Current Events in April 2022

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    World Variety Producer recalls Organic Zucchini

    The product may be contaminated with salmonella

    World Variety Produce of Los Angeles, Calif., is recalling one lot of Organic Zucchini.

    The product may be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported to date.

    The recalled product, which comes in a 6-oz clear overwrap tray under lot number 38706503 and UPC 6-81131-22105-4, was sold in select Walmart retail stores in Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

    What to do

    Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should discard it.

    Consumers with questions may contact the firm at (800) 588-0151 Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (PST).

    World Variety Produce of Los Angeles, Calif., is recalling one lot of Organic Zucchini.The product may be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses ha...

    Hyundai recalls model year 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles

    The turbocharger oil supply pipe may leak

    Hyundai Motor America is recalling 16 model year 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles.

    The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could result in an oil leak in the engine compartment.

    An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as a hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

    What to do

    Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 27, 2022.

    Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 222.

    Hyundai Motor America is recalling 16 model year 2022 Santa Fe and Santa Cruz vehicles.The oil supply pipe to the turbocharger may crack, which could r...

    Department of Education takes another step to fix student loan issues

    Ending 'forbearance steering' is at the top of the agency’s new to-do list

    Less than two weeks after the Biden administration extended the suspension of student loan repayments, the Department of Education announced that it is also tackling the issue by taking actions to fix the widespread failures in the student loan programs.

    Included in those actions are steps that will bring borrowers closer to public service loan and income-driven repayment (IDR) forgiveness by addressing “historical failures” in how federal student loan programs have been managed. 

    The first step will make some 40,000 borrowers happy. The Federal Student Aid (FSA) estimates that these changes will bring about immediate debt cancellation for at least that many borrowers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The agency said several thousand borrowers with older loans are also on its list to receive forgiveness through IDR and that upwards of three million borrowers will receive at least three years of additional credit toward IDR forgiveness.

    “Student loans were never meant to be a life sentence, but it’s certainly felt that way for borrowers locked out of debt relief they’re eligible for,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

    “Today, the Department of Education will begin to remedy years of administrative failures that effectively denied the promise of loan forgiveness to certain borrowers enrolled in IDR plans. These actions once again demonstrate the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to delivering meaningful debt relief and ensuring federal student loan programs are administered fairly and effectively.”

    The new agenda

    Going forward, Cardona’s team will work on three primary initiatives:

    • Ending “forbearance steering”

    • Tracking progress toward IDR forgiveness

    • Tackling student debt

    To end “forbearance steering,” the DOE will require that borrowers who are having trouble making their loan payments get “clear and accurate information” from servicers about their options for staying out of delinquency. They will also be informed about any financial ramifications of choosing short-term options like forbearance. 

    To improve the tracking of IDR forgiveness, the agency said its research found “significant flaws” that indicate borrowers are missing out on progress toward forgiveness, which most are entitled to after 20 years of payments. Things won’t start to gel on repairing this issue until 2023, but the FSA will begin displaying IDR payment counts on StudentAid.gov at that point so borrowers can view their progress after logging into their accounts. 

    The agency indicated that it will remain committed to making student loan relief programs work for everyone.

    “Efforts to revise IDR regulations will produce substantially more affordable monthly payments for millions of borrowers,” the DOE said in its announcement. “Today’s actions complement steps the Administration has already taken within its first year to cancel more than $17 billion in debt for 725,000 borrowers in addition to extending the student loan payment pause, saving 41 million borrowers billions of dollars in payments each month.” 

    Less than two weeks after the Biden administration extended the suspension of student loan repayments, the Department of Education announced that it is als...

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      Coronavirus update: CDC may appeal mask ruling after all

      Some think the mask requirement leads to more air rage

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

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80,746,966 (80,688,517)

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 989,481 (988,946)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 506,282,194 (505,103,302)

      Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,205,279 (6,200,525)‌

      Travel mask mandate ruling may be appealed

      In an about-face, the Biden administration says it will probably appeal a judge’s ruling that overturned the COVID-19-related mask mandates on planes and other forms of public transportation. Previously, the administration said it would let the ruling stand.

      “The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disagree with the district court’s decision and will appeal,” the DOJ said in a statement, “subject to CDC’s conclusion that the order remains necessary for public health.”

      A federal judge in Tampa had ruled that the CDC lacked proper authority to extend the mask mandate for travel. The judge said the agency failed to explain its reasons and that it did not seek public comment, as required by federal rules.

      Do masks contribute to air rage incidents?

