should continue to implement COVID-19 precautions and health measures, the agencies said. Outdoor visits should be conducted whenever possible and physical distancing should be enforced. 

“This continues to be the safest way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly if either party has not been fully vaccinated,” the CMS said in a statement. 

Mitigating the effects of isolation

It’s now been a year since the start of the pandemic, and health officials say they are aware that long-term isolation and separation from loved ones can take a toll on an individuals’ mental and emotional health. With that in mind, the group said it wants to “bring more families together safely.” 

“CMS recognizes the psychological, emotional and physical toll that prolonged isolation and separation from family have taken on nursing home residents, and their families,” said Dr. Lee Fleisher, MD, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Director of CMS’ Center for Clinical Standards and Quality. 

“That is why, now that millions of vaccines have been administered to nursing home residents and staff, and the number of COVID cases in nursing homes has dropped significantly, CMS is updating its visitation guidance to bring more families together safely. This is an important step that we are taking, as we continue to emphasize the importance of maintaining infection prevention practices, given the continued risk of transmission of COVID-19.”

CMS said COVID-19 positivity rates in nursing homes have dropped significantly since vaccines began rolling out in December. As of this week, more than three million doses of vaccines have been administered within nursing homes.  

Kroger announced Thursday that it plans to administer one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines weekly. 

The grocery store chain said it has “significantly increased operational capacity to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.” Starting this week, the company plans to use the first hour of pharmacy operations to administer COVID-19 vaccines. The morning “focus hour” will allow designated time for COVID-19 vaccines to be administered, Kroger said. 

The company also plans to launch 100 off-site mass vaccination events starting this month in Kentucky and Ohio, with more states to follow. 

Helping the vaccine rollout

Kroger began administering the vaccines in December. Since then, it has pushed hard to get the vaccines into as many arms as possible. Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, said Kroger will soon reach “full capacity” in its vaccine distribution effort. 

"I'm so proud of Kroger Health and our teams across the country whose dedication, commitment, and flexibility are helping America confront and recover from this public health crisis,” Lindholz said in a statement. 

“By the end of this week, Kroger Health will have administered one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and we're only getting started. We're here to collaborate with our existing federal and state partners, and we're ready to work with other states to accelerate the vaccination of more Americans and reach our full capacity, leveraging our 2,250 pharmacy and 220 clinic locations.” 

Kroger offers a scheduling tool that allows consumers to check their vaccination eligibility. Once eligible, consumers can schedule appointments for both their first and second doses. Kroger is currently administering the three vaccines authorized by the FDA -- Pfizer/BioNTech’s, Johnson & Johnson’s, and Moderna’s. 

Facebook has moved to have government antitrust complaints against it dismissed on the grounds that the complaints fail to "credibly claim” that its behavior suppressed competition or harmed consumers. 

Towards the end of last year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a group of state attorneys general filed separate lawsuits against Facebook, accusing the company of anti-competitive conduct. 

“For nearly a decade, Facebook has used its dominance and monopoly power to crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said at a press conference in December. “Facebook used vast amounts of money to acquire potential rivals before they could threaten the company’s dominance.”

In its suit, the FTC alleged that the company illegally maintained its monopoly in the social networking industry “through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct.” The agency called on the court to unwind the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. 

“Our aim is to roll back Facebook’s anticompetitive conduct and restore competition so that innovation and free competition can thrive,” Ian Conner, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said in a December statement.

Facebook pushing back

In two motions filed Wednesday, Facebook sought to have the government’s antitrust complaints dismissed. 

“Antitrust laws are intended to promote competition and protect consumers,” Facebook said in a blog post. “These complaints do not credibly claim that our conduct harmed either.”

The company added that it believes its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram “have been good for competition, good for advertisers and good for people.” 

“Our products remain popular because we constantly evolve, innovate and invest in better experiences for people against world-class competitors. We believe the government should be denied the do-over it seeks,” Facebook said. 

Facebook also argued that the FTC, which approved its acquisition of the apps, doesn’t have sufficient grounds to undo its original decision. 

“Facebook is aware of no comparable, much less successful, challenge by the FTC to a long-completed acquisition that the FTC itself cleared,” Facebook said in the filing. 

New York AG Letitia James said that Facebook was “wrong on the law and wrong on our complaint.”

