Current Events in July 2021

The latest installment of my travel experiences in our ever-changing world deals with finding a place to stay during your next vacation -- how to improve your search techniques, how to make sure you know what some companies are trying to pull on customers, and some tricks to help you get the best price on a room.

Not all booking sites are transparent

In a perfect world, a consumer should be able to go to a booking site and feel comfortable that they’ll be treated straight-up with no nonsense. If things were only that simple in the world of accommodations booking sites. 

Let me ask you this: Which of these facts raise your hackles the most?

• Travelers get stung to the tune of 15 million bogus bookings every year thanks to booking websites that may look like the real thing but are far from it.

• Nearly one out of every four consumers (23%) who book a room online report being misled in some way by third-party booking sites, according to the National Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA).

• Comparison shopping for a good room rate probably won’t save you much because around 95% of all booking aggregators are driven by two companies. Yes, two. Booking.com, Priceline.com, Agoda.com, Kayak.com, and momondo are all owned by Booking Holdings. BedandBreakfast.com, Classic Vacations, Ebookers, Egencia, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Hotwire, Orbitz, Travelocity, trivago, and Vrbo are all owned by Expedia Group.

Why “sorting” by prices may be in vain

Out of all the factors that determine where you may stay on a trip, price is the overwhelming #1. If price is important to you, we uncovered something interesting in our travel planning. When searching for a hotel on a booking site and sorting the options based on price, your interpretation of what “sort” means might be different from the site’s interpretation.

Case-in-point is Hotels.com. When you sort a list on the site, there’s a little note tucked in at the top of the sort that says, “How much we get paid influences your sort order.” Hotels.com’s siblings Expedia and Orbitz do the same thing. However, that didn’t appear to be the case for Booking Holdings’ Booking.com and Priceline sites.

As they say, the devil is in the details. According to Frommer’s annual review of booking sites, Booking.com also scores big points when it comes to price transparency. 

“We also like to note that [Booking.com] includes taxes on the first rates you see, whereas the others bury fees in the fine print, behind hidden filter buttons, or on later screens,” Frommer’s Reid Bramblett said.

Reservation site affiliations can be misleading

Getting back into the wide open spaces has become a popular goal for travelers trying to find a break from being holed up for the last year and a half. One thing I uncovered when plotting out a trip to Yosemite National Park was considerable consumer flak over non-refundable reservation fees. For example, the Better Business Bureau received complaints about a company named National Park Reservations that also runs a site called U.S. Park Lodging.

One would think that the company, given its name, is associated with the National Park Service. Guess what? It’s not -- despite the fact that it says it “provides lodging and activity reservations both inside as well as in the gateway communities of the United States national parks.” 

To the company’s credit, it does disclose that it is not an “authorized concessionaire of any National Park nor ... affiliated with the National Park Service of the Federal Government,” but it’s in small print that a typical website visitor might gloss over. 

The lesson here is that if something appears to be “related” to something else, take the time to investigate the relationship further, especially when it sounds like the deal of a lifetime. Although the company mentioned above may not be a scam, fraudsters are increasingly trying to trick consumers who are seeking to travel.

Search smarter

The AHLA hears lots of nightmares about booking sites, but it says paying attention to the details can save consumers money and trouble. 

In an effort to help, the organization launched SearchSmarter.org so that consumers can prep smarter, search smarter, and travel smarter. While searching the site, ConsumerAffairs found some helpful suggestions for online accommodation shoppers that are worth sharing: 

Look before you book. Some bogus booking sites are so unscrupulous that they’ll even use the hotel’s brand name in the URL. The AHLA suggests double-checking the web address of the site. For example, Hilton uses Hilton.com, whereas a bogus site might use HiltonRoomDeals.com. 

Be aware of false advertising. Some online travel agencies employ false advertising tactics like “discount rates” and “Only 1 room left!” to pressure you into purchasing a room. The AHLA says if there’s a “best price guarantee,” most hotels will honor that if you call them directly. ​​

​​Ask the right questions. Before providing your credit card information, check the following:

• What is the cancellation/trip change policy?

• Is it a secure payment site? The URL should have a small lock and should start with "https://" as opposed to just "http://".

• Is the site, in any way, affiliated with the hotel? Call and ask if you’re not sure. Legitimate sites will have “About Us” and “Site Map” sections, as well as a phone number.

