Current Events in July 2021

General Motors has announced that it will halt production of most large pickup trucks due to the global chip shortage. The automaker said Wednesday that its plants in Michigan, Indiana, and Mexico will stop producing Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups next week. 

“The global semiconductor shortage remains complex and very fluid, but GM’s global purchasing and supply chain, engineering and manufacturing teams continue to find creative solutions and make strides working with the supply base to minimize the impact to our highest-demand and capacity-constrained vehicles, including full-size trucks and SUVs for our customers,” GM spokesman David Barnas said in a statement. 

These “scheduling adjustments” will also give it time to “complete unfinished vehicles at the impacted assembly plants and ship those units to dealers to help meet the strong customer demand for our products,” the automaker said. 

GM said the affected facilities will resume normal operations the week of August 2.

Auto industry struggling

While the chip shortage has forced other automakers to halt production this year, GM has been able to keep producing large pickups by relying on different supply chain tactics and building some vehicles without all the needed parts. The company has also excluded some features that require chips. 

Earlier this month, the automaker announced that wireless charging pads would be cut from the 2021 Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, as well as the 2021 GMC Yukon (made after July 12). 

The auto industry as a whole has suffered greatly as a result of the global chip shortage. Some companies have adapted by temporarily shutting down assembly lines or waiting to fully assemble vehicles until chips arrive. As a result, overall production has decreased and prices have increased.

The global shortage of semiconductor chips is expected to cost automakers $110 billion in revenue in 2021, according to consulting firm AlixPartners.

A new study conducted by researchers from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research explored how cognitive decline may impact consumers’ bone health as they enter into older age. 

According to the researchers, the link between cognitive decline and poorer bone health is stronger in women than in men. They explained that older women who have cognitive issues are more likely to experience bone fractures over time. 

“Bone loss and cognitive decline are major public health issues, but both are ‘silent diseases’ that can go undetected and untreated for long periods, often until the conditions are severely progressed,” said researcher Jacqueline Center. “Our study has revealed a link between the two in women, which suggests that cognition should be monitored together with bone health, as a decline in one could mean a decline in the other.” 

Identifying women at risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 2,000 men and women enrolled in the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos). All of the participants were aged 65 or older, and the researchers tracked their health records from 1997 through 2013. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a clear link between cognitive decline in women and subsequent bone fractures; this association was not as strong for the men involved in the study. They explained that regardless of bone health, cognitive decline over the course of five years nearly doubled the risk of bone fractures over the next decade. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings highlight the need for older women to consistently be monitored for both cognitive decline and bone health so they can enjoy the highest quality of life. 

“What our study highlights is that cognitive health is potentially an important factor for providing more information to individuals and their health professionals on fracture risk, and ultimately improve health outcomes for our older population,” Center said. 

While playing games online or on a smartphone has been linked with improved cognition for older consumers, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Waterloo is exploring the risks associated with frequent gaming to relieve boredom. 

According to their findings, consumers that seek out smartphone games as a means of blocking out negative emotions or simply to bypass feeling bored may be doing themselves more harm than good. The researchers explained that this cycle can set consumers up for addictive behaviors, which can ultimately impact their ability to engage in other activities. 

“We found that people who experience intense boredom frequently in everyday life reported playing smartphone games to escape or alleviate these feelings of boredom,” said researcher Chanel Larche. “The problem with this boredom ‘fix’ is that they end up playing whenever they are bored, and end up experiencing problems tied to excessive game play."

Risks of excessive gaming

For the study, the researchers worked with 60 participants who played the popular smartphone game Candy Crush. The group was instructed to play the game as often as they liked, and they rotated through levels of various difficulty so the researchers could get a better understanding of their motivation behind playing. 

The researchers found that when players picked up the game to escape boredom or other negative feelings, they were more likely to play for longer periods of time. They also tended to play more frequently and often got lost in a flow state. When in a flow state, consumers are so focused on a specific activity that they lose awareness of what’s going on around them. 

