Current Events in August 2021

Christmas in August? If you’re a Target shopper it is. 

On Monday, the company announced the selections for its Top Toy list for the upcoming holiday season and gave details on some store exclusives that customers will be able to take advantage of in-store and online. It also updated the public on its plan to add over 160 Disney stores inside Target locations across the U.S.

Target officials said 85% of the toys in this year’s lineup will be completely new. At the top of the list are brands like LEGO sets, L.O.L. Surprise! dolls, PAW Patrol, Barbie, and the Zoe Doll. Target is also partnering with FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the world, on an exclusive 70-piece toy collection.

Target is also growing its partnership with Disney in a big way, with popular properties like Star Wars and Raya and the Last Dragon headlining the inventory.

"Target continues to be a top toy destination for all families, and we're pleased to offer unique experiences and a curated toy assortment that brings joy to parents and children of all ages," said Nik Nayar, SVP of Hardlines, Target. "We're seeing more guests shop for toys at Target than ever before, and whether it's Bullseye's Top Toys or finding joy with one of the 1,300+ exclusive toys and games, guests are choosing Target for our inspiring, easy and affordable gift-giving experience."

The Top Toys of 2021

Target’s list of Top Toys for this holiday is broken down into six categories that focus on different areas of play. They include:

Inspire New Stories

• Healthy Roots Zoe Doll

• Baby Alive Lulu Achoo Dolls

• Disney Raya and the Last Dragon Land of Kumandra Set – EXCLUSIVE

• B. Play Ice Cream Truck – EXCLUSIVE

• Animal Planet Deep Sea Shark Rescue Submarine Set – EXCLUSIVE

• Kinetic Sand Sandyland Folding Sandbox – EXCLUSIVE

• OSMO Little Genius Starter Kit – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Creator Botanical Collection Bird of Paradise – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Friends Heartlake City School

• Gravitrax Speed Marble Run – EXCLUSIVE

• Peek-a-Roo

• Orbeez Soothing Spa

Inspire Imagination

• L.O.L. Surprise! Family Pack 24K DJ and Neon – EXCLUSIVE

• L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Movie Magic Studio

• Na! Na! Na! Surprise 3-in-1 Backpack Bedroom Jennel Jaguar and Sarah Snuggles

• Barbie Dreamhouse

• Rainbow High Rockstars Lyric Lucas, Vanessa Nova, Carmen Major – EXCLUSIVE

• Love, Diana Magical Musical Castle

• Ryan's World Lost City Adventure Chest – EXCLUSIVE

• Jurassic World Legacy Collection - Tyrannosaurus Rex Escape Pack – EXCLUSIVE

• Star Wars Galactic Snackin' Grogu

• Batman All-Terrain Batmobile Remote Control Vehicle

• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks T-Rex Volcano Arena Track Set

• Monster Jam Remote Control Freestyle Force Grave Digger

• Imaginext DC Super Friends Transforming Bat-Tech Batbot

• Unicorn Purse Pets

• Got2Glow Fairy Finder Pink Jar

• Magic Mixies

Inspire Dreams and Creativity

• FAO Schwarz Electric Guitar + Amp – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Wizard's Chess – EXCLUSIVE

• LEGO Star Wars The Armorer's Mandalorian Forge – EXCLUSIVE

• Bluey & Jean Luc's Caravan Adventures Playset – EXCLUSIVE

• Melissa & Doug Let's Explore Park Ranger Cabin and Boat – EXCLUSIVE

• Our Generation Cozy Cabin

• 5 Surprise Toy Mini Brands Toy Store

• Lalaloopsy Sew Royal Princess Party: Suzette & Mimi La Sweet and Cosy & Teacup Hearts

