Current Events in April 2021

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an overhaul of existing labor laws on Thursday. If enacted as written, the new bill -- the Paycheck Fairness Act --  should provide “more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.”

The legislation certainly has a champion in President Biden. He said the bill is “more than just an economic imperative — it’s a moral imperative as well.” 

“We are still a long way from achieving pay equity in America. In nearly every job — more than 90 percent of occupations — women are still earning less than men. ... Those gaps are an affront to our values as a nation — they are unacceptable to me, and they should be unacceptable to every single American,” Biden said.

Addressing the gender pay gap

Studies show that there are sizable gender pay gaps across America. In Provo, Utah, the median income for a woman is 40% less than a man, and the White House cited data showing that Black women make only 63 cents for every dollar a white man earns.

To rectify situations like that, the Paycheck Fairness Act would amend portions of two existing laws: the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963. It would update enforcement, remedies, and exceptions to prohibitions against gender discrimination in what workers are paid.

The proposal sends a signal to employers that if they “acted with malice or reckless indifference,” they’re looking at “punitive damages as may be appropriate.”

One intriguing part of the legislation is closing the gender pay gap among teenagers -- the age group from which pay gaps originated. To close that gap, the legislation would prompt a serious examination of the average amount earned by teenage boys and girls in informal jobs (such as babysitting) and formal jobs (like positions in retail and restaurants).

Retailers express opposition while advocates praise bill

ConsumerAffairs found that there’s also a gap in the way organizations are responding to the legislation. 

When ConsumerAffairs reached out to the National Retail Federation (NRF) for comment, the organization shared a letter it penned to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). The NRF’s stance is that the new act could be costly for employers to defend against in court and that there are already laws in place that provide necessary protections.

“This legislation will significantly limit legitimate, non-discriminatory pay differences and provide for unlimited compensatory and punitive damages in certain instances.” the NRF wrote.

“Two federal statutes already bar gender-based pay discrimination. Both the Equal Pay  Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit unequal pay on the basis of sex and provide for substantial remedies in instances where gender-based pay differentials do occur. In contrast, the Paycheck Fairness Act would prohibit many legitimate, non discriminatory practices that retailers use to attract and retain talent and would create uncertainty  under the law.”

However, advocates say the Paycheck Fairness Act is necessary to address the inequities that have plagued women and minorities in the U.S. for decades.

“The Paycheck Fairness Act is sorely needed to make it easier for women to challenge pay discrimination – it addresses some of the key factors that research shows perpetuate pay discrimination: lack of transparency, the importing of discrimination by relying on prior salary in hiring decisions, the lack of monitoring and oversight, and the lack of real remedies,” Ariane Hegewisch, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Women's Policy Research, told ConsumerAffairs.

“The gender wage gap- the fact that it has hardly budged at all during the last 20 years, that at the current rate of progress, it will take 200 years (!!) for Latinas to reach equal pay with white men, and 130 years for Black women- is a key indicator for the structural inequalities IWPR is working to tackle.”

Do you have both shots of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine? Good, but the company says you may need a third shot of the vaccine next year to keep you protected against COVID-19.

In recorded comments from earlier this month, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said it’s likely that people will need a “booster” shot within 12 months of being fully vaccinated against the virus. His comments were made public late Thursday.

“A likely scenario is that there will be likely a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months and then from there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed. And again, the variants will play a key role,” he said at a CVS Health event.

Pfizer isn’t the first vaccine-maker to suggest it may be necessary to fortify the vaccine to maintain a high level of immunity. Alex Gorsky, CEO at Johnson & Johnson, made a similar observation in February. He said an annual COVID-19 booster could be just as necessary as an annual flu shot.

Variants and ‘vaccine hesitancy’

These concerns are based on growing doubts about how long it will take the world to reach “herd immunity” against the virus. While the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. is moving very quickly, there is a significant number of Americans who have said they don’t plan to be vaccinated.

There are also easily transmitted variants of the virus spreading quickly around the globe. Current vaccines have been shown to be effective against the variants, but health experts say people may need a robust level of antibodies to maintain a high level of immunity.

Since the earliest vaccines began being administered in December, drug makers haven’t been able to measure how long the vaccines remain effective. This week, Moderna updated its efficacy data to show that its two-shot vaccine was effective for at least six months with little decline in effectiveness.