“During gameplay, players may achieve optimal arousal, engaged focus and attention, and a reduction in feelings of monotony, but this heightened urge-to-play among escape players can have negative consequences and lead to excessive time gaming,” said Larche. 

Impacting everyday life

The researchers are worried about how excessive gameplay could impact consumers’ day-to-day lives. They say focusing too much on a game can leave little room for other activities or responsibilities. 

The team hopes these findings highlight the potential risks that may arise from too much gaming. Though smartphone games can be a fun diversion, it’s important for consumers to put their phones down and take breaks. 

“Those who play to escape experience greater flow and positive affect than other players, which sets up a cycle of playing video games to elevate a depressed mood,” said researcher Michael Dixon. “This is maladaptive because, although it elevates your mood, it also increases your urge to keep playing. Playing too long may lead to addiction and means less time is available for other healthier pursuits. This can actually increase your depression.” 

Manna Pro Products of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling a single lot of Flock Party Quack Snacks (poultry treat).

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella

The recalled product, which comes in a 1.68 lb magenta and light blue plastic bag with a Best By date of 12/2023 on the bottom of the bag, was sold at retail stores throughout the U.S., beginning February 2, 2021.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled product should stop feeding it immediately, discard it, and contact Manna Pro for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Manna Pro at (800) 690-9908 ext. 2, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (CT).

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 34,183,702 (34,137,733)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 609,585 (609,316)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 191,687,762 (191,099,159)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,122,219 (4,099,677)‌

Experts say Delta variant may bring back mask mandates

We’re starting to see it all across the country. Los Angeles County is requiring everyone to mask up indoors whether they’re vaccinated or not. Dozens of other jurisdictions are considering similar action as the Delta variant spreads across the U.S.

Even some vaccinated people are testing positive for the virus, although their cases are rarely serious. Dr. Gregory Poland of the Mayo Clinic, one of the nation’s leading experts on vaccines, says he hasn’t stopped wearing a mask. As for unvaccinated people, Poland says the Delta variant will find them sooner or later.

“I think there is no question we are going to see a surge,” he said. “In a crowded scenario, I am in a mask, indoors or outdoors.”

Johnson & Johnson vaccine’s Delta effectiveness questioned

At a time when cases of COVID-19 are increasing around the country, a new study questions one vaccine’s effectiveness against the spreading Delta variant.

Researchers at New York University (NYU) have completed a study that found Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine is much less effective against the Delta variant than the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

The researchers say the 13 million people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine may need a booster shot to increase protection. Johnson & Johnson, meanwhile, said it stands behind its previous research showing that its vaccine does protect against the Delta variant.

Homebuyers moving farther from the office

Millions of people have been working from home since March 2020, and that’s had an impact on the housing market. Not only have home buyers sought more space, but Zillow reports that they are choosing homes that are farther away from the office, adding to commuting time.

The Zillow analysis shows that in the Boston metro, May sales of homes at least 70 minutes away from the office grew by more than 30%. Nicole Bachaud, an economic data analyst at Zillow, told the Wall Street Journal that remote work during the pandemic has been the game-changer.

The open question among real estate executives is whether this trend will last beyond the pandemic or will result in a significant turnover in the job market as people seek jobs closer to their new homes.

Around the nation

• New Hampshire: State health officials are voicing concerns about the number of people hospitalized with the virus. In the last week, the state’s hospitals reported 10 patients. Those numbers are low, but officials note that the hospitals went months without seeing any COVID-19 patients.

• New Jersey: Gov. Phil Murphy is pleading with state residents to get vaccinated, pointing to a sudden rise in cases among the unvaccinated. In an interview with CNBC, Murphy threatened to impose mask restrictions again if cases keep rising.

• California: Six more counties have urged all citizens, whether vaccinated or not, to wear masks while indoors in public spaces. Santa Barbara, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Ventura are now among the 17 counties that have recommended masks. Statewide, coronavirus hospitalizations more than doubled in the last month.