“We are confident in our case, which is why almost every state in this nation has joined our bipartisan lawsuit to end Facebook’s illegal conduct,” she said in a statement.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill expanding background checks for gun sales on Thursday. 

Under current law, gun sales conducted by a licensed firearms dealer can only be completed if the buyer clears a background check. The new bill -- H.R.8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021 -- would simply extend that requirement, with limited exceptions, to guns transferred by unlicensed individuals.

"That simple change to close a gaping loophole in the law is one of the most effective steps we can take to address the scourge of gun violence in this country,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) said from the House floor on passage of the bill.

"According to one study, 22 percent of gun owners in the U.S. acquired their most recent firearm without a background check. We do not know if they were felons, fugitives, domestic abusers, or otherwise prohibited under the law from possessing firearms. A huge volume of guns was sold with no questions asked. It is time to close this dangerous loophole,” he added.

As the title of the bill infers, it was a bipartisan effort made possible by across-the-aisle handshakes from both Democrats and Republicans. The bill is actually two years old and was first introduced in January 2019 and passed in February 2019. At that point, it “sat on then Senate Leader Mitch McConnell’s desk for the rest of the 116th Congress despite urgent and strong pressure to take up this important legislation,” the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force committee said in a joint news release. 

Exemptions to the bill

The bill has several exemptions that may be of interest to gun owners. Those include:

• “Law enforcement agency or any law enforcement officer, armed private security professional, or member of the armed forces, to the extent the officer, professional, or member is acting within the course and scope of employment and official duties;”

• “A transfer that is a loan or bona fide gift between spouses, between domestic partners, between parents and their children, including step-parents and their step-children, between siblings, (etc.), if the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee will use or intends to use the firearm in a crime or is prohibited from possessing firearms under State or Federal law;”

• “A transfer to an executor, administrator, trustee, or personal representative of an estate or a trust that occurs by operation of law upon the death of another person;”

• “A temporary transfer that is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm, including harm to self, family, household members, or others, if the possession by the transferee lasts only as long as immediately necessary to prevent the imminent death or great bodily harm, including the harm of domestic violence, dating partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and domestic abuse;”

• “At a shooting range or in a shooting gallery or other area designated for the purpose of target shooting;” and

• “While reasonably necessary for the purposes of hunting, trapping, or fishing, if the transferor  has no reason to believe that the transferee intends to use the firearm in a place where it is illegal; and has reason to believe that the transferee will comply with all licensing and permit requirements for such hunting, trapping, or fishing.”

Bipartisan agreement hoped for in the Senate

With Democrats now holding a majority in the Senate, the bill has a new opportunity to become a law. Despite opposition from Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would try to put the background check legislation on the Senate floor.

"H.R. 8 will be on the floor of the Senate, and we will see where everybody stands. No more hopes and prayers,” Schumer told reporters.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CONN), forecast that some Republicans might get behind the bill and give it their support. "You can’t compare 2013 to 2021," he said, referring to a previous effort for gun control. "There are a lot of Republican senators that are thinking about voting for a proposal that allows them to get right on this issue."

A new study conducted by researchers from the Medical College of Georgia suggests that cannabidiol, or CBD, may be beneficial to those at risk of developing familial Alzheimer’s. 

According to their findings, CBD was effective in improving cognitive abilities in mice with familial Alzheimer’s by restoring the function of two proteins in the brain that are compromised by the degenerative condition. 

“Right now we have two classes of drugs to treat Alzheimer’s,” said researcher Dr. John Morgan. “But we have nothing that gets to the pathophysiology of the disease.” 

The benefits of CBD 

The researchers conducted a study on mice to determine how CBD can benefit those struggling with familial Alzheimer’s. The mice were injected with CBD every other day for two weeks, and the researchers observed their brain function to see how the supplement affected Alzheimer’s progression. 

From a chemical perspective, CBD played a key role in regulating two proteins in the brain -- IL-33 and TREM2. TREM2 works to keep the organ clear of potentially harmful proteins like beta-amyloid, which is closely associated with Alzheimer’s. Similarly, IL-33 works to send signals throughout the brain when levels of proteins like beta-amyloid get too high. 

Prior to the CBD treatment, levels of both IL-33 and TREM2 were low, which is common for those with Alzhiemer’s. However, they found that those levels increased once they exposed the mice to CBD. 