Biden administration leaning toward annual shot

Health officials in the Biden administration are also leaning toward the idea of an annual COVID-19 booster shot. Dr. David Kessler, the White House’s science officer in charge of the COVID-19 response, told lawmakers this week that the emergence of variants has made the outlook less certain.

“We don’t know everything at this moment,” Kessler told the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. He noted that the virus variants make the vaccines “work harder,” which could make them less effective.

“So I think for planning purposes, planning purposes only, I think we should expect that we may have to boost,” he said.

Australia’s federal court has ruled that Google misled consumers about location data settings on Android mobile devices between 2017 and 2018. 

On Friday, the country’s Competition and Consumer Commission found that Google improperly led consumers to believe that it could only collect personal data if users had “location history” settings turned on. The ACCC found that Google could still collect, store, and use consumers location data if the setting for “web and application activity” was on. 

“When consumers created a new Google Account during the initial set-up process of their Android device, Google misrepresented that the ‘Location History’ setting was the only Google Account setting that affected whether Google collected, kept or used personally identifiable data about their location,” the court said. 

Online privacy victory

The regulator said the ruling was an “important victory for consumers” -- especially those who are concerned about their digital privacy. The court said its decision “sends a strong message to Google and others that big businesses must not mislead their customers.” 

In addition to fining Google an undisclosed sum, the ACCC said it will be “seeking an order for Google to publish a notice to Australian consumers to better explain Google’s location data settings in the future.” In a statement, Google said it disagreed with many of the court’s claims and that it is considering appealing. 

“We disagree with the remaining findings and are currently reviewing our options, including a possible appeal,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

The tech giant noted that it has “robust controls for location data,” including a recently introduced “auto delete” feature for Location History and an incognito mode in its Maps product. 

Wages became a hot topic this week. In addition to the U.S. House passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, the parent company of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse found itself as the defendant in a wage-based lawsuit.

Nonprofit organization One Fair Wage (OFW) filed a lawsuit against Darden Restaurants over claims that the company pays subminimum wages. The suit contends that this forces employees to depend on tips to help bring wages up to federal minimum wage levels.

This isn’t the first time Darden has come face-to-face with a lawsuit over wages. It was hit with another in 2012 that accused it of failing to pay federally mandated minimum wages and forcing its waiters and waitresses to work “off-the-clock” before or after their shifts.

Racial inequity and sexual harassment

One Fair Wage claimed two grievances in its lawsuit. First, it said Darden’s tipping policy resulted in racial inequity because tipped employees of color are paid less than tipped white employees; secondly, it says the company "maintains a national, corporate-level policy or practice that local managers must pay the lowest possible cash wage to all tipped employees." It says this forces tipped workers to take a "subminimum wage” that results in “increased sexual harassment of workers." 

The claim of sexual harassment stems from over 20 narratives that OFW collected from workers. Some of the scenarios included cooks making suggestive comments and new female hires being “fought over” by male trainers who later made sexual advances to them off-site.

In a survey presented by OFW, it claims that the federal subminimum wage remains “trapped at only $2.13 an hour for tipped workers” -- a provision that 43 states allow. The organization blames the National Restaurant Association for perpetuating that low wage with “decades of continued lobbying.”

Darden responds

When ConsumerAffairs reached out to Darden to hear its side of the lawsuit, the company said the suit “makes clear that their objections are with federal and state wage laws – not with our practices.”  

“We have zero tolerance for any form of harassment or discrimination in our restaurants, and we have strong policies in place to ensure our team members are treated with respect and feel safe and valued at work,” said Rich Jeffers, Darden’s Senior Director of Communications.

As to OFW’s claim of sub-par wages, Jeffers said Darden’s tipped team members earn more than $20 per hour on average. He added that the company plans to make that wage even higher in the future.

“We also recently announced that every hourly restaurant team member, regardless of role, now earns at least $10 per hour, including tip income, and we committed to raising the amount to $11 per hour in January 2022 and $12 per hour in January 2023,” Jeffers said.

The price of Bitcoin tumbled on Friday in response to Turkey’s ban on cryptocurrency payments. In a press release, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey announced that crypto assets won’t be able to be used directly or indirectly as a form of payment beginning April 30. 

The bank attributed its decision to several factors, including the market’s volatility and lack of regulation. It said crypto assets “entail significant risks to the relevant parties.” 

