Current Events in September 2021

Wee Gallery of St. Petersburg, Fla., is recalling about 8,100 Ocean and Safari animal wooden tray puzzles sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The octopus and elephant puzzle pieces can break, posing a choking hazard to young children.

The firm has received six reports of puzzle pieces breaking. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves two models of 10 x 7-inch Ocean and Safari animal wooden tray puzzles with six flat wooden animal pieces that fit in recessed spaces on the wooden tray.

The Ocean puzzle features whale, tortoise, fish, star fish, sea horse, and octopus-shaped pieces.

The Safari version has sun, crocodile, giraffe, lion, snake, and elephant-shaped pieces. The animals are either natural wood color, light or darker brown, with features painted in black.

“Wee Gallery” is printed along the right edge of the tray, and either “Ocean Animals” or “Safari Animals” is printed towards the center of the tray between the animal figures. The back of the tray has a drawing of either ocean or safari themes.

The puzzles, manufactured in Thailand, were sold at independent toy and children’s stores and online at www.weegallery.com from February 2020, to June 2021, for about $30.

What to do

Consumers should immediately take the recalled puzzles away from children and contact Wee Gallery for a refund in the form of a $35 gift certificate for the purchase of any Wee Gallery product.

Consumers may contact Wee Gallery at (800) 282-5149 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday, by email at puzzlerecall@weegallery.com, or online at www.weegallery.com and click on “Recalls” at the bottom of the page for more information.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says consumers are asking for trouble if they buy fake proof-of-vaccination cards or a document that falsely says their COVID-19 test results were negative.

The agency says scammers are out in force looking for suckers who need to show proof for things like getting (or keeping) a job or obtaining certain kinds of clearance, like admission to an event. 

“Know that buying fake vaccine cards, making your own, or filling in blank cards with false information is illegal and could get you fined, or even land you in jail,” the FTC’s Colleen Tressler warns.

Don’t cross these lines

Tressler says there are lines that, if crossed, can also cause other problems. She offered these tips:

• Don’t share personal information with people you don’t know. Scammers will turn the tables and sell your data or use it to commit identity theft.

• The only legitimate way to get proof that you’re vaccinated -- or that you test negative — is to GET vaccinated or to TEST negative. If you lose that proof, check with your state health department or the place you got vaccinated to find out how you might be able to get a replacement.

The FTC is asking Americans who spot a fake vaccine card to do the following:

• Report it to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or oig.hhs.gov.

• File a report with the FBI.

• File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. 

“Your report can make a difference. We use reports like yours to investigate, bring law enforcement cases, and alert people about what frauds to be on the lookout for so they can protect themselves, their friends, and family,” Tressler said.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 40,028,975 (39,820,117)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 649,134 (648,281)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 221,314,774 (220,937,269)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,579,064 (4,563,447)‌

U.S. cases top 40 million

The U.S. has now recorded more than 40 million cases since the COVID-19 pandemic began thanks to the most recent spike in cases caused by the spread of the Delta variant. The majority of the cases were not serious, but the death toll is nearly 650,000 -- a death rate of 1.6%.

Before the rapid spread of the Delta variant, the U.S. appeared to be on the road to putting the pandemic behind it. Things seemed almost back to normal by July 4th, but cases were surging again by the middle of that month, with a growing number of vaccinated Americans also testing positive.

"Here's the important thing: Everyone that I'm hospitalizing is not vaccinated,” Dr. Megan Ranney, professor of emergency medicine and associate dean at Brown University's school of public health, told CNN. “We are, by and large across the country, not needing to hospitalize people that have gotten both doses of the vaccine. This is a disease of the unvaccinated right now."

Fauci: Three shots may be necessary

If you got two shots of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you’ll probably need a third one. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, says a third dose several months after the second one might help the body’s immune system mature.

“I must say from my own experience as an immunologist, I would not at all be surprised that the adequate full regimen for vaccination will likely be three doses,” Fauci told reporters during a White House COVID-19 briefing.

Fauci also says he expects the Pfizer vaccine to be the first to be approved for booster shots, a decision that could come by Sept. 20. He said approval for the Moderna booster may require additional research.