The CBD was also effective at improving the mice’s overall cognitive function. The researchers assessed cognition by testing the mice’s ability to recognize objects familiar to them, and the results improved significantly following the CBD intervention. 

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released new recommendations that detailed a plan for consumers to be screened for lung cancer starting at age 50, rather than at age 55. By starting earlier, health care professionals would be able to address concerns before they worsen, which would lead to better long-term health outcomes. 

However, experts from the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center are calling for even more inclusive measures. They explained that many of the inequities in cancer prevention are structural, as socioeconomic status and race are two key factors that need to be addressed to ensure that these prevention strategies are reaching those most vulnerable to disease.  

“The revised U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s [USPSTF] recommendations are sound and based on well-conceived evidence and modeling studies, but they alone are not enough, as we have seen limited uptake of the prior recommendations,” said researcher Dr. Ethan Basch. “Implementation will require broader efforts by payers, health systems and professional societies, and, in the future, a more tailored, individual risk prediction approach may be preferable.” 

Inequalities in the screening process

The experts cite three major factors that could impede the USPSTF’s new lung cancer screening recommendations: finances/insurance coverage, health care providers’ time, and racial disparities. They explained that widening the pool by starting these screenings at age 50 is a beneficial first step because more at-risk consumers will be eligible for preventative care; however, more steps need to be considered and taken to ensure that those at the greatest risk are factored in. 

In terms of finances and insurance coverage, those enrolled in Medicaid could end up paying out of pocket for lung cancer screenings. This is problematic for several reasons, not least of which is that the researchers learned that Medicaid recipients are more than two times as likely to smoke than those who have private insurance, which heightens their risk of lung cancer. 

“Medicaid is not required to cover the USPSTF recommended screenings and even when screening is covered, Medicaid programs may use different eligibility criteria,” said Louise M. Henderson, PhD. “This is a significant issue, especially in nine states where Medicaid does not cover lung cancer screening.” 

The experts also cite a lack of time in primary care physicians’ offices as a deterrent of this new screening process. They explained that many doctors already struggle to have enough time with their patients during appointments, and screening for lung cancer would require a lengthy, in-depth conversation. Not having time for these talks would ultimately affect how many patients ever learn about the opportunity for cancer screenings. 

Racial and gender inequalities in the screening process are also likely to persist despite including people from a younger age group. The researchers explained that the 2013 screening recommendations didn’t incorporate race or gender, and looking at other factors, like smoking status or family history, would widen the pool of eligibility for lung cancer screenings to include those at the highest risk.  

Making progress

Though the researchers believe more work needs to be done to get these lung cancer prevention strategies to be as strong as possible, they believe that these recommendations can be a positive stepping stone in cancer prevention. 

“Beyond implementation challenges, the future of screening strategies lies in individualized risk assessment including genetic risk,” the team wrote. “The 2021 USPSTF recommendation statement represents a leap forward in evidence and offers promise to prevent more cancer deaths and address screening disparities. But the greatest work lies ahead to ensure this promise is actualized.” 

With the House passage of the $1.9 trillion stimulus package Wednesday, rivers of money are about to start flowing to individuals, businesses, and state and local governments. Some of it -- such as the $1,400 direct payments to individuals -- may get paid out quickly.

But some in Congress who voted for the massive spending bill are worried that there is so much money, government agencies may get bogged down in delivering it, resulting in frustration.

The Washington Post reports the federal bureaucracy has, at times, been challenged to deliver some Congressionally appropriated support in a timely manner. 

“Few Americans have benefited so far from the $25 billion in rental and utility assistance that lawmakers approved in December, housing experts said, and other programs to help workers and businesses pay their bills have not yet fully come online,” the Post reported.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) told The Post that programs have to be implemented correctly to be effective, noting that “it doesn't mean a whole lot if you can't get the benefits out so people can make ends meet."

New pressure on government agencies

The latest measure -- the sixth stimulus bill Congress has passed since the Pandemic began a year ago -- contains an increase in new child tax credits. But instead of being disbursed as part of an annual tax refund, the government plans to dole the money out to families on an ongoing basis to help with family cash-flow. 

That’s going to require some government agency to make sure the payments go out in a timely fashion. If they don’t, the blowback will likely land on members of Congress or the administration.