“It is considered that their use [crypto assets] in payments may cause non-recoverable losses for the parties to the transactions due to the above-listed factors, and they include elements that may undermine the confidence in methods and instruments used currently in payments,” the bank said in a statement published Friday in the official newspaper of the Turkish government.

Used for illegal actions

The bank also warned that cryptocurrencies could potentially be used in illegal actions “due to their anonymous structures” and that “wallets can be stolen or used unlawfully without the authorization of their holders.”

In response to the news, Bitcoin fell from $63,000 to $60,700 over a 24-hour period. Earlier in the week, Bitcoin had hit another record high of $64,717.01. 

There is some concern that other countries facing fiat currency crises could follow Turkey’s lead. Morocco has already banned crypto payments, and India is expected to propose a law banning cryptocurrencies that would make trading -- or even asset-holding -- punishable with a fine.

A new study conducted by the American Heart Association (AHA) looked at the link between dental hygiene and infective endocarditis (IE) -- a heart infection linked to bacteria in the mouth. 

The researchers analyzed the efficacy of 2007 guidelines from the AHA and affirmed that good dental habits can prevent IE. The team confirmed that participants with a history of heart issues are at an increased risk of IE and associated complications, and antibiotics can be an effective way of preventing infection. 

“Scientific data since the 2007 AHA guidelines support the view that limited use of preventative antibiotics for dental procedures hasn’t increased cases of endocarditis and is an important step at combating antibiotic overuse in the population,” said researcher Dr. Walter R. Wilson.  

Reducing the risk of infection

For the study, experts from various organizations -- the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Heart Association -- analyzed the 2007 guidelines related to dental hygiene and IE. 

In these recommendations, four groups were identified to be at the highest risk of complications related to IE: people who have had heart transplants, those who have previously had IE, those with prosthetic heart valves, and those with congenital heart disease. To lower the risk of IE, many physicians and dentists have prescribed antibiotics to patients from these vulnerable populations. In this new study, experts have confirmed that these recommendations still hold up; antibiotics can help protect those with heart concerns from developing IE. 

For those with no heart issues, antibiotics typically aren’t necessary; practicing good oral hygiene can be an effective way to reduce the risk of IE. However, poor dental hygiene habits can make consumers more susceptible to infection. 

The researchers say these findings emphasize the importance of following good hygiene habits. Invasive dental procedures can make bacteria more likely to settle in the mouth, but when consumers regularly get dental check-ups and brush and floss their teeth, they can protect against potentially serious infections. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh explored the efficacy of different treatments for severe asthma sufferers. 

The researchers say traditional asthma treatments don’t work for everyone because our immune systems are all a little different. They believe medical providers need to consider each case individually to ensure that asthma treatments are best suited to their patients. 

“We started this study to better understand immune mediators of inflammation in asthma,” said researcher Dr. Matthew Camiolo. “We found that despite being grouped broadly as ‘clinically severe,’ these asthma patients had very different and distinct immune profiles.” 

Understanding biological and immune response

Most health care providers prescribe severe asthma sufferers with corticosteroids to help manage their symptoms. However, the researchers found that this isn’t an effective course of treatment for all patients. To understand these disparities, the researchers analyzed the genetic and cellular make-up of severe asthma patients. 

Through their research, the team identified two primary groups of asthma sufferers: one group exhibits higher levels of the IL-4 protein and the other group has higher levels of T cells. The IL-4 protein is closely linked with asthma, and it has highly inflammatory properties; T cells enhance the body’s ability to fight infections. The team says the differences between these two groups are critical when it comes to picking the best treatment option.

“We have identified two clusters of severe asthma patients with very similar biomarkers but with strikingly distinct immune profiles and associated biological pathways,” said researcher Anuradha Ray, Ph.D. “These findings identify new targets for therapy, which are distinct in the two subgroups of severe asthma patients who otherwise would be indistinguishable based on biomarker profiles.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings can be beneficial in identifying asthma patients who may not respond to the typical course of treatment. Knowing this information can better serve severe asthma sufferers and ensure that their treatments are tailored to their individual needs. 

“These important findings are the result of a successful team effort among physician-scientists and basic scientists across institutions that has established a new frontier in asthma research,” said Dr. Ray. “We hope the new knowledge gained will be used to develop new therapeutics to treat severe asthma patients and also allow improved stratification of patients for better efficacy of existing therapies.” 