      When a federal judge struck down the travel mask mandate, airline passengers and the airlines themselves celebrated. Some blame the requirement to wear a mask on commercial aircraft for an increase in violence aboard aircraft over the last two years.

      According to Statista, the vast majority of violent encounters aboard aircraft involved passengers who objected to the rule requiring a mask. It was flight attendants who often suffered the assault when they enforced the rule.

      In an interview with ABC News last year, Federal Aviation Administrator Steve Dickson said a typical year sees about 100 such incidents. He said it was clear the number had increased since the start of the pandemic.

      Study links COVID-19 pneumonia with dementia risk

      Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and MU Health Care say their study shows that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia have a higher risk of developing dementia than those with other types of pneumonia. 

      The research team assembled data from 1.4 billion medical encounters prior to July 31, 2021. They selected patients who were hospitalized with pneumonia for more than 24 hours. Among 10,403 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, 312 (3%) developed new onset dementia after recovering, compared to 263 (2.5%) of the 10,403 patients with other types of pneumonia diagnosed with dementia.  

      “The risk of new onset dementia was more common in COVID-19 pneumonia patients over the age of 70 in our study,” said lead researcher Dr. Adnan I. Qureshi, a professor of clinical neurology at the MU School of Medicine. “The type of dementia seen in survivors of COVID-19 infection mainly affects memory, ability to perform everyday tasks and self-regulation. Language and awareness of time and location remained relatively preserved.” 

      Around the nation

      • New Jersey: The New Jersey Department of Health reports that two new “stealth Omicron” subvariants have been detected in the state. Officials confirmed 80 cases this week of Omicron subvariants BA.2.12 and BA.2.12.1, which previously had been confined to New York.

      • California: A truckers’ convoy rolled into Sacramento this week to protest a number of COVID-19-related issues. The truckers are demanding that the state legislature kill a number of pandemic-related bills that were recently introduced. They also want the U.S. to end the state of emergency declared at the beginning of the pandemic.

      • Wisconsin: A report from the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum says the state received less pandemic financial aid than most other states. The report found that, unlike most other states, Wisconsin used its funds to support the state’s economy.

      • Utah: The masks have come off and things are getting back to normal, but the virus is still out there. Even so, a new poll shows that around 75% of Utah residents are not worried about getting infected. However, only 22% said their lives are completely back to normal.

      • Tennessee: Business owners in Tennessee say they are feeling the effects of the latest COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai, China’s largest port. Andy Borchers, professor and associate dean at Lipscomb University's College of Business, said delays in receiving goods from China have prompted local businesses to seek shorter supply chains.

      COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80...

      Netflix reports that it lost 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2022

      The company says it wants to address password sharing among users

      Netflix’s growth seems to have hit the proverbial wall. When it unveiled its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, the streaming leader said its hope to add 2.5 million subscribers in the first three months of 2022 came up empty – drastically empty. Instead, it lost 200,000 subscribers in Q1 and expects to lose two million more by the end of June. 

      The company’s reported revenue was up 10% to $7.9 billion, likely due to an increase in subscription prices. But, its quarterly profit was slightly down at $1.6 billion; the company earned $1.7 billion during the same timeframe in 2021. The sting from the company’s admission was swift and strong, with its stock value falling as much as 25% in after-hours trading. 

      While Netflix admits that its revenue growth has slowed considerably, company officials are reportedly telling investors that streaming is winning over "linear" TV (e.g., a regular TV network like CBS.) Officials also claim that Netflix titles are very popular globally. 

      At a crossroads 

      Netflix stopped short of blaming COVID-19 for the downturn in revenue, but it did say the pandemic-driven surge in streaming had an effect.

      “The big COVID boost to streaming obscured the picture until recently,” the company said in a filing. “However, our relatively high household penetration - when including the large number of households sharing accounts - combined with competition, is creating revenue growth headwinds.”

      The company didn’t stop there with its blame game. It also pointed its finger at “sluggish economic growth, increasing inflation, [and] geopolitical events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine"

      There’s also a tsunami of competition that Netflix didn’t count on facing. In its filing, the company pointed to Prime Video (Amazon), Disney+, Hulu, and YouTube as “robust” competitors that were created by traditional entertainment companies that realized streaming is the future.

      The two competitors that Netflix charted with the most growth were Prime Video and Disney. However, it claims that its subscribers seem to be happy and that its U.S. television viewing share has been steady or ascending, according to Nielsen. “We want to grow that share faster. Higher view share is an indicator of higher satisfaction, which supports higher retention and revenue,” the company stated.