Economists generally agree that a massive infusion of cash into the economy was required to stave off a potential economic collapse last year. The stimulus appears to have done its job.

This week the UCLA Anderson School of Management issued an economic forecast for the U.S. predicting massive economic growth, even before any stimulus money is spent. Following the 3.5 percent decline in real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020, the national forecast calls for 6.3 percent growth in 2021, 4.6 percent growth in 2022, and 2.7 percent growth in 2023. 

That compares to the 2.3 percent growth rate the country averaged as it recovered from the Great Recession between 2010 and 2019. The forecast expects real GDP to surpass its 2019 peak by the end of the second quarter of 2021 and to surpass the trend it was on prior to the pandemic in early 2022.

What will stimulus do to the economy?

The expected surge in economic activity as the economy reopens in the second quarter is likely to be even stronger with nearly every American receiving $1,400 and state and local governments dividing up $350 billion.

It may be no coincidence that interest rates have begun to rapidly rise in the last two weeks, setting off inflation fears on Wall Street. UCLA Anderson senior economist Leo Feler says the new stimulus package will serve as a test for how much Congress has stimulated the economy without overheating it.

"If real GDP goes above 'potential GDP' without generating sustained inflation, it will signal that we have been too modest in our assumptions about the productive potential of our economy,” he writes. 

If inflation doesn’t ignite with all this spending, Feler says it will suggest the U.S. economy has the capacity to grow much faster than it has in the past. That could mean Congress will be even bolder in the future in pumping money into the economy.

Volvo Car USA is recalling certain model year 2021-2022 XC40 Recharge vehicles.

The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) microprocessor may reset and cause the high voltage system to disconnect.

A disconnected high voltage system can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

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

The recall is expected to begin May 18, 2021.

Owners may contact Volvo Car customer service at (800) 458-1552. Volvo's number for this recall is R10078.

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 29,104,508 (29,042,262)

Total U.S. deaths: 527,950 (526,020)

Total global cases: 117,717,343 (117,268,114)

Total global deaths: 2,613,276 (2,604,487)

Test confirms effectiveness of Eli Lilly antibody drugs

A newly released study shows that the combination of two Eli Lilly antibody drugs cuts the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients requiring hospital treatment or dying by 87 percent. The drugs have already received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

The tests were conducted on patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who were at high risk of developing severe symptoms. The two drugs, now part of doctors’ arsenal, are 700 mg of bamlanivimab and 1400 mg of etesevimab, taken together.

Health experts say the effectiveness of the drugs provides a reassuring backstop to the three approved coronavirus vaccines that continue to be administered throughout the U.S.

U.S. reportedly buying more Johnson & Johnson vaccine

NBC News quotes two Biden administration sources as saying the U.S. government will purchase an additional 100 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine is popular with both consumers and health administrators since it only requires a single dose, removing the logistical issue of scheduling and administering a second dose.

The current contract calls for Johnson & Johnson to deliver 100 million doses of the drug by the end of June. The company now has increased capacity since rival drugmaker Merck has agreed to produce the vaccine as well.

House prepares to pass $1.9 trillion stimulus bill

Americans will soon be receiving $1,400 payments, assuming there are no last-minute glitches as the House of Representatives prepares to vote today on President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package.

Democrats have the votes to approve the final version of the bill, which changed only slightly in the Senate last week. In addition to the direct payments to Americans, the measure extends an extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits until September.

Like the first two direct payments approved last year, Americans don’t have to take any action to receive the money. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will disburse the money based on tax returns.

CVS locations inside Target will give shots

In another sign that the vaccine rollout is becoming more widespread, Target has announced that the CVS pharmacies inside most of its stores will give the shots.

The company said more than 600 CVS Health locations located within Target stores will give the vaccines to customers and employees who are eligible. CVS has listed the participating stores on its website.

When it comes to vaccines, experts say don’t be picky

American consumers are accustomed to having lots of choices. Wandering up and down grocery aisles graphically demonstrates that.

But now that there are three approved COVID-19 available, a chorus of health experts is singing the same tune -- take the first one that’s offered. People are showing a preference for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine since it only requires one dose, but Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), says all three are highly effective.

“We’ve got to get away from this issue of comparing one with the other except to say that we have a highly efficacious group of three vaccines,” Fauci said recently at the White House. “I would just take the vaccine that is the most readily available to you.”