Gasoline prices remained stable for another week as oil refineries kicked into high gear and hit their highest output rate of the year.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $2.86 a gallon, the same as a week ago. It’s also around the same price as a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is also unchanged at $3.46. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.07 a gallon, one cent below last Friday’s average.

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), refineries began the week at an 84% utilization rate which helped increase the nation’s gasoline supplies by four million barrels. Despite a late-week jump in crude oil prices gasoline prices barely budged

“After a wild March, Americans are seeing a little stability at the pump,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson.

Whether prices resume their late-winter climb depends on to what extent the U.S. economy bounces back from the pandemic. Cases have begun to rise again in about half the states, putting reopening plans in question.

The states with the most expensive gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• California ($3.94)

• Hawaii ($3.75)

• Nevada ($3.38)

• Washington ($3.34)

• Oregon ($3.20)

• Utah ($3.15)

• Alaska ($3.14)

• Arizona ($3.07)

• Illinois ($3.08)

• Idaho ($3.06)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Texas ($2.57)

• Mississippi ($2.58)

• South Carolina ($2.58)

• Louisiana ($2.61)

• Oklahoma ($2.62)

• North Carolina ($2.63)

• Missouri ($2.63)

• Alabama ($2.63)

• Delaware ($2.66)

• Arkansas ($2.67)

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

Total U.S. confirmed cases: 31,439,683 (31,350,848)

Total U.S. deaths: 564,557 (563,520)

Total global cases: 138,489,227 (137,603,448)

Total global deaths: 2,976,972 (2,962,611)

CDC says nearly 6,000 vaccinated Americans got COVID-19

None of the COVID-19 vaccines is 100% effective, so it might not be surprising that some vaccinated people end up being infected with the virus. The CDC puts the number at around 5,800 people.

“To date, no unexpected patterns have been identified in case demographics or vaccine characteristics," the CDC told CNN via email.

Although clinical trial data suggested that vaccinations reduced the seriousness of infections, the CDC reports that 74 Americans died of COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. Seven percent of the 5,800 people were treated in hospitals.

No speedy resumption of Johnson & Johnson vaccinations

There won’t be a quick resumption of COVID-19 vaccinations with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory committee said it needs to see more data before making a decision.

The committee has to decide whether six severe blood clot cases are linked to the vaccine and, if so, whether that constitutes an acceptable level of risk. So far, more than 7 million people have received the shot. 

Six women between the ages of 18 and 48, all of whom received the vaccine and had low platelet counts, developed severe brain blood clots. One woman died.

Job market continues to show fewer layoffs

The latest data from the government suggests that businesses are doing more hiring and fewer layoffs. The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits plunged last week, falling by 193,000 to 576,000.

Last week’s jobless claims number was the lowest since March 14, 2020, just as the U.S. economy began to shut down to “flatten the curve” of the pandemic. New claims for benefits have been steadily declining since the beginning of the year.

The number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits for the week ending March 27 was 16,934,061. That’s a decline of 1,235,856 from the previous week. 

Stimulus checks boost retail sales

A lot of Americans got their COVID-19 relief payments in March and wasted no time spending the money. Retail sales rose nearly 10% last month after declining 2.7% in February.

Nearly every American received a $1,400 payment, meaning a family of four got $5,600. Advance surveys suggested that many recipients planned to save the cash or use it to pay down credit card debt, but there was plenty left over for spending.

Sporting goods, clothing, and food and beverage sales led the increased spending, making for the best performance for retailers since last May.

Kaiser study tracks the pandemic’s toll on mental health

The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating physically, but researchers say it has also exacted a toll on mental health. A new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) says it also created barriers for those who needed to seek mental health treatment.

“Stress and worry about contracting the virus, coupled with job losses, loss of childcare, as well as the devastating loss of loved ones due to COVID-19 are just a few ways in which the pandemic may be having an effect on mental health,” the authors write.

The percentage of American adults who cited the pandemic as having a negative impact on their mental health increased from about one-third in March 2020 to 53% in July 2020.

Around the nation

• Maine: St. Joseph’s College has imposed a $50 fine for people on campus who are not wearing a face mask, even outside. "We are using all of the tools at our disposal to try to keep COVID off campus," Saint Joseph’s College associate vice president Oliver Griswold said.