Enhanced jobless benefits end

Some people who were laid off from work early in the pandemic have been collecting an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits provided under the CARES Act. That extra assistance ended Monday.

The White House said there are no plans to extend the enhanced benefits again since the economy has resumed economic growth and there are a record number of job openings. Unfortunately, businesses have had trouble filling those positions. The Labor Department's latest report shows that the economy added only 325,000 jobs in August.

An estimated 7 million Americans were receiving the extra benefit when it expired. 

Around the state

• Vermont: Health officials say the state has so far escaped the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases that many other states have experienced over the summer. After a brief mid-July spike caused by the Delta variant, state health officials say cases have begun trending lower again.

• Texas: The Texas Education Agency reports that at least 45 state school districts have temporarily halted in-classroom sessions because of a spike in new cases of the coronavirus. The shutdowns mean that about 42,000 students are attending school online again.

• Oregon: Costco stores in Oregon are cautioning shoppers about hoarding. The warning comes amid concerns that the spike in COVID-19 cases will once again cause a run on toilet paper and other staples. In an update on its website, the retailer said "some warehouses may have temporary item limits on select items."

• Florida: The state has already been ravaged by an August spike in COVID-19 cases, and state health officials fear it could get worse. They cite a survey by Value Penguin showing that Florida was the top destination for the Labor Day weekend. “When you see people crowded together in tight confines, you know there’s going to be an increase in cases,” said Dr. John Greene with the Moffitt Cancer Center.

• Arkansas: State health officials are cautiously optimistic that attitudes about COVID-19 vaccines are beginning to change. After a spike in cases that led to deaths and a crisis at hospitals in the state, officials say there has been an increase in the vaccination rate over the last four weeks.

Toyota has long been a leader in the development of hybrid vehicles, dating back to 1997 when it first introduced the Prius. Now, it looks like it's trying to continue leading the way when it comes to these technologies.

On Tuesday, the automaker said it intends to invest more than $13.5 billion by the year 2030 to develop electric and hybrid vehicle batteries for its vehicles.

Toyota’s push for electric vehicle supremacy couldn’t come at a better time. Electric and hybrid vehicle sales jumped 81% in the first quarter of 2021. In 2022, the company plans to deliver its first all-electric line-up. 

What we can expect from Toyota

The first thing Toyota plans on doing is slashing the cost of its batteries. It said it plans on making that happen by reexamining the materials used in the batteries and the structure of the power cells -- most likely an effort to extend the service life of the batteries. The company may also eventually choose to replace liquid lithium-ion batteries.

"Then, for the vehicle, we aim to improve power consumption, which is an indicator of the amount of electricity used per kilometer, by 30%, starting with the Toyota bZ4X," Chief Technology Officer Masahiko Maeda told a press briefing. "We are still searching for the best materials to use," he said.

VW says it’s in it to win it, too

If successful, Toyota’s investment in electric vehicle batteries could put it ahead of the competition. The competitor that most industry watchers pit against Toyota is Volkswagen (VW). Not to be outdone by Toyota’s announcement, the world's second-largest automaker also said on Tuesday that it’s possible it will also increase its investment in electric vehicles.

Rather than try to go head-to-head with the bigger EV wannabes like Ford and GM to try and win an entire continent, VW’s battle plan seems to be set on conquering the EV market starting with smaller countries. The company’s first conquests? Sweden and Switzerland. 

“The short story in both markets is that Volkswagen Group is now king of the market,” said CleanTechnica’s Zachary Shahan.

“Its various fully electric offerings across several brands -- several of the models built electric from the ground up -- have quickly shot the automaker into a strong leadership position, as many Volkswagen fans and staff have long said would happen, and as many Tesla fans and overall Volkswagen skeptics have questioned or said would not happen.”

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that it has sent checks to more than 4,500 consumers who lost money to a company called Blue Hippo that sold high-priced computers on an installment plan.

The case stretches back to the early 2000s. At the time, the internet was becoming mainstream, but smartphones and tablets were only a glimmer in Steve Jobs’ eye. People who wanted to access the growing benefits of the internet needed a personal computer.