      Advertising revenue might also be a salve that could boost the company's bottom line. CEO Reed Hastings said Netflix will try to figure out if it can add in "low-end, ad-supported plans over the next year or two" -- a move that MarketingDive said would put Netflix at parity with other streaming platforms like HBO Max and Disney+.

      Is there a password-sharing crackdown on the way?

      One thing that Netflix is likely to keep chipping away at is password sharing. Earlier this year, it announced that it may start charging subscribers more if they share their passwords. And there seems to be a lot of that going around – an estimated 100 million households are reportedly breaking Netflix’s rules by sharing passwords.

      The big question is just how far Netflix will go to stop password sharing. Hastings said in a previous quarterly review that he knows the company has to be careful with whatever approach it takes.

      “We test many things, but we would never roll something out that feels like ‘turning the screws,’ as you said,”  Hastings said. “It has got to feel like it makes sense to consumers, that they understand. And [Netflix’s chief product officer has] been doing a lot of great research trying variants that harmonize with the way consumers think about it.”

      Hastings described the practice of password sharing as "something you have to learn to live with" and that much of it is "legitimate" between family members.

      Netflix’s growth seems to have hit the proverbial wall. When it unveiled its first-quarter earnings on Tuesday, the streaming leader said its hope to add 2...

      Most Americans support tougher distracted driving laws, poll shows

      Eighty-six percent back laws requiring drivers to use hands-free cell phone technology

      Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a dramatic drop in the number of cars on American roads and highways. But surprisingly, there was also a dramatic increase in the number of traffic accidents and fatalities.

      How could that be? Some traffic safety experts suspect distracted driving – specifically, drivers moving at high speeds while looking at their smartphones.

      The National Safety Council reports that drivers on their cell phones cause an estimated 1.6 million traffic accidents each year. The same report estimates that 390,000 injuries are caused each year by someone texting while driving.

      A new poll by Nationwide Insurance shows that the American public wants new laws to address the problem. For example, the survey shows that 86% of people who offered an opinion want laws that require any driver on a cell phone to use it in a hands-free mode.

      "Despite fewer people on roads and highways during the pandemic more people are dying in fatal crashes," said Nationwide CEO Kirt Walker. "While it isn't practical to remove every distraction from motor vehicles, making it a primary offense for the use of handheld devices will reduce crashes and save lives.”

      Drowsy driving is also a problem

      To be fair, not all distracted driving is the result of someone reading or sending a text. Victoria Wildhorn, a writer at Pillar4 Media, wrote extensively on the topic in late 2021. She tells ConsumerAffairs that her research shows that 17.3% of respondents in a AAA survey admitted to driving while being so tired they had a hard time keeping their eyes open.

      She found that adults between the ages of 18 and 29 were 19% more likely to drive while drowsy than people who are older. She says a Brigham and Woman’s Hospital study showed that people with severe sleep apnea had a 123% increased risk of being in a traffic accident.

      Walker says hands-free laws would make a huge contribution toward reducing accidents. He says there is plenty of research showing that hands-free primary legislation is effective at reducing traffic accidents.

      “A 2018 analysis showed that states that enact this type of legislation experienced a 15% decrease in auto crash-related fatalities two years after the enactment of this type of law,” Walker said. “Six states in that same analysis saw a decrease of more than 20% in fatality rates."

      At the moment, only 24 states have this kind of legislation on the books. Twenty-one states are actively considering such laws.

      Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a dramatic drop in the number of cars on American roads and highways. But surprisingly, there was also...

      Wildfires in Pacific Northwest push air pollution across North America, study finds

      Experts say spikes in pollution levels are likely to impact consumers’ long-term health

      A new study conducted by researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research explored how wildfires in the Pacific Northwest can have wide-reaching consequences. 

      According to their findings, these wildfires are likely to cause surges in pollution levels across all of North America. As a result, this can increase the risk for several pollution-related health complications

      “Wildfire emissions have increased so substantially that they’re changing the annual pattern of air quality across North America,” said researcher Rebecca Buchholz. “It’s quite clear that there is a new peak of air pollution in August that didn’t used to exist.” 

      Pollution’s impact on health

      For the study, the researchers tracked wildfire emissions over the past 20 years and used a computer model to understand their impact. The data focused on three areas – the Northeast, the Pacific Northwest, and the central U.S. 

      The study showed that wildfire emissions greatly impacted pollution levels across the United States. The team observed that carbon monoxide spiked, especially in the late summer months, across all of North America following peak wildfire seasons in the Pacific Northwest. 