Around the nation

• Massachusetts: The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is working to return children to classrooms for in-person instruction. Officials have released guidelines that could put middle and elementary schoolers back in classrooms in April.

• Maryland: State officials are lifting capacity limits on restaurants effective Friday. However, Gov. Larry Hogan said that restaurants and bars will still be limited to seated and distanced service only.

• Oregon: While conditions are generally improving, Gov. Kate Brown says two counties -- Coo and Douglas -- remain an “extreme” risk for COVID-19. "We are largely seeing case rates decline across the state, with the most counties in the lower risk level since the framework was introduced in November," Brown said.

The economy was preparing to shut down a year ago as coronavirus (COVID-19) cases surged in the U.S. One industry bracing itself for the worst was the auto industry.

But a year later, it’s clear that the worst-case scenario never occurred, and the industry has spent the last few months trying to keep up with demand. In a report, Cox Automotive found the changes initiated by dealers last year proved highly popular with consumers and are likely here to stay.

Amid shelter-in-place orders, car dealerships were closed to the public. Sales cratered at first, but dealers quickly adapted to allow buyers to shop for a vehicle, negotiate terms, and even schedule a test drive all online.

What’s more, some national used car dealers already had that model in place. The study found what it called a sharp rise in the usage of “New Form Online Retailers,” which include used-vehicle-only sales sites like Carvana and Vroom. 

According to the study, approximately 17 percent of car buyers visited a New Form Online Retailer during their buying process, a significant increase from 11 percent in 2019 and only 7 percent in 2018. 

These retailers allow consumers to shop for a car online and then deliver it to their homes. If there is a trade-in, they take it away when they deliver the purchase. Many consumers who had never tried this before found that they liked it.

Growing role of the internet

Cox Automotives’ Car Buying Journey (CBJ) Study shows that online shopping continues to be a central activity in the car buyer’s journey. In fact, many consumers have long used the internet to research purchase options. Third-party automotive websites are still the number one destination for vehicle shoppers as they enter the process, with up to 79 percent of buyers indicating that they used a third-party site in 2020.

At the same time, the number of dealerships visited and the amount of time spent in them dropped in 2020, but sales held relatively steady. The Cox researchers attribute that to how traditional car dealers adapted to the new realities.

One of the most important steps taken in response to COVID-19 was dealers’ willingness to bring a car to the shopper’s home for a test drive. An estimated 22 percent of buyers said they did not go to a dealer to test drive the vehicle they purchased.

However, of the buyers who took a test drive, approximately 81 percent said they were satisfied with the process, the highest satisfaction rating for any step.

Efficiency led to increased satisfaction

According to the CBJ Study, consumer satisfaction with the car-buying process rose as more dealers used the internet to promote efficiency. “Heavy Digital” buyers – consumers who performed more than half the steps online – were more satisfied with the process than buyers who didn’t use the internet.

“The Cox Automotive Car Buyer Journey Study: Pandemic Edition shows that vehicle buyers in 2020 were more decisive about their purchase, spent less time on the process, and were more satisfied than ever,” said Vanessa Ton, senior manager of Industry Intelligence at Cox Automotive.  

With this level of success during a pandemic that severely limited consumer activity, the researchers say car dealers are likely to keep these new procedures in place, at least for the foreseeable future.

A month after President Biden moved to replace the federal government’s 650,000 unit gas-powered fleet for electric vehicles, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) says it can’t afford to make that change. 

That’s a pretty big stone in the path of Biden’s initiative since the Postal Service has nearly a third of the total federal 650,000 vehicle population.

Optimism replaced by outrage

All seemed good when Postmaster General Louis DeJoy announced that he had inked a deal to replace many of USPS’ older, gas-powered vehicles. He said a recent $482 million contract would allow the agency "to order electric powertrain vehicles as well as traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.” 

“This is great news because we are committed to move forward a more environmentally sustainable mix of vehicles in our fleet," DeJoy added.

DeJoy was applauded by clean energy groups for the move. Gina Coplon-Newfield, director of the Sierra Club's Clean Transportation For All campaign, says postal delivery trucks are the "perfect use case" for electric vehicles.

"They don't travel far distances on any given day. They sit idle overnight when they can charge," she told NPR. "And they travel through neighborhoods exposing people to air pollution. So shifting to a 100 percent electric USPS fleet should really be a no brainer."