• PAW Patrol: The Movie Ultimate City Tower Playset

Inspire Active Play

• Segway C20 Kids Electric Scooter – EXCLUSIVE

• Jetson Sync All-Terrain Hoverboard Black – EXCLUSIVE

• NERF Elite 2.0 Flipshots Flip-32 Blaster

Inspire Fun Family Moments

• Monopoly: Target Edition – EXCLUSIVE

• Chuckle & Roar Pop It! XL Tie Dye – EXCLUSIVE

• Throw Throw Avocado – EXCLUSIVE

• Crossed Signals

• Beyblade Burst Surge Speedstorm Slayer Showdown Battle Set – EXCLUSIVE

• Roblox Action Collection - Ninja Legends Deluxe Playset

Inspire Future Gamers

• Nintendo Switch OLED

• Nintendo Switch with Neon Blue and Neon Red Joy-Con

• PlayStation 5 Console

• Xbox Series S

Focusing on customer convenience and deals

To save its customers time, the same-day pickup and delivery options that Target began offering during the COVID-19 pandemic will remain in place with no membership required. To save those same shoppers some money, the company says its Top Toys all start at a $19.99 price point. Target RedCard holders can also enjoy 5% off their Top Toys purchases.

Some consumers have taken a shine to Target’s efforts to cater to customers. In a ConsumerAffairs review, Mike of Bernalillo, N.M., said he was satisfied by the shopping experience. 

“Great store with lots of variety. Love the toy and game section. Electronics are well stocked and seasonal stuff always get my attention,” he wrote. “And employees always in a good mood. Returns are easy!!”

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan Medicine explored the risks associated with prescribing opioids to children and teens for pain management. 

According to their findings, approximately half of all opioid prescriptions given to younger people are considered high-risk and are also linked with an increased risk of overdose and addiction. 

“Our study suggests that children and young adults are frequently exposed to unsafe opioid prescriptions, increasing their risk of overdose, misuse, and addiction,” said researcher Dr. Kao-Ping Chua. 

Opioid prescriptions can be high-risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed opioid prescriptions given to children and teenagers under the age of 21 in 2019. The team learned that nearly four million opioid prescriptions were dispensed to this age group, and half of them posed a risk to young people’s overall health and safety. The researchers also learned that more than 15% of the prescriptions contained ingredients like tramadol and codeine, which were previously considered to be unsafe for children under 11. 

Ultimately, the researchers say opioids pose a risk to children’s health when they’re prescribed in combination with other high-risk drugs or when they’re taken for too long. They explained that the biggest risk is that the drugs will be misused by children and young adults, which can also increase the risk for overdose or addiction.

The study found that more than 60% of the opioid prescriptions involved in the study were written by surgeons or dentists. While some pain may be inevitable following procedures from these kinds of professionals, Dr. Chua explained that opioids are often overprescribed to the youngest patients.

“Avoiding unnecessary opioid prescribing not only decreases the risk of misuse and overdose, but also lowers the risk of side effects, such as vomiting and constipation,” Dr. Chua said. “For many dental and surgical procedures, reducing opioid prescribing could improve patient experience without compromising pain control.” 

Overprescribing opioids

The study also showed that many physicians prescribing opioids to children and teens are doing so repeatedly; the top 5% of prescribers were responsible for half of all pediatric opioid prescriptions and half of all high-risk prescriptions. 

“The fact that these prescriptions were so heavily concentrated among a small group of prescribers suggests that quality improvement efforts should target these prescribers,” said Dr. Chua. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done to regulate opioid prescriptions among children and teens. 

“Many of these prescriptions were likely for dental and surgical procedures that don’t require long durations of opioid therapy,” Dr. Chua said. “There have been successful efforts to reduce opioid quantities for adult surgery patients through evidence-based prescribing guidelines. Similar efforts have begun in some pediatric institutions but should be more widespread.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Tsukuba explored one of the risks associated with outdoor exercise. 

According to their findings, it may be difficult for consumers to identify symptoms related to hypothermia when exercising outdoors or in the water. They say that’s because these environments may make it difficult for consumers to detect changes in body temperature. 

Monitoring body temperature during exercise

The researchers were most interested in understanding how core body temperature was affected when consumers exercise outdoors. They also wanted to see how accurately people perceived their own body temperatures and the degree to which they felt temperature changes when participating in outdoor physical activities. 

For the study, the researchers analyzed several factors, including core body temperature, perception of cold, skin temperature, and skin sensation in 11 healthy young men. The team measured these things while the participants exercised in a cold water tank and again while the group was at rest. 