      Based on wildfire and pollution data from across the U.S. and parts of Asia, the researchers were able to narrow down their results to determine that the spikes in pollution were directly related to the wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. 

      “Multiple lines of evidence point to the worsening wildfires in the Pacific Northwest as the cause of degraded air quality,” Buchholz said. “It’s particularly unfortunate that these fires are undermining the gains that society has made in reducing pollution overall.” 

      The fear now is that this spike in air pollution will negatively affect consumers’ health – especially since the source of the pollution comes from wildfire emissions. These types of pollutants have a history of impacting respiratory health, cardiovascular symptoms, and pregnancy outcomes. 

      “It’s clear that more research is needed into the health implications of all this smoke,” Buchholz said. “We may already be seeing consequences of these fires on the health of residents who live hundreds or even thousands of miles downwind.” 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the National Center for Atmospheric Research explored how wildfires in the Pacific Northwest can have wide-reachi...

      Hyundai recalls Sonatas, Sonata Hybrids, and Genesis G70s

      The trunk emergency release may fail

      Hyundai Motor America is recalling 63,461 model year 2020 Sonatas & Sonata Hybrids, and model year 2019 Genesis G70s.

      The trunk latch may become damaged and prevent 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 inspect the trunk latch and replace the trunk latch base -- as necessary -- free of charge.

      Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 20, 2022.

      Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 221/010G.

      Hyundai Motor America is recalling 63,461 model year 2020 Sonatas & Sonata Hybrids, and model year 2019 Genesis G70s.The trunk latch may become damaged...

      Liberty Fruit Company recalls processed cantaloupe

      The product may be contaminated with salmonella

      Liberty Fruit Company is recalling certain packages containing cantaloupe.

      The product may be contaminated with salmonella, but there have been no reports of illness to date.

      The recalled products are packaged in 4-oz, 8-oz, 16-oz, and 32-oz clear plastic containers marked as Fruit Medley, Fruit Tray, Fruit Salad, Cantaloupe Chunks, Hawaiian Blend, and Melon Medley.

      Expiration dates marked on the labels range from March 3, 2022, to March 26, 2022.

      The products were marketed under the label Liberty Fruit Co., Inc. and/or Carol’s Cuts with the following UPC codes: 886810710052, 886810710250, 886810710076, 886810710120, 886810710014, 886810710069, 886810060560, 886810060591, 886810060546, 886810710403, 886810710410, 886810710793, 886810710502, 886810710762, 886810710724, 886810974263, 886810710809, 886810731002, 886810731019.

      They were sold at retail stores and foodservice operations in Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

      What to do

      Customers who purchased the recalled products should not consume them. Instead, they should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

      Consumers with questions may contact the company at (913) 281-5200 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday.

      Liberty Fruit Company is recalling certain packages containing cantaloupe.The product may be contaminated with salmonella, but there have been no repor...

      Federal judge strikes down federal mask mandate on airplanes

      Airlines say they're following the order, but travelers can wear masks if they like

      Say farewell to the mask mandate on airlines. After weeks of airlines going to the White House to get some relief and legislation introduced to end the mask requirement, a federal judge in Florida struck down the Biden administration's mask mandate for airplanes and other forms of public transportation like trains and busses. 

      In her 59-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said that while it’s indisputable that the public has a “strong interest” in curtailing the spread of COVID-19, the mask mandate exceeded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s authority.

      President Biden hasn’t officially responded on whether he’ll try to appeal the judge’s decision, but White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said the move was a “disappointing decision.” Psaki repeated the CDC’s mantra that people should wear a mask in public transit.

      “We would say to anyone sitting out there, we would recommend you wear masks on the airplane,” she said.

      As well-intentioned as the mask mandate was, it also led to an avalanche of incidents involving unruly passengers who refused to comply with it. Airline crews reported almost 6,000 unruly passenger incidents to the FAA in 2021, with 4,290 of them involving masks. 

      Airlines are establishing new guidelines

      Major U.S. airlines moved to redefine their requirements within hours of the ruling. In surveying what actions the major domestic airlines are doing in response to the judge’s order, this is what ConsumerAffairs found:

      Alaska Airlines: The airline now considers face masks optional and has asked for passengers to be considerate.

      American Airlines: American says it is no longer enforcing the federal mandate, but it wants travelers to know that face masks may still be required because of local ordinances or when traveling to/from certain international locations. The carrier said in a statement that customers and team members may choose to continue to wear masks at their own discretion.