Book directly with the hotel or a trusted travel agent. In some cases, avoiding booking sites altogether may be the smartest move. It can help ensure you get what you want and need from your reservation and often provides better value. 

Why not call the hotel directly and ask if they’ll give you a discount for booking directly with them. It might only save you $10-$20, but it may also give you a direct connection with a hotelier who can verify prices, fees, amenities, etc.

Try a travel agent and check reviews

If you don’t want to do all that work, consider using a travel agent -- and, yes, they still exist. In addition to time-saving, stress-relieving, and problem-solving skills, NomadicMatt says travel agents come in handy, especially if you’re doing a very costly or complex trip, planning a honeymoon, or traveling with a large group. 

“They have access to a number of deals and bulk buying options we DIY solo consumers don’t, especially when it comes to tours, high-end flights, and cruises,” he said.

Secondly, look for reviews outside of the booking site or hotel site. Some accommodation website owners will go out of their way to only show flattering reviews. Take the added step of going to other travel websites like TripAdvisor -- who Marion of Warwick, Rhode Island, told ConsumerAffairs her family finds to be a valuable asset in planning a trip.

Travelers should also consider scouring reviews on ConsumerAffairs for fee issues that others have had. Click here for car rentals; here for timeshares (that include services like Vrbo and Airbnb); and here for hotel brands.

President Biden is urging states to give newly vaccinated people $100 as “an extra incentive” to boost vaccination rates.

In an announcement on Thursday afternoon, the Treasury Department said the action would help curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. The funds would be pulled from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan.

“Treasury stands ready to give technical assistance to state and local governments so that they may use the funds effectively to support increased vaccination in their communities, and Treasury will partner with the Department of Health and Human Services throughout this effort,” the agency stated. 

Cases of the highly contagious Delta variant are surging, mainly in parts of the country with low vaccination rates. In the nation as a whole, just under half the population is fully vaccinated. Nearly 70% of Americans have gotten at least one shot. 

‘People are dying’

The Delta variant, which spreads more aggressively than the original COVID-19 strain, has officials striking a more urgent tone regarding the importance of vaccination. Health officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, have described the current situation as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” 

"People are dying and will die who don't have to die," President Biden said at the White House on Thursday.

The president said offering a new monetary incentive may seem unfair to Americans who have already gotten inoculated, but boosting vaccination rates will ultimately be of great benefit to the public. 

“I know that paying people to get vaccinated might sound unfair to folks that have gotten vaccinated already but here’s the deal: if incentives help us beat this virus, I believe we should use them,” Biden said. “We all benefit if we can get more people vaccinated.”

Official data has shown that COVID-19 outbreaks are cropping up in areas with low vaccination rates, namely in southern and western regions. Virus-related deaths have risen to around 2,000 per week, and new cases have surged to their highest level in three months. 

Biden’s call for monetary motivation to improve vaccination rates comes the same week as the CDC’s new mask recommendations. Earlier this week, the agency said fully vaccinated Americans in certain regions should start wearing masks in indoor spaces again. 

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 34,760,860 (34,685,950)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 612,160 (611,835)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 197,847,238 (196,263,711)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,203,020 (4,192,481)‌

What the new federal mask mandate means

As expected, President Biden has announced new safety requirements for federal employees. However, it differs from the recently revised guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Biden is requiring employees and contractors to “attest” that they have been vaccinated or wear a mask and social distance at all times while at work.

The CDC this week revised its guidance, saying even vaccinated people should wear a mask while indoors if they happen to be in an area identified as having “substantial” or “high” risk of COVID-19 transmission.

For his part, Biden says he plans to wear a mask while indoors at the White House and other public buildings, even though he is fully vaccinated. “What I’m trying to do is keep people safe,” the president said.

CDC: Delta as ‘contagious as chickenpox’

One of the pieces of evidence reportedly prompting the CDC to change its guidance this week is a study that underscores just how contagious the Delta variant is. The report concludes that the virus is not only more contagious than other strains, but it’s much more likely to infect fully vaccinated people.

The New York Times, which obtained a copy of the study, reports that the Delta variant is just as contagious as chickenpox. That makes it more transmissible than the common cold, the seasonal flu, and smallpox.

“The CDC is very concerned with the data coming in that Delta is a very serious threat that requires action now,” one official told the Times.