• Nevada: Lyon County will let its brothels reopen May 1. The county commission voted 4-1 to allow all types of businesses to reopen on that date, but face masks will be required at all times. Nevada’s brothels have been closed since March 2020.

• Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is resisting calls to shut down businesses in the state, saying the spike in new cases is being driven by other factors. She cites rapidly spreading variants of the virus, youth sports, and people no longer observing rules about masks and social distancing.

Are you always hungry? Researchers from King’s College London looked at why some consumers are always looking for another snack despite eating full meals throughout the day. 

According to their findings, it all comes down to blood sugar. Consumers who experience big dips in their blood sugar after eating are likely to feel hungrier throughout the day; this can often lead to overeating. 

“It has long been suspected that blood sugar levels play an important role in controlling hunger, but the results from previous studies have been inconclusive,” said researcher Dr. Sarah Berry. “We’ve now shown that sugar dips are a better predictor of hunger and subsequent calorie intake than the initial blood sugar peak response after eating, changing how we think about the relationship between blood sugar levels and the food we eat.” 

Monitoring dips in blood sugar

To understand what role blood sugar plays in regulating how often consumers feel hungry, the researchers had over 1,000 participants involved in the study. Over the course of two weeks, participants recorded how often they were hungry and what they were eating; they also wore monitors that tracked their blood sugar, sleep, and activity. Throughout the study, all participants ate the same breakfast but were free to make their own choices for lunch and dinner. 

The researchers learned that dips in blood sugar played the biggest role in making the participants feel hungry more often. Experiencing sharp drops in blood sugar only a few hours after eating breakfast made the participants more likely to snack more between meals. 

Participants with the biggest dips in blood sugar usually experienced them between two and four hours after eating breakfast. This made them eat lunch a half-hour earlier than participants with smaller dips in blood sugar, and they also consumed about 75 more calories between breakfast and lunch. Over the course of the whole day, these large spikes in blood sugar between meals led participants to eat an average of 300 additional calories.

When thinking about what this looks like over the course of a month or a year, the researchers explained that it could contribute to significant weight gain. Big spikes in blood sugar may be responsible for frequent snacking, and it can also impact consumers’ ability to lose weight. 

“Many people struggle to lose weight and keep it off, and just a few hundred extra calories every day can add up to several pounds of weight gain over a year,” said researcher Ana Valdes. “Our discovery that the size of sugar dips after eating has such a big impact on hunger and appetite has great potential for helping people understand and control their weight and long-term health.” 

Look for foods that keep you full

Moving forward, the researchers hope that consumers use these findings to their advantage. Everyone’s metabolism responds differently depending on what they eat each day, and knowing what foods will keep us full the longest is a good way to manage health and cut down on excessive eating. 

“Food is complex and humans are complicated, but our research is finally starting to open up the black box between diet and health,” said researcher Tim Spector. “We’re excited to have been able to turn this cutting-edge science into an at-home nutrition and microbiome test so that everyone has the opportunity to discover their unique responses to food to best support their metabolism and gut health.” 

A committee advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has delayed making a recommendation about Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which was paused this week over concerns about blood clotting.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) ended a Wednesday meeting by saying it can’t yet make a decision based on available data. Possible recommendations include continued use in vaccinations, discontinued use, or use only for certain groups.

The CDC, acting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), suspended use of the vaccine this week after six women who had received it developed severe blood clots. The women were between the ages of 18 and 48. A 45-year old woman died and the rest suffered severe symptoms.

The committee has to decide whether the six severe reactions are linked to the vaccine and, if so, constitute an acceptable level of risk. So far, more than 7 million people have received the shot. 

Among committee members, Dr. Beth Bell, clinical professor of global health at the University of Washington, seemed to sum up the feelings of the group after a review of the available data.

“I do not want to vote on this issue today,” she said. “I just don’t feel we have enough information to make an evidence-based decision.”

Delay won’t affect vaccination effort

After researchers gather more data, the ACIP will meet again to conduct another review. A decision could be two weeks away, but officials say the delay should not affect U.S. vaccination efforts. White House officials say there are ample supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

Meanwhile, people who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the last two weeks should be aware of blood clotting symptoms, though doctors believe they are extremely rare.