Ultimately, the study showed that the participants were more successful at identifying changes in core body temperature when at rest as opposed to during exercise in a cold environment. The participants tended not to feel as physically cold during exercise as they did at rest, even though their skin temperatures were similar. 

These findings are important because they highlight the two primary ways the body regulates temperature: physiologically and biologically. While the body works naturally to adjust its temperature, the researchers say our perceptions also play a role in core body temperature.

These findings could have serious implications, especially for people who live in colder climates or regularly play winter sports. Staying mindful of body temperature when engaging in physical activity outdoors can help consumers prevent more serious symptoms associated with hypothermia. 

Ford Motor Company is recalling 42,493 model year 2021-2022 Transit and model year 2021 Transit Connect vehicles.

The front passenger seat belt automatic locking retractor (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.

An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat belt assembly, and replace the assembly -- as necessary -- free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 13, 2021.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at (866) 436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C18.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 37,309,040 (37,171,724)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 625,330 (624,346)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 210,224,392 (209,561,882)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,407,917 (4,397,871)‌

AstraZeneca drug reportedly blocks COVID-19 symptoms

For those who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccination, AstraZeneca has an alternative. The drugmaker has just completed clinical trials of an antibody drug that the company said showed it is effective at preventing COVID-19 symptoms.

It and other similar drugs in development are being advanced as vaccine alternatives. They might not prevent you from becoming infected but they may be tools to keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital.

AstraZeneca said the drug, given the name AZD7442, showed 77% efficacy in reducing the risk of COVID-19 symptoms when compared with a placebo in a late-stage clinical trial.

Vaccinations increase, along with hospitalizations

As the Delta variant spreads across the U.S., ravaging states with a large number of unvaccinated people, something interesting has happened. The vaccination rate has increased.

The number of people suddenly deciding to get vaccinated has coincided with a sharp increase in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in states like Florida, Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 1 million people were vaccinated on Thursday, the biggest increase since June. The CDC says vaccinations are up 70% from this time in July.

Three senators test positive on the same day

Three members of the U.S. Senate have announced they tested positive for COVID-19 on the same day. All three have been fully vaccinated.

Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) have what is known as a “breakthrough case,” becoming infected in spite of a vaccination. In nearly all breakthrough cases, symptoms are not severe.

Hickenlooper said he is experiencing only mild symptoms and is at his home in Colorado. "I’m feeling much better and will continue to isolate at the direction of the Congressional Attending Physician," he said.

Around the nation

New York: New York City restaurants are going to court to try to block the city’s proof of vaccination mandate for bars and restaurants. The suit says there is no option for those who want to wear a mask and provide a negative recent COVID test. 

Tennessee: The Shelby County Health Department this week reinstituted a face mask requirement for indoor public places such as restaurants, bars, and other businesses. Health officials said they responded to a surge in COVID-19 cases that strains hospital resources and causes concern in schools.

Louisiana: A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by six state residents seeking to restore the $300 a week federal unemployment benefit. Louisiana is among several states that moved to terminate the benefit early, citing businesses’ difficulty in hiring people. The benefit established under the CARES Act is scheduled to expire early next month.

Georgia: Savannah Mayor Van Johnson is calling out Gov. Brian Kemp for telling businesses across the state that local mask or vaccine ordinances will not be enforced. “It is disappointing, but not surprising, that amid historic COVID-19 infections and abysmal vaccination rates, Governor Brian Kemp would again attempt to proactively preempt local governments like Savannah from protecting themselves by following the science,” Johnson said.

Utah: The U.S. Department of Education has signaled plans to get tough with states, like Utah, that have passed laws preventing local school officials from enacting mask rules in schools. In a letter to Gov. Spencer Cox, federal officials warn these states risk a federal investigation, as well as the loss of federal COVID-19 aid.

If you’re flying anywhere in the Economy class on American Airlines anytime soon and think you’d like to have a cocktail, better think again. The airline has decided to suspend all alcohol sales in Economy through January 2022. 

American’s original ban was set to end in September. The only other U.S. airline banning alcoholic beverages is Southwest Airlines. 