In 2008, the FTC charged BlueHippo Funding, LLC and affiliate BlueHippo Capital, LLC with promising to finance new computers that they sold at a very high price. The agency said the companies collected money from customers and then failed to provide them with computers. 

The FTC also claimed that the two companies failed to disclose key terms of BlueHippo’s refund policy to customers prior to receiving payments.

ConsumerAffairs reported extensively on the issue in 2007 and received many reports from consumers who said the devices they received were old and out of date. We found that Wal-Mart's laptop and printer combo could be purchased for $571 at the time. In contrast, BlueHippo's slower laptop package carried a price tag of up to $2,698 -- almost five times the cost of Wal-Mart's better offering.

Contempt charges

After agreeing to a settlement with the FTC, the agency charged that BlueHippo continued to engage in deceptive practices. In 2009, the FTC sued the companies again, as well as CEO and sole owner Joseph Rensin, charging them with contempt for violating the 2008 order. 

After a lengthy court battle, the FTC won. It is now using the money it recovered from Rensin to provide more than $103,000 in refunds to consumers.

The FTC has the names and addresses of consumers who are eligible for a refund. The agency said people who receive checks should deposit or cash them within 90 days. 

Consumers who have questions about their checks can call the refund administrator Analytics, Inc., at 1-855-558-1233. It’s also important to remember that the FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) explored how women’s health during pregnancy can impact their experiences during childbirth. 

Their findings showed that childbirth complications are more likely to occur when women contract severe infections during pregnancy. They explained that when infections develop into sepsis and women need to be admitted to the hospital, there is a greater likelihood of childbirth risks. 

“All the prior studies only looked at sepsis and delivery during the same admission, so delivery right after sepsis,” said researcher Dr. Stephanie Gaw. “But with the majority of sepsis cases that happen during pregnancy, the moms are treated with antibiotics or other medications and they get better. Nobody had looked at what happens to moms that are really sick at some point during their pregnancy, recover from that acute episode, and go home. Do they go on to have normal pregnancies? Do the babies do okay?” 

Identifying health risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 15,000 women who delivered at UCSF over a six-year period; nearly 60 women were admitted into the hospital with a septic infection over the course of their pregnancies. The team followed the women’s health outcomes from their pregnancies through delivery. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that women who had experienced severe infections during pregnancy were two times as likely to also experience complications during childbirth. Women that contracted septic infections during pregnancy tended to have higher BMIs, were younger, and were more likely to also have pregestational diabetes. The study showed that urinary tract infections were the most common type of infection among the women who were hospitalized. 

“If pregnant women were admitted for severe infection, even after they’re discharged and they recover from that infection, there was an increased risk of complications related to pregnancy that are associated with core placental dysfunction,” said Dr. Gaw. 

The three biggest risks during childbirth following a septic infection during pregnancy were placenta dysfunction, hypertensive disease of pregnancy, and small birth weight. However, there was also a higher risk of stillbirth and C-section deliveries. 

“Having a baby that was small for gestational age was more common if you had sepsis during pregnancy than if you didn’t, even after controlling for other risk factors,” Dr. Gaw said. “One thing that could be changed in current prenatal care practice would be to add another ultrasound to monitor the baby’s growth. In the third trimester, that was not routinely done for all of these patients and isn’t routinely done in clinical practice right now.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope the medical community continues to work toward improvements in this area so that pregnant women can deliver their children safely and without complications. 

“We need more data to identify potential interventions -- whether a woman gets malaria, COVID, or any other type of infection -- to slow the inflammatory process, so that these long-term, permanent changes to the placenta don’t happen,” Dr. Gaw said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California Berkeley explored the benefits associated with teens spending quality time online during COVID-19 lockdown orders. 

According to their findings, interacting with others in a positive, meaningful way online can help young people feel less lonely while home during quarantine. 

“Our findings support our hypothesis that how you spend your time on screens, and not how much time you spend online, is the best predictor of loneliness and well-being,” said researcher Dr. Lucía Magis-Weinberg. “In light of this, teachers and parents might want to focus more on promoting positive online experiences for youth rather than limiting screen time.” 