Study finds pandemic has increased paranoia

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson was stunned recently as he held town meetings across the state. Some attendees angrily rejected his plea to get vaccinated, calling the vaccine “a bioweapon” that enabled “mind control.” 

A new Yale University study now explains why some people might succumb to that totally unsupported belief. Researchers say the emotional trauma from the pandemic has led to paranoia and widespread belief in conspiracy theories.

"Our psychology is massively impacted by the state of the world around us," said study author Phil Corlett, an associate professor of psychology at Yale.

Around the nation

• New York: New cases of the coronavirus are surging in New York City, and scientists report that an overwhelming majority -- 72% -- were caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant. The infection rate is now about three times higher than it was three weeks ago.

• Vermont: The state leads the nation in vaccination rates for adults. It now claims the title for vaccinating children. Health officials report that 70% of eligible Vermont children have now gotten the shots.

• Nevada: Hospitals are grappling with a sudden increase in new cases of the virus, many of them in the Las Vegas metro area. On Thursday, health officials reported 26 COVID-19 deaths and 1,345 new cases. In one bright spot, hospitalizations declined at midweek.

• Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an executive order threatening to fine local officials who impose mask or vaccination requirements in their jurisdictions. Abbott said he isn’t opposed to people wearing masks or getting vaccinated, but he believes the government shouldn’t mandate it.

• Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine has set a benchmark of 50 cases per 100,000 residents, but health officials report that the numbers are moving in the wrong direction because of the Delta variant. The Ohio Department of Health said the state hit a rate of 77.4 new cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.

Highway traffic deaths increased last year, despite the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fewer vehicles on the road. A report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) attributes the increase in deaths to drivers’ increasingly risky behavior, including not wearing seat belts. The data shows half the people who died in fatal crashes last year were not buckled in.

Seat belts have been standard equipment on cars and trucks for more than 50 years, and many states now have laws requiring occupants to use them. A national campaign among law enforcement agencies, known as “click it or ticket,” resulted in an increased number of citations last year.

The NHTSA estimated that 38,680 people died in automobile accidents last year, a 7% increase over 2019. At the same time, the total miles driven on U.S. roads and highways declined by 13%. Despite that, the number of fatalities among vehicle occupants not wearing seat belts rose by 15% over 2019 levels.

Seat belt use is at more than 90%

Seat belt use has been growing since the early 1990s and was estimated at more than 90% last year. But the recent decline in use has many state safety agencies worried. The NHTSA report shows that the number of traffic deaths in which an occupant was thrown from a vehicle rose by 20% over 2019.

Essie Wagner, who directs NHTSA’s Office of Behavioral Safety Research, says being thrown from a vehicle almost always means the victim was not buckled in. 

“You can’t separate out speed, alcohol, or other impairing substances and belt use. They travel together,” she told the Wall Street Journal.

Use is less in rural America

While seat belt use has become the national norm, use rates vary from region to region. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Oregon has the highest rate of self-reported seat belt use at 94%. North Dakota has the lowest at 59%.

Overall, seat belt use is lower in rural America than in suburbs and cities. Living in rural areas is associated with lower seat belt use in adults, higher crash-related death rates for drivers and passengers, and a higher percentage of deaths among those not buckled up at the time of the crash, the CDC says.

In the wake of last year’s increase in highway deaths, some states have taken stronger action this year to encourage seatbelt use. Police in Colorado issued about 2,000 tickets in a two-week period this summer for seat belt violations. Connecticut has also strengthened its seat belt laws, and the governor of Massachusetts has proposed a similar move.

Recent studies have highlighted that consumers’ alcohol and drug use increased over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the Mayo Clinic explored the risk that opioid users faced throughout the pandemic. 

According to the researchers, visits to the emergency room related to opioid overdoses increased by nearly 30% between 2018 and 2020. 

“COVID-19 and the disruptions in every part of our social and work lives, made this situation even harder by increasing the risk of opioid misuse and relapse because people were separated from their social support and normal routines,” said researcher Molly Jeffrey, Ph.D. “While institutions across the U.S. are keenly aware that opioid misuse is a major health concern, this shows that there is more work to be done, and it provides an opportunity for institutions and policymakers to expand evidence-based treatments and resources.” 

Increase in opioid use

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than two dozen emergency rooms across six states: Connecticut, Alabama, Rhode Island, North Carolina, Colorado, and Massachusetts. The team tracked the number of opioid overdose-related visits between January 2018, and December 2020, to determine how the pandemic impacted drug use and emergency medical help. 