• Florida: Part of the reason behind the rise in COVID-19 cases is due to infections in children, who have not yet been eligible to receive the vaccine. "In children, less than 12 years of age, it was an 87% increase, and in those children who are 12 to 19 years of age, it was an 84% increase," said Dr. Jason Salemi, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida College of Public Health.

• Missouri: Missouri continues to wrestle with a spike in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated residents. Laclede, Phelps, and Pulaski counties have been added to the state’s hotspot list as a result of an outbreak along the I-44 corridor.

Researchers and scientists have reintroduced technology that could possibly reduce the transmission of COVID-19. A report from Nature Biotechnology says scientists at Harvard and MIT have invented a mask that detects the coronavirus. 

Woven into the mask is a literal network of sensors and synthetic circuits that, within 90 minutes, can detect when the virus accumulates on the inside of the mask as a result of coughing, talking, or normal respiration. 

The technology has actually been around for a while and was previously used to create experimental diagnostic tools for the Ebola and Zika viruses. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the researchers regrouped and worked for more than a year to turn the experimental technology into a product that could help prevent its spread.

Improvements cover all bases

According to a report in New Atlas, the game-changing technology goes a few steps further than it did in its Ebola and Zika incarnation. 

For one thing, ease-of-use has been made a focal point, leading the scientists to develop a one-button click to activate the device’s circuitry. When the button is pressed, a small amount of water is released that hydrates freeze-dried molecules in the sensor. Those molecules then analyze the wearer’s breath and produce a readout that’s similar to a pregnancy test.

Fearing that the mask could potentially malfunction for some reason and cause the virus organisms to migrate to the human body, researchers also programmed the sensors to use a system that “extracts and freeze dries the cellular machinery needed to detect organic molecules.”

The researchers say the sensor technology goes beyond the mask level and is tiny enough to be integrated into clothing fabrics.

“We have essentially shrunk an entire diagnostic laboratory down into a small, synthetic biology-based sensor that works with any face mask, and combines the high accuracy of PCR [polymerase chain reaction] tests with the speed and low cost of antigen tests,” said study co-author Peter Nguyen.

People who got the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccination against COVID-19 may need to get a booster shot to be protected from the Delta variant, according to a new study.

Researchers at New York University have completed a study that found the antibody response produced by one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be significantly less than the protection provided by the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which use mRNA technology.

An overwhelming number of Americans have been inoculated with those mRNA vaccines. Only 13 million people in the U.S. have taken the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“The message that we wanted to give was not that people shouldn’t get the J.&J. vaccine, but we hope that in the future, it will be boosted with either another dose of J.&J. or a boost with Pfizer or Moderna,” Nathaniel Landau, a virologist at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine who led the study, told New York Times.

Protecting people from the Delta variant is a top concern for U.S. health officials. The mutated form of the virus is spreading quickly in the U.S., and it’s believed to be responsible for 83% of new cases.

While all the approved vaccines reportedly provide some level of protection against the Delta variant, all have been shown to limit the severity of symptoms of those vaccinated individuals who become infected in so-called “breakthrough” cases.

“The data underscore the importance of surveillance for breakthrough infections that result in severe COVID-19 and suggest the benefit of a second immunization following Ad26.COV2.S to increase protection against the variants,” the authors wrote.

Stands by previous research

In a statement to the media, Johnson & Johnson said it stands by its own previous study that showed its vaccine was 85% effective "at protecting against severe disease and provided complete protection against hospitalization and death." 

The company also said the NYU study, which has not been peer-reviewed, did not go deeply into the full nature of the immune protection that vaccines provide. 

With the pace of vaccinations steadily falling in the U.S., people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine should have no trouble finding available vaccine doses for a booster shot. However, that may be premature.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would have to give the green light for booster shots, and it’s unlikely to do so before the NYU study is published and peer-reviewed.