Beating loneliness during quarantine

For the study, the researchers followed more than 15,000 teens across Peru and Mexico for six weeks. At the time of the surveys, teens in both countries were spending most of their time indoors because of strict lockdown restrictions. They answered questions about how long they were usually online every day, their mental health, and how their online interactions made them feel. 

Though many studies have warned of the risks associated with teens spending too much time online, this study found that having thoughtful and meaningful connections on social media was beneficial for teens’ mental health. The team found that participants who spent more time online as a way of getting support were better able to handle their time in isolation.

“The results show that using social media to actively connect with friends and family and find support -- instead of just scrolling endlessly through Instagram and comparing oneself to others and feeling excluded -- can have a positive impact on well-being,” said Dr. Maris-Weinberg. 

“There has been this negative discourse about screen time causing loneliness and depression. But our findings provide more nuance and show that, when used positively, online interactions are actually associated with less loneliness. This is especially true when teenagers have no other option but to connect with their friends online.” 

Credit One Bank has issued a new travel rewards card with perks that specifically reward users when they choose experience-related travel.

The new card rewards users with up to five times more points when they spend money at national parks, recreational parks, museums, and professional sporting arenas, among other venues. The company says the Wander Card is its first travel-focused credit card and gives card members flexible ways to earn and redeem points for meaningful experiences.

"The Wander Card rewards travelers for getting out to explore this country's beautiful destinations and helps cardmembers reap rewards at the planned and impromptu stops and experiences along the way," said David Herpers, senior vice president of product at Credit One Bank. 

Herpers says the Wander Card is not a typical travel rewards card. It does not involve miles, loyalty programs, executive lounges, or global escapes. Rather, it targets a different group of travelers -- one that has emerged in force in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are filling an important gap in the market by giving road trippers, stadium tailgaters, amusement park fanatics and everyday adventurers the opportunity to earn more rewards on the things they love," Herpers said.

The card’s perks

The new card’s perks include:

• An $80 statement credit for the purchase of a qualifying National Park Pass, valid at more than 2,000 recreation areas across the U.S., if used within the first year.

• The chance to earn up to five times more points at recreational parks and amusement parks, including national parks, museums, and professional sporting arenas

• The chance to earn up to three times more points at restaurants and lodging, including campgrounds and resorts.

• The chance to earn a single point on all other purchases.

The card also offers a discount on Thousand Trails camping passes and a discount on regular-price rides on Maverick Helicopters.

Annual fee

Like many travel rewards cards, the Wander Card carries an annual fee. In this case, the charge is $95. Before applying for the card, consumers should make sure the discounts and perks will add up to cover the yearly cost.

The interest rate isn’t the lowest you’ll find in the industry either. Variable APR for purchases and cash advances is 23.99%, and the minimum interest charge is $1. 

Rewards points can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards, and merchandise across a variety of travel, entertainment, and retail categories. All Credit One Bank card members receive free online access to their Experian credit score, Zero Fraud Liability, and automatic reviews for credit line increases. 

Consumers who are considering applying for a travel rewards credit card should check out ConsumerAffairs’ selection of the best cards in that category. Our research contains thousands of verified reviews to help you pick the right card for you.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing is recalling 31,307 model year 2019-2020 Yaris, Yaris Hatchback and Yaris Sedan vehicles.

An impeller within the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

A fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the low-pressure fuel pump assembly free of charge.

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

Owners may contact Toyota customer service at (800) 331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB05 and 21TA05.

Razor USA of Cerritos, Calif., is recalling about 237,300 Hovertrax 2.0 Self-Balancing Scooters/Hoverboards with GLW battery packs.

The lithium-ion GLW battery packs can overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding.

There have been more than 20 reports of hoverboards with GLW battery packs overheating, including some reports of smoke or fire. No injuries have been reported.

This recall involves the removable GLW battery packs installed in UL-Listed Hovertrax 2.0 brand self-balancing scooters/hoverboards manufactured between September 2016, and August 2017. The battery packs were certified as compliant with ANSI/UL Standard 2271 by UL.

Hovertrax hoverboards have two wheels at either end of articulated dual platforms and are powered by GLW battery packs.