The researchers learned that ER visits for opioid overdoses steadily increased over the course of the study. In 2018, there were 3,020 such visits. By the end of 2020, that number jumped to nearly 3,500, marking an increase of nearly 30% over those few years. 

Though these figures are a cause for concern, they only represent a fraction of the country. The researchers believe that the real numbers are much higher even in these states based on how many consumers opt against professional medical help in drug-related scenarios. 

The researchers hope these findings highlight the importance of having more widespread opioid-related education and resources for consumers. They also noted that although the pandemic may have made it difficult for consumers to have in-person support, teletherapy services can help those who struggle with opioid addiction.

“We think this may be an important way to increase the accessibility of care for many people with opioid misuse disorder or addiction,” Dr. Jeffrey said.

Pet food maker Sunshine Mills has voluntarily recalled some of its dog food products because of “potentially elevated” levels of Aflatoxin -- a byproduct of mold that could be harmful to pets if consumed in large quantities. 

In a recall alert, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the affected products were sold at stores across the U.S. under the company’s brands of Triumph, Evolve, Wild Harvest, Nurture Farms, Pure Being, and Elm. 

A list of affected products can be viewed here. All of the products have a "best if used by date" of Feb. 11, 2022. 

Discontinue use immediately

The FDA describes Aflatoxin as “a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus” that can grow on pet food ingredients such as corn, peanuts, and other grains. The agency said levels of Aflatoxin “above the acceptable limit” were detected in the products being recalled.

No illnesses linked to the products have been reported. The company said it initiated the recall as a “precautionary measure.” 

Pets who have recently consumed any of the products should be monitored for symptoms that include sluggishness or lethargy, reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, and diarrhea.

“Pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian,” Sunshine Mills said. 

Consumers who have purchased the products are advised to stop feeding them to pets and to return unused portions to the place of purchase for full refund. Sunshine Mills says customers with questions can contact their customer service center at 800-705-2111 or email questions to customer.service@sunshinemills.com.

A new Android-based malware has been found that uses screen recording features to log in and ultimately steal sensitive information from targeted devices.

The malware, dubbed “Vultur” by researchers at Amsterdam-based security firm ThreatFabric, was reportedly distributed through the Google Play Store. It was disguised as an app called “Protection Guard,” which garnered over 5,000 installations. The primary targets were banking and crypto-wallet apps from entities located in Italy, Australia, and Spain.

The researchers said they found that the remote access trojan (RAT) worked by taking advantage of accessibility permissions to capture keystrokes. It leveraged screen recording features to log all activities on the targeted device, enabling it to steal banking credentials and more.

Abuses accessibility services

When Vultur is first installed, it abuses accessibility services built into the mobile operating system in order to obtain the required permissions. It does so by borrowing an overlay from other malware families. After that, it goes to work monitoring all requests that trigger the accessibility services. 

"For the first time we are seeing an Android banking trojan that has screen recording and keylogging as the main strategy to harvest login credentials in an automated and scalable way," researchers from ThreatFabric said.

The researchers said the tactics employed by the bad actors behind Vultur are a deviation from “the common HTML overlay development we usually see in other Android banking Trojans,” which tends to be a more time consuming way to siphon information.

“Instead, they chose to simply record what is shown on the screen, effectively obtaining the same end result,” the team wrote. 

"The story of Vultur shows one more time how actors shift from using rented Trojans (MaaS) that are sold on underground markets towards proprietary/private malware tailored to the needs of this group," the researchers concluded. "These attacks are scalable and automated since the actions to perform fraud can be scripted on the malware backend and sent in the form of commands sequence, making it easy for the actor(s) to hit-and-run."

United Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to offer economy passengers the option to pre-order snacks and beverages. The move comes tailor-made for health-conscious travelers by giving them one more contactless interaction. It also adds another peg for United to build on as it focuses on transforming the customer experience.

Travelers can use United’s website or its app to pre-order their food and drink choices up to five days before departure. For now, the pre-order option is available on select flights departing from Chicago to Orange County, Calif., Sacramento, Calif., and San Diego. It will grow to cover any flight over 1,500 miles by early fall 2021. 

"Our new pre-order option reflects the customer experience transformation taking place at United – customers in our economy cabins will have an easy, convenient way to choose their snack or drink, and our flight attendants can move through the cabin faster, delivering more personalized service," said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer for United. 