However, the hoorahs sent DeJoy’s way may have been in haste. He later explained to lawmakers that only 10 percent of the agency’s new vehicles would be electric due to financial constraints. Coplon-Newfield told NPR that the move simply isn’t good enough. 

"Electrifying just 10 percent of the U.S. fleet, as the postmaster, DeJoy, has suggested, is really shortsighted and not acceptable," she said.

Congress steps in

Members of Congress then entered the fray after finding out that DeJoy passed over Ohio electric truck manufacturer Workhorse for Oshkosh Corporation, a Wisconsin company that builds defense, fire and emergency, and commercial vehicles and access equipment.

A group of congressional members, including U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), U.S. Representatives Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), were irked by DeJoy’s deal with Oshkosh. Their collective opinion was that it was in “stark contrast to Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad and his public calls to transform the federal vehicular fleet to electric vehicles.” In turn, they asked Biden to review the contract award that DeJoy signed.

“Furthermore, this contract is not only an investment in America workers and our domestic manufacturing sector, but it is an opportunity for our nation to regain its role as a leader in clean technology manufacturing. This contract will have consequences for decades to come and, as such, we have serious concerns it could be a wasted opportunity to address the climate crisis and the reindustrialization of our manufacturing sector,” the lawmakers wrote.

A group of bipartisan senators has introduced a bill that, if passed, would make Daylight Saving Time year-round. 

In states still participating in Daylight Saving Time, the “Sunshine Protection Act of 2021” would negate Standard Time (which lasts between November to March). If enacted, it would do away with the need for consumers to “fall back” an hour in November. 

The bill was introduced Tuesday by U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), James Lankford (R-OK), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Ed Markey (D-MA). 

In a press release, the senators said 15 other states have passed similar initiatives to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, and dozens of other states have expressed interest in doing the same. 

"Americans' lifestyles are very different than they were when Daylight Saving Time began more than a century ago," Whitehouse said. "Making Daylight Saving Time permanent will end the biannual disruptions to daily life and give families more daylight hours to enjoy after work and school."

Benefits of staying in DST

In a fact sheet outlining the effects of making DST permanent, Rubio’s office noted that DST was first enacted in the U.S. due to Germany's efforts to conserve fuel during World War I in 1916. 

“Originally mandated for six months, in 2005, Congress extended DST to begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. As a result, the United States now enjoys EIGHT months of DST, and only four months of standard time (November-March),” the document said. 

The fact sheet provided by the lawmakers cites several possible benefits of staying in DST, including: 

• A reduction in car crashes and pedestrian accidents, as daylight hours will be more in line with drivers' standard work hours and there will be greater visibility;

• Reduced risk for cardiac issues, stroke, and seasonal depression;

• A twenty-seven percent reduction in robberies;

• A reduction in childhood obesity as a result of increased physical activity;

• A reduction in energy usage since people wouldn’t need to use as much electricity each day;

• An economic boost since there tends to be a drop in economic activity of between 2.2 percent to 4.9 percent when clocks move back; and

• Agricultural benefits since the biannual changes in time would no longer disrupt the synergy between farmers’ schedules and their supply chain partners.

"The call to end the antiquated practice of clock changing is gaining momentum throughout the nation," Rubio said in a press release. "Studies have shown many benefits of a year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is why the Florida legislature voted to make it permanent in 2018. I'm proud to reintroduce this bipartisan bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, and give our nation's families more stability throughout the year."

As cruise lines learn how to navigate the choppy waters of returning to sea with a hopeful end to the pandemic in sight, Princess Cruises has decided to extend the pause of its return to cruising in the Caribbean, California Coast, Mexico, and Mediterranean through June 30, 2021.

The pause affects the following voyages:

• Caribbean Princess: Seven-day Western and Eastern Caribbean cruises

• Enchanted Princess: Seven-day Mediterranean & Adriatic, seven-day Western Mediterranean, and 14-day Western Mediterranean & Adriatic Medley

• Ruby Princess: Seven-day Classic California Coast, seven-day Mexican Riviera, and five-day Cabo San Lucas Getaway sailings

What this means to people holding existing reservations

For guests who had already booked one of Princess’ cancelled voyages, the company will offer to move them to the same cruise when it sets sail in 2022. Princess says those guests will have the added benefit of price protection, guaranteeing that what they paid for the 2021 cruise will hold for their 2022 voyage. If they prefer, guests can also choose a future cruise credit (FCC) equivalent to 100 percent of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus equal to 10 percent of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25 USD). And if all else fails, customers can also request a full refund to the original form of payment.  