Cybersecurity firm Bitdefender has discovered a new form of malware that gets installed through advertisements in search results. The company says the malware specifically targets Windows devices and is being used to steal passwords, install cryptocurrency miners, and deliver additional trojan malware. 

The researchers dubbed the new form of malware MosaicLoader because of “the intricate internal structure that aims to confuse malware analysts and prevent reverse-engineering.” 

Defending yourself

Once delivered into a system via ads, the malware goes to work by downloading a variety of threats. Those threats include the malware Glupteba, which creates a backdoor onto infected systems and could allow bad actors to steal sensitive information. Links to the malware show up at the top of search results posing as cracked installers.

"The best way to defend against MosaicLoader is to avoid downloading cracked software from any source," the researchers said in a whitepaper accompanying the report. "Besides being against the law, cybercriminals look to target and exploit users searching for illegal software.” 

“We recommend always checking the source domain of every download to make sure that the files are legitimate and to keep your antimalware and other security solutions up to date,” the researchers added. 

The team noted that people working from home are more likely to be victims of the scheme because they are more likely to download cracked software. It’s believed that those behind the MosaicLoader operation are aiming to compromise as many Windows machines as possible, so it’s very important for consumers and businesses to take this threat seriously.

"From what we can tell, this new MosaicLoader attempts to infect as many devices as possible, likely to build up market share and then sell access to infected computers to other threat actors," Bogdan Botezatu, director of threat research and reporting at Bitdefender, told ZDNet. 

A new study suggests that internet users aren’t getting what they want. The team at HighSpeedInternet.com asked around 2,000 Americans just how happy they are with the speed, price, and reliability of their internet connections this year. 

The study concluded that consumers are less satisfied with their internet connections this year, stemming mostly from experiencing frustrations related to the pandemic. For more than a year, COVID-19 forced many people to count on internet service more than ever -- to work remotely and for families with school-aged children to do their classwork virtually. 

The winners

On the positive side, EarthLink, AT&T, and Verizon came in as the top 3 providers for customer satisfaction this year. The researchers said all three of these providers offer fiber internet connections, which ranked higher in every category compared to other connection types. 

Each of those internet providers is also neck and neck in the good score department with ConsumerAffairs reviewers. Earthlink earns 3.8/5 stars, AT&T earns 3.8/5 stars, Verizon earns 3.9/5 stars.

One of the reasons Daniel from Cleveland, Ohio, gave Earthlink 5 stars was because, rather than own and operate its own infrastructure, the company has partnership agreements in place with local ISPs like Spectrum and AT&T to install internet service on the ISP's network. 

“That's not a problem because for some reason the Internet service costs less when you go through Earthlink to get it,” Daniel wrote in his review. “Any installation problems that you have are therefore caused by the ISP (Spectrum or AT&T) technician, not Earthlink,” he said.

Good but not great

The researchers say it’s important to note that customer satisfaction ratings reflect customer sentiment but are not an exact representation of actual quantitative internet performance. That proved to be the case for Xfinity and Spectrum.

The study’s researchers said those two cable providers dropped “significantly” in this year’s ratings compared to 2020. However, while “significantly” sounds like the bottom completely fell out for those companies, it’s not that bad. In all actuality, 87% of Xfinity and Spectrum customers in the study -- as well as Xfinity and Spectrum reviewers on ConsumerAffairs -- said their speeds meet the needs of their household.

If there's any particular knock on Xfinity and Spectrum, it’s price. As an example, Helix of Farmington, N.Y., said Spectrum is generally “very good, however they raised the rates significantly in the past 2 years. $80 a month for internet service is too high.” 

Cedrick of Lilburn, Ga., feels the same about Xfinity. “I have been with [the service] for now for four years. I have enjoyed the speed, the price is a little on the high side but we don’t have too many choices,” he wrote in his review.

Fiber lovers and bundlers love their services

When it comes to DSL, cable, or fiber internet, the fiber customers are the happiest internet users. They feel they get a better bang for their buck on speed, price, reliability, and customer service than those who use DSL or Cable internet connections. 