      United Airlines: The airline’s position is similar to the response from American Airlines. In an email to ConsumerAffairs, the company said "masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country's mask requirements) or at U.S. airports," but the flying public can still mask up if they choose to. 

      Southwest Airlines: Effective immediately, Southwest said masking up is at the sole discretion of both its employees and customers.

      Delta Air Lines: In a memo to employees, Delta said it is proceeding with caution. “Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that customers, airline employees and federal agency employees – such as TSA – may be receiving this information at different times,” the memo said. “You may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated — remember to show understanding and patience with others who may not be aware enforcement is no longer required."

      Medical expert weighs in

      ConsumerAffairs asked infectious disease expert and CEO of Hfit Health Dr. Anthony Harris what the public should do until the dust officially settles on the mask mandate situation.

      “Even though the mask mandate is lifted for travel, wear that n95 still. We see that numbers are still going up, especially in the Northeast and we are finding out more about COVID and the effects it has on people long term,” Harris told us. “Even if you had mild symptoms, you can still end up with long covid symptoms/issues. We're seeing an increased risk for  type 1 diabetes and heart and lung conditions so wearing that mask can help prevent transmission, especially when traveling.”

      Specifically for airplane travel, Harris says he is in favor of masking up.

      “Yeah, it's crucial that we wear the mask still, and of course it changes when you eat and drink, but keep it on as much as possible. And then keep your distance where possible,” he said.

      Say farewell to the mask mandate on airlines. After weeks of airlines going to the White House to get some relief and legislation introduced to end the mas...

      Postal delivery speeds to change May 1

      Stamp prices are going up too

      America’s mail delivery is getting a shake-up. Starting May 1, the USPS will be implementing changes to how First-Class packages and Priority Mail are shipped. Many of the changes will slow down mail delivery by about a day.

      The postal service’s modifications are part of Delivering for America, the agency’s 10-year plan to get back on its feet financially while still doing the best it can to keep service at a high level. As part of its research into how it can make those things happen, the agency said people should allow additional transport time for long-distance package deliveries via surface transportation, which the agency says is more reliable and affordable than air transportation.

      “Modifying select service standards is a key growth element and enabler of our 10-year plan. This action will contribute to our cost savings efforts and improve our reliability across all product classes, including our growing package market,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.

      “By implementing the elements of our 10-year plan, we will deliver the consistent, reliable service that the American people and our customers expect and deserve and grow package volume, spurring revenue growth that can be invested back into the Postal Service.”

      Specific delivery changes Americans can expect

      The USPS offered these specific changes that will begin in May:

      Priority Mail: The Postal Service is removing an extra day for Priority Mail that is transported by ground. That’s good news for people who have been frustrated by Priority Mail’s sluggish delivery times during the pandemic. The post office added an extra day to Priority service back in April 2020, because of the breakdown of the global supply chain and issues with transportation and employee availability. However, this particular change may take a while before it's fully implemented.

      “Given the continued high demand on the overall air network, the Postal Service is retaining the extra day for Priority Mail transported by air until the reliability of the organization’s key providers improves,” USPS said in a statement.

      First-Class Package Service (FCPS) – packages that weigh less than a pound: The postal service says that the majority of FCPS volume – 68% – will not be impacted by the upcoming changes, meaning that most people will still receive FCPS in 2-3 days. In addition, about 4% of FCPS delivery will also be upgraded from a three-day service standard to a two-day service standard.

      That’s the good news. The not-so-good news is that 17% of the agency's three-day FCPS volume will now shift to a four-day service standard. An additional 15% will shift to a five-day service standard. The USPS said the greatest impact will be on packages traveling the longest distances, such as from New York to California. 

      Stamp prices are going up too

      On top of delivery changes, the USPS also recently requested price changes for stamps to take effect on July 10, 2022. The new prices, if given approval by the Governors of the U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission, include a two-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp from 58 cents to 60 cents.

      Specifically, the single-piece letter additional ounce price would increase to 24 cents, the 1-ounce price would increase to 57 cents, and the price of a postcard stamp would increase to 44 cents. A one-ounce letter mailed to other countries would increase to $1.40.

      The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Certified Mail, Post Office Box rental fees, Money Order fees, and the cost of purchasing insurance when mailing an item.   

      America’s mail delivery is getting a shake-up. Starting May 1, the USPS will be implementing changes to how First-Class packages and Priority Mail are ship...