The battery packs have the name GLW written in large letters on the packs themselves, and serial numbers beginning with GLW, which is printed on a white sticker on the top of the battery pack, below the bar code. Hovertrax 2.0 is printed on the front of the hoverboard.

The hoverboards were sold in black, black monochrome, blue, green, red, red monochrome, white, rose gold, camouflage, ocean blue, purple, and three multicolor patterns called Spectrum, Galaxy and Carbon.

The hoverboards, manufactured in China, were sold at Walmart, Target, Toys R Us and other stores nationwide and online at Walmart.com, Amazon.com and other websites from September 2016, through 2018, for about $460.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled self-balancing scooters/hoverboards and contact Razor for instructions on how to obtain a prepaid shipping carton to send the GLW battery pack back to Razor, and to receive a free replacement battery pack.

Consumers may contact Razor toll-free at (866) 467-2967 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, or online at https://razor.com/product-recall-notifications-glw-battery-08252021/ for more information.

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 348,158 model year 2017-2018 Sonatas, model year 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrids, model year 2018-2020 Accents and model year 2016-2017 Azeras.

The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside.

A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing the risk of injury.

What to do

Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly free of charge.

Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 1, 2021.

Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.

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

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 39,431,142 (39,220,117)‌

Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 642,255(640,281)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 218,666,686 (217,947,269)

Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 4,546,775 (4,523,447)‌

Mu variant is the latest on the WHO watch list

While the Delta variant continues its rampage across the U.S., the World Health Organization (WHO) says it’s keeping an eye on the Mu variant, which may be the next mutation of the coronavirus to cause trouble. It was first identified in Colombia in January.

"The Mu variant has a constellation of mutations that indicate potential properties of immune escape," the organization said in a bulletin.

WHO scientists are concerned because they say the Mu variant has mutations that suggest it could have resistance to vaccines. The scientists stressed that further studies were needed to better understand the variant and its risks.

FDA increases criticism of ivermectin as COVID-19 defense

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up its campaign to discourage people from using an animal drug to prevent or treat COVID-19. The drug, ivermectin, has become a social media sensation, with advocates encouraging its use. Popular podcaster Joe Rogan reported late Wednesday that he had used it after testing positive over the weekend.

But the FDA said it is ineffective and could actually cause harmful side effects. The agency points out that the drug is used to treat parasitic infections in livestock and has not been tested on humans.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Mississippi’s State Department of Health reports that at least 70% of its recent calls have been related to ingestion of ivermectin formulations intended for animals. It says many consumers purchased the drug at livestock supply centers.

Cutting jobless benefits didn’t send people back to work

In the early days of the pandemic, when millions of people were thrown out of work, Congress approved an extra $300 a week in unemployment benefits, then renewed it before it was set to expire. About half the states ended the benefits early after small businesses complained that it dissuaded people from returning to work.

But an analysis by the Wall Street Journal calls that hypothesis into question. It found that states that continued paying the extra $300 a week have seen the same job growth as states that ended it early.

“If the question is, ‘Is UI (unemployment insurance) the key thing that’s holding back the labor market recovery?’ The answer is no, definitely not, based on the available data,” Peter Ganong, a University of Chicago economist, told the Journal.

The benefits expire next week.

Around the nation

• Illinois: Illinois health officials have reported their findings of an investigation into an outbreak of COVID-19 cases linked to an overnight church camp and a two-day men’s conference. The report documented a total of 180 cases of coronavirus, including 122 that occurred among attendees. Neither event required vaccinations or testing.
• New Jersey: State officials say they expect to begin administering the first COVID-19 booster shots to the most vulnerable consumers in three weeks. Gov. Phil Murphy said the state will reopen large-scale vaccination sites for a limited time to accommodate those who want boosters.
• Maine: Ten of Maine’s 16 counties are reporting COVID-19 transmission rates that federal health officials categorize as “high.” At midweek, the state reported 475 new cases over a three-day period.
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma doctors expressed concern this week about the surge in COVID-19 cases in the state and how it is affecting hospitals. The president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association, Patti Davis, says hospitals are preparing for what’s coming. “We very much follow these trend lines and we know that positive cases, when those are on an uptick, there is a lag until hospitalizations start ticking upward as well,” Davis said.
• Mississippi: Data shows that the state continues to struggle to contain the coronavirus. The New York Times’ data chart of COVID-19 cases ranks Mississippi second in the nation in rate of COVID-19 deaths. It is tied for last place with Alabama for the lowest percentage of fully vaccinated individuals.