The airline’s ban is of its own choosing, but with the continued onslaught of penalties against airline passengers for alleged unruly behavior -- many involving alcoholic beverages -- American is taking no chances.

"We are doing all we can to help create a safe environment for our crew and customers onboard our aircraft," Stacey Frantz, American's senior manager of flight service policies and procedures, said in announcing the continued suspension of alcohol sales.

The FAA is calling on airports to help end alcohol to-go sales

Frantz told USA Today that the airline is "gaining ground'' in its push to get the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to cease alcohol to-go sales at airports it flies in and out of, including its hubs in Dallas and Charlotte.

While the FAA has yet to mandate an across-the-board ban on alcohol sales, the alcohol to-go situation is a huge concern for the agency. Earlier in August, the FAA sent a letter to airports requesting they work to prevent passengers from bringing “to-go” cups of alcohol aboard the aircraft.

Even though FAA regulations specifically prohibit the consumption of alcohol aboard an aircraft that is not served by the airline, we have received reports that some airport concessionaires have offered alcohol ‘to go,’ and passengers believe they can carry that alcohol onto their flights or they become inebriated during the boarding process,” read the letter. 

“Airports can help bring awareness to this prohibition on passengers carrying open alcohol onboard their flights through signage, public service announcements, and concessionaire education," the letter said.

T-Mobile said Friday that the data breach it disclosed earlier this week affected significantly more people than initially believed. 

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the carrier said an additional 5.3 postpaid accounts and 850,000 active T-Mobile prepaid accounts were affected. This brings the total number of affected consumers to more than 54 million. 

On Wednesday, the company confirmed that hackers were able to access data on 7.8 million of its postpaid customers, along with the records of 40 million former and prospective customers. 

Information stolen included customers’ first and last names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and driver’s license/ID information. In its latest filing with the SEC, the carrier said phone numbers and IMEI and IMSI details (identifiers for mobile devices and SIM cards respectively) were also compromised.

Mitigating the impact

T-Mobile maintained that it has "no indication" that affected customers’ financial details were exposed. The company said its investigation into the breach is ongoing, and more details will be provided as they’re uncovered. 

T-Mobile emphasized that it’s "confident” that it has successfully “closed off the access and egress points the bad actor used in the attack.” 

The company said it has notified affected account holders and taken steps to safeguard accounts. Customers who think they may have been affected are being offered two years of identity protection services. 

Although no accounts PINs were compromised, T-Mobile has recommended that all postpaid customers proactively change their PIN by going online into their T-Mobile account or calling the Customer Care team by dialing 611 on their phone.

The Federal Aviation Administration's latest tally of fines for unruly air passengers has eclipsed the $1 million dollar mark. On Thursday, the agency announced that it levied another $531,545 against 34 passengers for allegedly acting up on a flight.

Since the beginning of the year, the FAA has had close to 4,000 reports of unruly passenger behavior -- including nearly 3,000 reports filed regarding passengers refusing to comply with the federal facemask mandate.

How bad is this?

The FAA is about at its wit’s end on this matter. It’s called on airports to help address the situation -- especially with alcohol to-go -- and gone on a full-frontal public relations campaign to ask travelers to cool their jets.

Still, passengers continue to push the agency’s button, possibly because they know that the FAA has no criminal prosecutorial authority. Many times when an airline asks local law enforcement for its help, officers will meet the airline at the gate, but the offending passengers are often released without legal consequence. 

Seemingly undaunted, the FAA does have the power to fine unruly passengers and it’s being relentless in that department. 

Case in point: a new fine of $45,000 against a passenger on a jetBlue Airways flight from New York, N.Y. to Orlando, Fla. for allegedly throwing objects, including his carry-on luggage, at other passengers; refusing to stay seated; lying on the floor in the aisle, refusing to get up, and then of all things, grabbing a flight attendant by the ankles and putting his head up her skirt. The passenger was placed in flexi-cuffs and the flight made an emergency landing in Richmond, Va.

Rowdy passengers apparently love jetBlue

JetBlue seems to be a magnet for rowdy fliers. Out of the new fines assessed by the FAA, seven happened on a jetBlue flight.