      Coronavirus update: Pandemic population drop rebounds

      A judge has overturned the federal transportation mask mandate

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

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80,698,111 (80,635,953)

      Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌deaths:‌ 989,137 (988,663)

      Total‌ ‌global‌ ‌cases:‌ 505,383,274 (504,650,389)

      Total ‌global‌ ‌deaths:‌ 6,201,549 (6,198,926)‌

      The baby bust is over, report finds

      The COVID-19 decline in births is over, according to a United Nations report analyzed by the Financial Times. The so-called “baby bust” reached its peak in late 2020 with a drop in births, and the report credits financial stimulus for the population turnaround.

      “The short-term decline in births observed in many countries is consistent with other historical crises . . . but in the case of Covid-19, these declines have been more shortlived,” the authors wrote.

      Between the end of 2020 and the first half of 2021, nine months after the first lockdowns, the analysis of the report showed that countries ranging from China to France experienced their lowest number of births on record. Italy had fewer births in 2021 than at any time since 1861.

      Judge overturns transportation mask mandate

      The Biden administration’s plan to continue the transportation mask mandate for another two weeks beyond its expiration date has hit a roadblock. U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa has ruled that the government overstepped its bounds and has effectively ended the mandate.

      From now on, consumers traveling by air, rail, or by car will not be required to wear a mask. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it would not appeal the judge’s decision.

      In making her ruling, Mizelle said the CDC did not explain its reason for the extension. She also found that the agency did not allow for public comment, a violation of federal rules.

      Report finds red states fared better than blue states

      Almost from the beginning, the COVID-19 pandemic has been entangled in partisan politics. A new report by the Committee to Unleash Prosperity attempts to break down the divide even more and is likely to be a source of political dispute.

      The report evaluated how states balanced the health of their citizens with other policies and determined that nine of the 10 states that fared the best were led by Republican governors. In addition to economic impact, the report also looked at which states had the highest death toll from the virus.

      According to the analysis, Utah fared the best in all categories. It was followed by Nebraska, Vermont, Montana, South Dakota, Florida, New Hampshire, Maine, and Arkansas. 

      Around the nation

      • Connecticut: State health officials report that cases of COVID-19 are on the rise across Connecticut. There were 4,758 cases reported last week, a 31.5% increase from the previous week. The official case tally shows that Connecticut ranked ninth among the states where coronavirus cases were spreading the fastest on a per-person basis.

      • South Dakota: Positive results from COVID-19 tests are rising quickly in South Dakota. The positivity rate last week was 33.5%, the highest in the nation. Despite that, health officials say actual cases of the virus remain quite low in comparison to January.

      • Colorado: A national COVID-19 tracker pegs Colorado as a hotspot for COVID-19, with a one-week increase of 1,323 new cases. But state health department officials say the numbers are misleading because they are out of date. The real number, they say, is less than 500.

      • Minnesota: Doctors say two sets of COVID-19 numbers are moving in opposite directions. On one hand, new cases of the coronavirus are increasing across the state. At the same time, they say the number of people being treated in intensive care units (ICU) is at a pandemic low.

      • Arkansas: Clinical trials have shown that Pfizer's Paxlovid reduced the risks of death and hospitalizations by 88%, but pharmacists in Arkansas say the pills are hard to come by. The Arkansas Pharmacists Association reports that just one in seven drug stores in the state has the medication.

      COVID-19 ‌tally‌ ‌as‌ ‌‌compiled‌‌ ‌by‌ ‌Johns‌ ‌Hopkins‌ ‌University.‌ ‌(Previous‌ ‌numbers‌ ‌in‌ ‌parentheses.)‌Total‌ ‌U.S.‌ ‌confirmed‌ ‌cases:‌ 80...

      More homeowner associations are seeking to limit rentals

      The move coincides with a large increase in investors buying houses

      When the housing market collapsed in 2008 and home prices plunged, it wasn’t long before investors swooped in and bought distressed properties to convert them to rental properties.

      The trend has only increased over the last decade and has coincided with a dramatic drop in homes for sale. Real estate experts have attributed record-high home prices, in part, to the declining number of homes on the market.

      Lately, some homeowner associations (HOA) in large subdivisions have adopted bylaws to limit the number of homes that can be occupied by anyone other than the owner. 

      The Wall Street Journal reports that the Whitehall Village Master Homeowners Association is attempting to amend its covenants to require anyone buying a home in the development to live in the home or leave it unoccupied for six months before it can be rented. 