The chip shortage that’s run roughshod on automakers took a nasty turn on Thursday when General Motors (GM) said it would dramatically cut its North American vehicle production because of the situation.

This marks the second time that GM has halted production because of the chip shortage in the last two months.

Who knows how the chip shortage will play out long-term for the automaker, but it’s either extending or adding downtimes at eight plants in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to cut its immediate losses. To start, much of the production trimming is reported to last for two weeks. Sedans are apparently getting a reprieve, but GM’s full-size and midsize pickup trucks like the Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Terrain, and Chevrolet Trailblazer will be unaffected.

“Although the situation remains complex and very fluid, we remain confident in our team’s ability to continue finding creative solutions to minimize the impact on our highest-demand and capacity-constrained vehicles,” the company said in a statement Thursday.

Although the industry hoped it would only be a short-term issue, the chip shortage has spiraled out of control. Some industry analysts have said it’s possible that the problem could last as long as late 2022.

The long-tail effect of the chip shortage

Not only has the chip shortage impacted automotive consumers, but it has also affected the production of electronic devices and home appliances.

Appliance sales have soared during the pandemic, especially after people got their CARES checks. One electronics company -- LG -- even went so far as ditching its smartphone division so that it could concentrate on the home appliance market.

If you’ve waited until now to think about new kitchen appliances, you may want to pack a picnic basket because it’s going to be a while. 

“If you’ve been trying to get a home renovation project started, you may be waiting for your new range, fridge, or dishwasher,” said Francoise von Trapp of 3DIncites. “I was one of the lucky ones! I renovated my kitchen in February, and everything was in stock. But that’s not the case for everyone. If you can get your hands on the latest appliances, chances are they will cost more than they did two years ago.”

Suffice it to say, Tesla’s latest Autopilot dust-up didn't go unnoticed by regulators. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) has asked the automaker to deliver all the available data it has about its driver assistance system, Autopilot, by October 22, 2021.

The agency’s reason is simple: it wants to ascertain whether the Autopilot mechanism has a safety defect that causes Tesla vehicles to hit emergency vehicles.

In its letter to Tesla, the agency said it will “assess the technologies and methods used to monitor, assist, and enforce the driver's engagement with the dynamic driving task during Autopilot operation. The investigation will additionally assess the [object and event detection and response feature] by vehicles when engaged in Autopilot mode, and [operational design domain] in which the Autopilot mode is functional. The investigation will also include examination of the contributing circumstances for the confirmed crashes ... and other similar crashes.”

While the NHTSA didn't threaten Tesla with the possibility of a recall, it does have that power. Truth be known, the agency was already laying the groundwork for a Tesla investigation. CNBC previously reported that officials began a safety probe in mid-August after they established that Autopilot was in use before collisions between Tesla electric cars and first responder vehicles -- accidents responsible for 17 injuries and one fatality.

Undaunted, Tesla carries on -- to the point that it’s penciled in its next Full Self-Driving Beta public release for later this month.

Yes, automated driving is the future, but…

The NHTSA admits that automated driving is on the horizon, but the technology isn’t perfect yet. The agency continues to define Autopilot as a level 2 driver assistance tool since it requires driver supervision at all times.

Tesla has already sided with the agency's point of view, stating that the Autopilot feature requires "active driver supervision" and does not "make the vehicle autonomous." 

Unfortunately for Tesla, it has stuck its neck out to support Autopilot and suffers the feature’s woes in the public eye more than other automakers, like Uber, that are invested in autonomous driving. 

Since Tesla is the most marketed brand in the self-driving chase, it tends to garner a lot of sales from consumers who want to be on the cutting edge. And there’s a lot of consumers who want to be part of the Autopilot world, too. Enough that Teslas with the Autopilot feature have racked up hundreds of millions of road miles and an estimated $3 billion in additional sales for the company. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Society of Hematology explored the risks associated with pregnant women missing out on important rounds of vitamin testing. 