"This new feature also builds on our existing contactless payment technology, which has enabled us to safely resume our inflight food and beverage program on select flights."

How it works

The process, as United explains it, is very straightforward. Five days before taking off, passengers will receive an email notifying them that they’re able to pre-order. App users will also see the option in the Reservation Details section of the United app.

United says there’s a slight difference between people flying economy and those flying at an upgraded level. Economy fliers only have access to snacks, while those in premium seats will be able to make meal choices. 

Food options are starting to return

As airlines returned to full loads, drink and food options were somewhat limited. United evidently feels that it has a good plan and is moving forward with a list of expanded options.

The airline has added several wine and beer options to its lineup for economy fliers, including White Claw seltzers and Breckenridge Brewery IPAs. On the food side of the menu, there’s now a new tapas snack box with high-protein options and a “Recline” snack box that has movie theater-themed treats.

For those in the premium section, the enhanced meal service now includes a choice of entrees like an egg scramble with plant-based chorizo and a grilled chicken breast with orzo and lemon basil pesto.

The food and experience on United flights have earned the company some positive reviews from ConsumerAffairs users. Joel from Manassas gave the carrier five stars in his recent review.

"It has been a while since I have flown, but then to the best of my memory the seats were adequately comfortable and the meals were good. Also the landing and takeoff was smooth," he said.

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Association for Cancer Research explored how consumers’ lifestyles can impact their risk of developing cancer. According to their findings, adopting healthy habits may reduce the risk of developing cancer -- even when a genetic risk is present. 

For the study, the researchers were interested in determining participants’ risk of developing cancer based on their individual lifestyles and genetics. While a polygenic risk score (PRS) is typically used to gauge consumers’ risk of developing specific types of cancers, the team was more interested in figuring out the likelihood that participants would develop any type of cancer.

“A PRS indicating risk of a certain cancer is important but not enough,” said researcher Guangfu Jin. “We tried to create an indicator -- the cancer polygenic risk score (CPRS) -- to measure the genetic risk of cancer as a whole.” 

The team calculated CPRS for men and women separately and then utilized data from the U.K. Biobank to put their findings to the test. More than 200,000 men and 230,000 women answered questions about their lifestyles, including diet, physical activity, and drinking and smoking habits. The researchers also assessed the participants’ family backgrounds to determine the genetic component of their cancer risk. 

Healthy lifestyles lower cancer risk

The study showed that those with the most unhealthy lifestyles and the highest genetic risk of cancer were the most likely to develop the disease; women were nearly 2.4 times as likely to be diagnosed with cancer, while men were nearly three times as likely to receive a cancer diagnosis. However, having a higher genetic risk didn’t mean participants were guaranteed to develop cancer; the researchers found that healthy habits helped protect consumers. 

Women with healthy lifestyles and high genetic risks were 3.69 times as likely to develop cancer within five years, compared to women with unhealthy lifestyles who were more than 5.7 times as likely to get a cancer diagnosis in that time frame. Men with unhealthy lifestyles were the most susceptible to cancer, as poor health and a genetic predisposition made men more than seven times more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within five years. 

The findings highlight the importance of sticking to healthy habits, including regular physical activity, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy diet. 

“This suggests that almost everyone is susceptible to at least one type of cancer,” Jin said. “It further indicates the importance of adherence to a healthy lifestyle for everyone.” 

Gasoline prices were relatively stable this week but a sharp uptick in demand could send prices higher again.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.16 a gallon, about the same as last Friday. It’s only six cents higher than a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is $3.78, about a penny more than last week’s price. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.27 a gallon, the same as a week ago.

Despite the steady national averages, some individual states saw prices move higher. The statewide average is up seven cents a gallon in Nevada and Idaho and is six cents higher in Wyoming. In Nevada, the average gas price has increased by 25 cents a gallon over the last four weeks.

A number of factors, including oil prices and consumer demand make it hard to predict where prices go from here.

“For pump prices to push less expensive, OPEC will need to follow through with their production increases, crude will need to sell consistently at lower prices and the market will need to adjust to the potential resurgence of COVID-19 cases,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA’s spokesperson. “If these factors prove true consistently, pump prices could be less expensive in August, though the national average could still be at or above the $3 per gallon mark.”

Demand for gasoline, which is a major effect on supplies, has fluctuated in recent weeks. GasBuddy reports demand is down over the last few days but remains high.