      Among the arguments made by the HOA for this action is to protect property values. The HOA has claimed that rental properties are not maintained at the level of owner-occupied homes and can make a neighborhood less desirable.

      Small impact at first

      Greg Kurzner, a strategic real estate investing adviser at Real Estate Bees in Atlanta, is heavily involved in residential “buy and hold” investing and purchasing homes for resale. He says companies like Invitation Homes, American Homes 4 Rent, and others began institutionalizing the business of residential rental properties around 2012 and were not initially impacting the housing market in a significant way. 

      “Over time, that has changed, with firms buying more and more homes for rent and more firms entering the residential rental industry,” Kurzner told ConsumerAffairs. 

      Unlike the immediate post-housing crash years, Kurzner said today’s real estate investors are happy to pay the list price for homes because rental rates are increasing. He says they often hold an advantage over owner-occupant buyers because they can pay cash and settle quickly. In short, they’ve been very good for sellers.

      “The presence of buy-to-rent competitors has further exacerbated a low inventory market and there is little chance the trend will slow down until rental rates and or the costs associated with rental ownership increase to a point where investing in rentals isn't profitable,” he said. 

      Highly profitable

      Investing in rentals appears to be very profitable at the moment. The Journal cites data from CoreLogic that shows one out of five homes that sold in December was purchased by an investor. The National Association of Realtors reports that the median price for a home selling in February was 15% higher than 12 months earlier.

      Kurzner says HOAs can and do implement rental restrictions, and they take many forms. Some restrict short-term rentals such as Airbnbs, and others prohibit rentals entirely.

      “HOAs can typically implement restrictions as long as they do so as they would when adding or amending their covenants and restrictions for anything else,” Kurzner said. “Most amendments or changes to covenants require a supermajority vote of the owners.” 

      To make the changes enforceable, Kurzner said HOAs should seek legal counsel to prepare documents that are legal, enforceable, and don't violate any local, state, or federal laws. An attorney can help ensure that the restrictions are not discriminatory.

      When the housing market collapsed in 2008 and home prices plunged, it wasn’t long before investors swooped in and bought distressed properties to convert t...

      Disney is the brand with the strongest emotional bond, survey finds

      Tesla and Apple are close behind

      Disney, Tesla, and Apple are the top three brands that are getting the most consumer love, according to MBLM’s annual Brand Intimacy Survey.

      For Disney, it was the second first-place finish since 2019 in the deep dive into how brands win consumers’ trust and connect with them emotionally. MBLM is an international firm that employs artificial intelligence and other technology to study the emotional science behind well-known brands.

      "Leveraging big data and artificial intelligence takes the emotional science behind brand performance to the next level,” said Mario Natarelli, managing partner, MBLM. “This new methodology gives us broader and more real-time insights. We are now able to assess more authentic and vivid sentiment from consumers."

      The report credited Disney with demonstrating the ability to continue to resonate with consumers while forming deep intimate connections and relationships, even in a fragmented media landscape.

      ConsumerAffairs reviewers weigh in

      Among ConsumerAffairs reviewers, Disney+ and Tesla are tied for first when it comes to ratings and Apple is third. None of the companies managed to break 4 stars under our 5-star rating system.

      • Disney+  3.7 stars

      • Tesla  3.7 stars

      • Apple 3.2 stars

      That said, all three companies and products have their share of fans. Hailey, of Kenmare, N.D., says her family has always liked Disney content and subscribed as soon as Disney+ became available.

      “Disney Plus is simple to use with large titles and an easy-to-read menu,” Hailey wrote in a ConsumerAffairs review. “Categories presented on the homepage are Disney, Star Wars, National Geographic, Pixar, and Marvel. This platform is also available for download on personal devices. These features make Disney Plus straightforward to navigate for young and old people in the family.”

      Fans of Tesla Energy

      Tesla is primarily known as a car company, but it also has a solar energy business. An analysis of ConsumerAffairs reviews shows that consumers like the energy business just as much, if not more, than the carmaker.

      While Apple draws its share of complaints about customer service – more than you would expect given its high rating by MBLM – reviewer Aaron of New York City loves his new iMac. 

      “This is probably my best transition ever,” Aaron told us. “I switched from the good old windows to Apple with a lot of skepticism and this iMac has proved me wrong. This is the best computer I've ever had and I've worked on a lot of computers over the years.”

      Of all the brands listed in MBLM’s top 10, Sony performed the best with ConsumerAffairs reviewers, earning a 4.1-star rating. The company makes a wide range of products, and some of them are more popular with reviewers than others. Rodney, of Wichita, Kan., is pleased with his Sony TV.