The researchers also found that internet customers are prone to bundling services when they can. The team found that customers who bundle have a significantly higher satisfaction rating compared to those who don’t. The majority of those surveyed (58%) say they bundle their internet with TV service from the same provider. 

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored how green spaces can benefit kids’ mental health outcomes. According to the findings, living in close proximity to woodlands can lead to better behavior, stronger cognitive development, and overall better mental health for children. 

“Previous studies have revealed positive associations between exposure to nature in urban environments, cognitive development, and mental health,” said researcher Mikaël Maes. “These findings contribute to our understanding of our natural environment types as an important protective factor for an adolescent’s cognitive development and mental health and suggest that not every environment type may contribute equally to those health benefits.” 

Fostering positive mental health outcomes

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 3,500 kids enrolled in the Study of Cognition, Adolescents, and Mobile Phones (SCAMP) in London. Participants answered questions about their interactions with peers at school, general behavior, and overall well-being. The team then compared their answers to the geographic surroundings around their homes; they assessed how close the kids were to different kinds of outdoor spaces and how much time they spent in these areas. 

The study showed that kids had the strongest mental health, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes when they lived closer to woodlands. The results were even better than close proximity to other green and blue spaces, such as parks or lakes. The benefits associated with being so close to woodlands were long-lasting, as the team learned that these spaces positively impacted mental health outcomes for two years. 

Though the team plans to do more work in this area to better understand why these areas are so beneficial to kids’ development and mental health, they hope their findings shed some light on the overall importance of natural spaces.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Buffalo explored how childrens’ education status may influence their parents’ physical and mental health outcomes over time. 

According to their findings, parents are likely to experience more struggles with physical and mental health when their children don’t graduate college; however, the opposite was also true -- college graduates were more likely to have parents who had better health outcomes. 

“These results are particularly important in light of growing educational inequalities in the U.S. in the last several decades,” said researcher Kristen Schultz Lee, Ph.D. “We know how our own education impacts our own health; we know how parents’ education impacts their children in many different ways; now we’re trying to add to that understanding by explaining how children’s education can have an impact on their parents.” 

How education impacts health outcomes

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from two different waves of participants enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. The two datasets allowed the researchers to gain insight into how children’s educational outcomes impacted their parents’ health long term. 

The researchers ultimately learned that it’s likely for parents to gain physical and mental health benefits when their children graduate college. This was true based on both the participants’ medical records and their own self-reports of their health status. Conversely, parents had poorer health outcomes when their children didn’t graduate from college. The study findings showed that parent’s mental health took the biggest hit when this happened.

“Parents whose children have lower levels of education might spend more time worrying about their children,” Dr. Lee said. “That has negative implications for their mental health and their self-rated health. Kids without a degree might need more help from their parents and are also less able to provide if needed in return.” 

The researchers also learned that parents who didn’t finish college were likely to gain the most when their children graduated college. While many factors come into play, the team speculates that college graduates are likely to be stricter about having their parents adhere to healthier diets and regular exercise routines. 

Though many consumers may question if college is right for them, the researchers hope that these findings offer another perspective about pursuing higher education. 

“In this era when a college degree is of ever-growing importance, we see how the long-term investment in education is advantageous to the adult child’s health, but also has benefits down the road for parents too,” said researcher Christopher Dennison, Ph.D.

Tesla has lowered the price of a computer upgrade that is necessary to be able to sign up for a subscription to its new Full Self-Driving plan. 

Earlier this week, the automaker announced the launch of its new $199-per-month subscription plan that gives users access to features like Navigate on Autopilot, Auto Lane Change, Auto Park, Summon and Traffic Light, and Stop Sign Control. Previously, Tesla owners would have had to purchase the Full Self-Driving package for a one-time payment of $10,000.

However, the subscription plan requires version 3.0 of the FSD hardware -- a computer upgrade that has been standard in Tesla vehicles since mid-2019. Those without the hardware expressed outrage that they would have to pay $1,500 for it, despite having been previously told that “no further hardware upgrades would be required” for full self-driving capabilities. 