In the cases of the six women, blood clotting occurred in vessels in the brain and was combined with low platelet counts. It’s not clear that the vaccine played a role in the condition, scientists say.

The CDC has alerted health care providers to screen for the blood-clotting condition among patients who recently received the vaccine. People who recently received the Johnson & Johnson shots have been advised to seek medical attention if they begin to suffer symptoms, which include a severe headache or abdominal pain, shortness of breath, backache, leg swelling, or easy bruising. 

The White House is stepping up efforts to address the child care crisis caused by COVID-19. 

On Thursday, the Biden-Harris administration announced that it earmarked $39 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to help early childhood educators and family child care providers keep their doors open and the lights on. The new fund is an especially welcome relief for moms who have had to juggle child care while working remotely. 

“Since the start of the pandemic, roughly 2 million women have left the labor force, disproportionately due to caregiving needs and undoing decades of progress improving women’s labor force participation rate,” the White House said in a statement.

In fact, the administration is taking to heart all aspects of raising a family including the disparities in income levels brought on by differences in education levels and gender.

“Even as many fathers have returned to work, mothers, especially those without a four-year college degree, have not done so at similar rates. As a result, the gender earnings gap is predicted to increase by 5 percentage points in this recession, hurting our families and economy,” White House officials stated.

“As women work to regain employment, families with young children, and especially families of color where mothers are more likely to be sole or primary breadwinners, may face financial burdens for years to come. Parents need access to safe, quality child care to get back to work.”

Provisions of the plan

Here’s how the White House laid out all the plan’s provisions:

Help child care centers and family child care providers stay afloat. Included in this provision will be financial assistance for rent payments, mortgage payments, utility and insurance bills, maintaining or improving facilities, and paying off debt incurred during the pandemic.

Support providers with funds to enable safe and healthy learning environments. As COVID-19 winds down and parents look for child care options, a key ingredient is health safety. The Biden-Harris team says the new fund will have a positive impact on more than 5 million children by purchasing masks, improving ventilation, and providing consistent cleaning so centers and family providers can comply with the CDC’s Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19. 

Support the mental health of children and early educators. Providers can also use these funds to support the mental health of children and early childhood educators so they can help anyone who’s been socially or emotionally impacted by the pandemic. 

Payroll support and new hires. The White House said that it was giving special attention to help keep child care workers -- who are disproportionately women of color and immigrants -- on the payroll and give centers the financial ability to rehire anyone who was laid off. Child care providers can also use these funds to recruit new workers and increase the pay and benefits of child care workers and family child care providers.

Provide access to affordable care for families with the greatest need. The fund covers virtually anyone struggling to make ends meet so they can meet the cost of child care. The White House said the fund allows states, tribes, and territories the ability to provide direct subsidies to hard-pressed families earning below 85% of a state’s median income, as well as families performing essential work.

Lay the groundwork for a revamped childcare system. The White House’s intent for a portion of the fund is to rehab the current child care system so families can access the high-quality care they need going forward. One of the suggestions the administration offered was allowing states, tribes, and territories an option to set reimbursement rates at a level where children can not only receive high-quality care but will have increased access to care in the evenings and on weekends when many essential workers need help. 

In a letter addressed to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood expressed opposition to the idea of an Instagram for children under 13 years old. The group claimed the “image-obsessed” social network would have a negative impact on developing young minds, even if it would be “managed by parents” as Facebook promised. 

The letter, which was signed by 99 groups and individuals around the world, also took issue with the privacy implications of establishing an Instagram for children. 

“We agree that the current version of Instagram is not safe for children under 13 and that something must be done to protect the millions of children who have lied about their age to create Instagram accounts, especially since their presence on the platform could be a violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and other nations’ privacy laws,” the letter said. 

The group contended that launching a version of the photo-sharing app for children under 13 is “not the right remedy and would put young users at great risk.” 

Mental health and privacy risks

The signatories pointed out that Instagram is already used by those under 13, and those users aren’t likely to “abandon it for a new site that seems babyish.” Moreover, the group said the nature of the platform is not suitable for children who are in the midst of such a formative period. 

“In the elementary and middle school years, children experience incredible growth in their social competencies, abstract thinking, and sense of self. Finding outlets for self-expression and connection with their peers become especially important,” the letter said. “We are concerned that a proposed Instagram for kids would exploit these rapid developmental changes.” 