In another jetBlue incident that resulted in a fine this week, $42,000 in damages was imposed against a passenger on a jetBlue Airways flight from Queens, N.Y. to San Francisco, Calif. Their offense? Allegedly interfering with crewmembers after failing to comply with the facemask mandate; making non-consensual physical contact with another passenger; throwing a playing card at a passenger and threatening him with physical harm; making stabbing gestures towards certain passengers; and snorting what appeared to be cocaine from a plastic bag, which the cabin crew confiscated. 

The passenger’s agitation was so egregious that the crew equipped themselves with ice mallets to ensure the safety of the flight if his behavior worsened. The flight diverted to Minneapolis, Minn., where law enforcement removed the passenger from the aircraft. 

In spite of the economic shock delivered by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, America’s retirement savers have never been on more solid financial footing.

Fidelity Investments, the nation’s largest manager of retirement accounts, reports 401(k) account balances have hit an all-time high of $129,300, up 24% from the same time 12 months earlier. Individual retirement account (IRA) balances are also significantly higher than at this time last year, rising 21% to nearly $135,000.

While it initially slammed the brakes on savings, some economists think the pandemic actually promoted savings toward the end of last year. Several surveys have shown that consumers increased their savings because they were spending less on travel, dining out, and major purchases.

Despite the economic disruption caused by the early economic lockdown, a Harris Poll conducted last September for CIT Group found that over half of U.S. consumers had increased their savings early in the pandemic. Young people appeared to be doing the best job of socking away cash. Gen Z and millennial consumers led the way with over 60% of both generations reporting an uptick in their savings rate. 

Retirement savings dipped in 2020

Not all of that extra cash found its way into retirement accounts. A poll by personal finance publisher Kiplinger and wealth management firm Personal Capital found Americans’ retirement savings went down last year, mainly because so many people had to make withdrawals in order to make ends meet.

The Fidelity report shows people are back on track in their plans to set money aside for retirement. The fact that major stock market averages are at all-time highs has also been a contributing factor.

Baby boomers nearing retirement also helped propel retirement savings higher. A record 18.2% of boomers made a “catch-up” contribution to their 401(k) in the second quarter, with 58% of those workers making the maximum catch-up contribution of $6,500 by the end of last year. 

Almost 12% of American workers reported increases in contributions to their retirement accounts. At the same time, a record 37% of employers enrolled new workers in automatic investments in their 401(k) plans.

There are also more retirement account millionaires in 2021. The Fidelity numbers show a  record 412,000 401(k) accounts in the second quarter of 2021 had balances of $1 million or more. The number of people with $1 million in an IRA increased to 342,000, also an all-time high.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has refiled its antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, citing more detailed evidence of how it believes the company uses its social media dominance to engage in anti-competitive behavior.

The agency filed an amended complaint Thursday after a judge dismissed its original complaint in late June. The new filing claims that after repeated failed attempts to develop innovative mobile features for its network, Facebook instead resorted to illegal activities to maintain its dominance. 

FTC lawyers claim Facebook carried out an alleged “buy or bury” scheme, unlawfully acquiring innovative competitors with popular mobile features that were better than Facebook’s own offerings.

The complaint further alleges that Facebook “lured” app developers to its platform, carefully watched them for signs of success, and then “buried” them when they became competitive threats. 

‘Failed to compete’

“Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile,” said Holly Vedova, FTC Bureau of Competition acting director. “After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat.”

Vedova compared the alleged action to bribing emerging app competitors not to compete. 

“The antitrust laws were enacted to prevent precisely this type of illegal activity by monopolists,” Vedova said.

For its part, Facebook dismissed the FTC’s claims as “an effort to rewrite antitrust laws” and upend settled expectations of merger review. It said it has always abided by the law.

“It is unfortunate that despite the court's dismissal of the complaint and conclusion that it lacked the basis for a claim, the FTC has chosen to continue this meritless lawsuit,” Facebook said in a Twitter post.