In response to that criticism, Tesla has reduced the price of the computer upgrade required for the FSD feature. Elektrek reported that the hardware HW 3.0 update will now cost $1,000 rather than $1,500 -- a 33% drop in price. 

Owners who want the $1,000 hardware update can take their vehicle to an authorized Tesla service center to get it. After it’s installed, users can sign up for one of two FSD monthly subscriptions: Basic Autopilot to FSD for $199 a month or Enhanced Autopilot to FSD for $99 a month. The appropriate option will depend on the vehicle’s current Autopilot capability. 

Tesla said owners can subscribe by opening the “Upgrades” menu in their Tesla app or by signing in to their Tesla Account. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time. 

Instagram announced Tuesday that it’s launching a new tool called “Sensitive Content Control.” According to Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, the new tool will let users “see more or less of some types of sensitive content” on the app’s Explore page.

The company said it’s aiming to give users the ability to filter out content that may be “upsetting or offensive.” Sensitive content could include sexually suggestive or violent posts, or posts that promote things like tobacco or pharmaceutical use. Users have three levels of sensitive content filtering to choose from: “Allow,” “Limit (Default),” and “Limit Even More.” 

"We recognize that everybody has different preferences for what they want to see in Explore, and this control will give people more choice over what they see,” Facebook said in a release.

Improving content settings

Previously, Instagram used a set of recommendation guidelines to prevent users from seeing this type of content. Now the company is giving users the ability to dial up or down the default setting. Alternatively, users over the age of 18 will be able to choose to allow any and all posts that the app classifies as “sensitive.” Instagram said it will still remove posts that violate its guidelines altogether. 

“We're constantly making improvements to ensure you have more control over the content you see on Instagram,” the platform said on its support page. “However, the Sensitive Content Control does not apply to content that violates our Community Guidelines.” 

The setting will be accessible by going to the Settings menu, selecting the “Account”option,  and then selecting “Sensitive Content Control.” 

Consumers who took some economic hard knocks during the pandemic may be trying to repair their credit. MyFICO, the originator of FICO credit scores, is offering some advice when it comes to credit cards.

Having a credit card, keeping the balance low, and paying the bill on time, will boost your credit score in most cases but consumers should understand the difference between different types of payment cards.

Prepaid credit cards, sold in the gift card rack at retail stores, may look like a credit card and you can use it like one but it doesn’t do a thing for your credit score, according to the experts at MyFICO. Because you preload it with your own money it actually has nothing to do with credit and transactions are not reported to the credit agencies.

Here are key differences between a credit card and a prepaid card:

• You do not need to fill out an application to open a prepaid credit card;

• A lender will not check your credit report or perform a credit inquiry when you open a prepaid card;

• Prepaid credit card accounts do not appear on your credit report with any of the major credit bureaus;

• Prepaid credit cards are not considered in your FICO Scores.

Secured credit card

The reason a credit card is so important to your credit score is that it is an unsecured loan. The lender is trusting the borrower to pay it back. The lender wants to make sure the borrower is creditworthy.

For that reason, opening a credit card account may be difficult if you have a low credit score or no credit history. But MyFICO says there is an alternative -- something between a credit card requiring a high credit score and a prepaid card, which at least allows you to make online purchases.

A secured credit card is similar to a prepaid card because the user is putting up their own money in advance. But there’s an important difference.

With a prepaid card, the consumer loads the card with cash and spends it until the balance is zero. With a secured credit card, the consumer deposits the cash with the lender. If the deposit is $500, then the credit limit each month is $500.

As long as the user makes the payment on time each billing cycle, they can continue using the card, keeping the balance below the amount of their deposit. If they don’t pay off the entire balance each month, the lender will charge interest -- just as it would for a regular credit card.

Stepping stone to a regular credit card

Most lenders offering secured credit cards report payments to the credit bureaus. However, not all do, so it is worth asking when considering an application.