Josh Golin, the CCFC’s executive director, added that Instagram’s business model poses inherent risks to kids’ privacy. 

"Instagram's business model relies on extensive data collection, maximising time on devices, promoting a culture of over-sharing and idolising influencers, as well as a relentless focus on often altered physical appearance,” Golin said. “It is certainly not appropriate for seven-year olds."

Potential for exploitation

Although Facebook has said it believes that creating an Instagram for under 13s would help keep them safe on the platform, the CCFC argued that the opposite would be true. 

Allowing a younger demographic to use the social media platform would tap into their “fear of missing out and desire for peer approval,” which would undoubtedly encourage children and teens to check their devices excessively and share photos with their followers. 

“The platform’s relentless focus on appearance, self presentation, and branding presents challenges to adolescents’ privacy and wellbeing,” the group said. "Instagram's focus on photo-sharing and appearance makes the platform particularly unsuitable for children who are in the midst of crucial stages of developing their sense of self.

"Children and teens (especially young girls) have learned to associate overly sexualised, highly edited photos of themselves with more attention on the platform, and popularity among their peers." 

The highly commercialized nature of the app could also open kids up to being exploited, the letter added. The CCFC said roughly one in every three Instagram posts is an advertisement, according to an analysis by digital monitoring agency Sprout Social.

The letter was signed by 35 organizations and 64 individual experts, including the Electronic Privacy Information Center, Global Action Plan, and Kidscape.

Lyft has introduced a new feature that allows patients to schedule their own non-emergency medical rides via the Lyft app. 

The "Lyft Pass for Healthcare" service is designed to make it easier for patients to book their own medical transportation while still having it covered by a payer or provider. Lyft says patients currently have to go through their payers or providers to arrange a non-emergency transportation (NEMT) -- a process that can take several days. 

The ride-hailing company is hoping its app can help streamline the process by enabling health care providers to share a ride pass with eligible patients, which can be redeemed in the Lyft app. The patient can then enter the location and time for their ride

One limitation of the service is that health care organizations or social services agencies are in charge of setting a budget and approving pickup and drop-off locations. Still, eligible patients can enjoy not having to wait for the health system to schedule a medical ride. 

Gives patients more control

Lyft is hoping its new feature will be used to book rides to and from recurring appointments, public transportation, vaccinations, checkups, prescription pickups, and more. 

"We're inserting a world-class technology many are already familiar with into patients' care journey," Megan Callahan, VP of Lyft Healthcare, said in a statement. "By leveraging our superpower in consumer tech, we've automated an important piece of health access that allows patients to be self-sufficient and in control, while allowing our partners to focus on the services they provide, rather than on administrative processes."

In 2018, Uber launched a similar medical transportation program that also lets health care providers arrange rides for patients.

Having a stable, reliable job has become even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walmart, the U.S.’ largest retailer, has announced that it's going all-out to create more of these positions. 

The company announced on Thursday that it expects two-thirds of its U.S. hourly store roles to become completely full-time positions by the end of the fiscal year. That would create more opportunities for around 740,000 workers.

The new full-time positions will have consistent schedules, with the same hours on the same days each week. That will give associates with families firmer schedules so they can take care of things like picking the kids up from school.

The company said it believes full-time schedules will complement the other ways it’s retooling for the future of retail. In Walmart’s mind, that future will be resplendent with pickup and delivery services. The retailer is also working to convert existing store space to be part retail space and part fulfillment center. The fulfillment component is the sweet spot for full-time jobs at Walmart these days. More than 80 percent of the workers at its distribution centers and fulfillment centers are already at that level. 

“We’re uniquely positioned to offer a combination of stability and room for growth that few others can match. We are prioritizing consistent schedules, skills training and new pathways for growth, so all jobs at Walmart can lead to careers,” said Drew Holler, Senior Vice President, Walmart U.S. People Operations.

“We know offering more full-time opportunities along with skills, training and equipping associates with tools to make work easier will help us continue to attract and retain top talent.”

What a job at Walmart looks like these days

Walmart has moved far beyond greeters in blue vests. Its new employee structure is team-based with pods of 8-12 associates focused on a specific aspect or area of the store. The company feels that having a small team will lead to a more connected, productive, and enjoyable work environment, all of which will result in happier customers. 