Guests who were booked on one of the cancelled trips that Princess doesn’t have a set itinerary for in 2022 will automatically receive a refundable FCC equivalent to 100 percent of the cruise fare paid plus an additional non-refundable bonus FCC equal to 10 percent of the cruise fare paid (minimum $25). 

There is a deadline on these options, though. Requests must be received through the company’s online form by April 15, 2021. If it isn’t processed by then, guests will automatically receive the FCC option. FCCs can be used on any cruises booked by and sailing by December 31, 2022. 

For up-to-date information and instructions for booked guests affected by these cancellations, plus more information on FCCs and refunds, it’s available on the company’s site here.

T-Mobile has quietly updated its privacy policy to state that it will begin sharing customers’ web and mobile app data with companies for third-party advertising on April 26 unless they opt out. 

The change to the carrier’s privacy policy was made last month, but the Wall Street Journal first reported on the update on Tuesday. Under the new policy, users’ web and device usage will automatically be sent to advertisers who will use that information for ad targeting. 

T-Mobile said the change will also apply to Sprint customers. However, business accounts and children’s lines won’t be affected by the change. 

“We’ve heard many say they prefer more relevant ads so we’re defaulting to this setting,” a T-Mobile spokeswoman told the Journal. 

Opting out 

T-Mobile users can opt out of having their data used for targeted advertising by going into the T-Mobile app, visiting the MORE tab, and then tapping “Advertising & Analytics.” From there, users can toggle off the setting that says “Use my data to make ads more relevant to me.” 

Users can also opt out by visiting MyT‑Mobile.com and selecting “Profile, Privacy and Notifications” under the “My Account” dropdown menu. Under “Advertising & Analytics,” toggle off the option that says “Use my data to make ads more relevant to me.” 

Sprint customers can log in to their Sprint account, visit “My Account Preferences,” and scroll down to “All about my account.” Then, they can select “Manage advertising and analytics preferences” and select the line they want to update. Click the “OFF” radio button to end the use of data to make ads “more relevant” to you. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine explored how head injuries could play into consumers’ risk of dementia. 

According to their findings, one single head injury could have lasting impacts on cognitive functioning. They explained that though many people may think they’re fully healed from a childhood or young adulthood accident, their risk of dementia is actually higher. 

“Head injury is a significant risk factor for dementia,” said researcher Dr. Andrea L. Schneider. “Our findings show that the number of head injuries matter -- more head injuries are associated with greater risk for dementia. 

“The dose-dependence of this association suggests that prevention of head injury could mitigate some risk of dementia in later life. While head injury is not the only risk factor for dementia, it is one risk factor for dementia that is modifiable by behavior changes such as wearing helmets and seat belts.” 

How head injuries impact long-term cognitive function

To see how head injuries can increase the risk for dementia, the researchers analyzed data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. For nearly three decades, this study tracked the long-term effects of head injuries across the country. The team also looked at hospital records to determine the scope and severity of these injuries. 

The researchers learned that head injuries were associated with a higher risk of dementia later in life, and repeated head injuries increased that risk even further. Experiencing several head injuries made dementia two times more likely among the participants while one head injury increased the dementia risk by 1.25 times. 

Because the data included participants from diverse backgrounds, the researchers were able to break down the findings by various demographic groups. They learned that white participants were at a higher risk for dementia than black participants, regardless of the number of head injuries incurred, while women were more likely than men to struggle cognitively following head injuries. 

Promoting safety tips

While dementia isn’t entirely avoidable by working to prevent head injuries, these findings highlight the need for more comprehensive prevention strategies. The researchers explained that working to reduce the frequency of head injuries is a good place to start to protect consumers’ long-term cognitive health. 

“Given the strong association of head injury with dementia, there is an important need for future research focused on prevention and intervention strategies aimed at reducing dementia after head injury,” said Dr. Schenider.

“The results of this study have already led to several ongoing research projects, including efforts to uncover the causes of head injury-related dementia as well as investigations into reasons underlying the observed sex and race differences in the risk of dementia associated with head injury.”