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 ($4.34)

• Hawaii ($4.08)

• Nevada ($3.98)     

• Utah ($3.88)

• Washington ($3.84) 

• Idaho ($3.77)       

• Oregon ($3.71) 

• Alaska ($3.64) 

• Colorado ($3.55) 

• Wyoming ($3.52)   

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Mississippi ($2.78)

• Louisiana ($2.81)

• Texas ($2.83) 

• Alabama ($2.83)

• Missouri ($2.85)

• Arkansas ($2.86)

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 

• South Carolina ($2.89)

• Tennessee ($2.89)

• North Carolina ($2.91)

Volkswagen Group of America is recalling 379 model year 2020-2021 Jettas and Jetta GLIs vehicles.

The airbag control module was welded in the incorrect position.

Incorrect positioning of the airbag control module can cause the airbags to deploy improperly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, the vehicle's airbags can deploy unintentionally, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the airbag control module, free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 27, 2021.

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

President Biden is calling on Congress to extend the federal halt on evictions due to the threat of the COVID-19 Delta variant. The eviction moratorium is set to expire Saturday, but White House officials say Biden has asked Congress to extend the order “without delay.” 

"Given the recent spread of the Delta variant, including among those Americans both most likely to face evictions and lacking vaccinations, President Biden would have strongly supported a decision by the CDC to further extend this eviction moratorium to protect renters at this moment of heightened vulnerability. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has made clear that this option is no longer available," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement on Thursday.

"In light of the Supreme Court's ruling, the President calls on Congress to extend the eviction moratorium to protect such vulnerable renters and their families without delay.”. 

Congressional action needed

The federal eviction ban was put in place last September by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a way to help Americans who had fallen behind on their rent during the pandemic. The eviction freeze has been extended several times since then. 

Last month, the Supreme Court allowed the eviction moratorium to remain in place until July 31. Lawmakers said no further extensions would be approved without congressional action. Since then, however, concern about the highly contagious Delta variant has risen. Housing advocates have said that ending the eviction ban is likely to lead to a huge spike in homelessness, which would only worsen the spread of the virus. 

“The confluence of the surging delta variant with 6.5 million families behind on rent and at risk of eviction when the moratorium expires demands immediate action,” said Diane Yentel, executive director of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “The public health necessity of extended protections for renters is obvious. If federal court cases made a broad extension impossible, the Biden administration should implement all possible alternatives, including a more limited moratorium on federally backed properties.”

Psaki said Biden has asked the departments of Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture, and Veterans Affairs to extend their respective eviction bans through the end of September. As Saturday approaches, states and localities are being urged to "urgently accelerate" their efforts to get emergency rental assistance funds to those in need.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 34,685,950 (34,614,729)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 611,835 (611,351)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 196,263,711 (195,566,317)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,192,481 (4,181,767)‌

Health expert predicts decline in Delta cases

The increasing number of COVID-19 cases linked to the Delta variant has raised alarm among political and health officials, but Dr. Scott Gottlieb, former head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sees light at the end of the tunnel.

He’s been watching cases in the U.K., which surged and now have started to dissipate. He says he believes the U.S. is following the same track but on a delayed basis.

The U.K. clearly is on a downslope,” Gottlieb told CNBC. “I would expect some of the southern states that really were the epicenter of this epidemic to start rolling over in the next two or three weeks.”

Virus halts Hollywood production again

The director may shout “action,” but COVID-19 says “cut.” Production of movies and TV shows on Hollywood sets has been disrupted again as cases of the virus have increased in Los Angeles and most of California.

For a time, production was halted on “House of the Dragon” after some members of the production teams tested positive for COVID-19. Production has since resumed. The Hulu comedy “Woke” was also suspended.

Some movie production has also been affected, though disruptions have been temporary. Still, it’s a setback for an entertainment industry that is trying to replenish streaming content that was in high demand during the pandemic.

Anti-vaxxer changed his tune when he got COVID-19

Philly Baird of Ripon, Calif., adamantly refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, proudly proclaiming himself an anti-vaxxer. Then, a month ago, he got the virus and ended up in the ICU fighting for his life.

As he recovered, Baird took to social media to tell others they should get vaccinated. He says he’s gone from being an anti-vaxxer to a vaccination advocate.

"I was an idiot. I didn't get the shot, I believed in all the hoopla," he told KCRA-TV.