More detailed version of the original suit

On June 28, a federal judge dismissed two antitrust lawsuits against Facebook, saying the FTC and a number of states failed to make their case that the social media giant is a monopoly.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that prosecutors had failed to explain what social networking is or how they determined that Facebook controls more than 60% of the market. He also said the FTC had failed to show how Facebook’s business model harms the public, noting that the public pays nothing to use Facebook.

The newly-filed lawsuit is 80 pages and goes into more extensive detail than the first, filed in December 2020. The agency said it seeks to tell a more complete story about why it believes Facebook is an illegal monopolistic force.

There’s good news and bad news for drivers. Gas prices haven’t gone up over the last month, but they remain at the highest level since 2014.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gas is $3.17 a gallon, a penny less than last Friday but the same as a month ago.

The average price of premium gas is also down a penny from last week, at $3.80 a gallon. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.29 a gallon, the same as last week.

Demand has fluctuated in recent weeks, a big factor providing stability to prices at the pump. GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reports U.S. gasoline demand was 0.3% lower on Wednesday than the prior Wednesday and 0.6% lower than the average of the last four Wednesdays. 

“Week to date, gasoline demand is at its lowest since the week of July 11,” DeHaan posted on Twitter.

AAA predicts gas prices will continue to fluctuate in the run-up to the Labor Day weekend, which normally marks the end of the summer driving season. That could put downward pressure on prices as fall arrives.

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 ($4.40)

• Hawaii ($4.09)

• Nevada ($4.06)

• Washington ($3.91) 

• Utah ($3.85)

• Idaho ($3.81)

• Oregon ($3.80) 

• Alaska ($3.71) 

• Colorado ($3.63)  

• Wyoming ($3.59)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

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

• Mississippi ($2.79)

• Louisiana ($2.83)

• Texas ($2.83) 

• Alabama ($2.84)

• Missouri ($2.86)

• Arkansas ($2.87)

• Tennessee ($2.87)

• South Carolina ($2.88)

• Oklahoma ($2.89)

• Kentucky ($2.90)

Serenade Foods of Milford, Ind., is recalling approximately 59,251 pounds of frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned stuffed chicken.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis.

The following frozen, raw, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken items, produced on February 24, 2021, and February 25, 2021, are being recalled:

• 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of “Dutch Farms Chicken with Broccoli & Cheese” with lot code BR 1055 and BEST IF USED BY FEB 24 2023.
• 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of “MILFORD VALLEY CHICKEN WTH BROCCOLI & CHEESE” with lot code BR 1055 and BEST IF USED BY FEB 24 2023.
• 10-oz box of two individually plastic-wrapped packages of “MILFORD VALLEY CHICKEN CORDON BLEU” with lot code CB 1055 and BEST IF USED BY FEB 24 2023.
• 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of “KIRKWOOD Raw Stuffed CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & CHEESE” with lot code BR 1055 and BEST IF USED BY FEB 24 2023.
• 5-oz individually plastic-wrapped packages of “KIRKWOOD Raw Stuffed CHICKEN CORDON BLEU” with lot code CB 1056 and BEST IF USED BY FEB 25 2023.

The recalled products, bearing establishment number “P- 2375” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were shipped to distributors nationwide.

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard or return them to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions may contact Serenade Foods at (866) 873-7589.

Rossignol USA of Park City, Utah, is recalling about 174 Rossignol model year 2018 and 2019 All Track DH Bicycles sold in the U.S and Canada.

Cracks can form at the head tube area of the bicycle, where the fork connects to the bicycle. This can cause the frame to fail and allow the fork and front wheel to separate unexpectedly from the rest of the bicycle, posing a fall hazard.

No incidents or injuries are reported.

This recall includes Rossignol 2018 and 2019 model year All Track DH bicycles produced in Matte Black (2018) and Chartreuse green (2019).

The bicycle model name “All Track DH” is printed on the frame’s top tube.

The bikes, manufactured in Taiwan, were sold at Rossignol dealers/rental resorts nationwide from March 2018, through October 2020, for about $3,800.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycles and contact Rossignol for information on receiving a free replacement front triangle of the bicycle frame.

Rossignol is contacting all known purchasers directly to arrange for free replacement parts and installation.