Their work showed that a large percentage of pregnant women aren’t being tested for an iron deficiency, even though one in two pregnant women are iron deficient. 

“Despite the very high prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnancy, and how easy it is to treat, we are not doing a very good job of checking for it,” said researcher Dr. Jennifer Teichman. “It’s not top of mind, in part, because of inconsistent recommendations for ferritin testing across clinical guidelines.” 

The push for more iron testing

The researchers analyzed data from more than 44,000 pregnant women between 2013 and 2018. The women were seeking prenatal care at community laboratories in Canada, and they reported on how often ferritin testing, the blood test that is given to pregnant women to determine iron deficiency, was offered during pregnancy. 

The study showed that 60% of the women received ferritin testing during pregnancy, and more than 70% of those tests occurred at the initial pregnancy check-up. However, the researchers explained that taking only one test isn’t enough. Women can develop an iron deficiency at any point during pregnancy, and regular testing throughout the trimesters gives health care providers the best chance to start treatment. 

As women progress through their pregnancies, their need for higher iron levels continues to increase. A lack of iron may increase the risk of postpartum depression, low birth weight, and premature birth. This is why regular testing for iron levels over the course of pregnancy can help protect women and their babies. 

“Iron deficiency is very common, and there can be poor outcomes for both mom and baby if it isn’t identified and treated,” said Dr. Teichman. “The good news is that it’s easily found with a simple blood test and completely correctable with iron supplements.” 

The researchers hope guidelines change in the future to ensure that all pregnant women receive regular tests for iron deficiency throughout their entire pregnancies. Currently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force doesn’t recommend women receive ferritin testing during pregnancy; however, these findings make it clear that all women should be tested often throughout pregnancy to ensure the best health outcomes for themselves and their newborns. 

“Prenatal vitamins contain only a sprinkling of iron and many combine iron with calcium, which can inhibit the absorption of iron,” said Dr. Teichman. “The way to address the problem is by identifying iron deficiency early on and then supplementing women with therapeutic doses of iron, which has 10 times the amount found in most prenatal vitamins.” 

When children experience food insecurity, it can affect everything from their performance in school to their development and health outcomes. Now, researchers from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health found that experiencing food insecurity as a college student can have similarly detrimental outcomes.

According to their findings, students who experience food insecurity during their college years may have a harder time graduating or pursuing advanced degrees.

How food-related stress impacts school

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 1,500 college students enrolled in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The participants were in college in the early 2000s, and they kept up with study questionnaires until 2017. Both in college and post-college, the participants answered questions about their lives at home and their experiences with food insecurity. 

It became clear to the researchers that there was a link between college graduation rates and food insecurity. The study showed that food insecurity made the students 43% less likely to achieve an associate’s or a bachelor’s degree. It also lowered the likelihood of earning an advanced degree by more than 60%.

This relationship was even more pronounced for participants who were the first in their families to go to college. Forty-seven percent of first-generation college students who struggled with food insecurity graduated from college, compared to 59% of first-generation, food-secure college students. 

“These results suggest that we really need robust policies to address food insecurity among college students, especially now with the higher food insecurity levels observed during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said researcher Julia Wolfson, Ph.D. 

Consumers traveling over the Labor Day weekend will find rising gasoline prices, but they may not feel the full effects of Hurricane Ida’s battering on refineries along the Gulf Coast.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows that the national average price of regular gas is $3.18 a gallon, four cents more than a week ago. It’s only a penny higher than the price was a month ago. The average price of premium gas is $3.80 a gallon, two cents higher than last week. The average price of diesel fuel is $3.28, a penny higher than a week ago.

The price stability is occurring despite the fact that most refineries in the path of the storm shut down for more than 24 hours. The Colonial Pipeline, which moves most of the fuel from the Gulf Coast to the Eastern Seaboard, also shut down temporarily. The pipeline resumed full operations on Tuesday.

One thing keeping prices in check is an increase in U.S. gasoline supplies. GasBuddy’s Patrick DeHaan reported on Twitter Wednesday that for the week ending August 27, gas supplies increased by 1.3 million barrels. However, DeHaan says supplies in PADD 1, which covers the East Coast, have fallen 30% over two months.