Around the nation

• California: Cases and hospitalizations are rising but are well below levels seen earlier in the pandemic. But it’s enough to alarm state officials. “Our projections are sobering,” Gov. Gavin Newsom told reporters.

• Missouri: CNN reports that some people in Missouri are getting vaccinated secretly because they don’t want their family and friends, who are staunchly anti-vax, to know. Missouri is one of the leading states for new cases of the virus while having among the lowest vaccination rates.

• Arkansas: The state’s children's hospitals have reported that a record number of young people have been hospitalized with the coronavirus, but children under age 12 are not cleared to receive a vaccine. Doctors say they are being infected by unvaccinated adults.

• Indiana: Some school districts around the state are considering changes to their mask policy for the fall after the CDC issued new guidance this week. State officials, meanwhile, said they don’t plan to issue any statewide mandates and will leave the decision up to individual districts.

• Washington, DC: The Washington Nationals were forced to postpone Wednesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies after four players and eight staff members tested positive for the virus. Three of the four players had been vaccinated, and all of them only have minor symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairwoman Lina Khan has accused “Big Tech” of monopolistic behavior. Now she says these companies are also responsible for a surge in consumer fraud during the pandemic.

In an appearance before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Khan said fraudsters are using social media platforms to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers.

“Fraud has continued to surge,” Khan said. “One reason is that fraud today is supercharged by digital platforms where this conduct is tolerated and even promoted.”

Fellow FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra elaborated on the problem facing regulators, telling lawmakers that the commission needs to understand the platforms’ algorithms so it can understand how scammers use them to target their victims.

“We can’t just go after fraudsters one by one, we need to look at the gatekeepers and those who profit from amplifying them as well,” Chopra said.

FTC faces challenges to cracking down on fraud

But on social media platforms, there are few if any actual “gatekeepers,” the result of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA). That provision states that internet platforms cannot be held legally responsible for content on their sites posted by a third party.

That issue is currently a point of contention in the ongoing debate about COVID-19 misinformation that’s being posted on social media sites. Where traditional media outlets like newspapers and TV stations are accountable for the content they provide, the law says internet companies are not.

Khan also told lawmakers that the FTC faces other challenges, from staffing and budget to legal restrictions placed upon it by the U.S. Supreme Court.

“The Commission’s ability to tackle key challenges – from COVID fraud to anticompetitive conduct – has been substantially diminished after the Supreme Court’s recent decision in AMG, which barred the Commission from seeking monetary relief under Section 13(b) of the FTC Act,” Khan said.

Khan testified that the FTC is facing “severe resource constraints” as it works to address the soaring number of global mergers and acquisitions and an increasing number of consumer complaints to the agency. She asked the committee to consider additional resources to help it effectively achieve its mission.

As part of an update to its Play Store policies, Google will be banning so-called “sugar dating” apps. Beginning September 1, the company will no longer allow apps that focus on "compensated sexual relationships (i.e., sugar dating)” to exist on its Android app marketplace. 

“Sugar dating” is typically when a wealthy older individual agrees to provide financial assistance to someone -- usually a young female -- in exchange for a sexual relationship. 

Apps focused on facilitating these connections are popular, with many of them garnering over a million installations. Some have names that strongly suggest their intent, like “Sugar Daddy,” while others have more vague names like Elite Millionaire Singles, SeekingArrangement, and Spoil.

Google is cracking down on these types of apps under an update to its sexual content policy. Starting in September, Android users will no longer be able to download sugar dating apps from the Google Play store. 

Google’s updated policy, as reported by Android Police, states that it’s “updating the Inappropriate Content policy to institute new restrictions on sexual content, specifically prohibiting compensated sexual relationships (i.e. sugar dating).” 

The tech giant’s Play Store policies already prohibit apps that promote “services that may be interpreted as providing sexual acts in exchange for compensation.” The policy change announced Wednesday expands the definition to clearly state that it will not allow apps that center on the concept of a compensated sexual relationship “where one participant is expected or implied to provide money, gifts or financial support to another participant (‘sugar dating’).”

That old Kindle of yours might soon become obsolete if you use it to access the web. With 2G and 3G networks going the way of the digital dinosaur, so will a number of Amazon Kindles when it comes to accessing the internet.