Consumers may contact Rossignol toll-free at (888) 243-6672 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MT) Monday through Friday, by email at USRossiMtnBike@rossignol.com or online at www.rossignol.com and click on “Alltrack DH Mtn Bike Recall” at the top of the page for more information.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling three model year 2019 G550s.

The fuel tank may not have been welded properly during manufacturing, which could result in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.

What to do

Dealers will replace the fuel tank free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 21, 2021.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 37,171,724 (37,033,445)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 624,346 (623,418)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 209,561,882 (208,833,116)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,397,871 (4,386,814)‌

Hospitalization rates for young people hit new highs

At the beginning of the pandemic, it was older people who suffered the most severe COVID-19 symptoms. But with most seniors now vaccinated, it’s children and adults under 50 who are being hospitalized at the highest rates so far in the pandemic.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that every age demographic under 50 has exceeded previous hospitalization rates. The biggest increase is among adults aged 30 to 39 and children under 18.

The CDC said both groups’ hospitalization rates are 30% higher than their previous peaks. Health officials are concerned about all age groups, pointing out that the U.S. averaged 11,000 new hospitalizations last week.

New jobless claims dipped last week

More people are going back to work, especially at bars and restaurants, despite the summer surge in coronavirus cases. The Labor Department reports that initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 348,000 last week, 29,000 fewer than the week before and fewer than economists expected.

Last week’s total is the lowest level for initial claims since March 14, 2020, when it was 256,000 -- just before the economy shut down. The four-week moving average of claims was 377,750, a decrease of 19,000 from the previous week's revised average. That’s also the lowest level since just before the economic shutdown.

The number of people still drawing unemployment benefits also continues to fall. The total number of continued weeks claimed for benefits in all programs for the week ending July 31 was 11,743,515. That’s down 311,787 from the previous week.

Survey finds more parents plan to avoid school buses

In some areas of the country, school districts are struggling to find school bus drivers as schools reopen. A new survey from Cars.com suggests that they might not need that many drivers.

The survey found that 90% of parents have strong concerns about exposing their children to the Delta variant -- especially children under age 12 who are not yet eligible for the vaccine. As a result, more parents plan to drive their kids to school each day.

"It's not surprising that parents are prioritizing health and safety, and by driving their kids themselves, parents feel they can better protect their family — even if it means longer drop-off lines or for many, a disruption to their family's daily routine," said Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief for Cars.com.

Around the nation

• Florida: Two more school districts in the state have voted to defy Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order by requiring teachers and students to wear masks this fall. The school boards in Hillsborough and Miami-Dade counties issued mask mandates Wednesday, citing health concerns.

• Connecticut: Gov. Ned Lamont reports that 348 people in the state are being treated in hospitals, with about two-thirds of them in the state’s two largest counties. New Haven County reports 107 hospitalizations and Hartford County reports 106.

• Oregon: In the midst of a surge in cases involving the Delta variant, Oregon hospitals are nearing capacity, particularly in critical care areas. Data from the Oregon Health Authority shows that 94% of the state’s adult ICU beds are occupied by mostly unvaccinated patients.

• Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has yet to impose a statewide mask mandate for Michigan schools, a move advised by the state’s chief medical officer. "I have recommended that if a mask mandate were in place and it was followed, it would likely decrease the spread of COVID-19," said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the chief medical executive for the state health department.

• Arkansas: The state is starting to feel some relief after becoming one of the early epicenters of the Delta variant outbreak this summer. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Arkansas fell for the second day in a row on Wednesday. Health officials say that decline suggests that the spread is slowing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has infected hundreds of millions of people and led to over four million total deaths worldwide. With those kinds of statistics, it may be easy to think that virus mitigation efforts like vaccines have been ineffective. But researchers say that’s far from the truth. 

In a recent study, they found that early vaccination campaigns in the U.S. prevented nearly 3 million additional cases of COVID-19 and 140,000 deaths. They say these efforts helped the average state experience five fewer deaths per 10,000 adult residents over the first five months of the pandemic.

“This study brings into focus the dramatic success of the early months of the nation’s coronavirus vaccine rollout,” said senior author Christopher Whaley. “The findings provide support for policies that further expand vaccine administration to enable a larger proportion of the nation’s population to benefit.”