After using a secured credit card and making on-time payments for a year, many lenders will offer customers a chance to apply for a regular credit card and the deposit will be returned. At that point, a consumer should carefully consider the pros and cons of different cards, depending on what they purchase most.

A good place to start researching cards is the ConsumerAffairs Credit Cards Buyers Guide, which has thousands of verified reviews of a wide range of credit cards.

Nissan North America is recalling 47,098 model year 2021 Rogues.

The second-row upper tether wires may have been improperly welded to the seatback frame, preventing a child seat from being securely anchored.

An insecurely anchored child seat can move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seatbacks -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 30, 2021.

Owners may contact Nissan customer service at (800) 867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC812.

Walgreens of Deerfield, Ill., is recalling about 54,000 Disney Baby Winnie the Pooh Rattle Sets.

The feet on the Winnie the Pooh rattle can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The firm has received eight reports of the feet on the Winnie the Pooh rattle detaching. No Injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the Disney Baby Winnie the Pooh Rattle Set, which includes three rattles and is marked for ages 3 months and above.

The rattle, which has the character Winnie the Pooh as part of the toy, is blue and red with green and yellow shapes and is approximately 6.7 inches high

The rattle set, manufactured in China, was sold at Walgreens Stores nationwide from September 2019, through January 2020, for about $10.

What to do

Consumers should immediately take the recalled rattle away from young children and contact Walgreens for a full refund.

Consumers may contact Walgreens at (800) 925-4733 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or online at https://www.walgreens.com/topic/information/recall.jsp for more information.

General Motors is recalling six model year 2021 Chevrolet Traverses and Buick Enclaves.

During service by dealers, some vehicles may have received incorrect airbag calibration software that may affect front airbag deployment.

Airbags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will update the air bag calibration software free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 9, 2021.

Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at (800) 222-1020 and Buick customer service at (800) 521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N212340220.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 34,137,733 (34,085,761)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 609,316 (609,041)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 191,099,159 (190,600,596)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,099,677 (4,092,565)‌

Biden pleads for vaccinations as cases rise

President Biden has stepped up his campaign to urge unvaccinated Americans to get the shots. His pleas come as the U.S. suffers a surge in new cases, mostly in states where vaccinations have lagged.

"So please, please get vaccinated," Biden said Monday. "Get vaccinated now."

A ConsumerAffairs analysis of data collected by Johns Hopkins University shows that the U.S. logged nearly 50,000 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours. Health officials say most of the new cases involve people who have not been vaccinated.

Judge rules vaccine mandates are legal

A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that Indiana University is within its rights to require all students on its campus to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Plaintiffs had challenged the mandate by arguing that it is unconstitutional.

"This university policy isn’t forced vaccination," the judge pointed out. "The students have options -- taking the vaccine, applying for a religious exemption, applying for a medical exemption, applying for a medical deferral, taking a semester off, or attending another university."

The ruling may set the stage for other showdowns between entities that are trying to limit the spread of the virus and those who insist they have a right not to be vaccinated. 

The Delta variant is affecting your money

It may be no coincidence that the coronavirus is quickly spreading two weeks after millions gathered for July 4th festivities. Be that as it may, Wall Street has now taken note of the sudden surge in cases fueled by the highly contagious Delta variant.

The stock market suffered its worst one-day decline since October on Monday, with analysts attributing the steep drop to worries about the Delta variant. Investors reportedly fear that a resurgent virus may threaten the economy. Stocks benefiting the most from the reopening got hit the hardest.

"Fear of stagflation will be a major concern for investors if a resurgence in Covid infections causes economies to slow while consumer prices continue an upward trajectory," Peter Essele, head of investment management for Commonwealth Financial Network, told CNN.

Around the nation

• Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont has signed an executive order that extends the duration of several previously issued executive orders while making slight modifications to some of them. The government is also allowing the remaining 27 previously issued executive orders to expire.

