Current Events in March 2024

Is COVID-19 over? Not by a long shot. But not everyone faces the same risk.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that adults ages 65 years and older take an additional updated 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine dose. 

What does the CDC know that the general population might not? That there’s an increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 in older adults, thanks in great part to the impact of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

The agency says that the virus has changed dramatically since 2020. Although COVID-19 remains common, when compared to 2020, individual infections are less likely to result in severe illness for most people in the U.S. – and that’s a good thing. 

However, “COVID-19 poses the highest risk for older adults, infants, and people with pre-existing medical conditions, and there are multiple ways people and communities can help reduce their risk of infection,” the CDC said in its update.

To be on the safe side, the CDC continues to offer free test kits that monitor for the latest strains. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order four free at-⁠home tests, a policy that began November 20, 2023.

If you did not order four tests earlier in the fall, you can place two orders for a total of 8 tests. If you’re interested in obtaining yours, the online form is available here.

CDC also reduces recommended length of quarantine

The CDC has also updated its guidance about how long people who contract COVID need to quarantine – stay at home and away from others. The agency feels that the treatments that are now available lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness sufficiently enough that a 24-hour period will work.

“​​While every respiratory virus does not act the same, adopting a unified approach to limiting disease spread makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven,” the CDC said in a statement.

“The bottom line is that when people follow these actionable recommendations to avoid getting sick, and to protect themselves and others if they do get sick, it will help limit the spread of respiratory viruses, and that will mean fewer people who experience severe illness,” National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Dr. Demetre Daskalakis added.

Besides federal and state tax credits, another advantage of residential solar installations is the ability to sell unused electricity back to the utility company. But a solar industry group warns that some states are changing the agreement.

According to E&E News, several states are rolling back or reducing those payments, a move seemingly at odds with the federal government’s goal of significantly increasing solar energy generation by 2035.

In Arizona, utility regulators recently voted to reopen their “value of solar” docket. The Arizona Corporation Commission says the rate paid to solar users who sell electricity back to the grid needs to be reduced, calling the present rate structure “unsustainable.”

Commissioner Nick Myers complained that the present structure increases the monthly cost for traditional customers.

Not so fast

Many solar advocates reject that premise, saying the benefits of renewable energy are undercounted. They are expressing concern, even though the rate adjustment would not affect current solar customers, only future ones.

“Any time that rate changes, it creates uncertainty and makes it difficult to pay off the cost of that system,” said Autumn Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association.

According to E&E News, more than a dozen states have ended their net metering policies in the past decade. More troubling, the recent pullbacks are occurring in some of the largest solar states — and political battlegrounds — just another headache for an industry that is facing pressure from supply chain constraints and inflation.

In March, North Carolina cut its rates and replaced them with tariffs that match the electricity price a customer pays. Other states — including Colorado, Idaho and Wisconsin — are weighing their own changes.

BMW of North America is recalling 79,670 of the following vehicles:

• Model year 2023 X1 xDrive28i’s,
• Model year 2024 X5 sDrive40i’s, X5 xDrive40i’s, X5 M60i’s, X5Ms, X5 xDrive50e’s, X6 xDrive40i’s, X6M60i, X6Ms,
• Model year 2023-2024 X7 xDrive40i’s, X7 M60i’s, XB7s, XMs, 740i’s, 740i xDrives, 760i xDrives, i7 eDrive50s, i7 xDrive60s, i7 M70s, and
• Model year 2024 530i’s, 530i xDrive’s, i5 eDrive40’s, i5 M60’s, 750e xDrives, and Rolls Royce Spectres.

The integrated brake (IB) system may malfunction and result in a loss of power brake assist or cause the Antilock Brake (ABS) and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) systems to not function properly.

A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle. Additionally, malfunctioning ABS and/or DSC systems can cause a loss of vehicle control.

Either situation can increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Dealers will replace the integrated brake system free of charge.

Notification letters are expected to be mailed to owners April 5, 2024.

Owners may contact BMW customer service at (800) 525-7417 or Rolls Royce customer service at (877) 877-3735.