Saving lives and helping economies

By state, Whaley and his colleagues say New York experienced the largest reduction in potential COVID-19 cases. They found that the Empire State had 11.7 fewer COVID-19 deaths per 10,000 adult residents due to vaccination efforts. The state that saw the smallest reduction in potential deaths was Hawaii, but it still experienced 1.1 fewer COVID-19 deaths per 10,000 residents because of vaccination efforts. 

Those saved lives add up to a lot when it comes to each state’s economy. The researchers estimate that the total economic value of the lives saved during the study period equated to between $625 billion and $1.4 trillion. They note that those figures far surpass the $13 billion that the federal government allocated for vaccine development and manufacturing by the end of 2020.

“Our results suggest that further efforts to vaccinate populations globally and in a coordinated fashion will be critical to achieving greater control of the COVID-19 pandemic,” concluded Sumedha Gupta, the study’s first author.

The full study has been published in the journal Health Affairs.

The U.S. Education Department has announced that it will begin automatically canceling the student loans of more 323,000 severely disabled borrowers. 

In a statement on Thursday, the agency said it will start discharging the debt of borrowers who are unable to maintain gainful employment due to a permanent physical or psychological medical impairment. The action will take effect starting in September.

"Today's action removes a major barrier that prevented far too many borrowers with disabilities from receiving the total and permanent disability discharges they are entitled to under the law," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. "From day one, I've stressed that the Department of Education is a service agency. We serve students, educators, and families across the country to ensure that educational opportunity is available to all.” 

Burdensome rules

The action is being carried out through the Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) discharge program. While the move is intended to help many struggling borrowers, critics have argued that potential beneficiaries may face challenges in submitting a formal application. Some may even be unaware that they qualify. 

“We've heard loud and clear from borrowers with disabilities and advocates about the need for this change and we are excited to follow through on it,” Cardona said. “This change reduces red tape with the aim of making processes as simple as possible for borrowers who need support."

More than $5.8 billion in debt will be wiped out as a result of the move, the Education Department said. The changes introduced today will go into effect starting in September, and all of the loans are expected to be discharged by the end of the year.

The pandemic-induced computer chip shortage is continuing to wreak havoc on the automotive industry. After taking a bite out of Ford and GM’s plans, it’s now laying waste to Toyota’s production.

The world’s largest automaker says it is being forced to reduce its global production by 40% in September -- meaning it will produce 360,000 fewer vehicles than it planned. While Toyota says the rise in COVID-19 cases in Vietnam and Malaysia made the semiconductor shortage worse, the effect is being felt across almost all of its plants, including ones in Japan, North America, China, and Europe.

“It became difficult to secure the necessary volume for several parts, which led to this sudden and large-scale production cut,” said Kazunari Kumakura, Toyota’s global procurement chief. 

Being felt on the bottom line

Until now, Toyota has been able to withstand the pandemic’s impact in areas where many of its peers haven’t; in fact, it was able to record profits. But this news is already taking a toll. By midday on Thursday, shares of Toyota stock had fallen by 7.44 points (-4.24%).

“The new cuts could mean rougher seas ahead for all global automakers -- and their shareholders,” said The Motley Fool’s John Rosevear, suggesting that the global shortage of new vehicles won't end anytime soon or possibly by the end of 2021.

“I think this Toyota news suggests that we should expect automakers' shipments and revenue to remain well below pre-pandemic levels for a while longer -- certainly beyond the end of 2021.”

Impact on consumers

The chip shortage is causing a yin and yang effect that’s comparable to what we’re seeing in the housing market. It’s a good time to be a seller, but it’s not great if you’re a buyer. 

“In short, waiting lists are getting longer, and some vehicles are being built with different electronic systems in order to keep production lines running. If you're looking to jump waiting lists by buying used, prices are on the rise as the used car market becomes stronger,” said automobile valuation analyst Curtis Moldrich.

Prices are on the rise for used cars as the chip shortage rages on, especially for low-mileage, recent model cars in good condition. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of used cars and trucks rose 41% from July 2020, to July 2021.