• Kentucky: Gov. Andy Beshear has renewed his call for residents to get vaccinations, warning that the Delta variant is spreading through the state “like wildfire.” "Positivity rate had plummeted to numbers we had prayed for. [But] we have now had three straight weeks of increasing cases," Beshear said.

• Minnesota: State health officials are pointing to Minnesota’s vaccination rate that is near 70% to explain why it hasn’t experienced the surge in coronavirus cases that other states have. “I’m cautiously optimistic that Minnesota has a vaccination rate that is at least the floor of stability to keep us from the big press again,” said Gov. Tim Walz.

• Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that cases are increasing at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic. There have been nearly 1,000 new cases in the state since Friday. The seven-day moving average of new cases jumped 88% from the previous week.

• Nevada: The Clark County Commission has scheduled an emergency meeting for today to consider implementing measures to slow the spread of the COVID-19, which has surged in the Las Vegas area in recent days. Officials say they’ll discuss a proposal to require everyone, regardless of vaccination status, to mask up again indoors.

If you’re someone who likes going to Taco Bell, then the restaurant chain has some bad news for you: Some of your favorite menu items may not be available the next time you stop in. 

The fast-food chain says it’s running low on certain items because of current food shortages. The company has posted a note at the top of its website to let customers know about the issues it’s facing. 

“Sorry if we can't feed your current crave. Due to national ingredient shortages and delivery delays, we may be out of some items,” the note states.

The menu problem is already catching the ire of Taco Bell devotees on social media, and reviewers on ConsumerAffairs are losing patience too. Helen from Florida wrote that “all the items I used to order are gone… Taco salad, Mexican pizza, pinto and cheese just to name a few. Good luck with your new menu but I won’t be eating here.”

Georgette from Washington state also sensed something adrift when she went to pick up her order. “Three taco supreme, crunchy. They were hardly like the supreme I remember. Only lettuce. no tomatoes, a small dab of sour cream…,” she wrote in her review.

Shortages and price increases

Reports indicate that Taco Bell is running short on several food items that it uses to complete orders. For example, the chain is having a hard time getting enough chicken, but it’s not alone. Chicken processors are in a world of hurt right now because the industry’s shortage of workers has led to fewer chickens being processed. That’s causing higher prices that are being passed down to consumers.

Wheat is another precious commodity that Taco Bell is short on. When ConsumerAffairs looked at the chain’s ingredient list, there were 11 different products that included wheat, including chalupa shells and flour tortillas. The USDA has forecasted a 37% drop in the availability of wheat from last year, so things may not get better anytime soon.

Pinto beans also appear to be in short supply. According to USFoods, pinto bean prices have surged due to dry weather and stable export demand to Mexico. Complicating the matter, the USDA says that dry bean planted acreage is also down in 2021 from 2020.

Price increases for other items are also hurting Taco Bell and other restaurants. When ConsumerAffairs took a look at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) producer price forecast, we noticed that the cost of wholesale beef rose 14.3% and prices for farm-level vegetables rose by 6.4% from April to May. Price tracking from AGDaily’s “Dirt to Dinner” shows that the price of iceberg lettuce has almost doubled.

Where is this all going?

No one knows for sure where this is all going, but consumers may need to deal with food shortages and price increases for a while. 

It’s not just a Taco Bell thing either. Restaurants, in general, are dealing with shortages of various foodstuffs due to the return of indoor dining across the nation. Grocers are stockpiling to make up for shortages, but that probably won’t slow the tide of rising prices in the short term. However, experts say things should turn around eventually.

“Economists, government officials, and other experts say the pace of inflation is likely to ease over time. But no one seems anxious to say exactly when that will occur, or by how much the rate of inflation may drop,” said Dirt to Dinner’s Garland West.

“But we do know that food price increases come from many causes and directions, and smart consumers will need to keep a careful eye on the food choices we make every day. We continue to spend about 10 percent of our disposable income on food at home and away — less than any other nation. Smart shopping can help us maintain that status.”