The pandemic has also caused a shift in how Walmart protects its employees. The company now has a COVID-19 emergency leave policy and paid time away from work to get vaccinated. 

One unique job-related twist that Walmart has instituted is the deployment of an app called Thrive ZP to inspire its workers to make better choices. Participating has a nice payday too. Workers who stick with the app for 21 days and share their stories have a chance to win a share of $1 million dollars.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati explored the relationship between air pollution and the severity of COVID-19 infections. 

According to their findings, consumers who contract COVID-19 are much more likely to experience severe symptoms if they are exposed to higher levels of air pollution -- specifically, particulate matter (PM2.5). The same was true for those who struggle with respiratory issues like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

“Our study didn’t find any correlation between COVID-19 and particulate matter in general, but we found something for people who had asthma and COPD,” said researcher Dr. Angelico Mendy. “People who have preexisting asthma and COPD, when they are exposed to higher levels of particulate matter, they are more likely to have severe COVID-19, severe enough to be hospitalized.” 

The link between air pollution and respiratory health

For the study, the researchers compared air pollution emissions with the health outcomes of more than 1,100 COVID-19 patients. The team collected pollution levels based on the patients’ zip codes over the course of 10 years and analyzed how those figures affected the severity of their coronavirus infections. 

While the researchers saw no direct correlation between air pollution exposure and COVID-19 infections, they did find that emissions were especially harmful to consumers with respiratory conditions. Hospitalizations were 60 percent more likely for patients with respiratory conditions when PM2.5 emissions increased by just one unit.

“Particulate matter is very small, small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, they cross into the blood, and also affect other organ systems,” Dr. Mendy said. “Air pollution as a result of emissions from automobiles, factories, or other sources is a generator of particulate matter.” 

Ford has announced the launch of BlueCruise, a hands-free driving technology that will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel on over 100,000 miles of divided highways.

When the technology is ready to roll out, owners of 2021 F-150 pickups and Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs that are equipped with BlueCruise hardware can pay a $600 subscription fee and download the software.

Ford said it expects as many as 100,000 customers to take advantage of the new technology by the end of the year, bringing the automaker a step closer to self-driving capability. It puts the company on par with Cadillac’s SuperCruise system, which has been around for the last four years.

Both Ford and General Motors say their systems are a step above Tesla’s AutoPilot, which the company has repeatedly stressed is not a hands-free system. However, investigations of a number of Tesla accidents over the years have shown that some drivers have used it that way.

‘Mother of all road trips’

Ford said 500,000 miles of development testing and fine-tuning will have gone into the BlueCruise testing by the time it’s ready for distribution to Ford customers later this year. Over the last 12 months, Ford has dispatched a fleet of 10 test vehicles – five F-150 pickups and five all-electric Mustang Mach-E SUVs – to complete what test drivers dubbed the “mother of all road trips.” 

The trip covered more than 110,000 miles through 37 states and five Canadian provinces to put BlueCruise to the test against a wide range of road, weather, and traffic conditions.

“There are highway intricacies and driving conditions that you simply cannot replicate in a lab,” said Hau Thai-Tang, Ford’s chief product platform and operations officer. “Sending these vehicles out for real-world driving experience is just one of many ways we ensured that BlueCruise technology offers confidence and convenience for drivers all across the continent.”  

Required hardware

To use the system, Ford vehicles must be equipped with Ford Co-Pilot 360 Active 2.0 Prep Package. The software is updated through an over-the-air internet connection.

Ford executives say the extended road trip was necessary to test the system because every state builds roads a little differently. Factors like lane line degradation, weather, and construction add to the complexity, they said.

Ford said the system uses both advanced camera and radar-sensing technologies and has built upon existing technologies, such as Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Lane Centering, and Speed Sign Recognition.

The system will only work on specific four-lane highways in North America that are dedicated Hands-Free Blue Zones in the Ford GPS mapping system. BlueCruise will use blue lighting on the digital instrument cluster to indicate when the vehicle is in a hands-free zone.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 37,000 model year 2020-21 Lincoln Aviators.

The image processing module may be intermittently unable to provide a video feed to the display screen, resulting in a loss of the rearview camera image when the vehicle is in reverse.

What to do

Ford will notify owners, and will update the image processing module software free of charge

The recall is expected to begin May 19, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C09.