Amazon is being upfront about the situation. In a post, it said the following devices will no longer be able to connect to the internet in the U.S. by December:

• Kindle (1st and 2nd Generation)

• Kindle DX (2nd Generation)

If you own one of the following devices, you should still be able to access the web with no problems: 

• Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation)

• Kindle Touch (4th Generation)

• Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation)/(6th Generation)/(7th Generation)

• Kindle Voyage (7th Generation)

• Kindle Oasis (8th Generation)

If you are unsure what device you have, visit Identify Your Kindle E-Reader for more information.

This is not Amazon’s fault

Before throwing Amazon under the bus for selling something that eventually becomes obsolete, it’s important to know that the company really had no hand in this and that the issue is completely out of its control.

However, if you do have one of the affected models, Amazon is offering to help ease the sting a bit by offering registered users a couple of options: 

1.  $15 in credit for ebooks and $50 off a new Kindle Paperwhite ($129.99) or Kindle Oasis ($249.99) using the code NEWKINDLE50. 

2. Trade in the old model for a new one. 

3. Recycle the old device.

Twitter has launched a new pilot project in the U.S. with the aim of testing its ability to support  e-commerce on its platform. 

A new “Shop Module” will be found at the top of participating brand and business pages. Users will be able to scroll through the products and purchase items without leaving the platform. Initially, these product carousels will only be available to those using English-language Twitter on iOS devices. 

Twitter said the pilot will help it glean some insights into what types of products drive traffic to online retailers. Specifically, the company is hoping to determine whether trend-driven online conversations inspire users to purchase certain products. 

In an announcement, Twitter said the feature will allow it to “explore how shoppable profiles can create a pathway from talking about and discovering products on Twitter to actually purchasing them.” 

Small group of testers

The feature is being tested by a small group of companies, including GameStop, travel brand Arden Cove, and ten other brands across a variety of industries. At this time, businesses aren’t able to request to be part of the pilot.

“We believe in the power of the conversations that Twitter facilitates around products … we are starting small with a handful of brands in the US,” said Bruce Falck, revenue product lead at Twitter.

Twitter said its Shop Module is a step towards better supporting e-commerce on the platform. It builds on the Professional Profiles feature it introduced in April, which allows businesses, nonprofits, and creators to show work-related information on their profile. 

The company said it is also establishing a Merchant Advisory Board that’s comprised of brands that have a history of being “best-in-class” examples of merchants on Twitter. 

“With their partnership, we hope to more easily address the needs of businesses of any size or vertical in our product innovation,” Twitter said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Diego explored one important factor that can come between married couples. According to their findings, couples who don’t agree on financial risks may be more likely to get separated or divorced than those who are on the same page about those decisions. 

“Arguing about money is typically cited as a reason for divorce, but a main potential driver of these fights is differences in risk attitudes,” said researcher Marta Serra-Garcia. “Risk attitudes determine investment decisions, such as housing for the family. If spouses have different risk preferences, they will often disagree on common and very important investments in the marriage.” 

Putting a burden on relationships

For the study, the researchers analyzed responses from 5,300 couples in Germany who were surveyed by the German Socio-Economic Panel from 2014 through 2017. The survey questions focused on the participants’ risk-taking behaviors in several areas of life, including their finances. 

Ultimately, it was clear that couples were more likely to separate when they felt differently about taking finance-based risks. Couples who disagreed the most on finances were twice as likely to get divorced compared to those who had the most in common in this area. Disagreeing on other risk-taking behaviors, including career decisions and driving habits, didn’t impact the participants’ relationships long term. 

“On one hand, households share common goods, such as housing, and for that similarity in risk attitudes is optimal,” said Serra-Garcia. “On the other hand, households share two sources of income and income is typically risky. Since spouses pool their incomes, if one has a less reliable stream than the other, differences in risk attitudes can be optimal because they can ‘insure’ each other, but this can also be a source of tension for marriages.” 

Benefits of being together longer

The researchers note that consumers’ attitudes are capable of changing over time -- especially for newer couples. There is a strong possibility that couples’ beliefs about financial risks start to become more similar the longer they’re together, which the researchers explained can bode well for relationships. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings can benefit consumers who are still looking to be coupled up. 

“Online dating websites often design algorithms that attempt to find the optimal match,” Serra-Garcia said. “If such websites suggested matches between individuals who are similar in their risk attitudes, that could decrease the likelihood that if a couple forms, it will dissolve in the future.”