“Until the power is restored, it’s too early to know the full impact of any damage Ida caused on the oil and gas industry, but motorists regionally can expect price fluctuations leading into Labor Day weekend,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson.

So far, prices in Louisiana haven’t risen that much. Prices in the Western states actually went down this week. The average price is up four cents a gallon in Tennessee and South Carolina. Kentucky, well out of the storm’s path, saw a nine cents a gallon jump.

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 ($4.07)

• Nevada ($4.03)

• Washington ($3.90) 

• Utah ($3.82)

• Idaho ($3.79)

• Oregon ($3.78) 

• Alaska ($3.69) 

• Colorado ($3.61)  

• Wyoming ($3.57)

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 ($2.83)

• Texas ($2.80) 

• Alabama ($2.82)

• Missouri ($2.84)

• Arkansas ($2.84)

• Tennessee ($2.88) 4

• South Carolina ($2.88) 4

• Oklahoma ($2.88) 3

• Kansas ($2.91)

Genji Pacific of Allentown, Pa., is recalling 1490 packs of sushi containing cocktail shrimp.

The products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

A list of the recalled products, packed in clear lid containers, with labels indicating the Hand-Crafted date of 8/12/2021 and 8/13/2021 and Best By Date of 08/13/2021 and 08/14/2021, may be found here.

The recalled products were sold from Genji Sushi counters inside Whole Foods Market stores at the following locations:

• 3000 Telegraph Ave Berkeley CA 94705
• 390 Coddingtown Mall Santa Rosa CA 95401
• 3502 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Lafayette CA 94549
• 414 Miller Ave Mill Valley CA 94941
• 790 De Long Avenue Novato CA 94945-7005
• 621 E. Washington St Petaluma CA 94952
• 340 Third St San Rafael CA 94901
• 1181 Yulupa Ave Santa Rosa CA 95405
• 6910 McKinley St Sebastopol CA 95472
• 3111 Mowry Avenue Fremont CA 94538
• 1025 Gilman Street Berkeley CA 94710
• 230 Bay Place Oakland CA 94612
• 774 Emerson St Palo Alto CA 94301
• 5200 Dublin Blvd. Dublin CA 94568
• 1010 Park Place San Mateo CA 94403
• 100 Sunset Drive San Ramon CA 94583
• 1333 Newell Ave Walnut Creek CA 94596
• 2941 Ygnacio Valley Rd Walnut Creek CA 94598
• 731 East Blithedale Mill Valley CA 94941
• 2001 Market Street San Francisco CA 94114
• 1765 California St San Francisco CA 94109
• 690 Stanyan Street San Francisco CA 94117-3305
• 3950 24th Street San Francisco CA 94114
• 1150 Ocean Ave San Francisco CA 94112
• 450 Rhode Island St San Francisco CA 94107
• 399 4th Street San Francisco CA 94107
• 1146 Blossom Hill Rd San Jose CA 95118
• 1690 South Bascom Ave Campbell CA 95008
• 4800 El Camino Real Los Altos CA 94022
• 15980 Los Gatos Blvd Los Gatos CA 95032
• 1250 Jefferson Ave Redwood City CA 94062
• 2732 Augustine Drive Suite 1600 Santa Clara CA 95054
• 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd Cupertino CA 95014
• 777 The Alameda San Jose CA 95126
• 1710 41st Avenue Capitola CA 95010
• 650 W. Shaw Ave. Fresno CA 93704
• 800 Del Monte Center Monterey CA 93940
• 911 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz CA 95062
• 270 Palladio Parkway Folsom CA 95630
• 3682 Bel Aire Plaza Napa CA 94558
• 6139 S. Virginia Street Reno CA 89502
• 1001 Galleria Blvd. Roseville CA 95678
• 4315 Arden Way Sacramento CA 95864
• 201 W. Napa St Sonoma CA 95476
• 3600 Lake Tahoe Blvd. South Lake Tahoe CA 96150

What to do

Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them, but discard them and contact the company at (484) 223-4502