      “Sony quality is unbeatable, price, performance, and value for the money,” he told us.

      Disney, Tesla, and Apple are the top three brands that are getting the most consumer love, according to MBLM’s annual Brand Intimacy Survey.For Disney,...

      Recreational marijuana may reduce demand for prescription drugs, study finds

      Experts say the drug can reduce some health risks linked to certain medications

      A new study conducted by researchers from Cornell University explored how access to recreational marijuana may affect the pharmaceutical industry. According to their findings, consumers who have legal access to marijuana may ultimately lower their demand for prescription drugs. 

      “These results have important implications,” said researcher Shyam Raman. “The reductions in drug utilization that we find could lead to significant cost savings for state Medicaid programs. The results could also indicate an opportunity to reduce the harm that can come with the dangerous side effects associated with some prescription drugs.” 

      Trends with prescription drugs

      The researchers analyzed data from 2011 through 2019 from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all 50 states for the study. They looked at states that had legalized marijuana during that time period and what effect that had on requests for prescription drugs. 

      The researchers learned that 20 states across the country had legalized marijuana for personal use during the study period. However, 40 states had legalized medical marijuana for adults with doctors’ prescriptions. 

      In states where marijuana is legal for personal reasons, the need for prescription drugs dropped. The team found that medications prescribed for pain, sleep, depression, anxiety, seizures, and psychosis were all much lower when consumers had legal access to marijuana. 

      Ultimately, the researchers hope consumers don’t abandon primary care check-ups or other doctor visits in exchange for legal marijuana use. However, reducing the demand for prescription medications may also lower Medicaid costs over time. 

      A new study conducted by researchers from Cornell University explored how access to recreational marijuana may affect the pharmaceutical industry. Accordin...

      Consumers' socioeconomic status may affect their response to depression treatment, study finds

      Experts say lower income and education may lead to poorer treatment outcomes

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati explored how socioeconomic factors may affect consumers’ mental health treatment. According to their findings, those with lower incomes and less education may have poorer outcomes related to depression treatment

      “If you’re going home to a wealthy neighborhood with highly educated parents or spouse, then you’re arguably in a much better environment for the treatment to be effective than if you’re going to a poor neighborhood with other problems,” said researcher Jeffrey Mills, Ph.D. 

      Barriers to depression treatment

      For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 665 patients enrolled in the CO-MED trial. The participants reported on their socioeconomic background and all received the same access to depression treatments

      The researchers identified a few socioeconomic factors that impacted the participants’ response to their mental health treatments. For starters, treatment efficacy for participants who didn’t have a college degree was roughly 10% lower than it was for college graduates. 

      “We think about these things in terms of access, we think about them in terms of inequality, and I realize that education does track with those, but just having a college degree while controlling for all these other factors still had a significant impact,” said researcher Dr. Jeffrey Strawn. 

      The study also showed that participants whose income was at the 25th percentile improved their mental health about 5% less than participants whose income was at the 75th percentile. Similarly, non-white participants improved their mental health 11.3% less than white participants. The researchers also learned that a combination of these socioeconomic factors was linked with a much lower improvement rate. 

      Improving access to mental health care

      With a better understanding of how socioeconomic factors can affect consumers’ treatment outcomes, these findings highlight the importance of improving access to mental health services and legislation regarding minimum wage and general economic policy. 

      “Someone employed at a higher wage has a chance to improve their socioeconomic status and environment, and so they’re definitely less likely to get mental health problems,” Dr. Mills said. “If people with higher socioeconomic status do get mental health problems, what we’re showing is they’re more likely to improve if they get treatment.” 

      A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cincinnati explored how socioeconomic factors may affect consumers’ mental health treatment. Ac...

      T Fresh Company recalls enoki mushrooms

      The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

      T Fresh Company of City of Industry, Calif., is recalling two lots of enoki mushrooms imported from China.

      The product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported.

      The recalled products -- included in lot numbers 6021053 and 6021052 for 5.25-oz and 7.5-oz, respectively, under UPC 825382736718 (5.25-oz) and 825382736947 ( 7.5-oz) -- was distributed from California and Texas to retail stores.

      What to do

      Customers who purchased the recalled product should not consume it. Instead, they should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

      Consumers with questions may contact the company at (626) 968-2088 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (PST).

      T Fresh Company of City of Industry, Calif., is recalling two lots of enoki mushrooms imported from China.The product may be contaminated with Listeria...