Current Events in October 2024

Sales of baby food pouches—soft bags with plastic spouts that make eating easy—have skyrocketed by 900% since 2010, now surpassing jarred purees as the top choice for baby food.

Typically, parents spoon-feed purees to babies for a few months when introducing solid foods, but pouches, especially those marketed to parents of toddlers and older children, have extended the use of pureed foods for years.

While using pouches occasionally is fine, doctors and nutritionists are worried that relying too much on them could affect a child's nutrition, long-term food preferences, dental health, and even speech and language development. The marketing of pouches can also confuse parents about what’s actually inside.

"Pouches are highly processed foods," said Dr. Steven Abrams, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austinin a recent Los Angeles Times report. "They’re convenient as a quick snack, but they shouldn’t make up too much of a toddler’s diet. Kids need to learn to chew and eat whole foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables."

The contents of pouches vary widely. Some have only fruit, while others include vegetables, grains, yogurt, or even meat. Many pouches feature sweet fruits like apple or pear as the main ingredient, unlike traditional jarred foods, which often contain single items like peas or carrots.

A 2019 study found that pouches had significantly more sugar per serving than other types of packaging.

Smooth, sweet texture

Although most children don’t have problems chewing, Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist, says that some kids get so used to the smooth, sweet texture of pouches that they develop aversions to regular fruits and vegetables. "In the long run, we’re going to pay for it," he said.

Pouches are popular because they’re convenient. They don’t break like glass jars, and toddlers can eat from them without help. 

However, Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician, pointed out in the Times article that not all pouches are created equal. She emphasized that while pouches can be part of a family’s nutrition, they shouldn’t be a main food source. Pouches without added sugar or salt can be better than other processed snacks, but parents should focus on what's inside.

Pouch labels like "all natural" or "organic" can mislead parents. A pouch advertised as broccoli-pear might mostly be pear puree, or a "turkey dinner" pouch might be mostly applesauce with only a hint of turkey. 

Parents of picky eaters are especially vulnerable to this kind of marketing, as they want to make sure their children are getting proper nutrition. However, Martinez admits that the real appeal is the convenience. She thinks of pouches as being similar to smoothies or yogurt but in an easier-to-go form.

A day after reporting an E. Coli outbreak linked to the Quarter Pounder, McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said the company is moving quickly to restore confidence after one person died and at least 49 were sickened.

“We are very confident that you can go to McDonald’s and enjoy our classics,” Erlinger said on the TODAY Show. “We took swift action yesterday to remove the Quarter Pounder from our menu. This was swift and decisive action by us.” 

Erlinger said the company is cooperating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in trying to trace the origin of the outbreak that took the popular burger off the menu in 10 states. Not surprisingly, the case is also attracting the attention of the legal profession.

"This McDonald's E. coli Outbreak is likely to grow," said attorney Jory Lange, of the Jory Law Firm, with offices in four of the affected states.  "Symptoms usually began one to 10 days after eating E. coli-contaminated food.  Once people get sick and go to the hospital, it takes time for stool tests to come back positive for E. coli and for those test results to be reported to hospitals.  That's why the outbreak numbers will likely continue to rise."

Lange said E. coli is scary because consumers have no way to tell if the food has been contaminated, noting that contaminated food may look, smell, and taste just like any other food. 

“This is why it's critical that restaurants who make and sell our food, ensure the food is safe before they sell it," Lange said.

Onions are the prime suspect

Attorney William Marlar of the Marlar Clark law firm says preliminary traceback and distribution information reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that slivered onions served on Quarter Pounders are a likely source of contamination. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service is conducting traceback on hamburger patties served at McDonald's to determine if ground beef is a source of illness.

"Given that illnesses are reported in 10 different states with differing McDonalds restaurants, it is unlikely that hamburgers were undercooked in multiple locations," said Marler.  "The more likely culprit would be the slivered onions. Onions have been linked to several foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years.” 

Among the 49 people who reported illnesses after eating a Quarter Pounder, 10 people have been hospitalized, including a child who developed a kidney disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Apple and Goldman Sachs for problems that affected hundreds of thousands of Apple Card users.

The CFPB found that Apple didn’t properly forward tens of thousands of customer complaints about disputed Apple Card transactions to Goldman Sachs. When Apple did send complaints, Goldman Sachs didn’t follow federal rules for investigating them.

Apple and Goldman Sachs launched the Apple Card even though Goldman Sachs had been warned about technical problems with the system. As a result, many consumers had to wait a long time to get their money back for disputed charges, and some had incorrect negative information added to their credit reports.

Both companies fined

The CFPB is ordering Goldman Sachs to pay at least $19.8 million to affected customers and a $45 million fine. Apple is being fined $25 million. The CFPB is also banning Goldman Sachs from launching a new credit card unless they can prove they will follow the law.

The CFPB also found that Apple and Goldman Sachs misled customers about interest-free payment plans for Apple devices. Many customers thought they were automatically getting interest-free payments when using Apple Card to buy Apple devices, but instead, they were charged interest. Sometimes, the interest-free option wasn’t even shown on Apple’s website, depending on the browser being used.

Additionally, Goldman Sachs misled some customers about how refunds would be applied, which resulted in extra interest charges.

"Apple and Goldman Sachs broke the law by failing to meet their obligations to Apple Card customers," said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. "Big Tech and big Wall Street companies must follow the law like everyone else."

Goldman Sachs is one of the largest financial institutions globally, mostly focusing on investment banking. Apple Card was its first major step into credit card lending. Apple, a multinational tech company, began offering financial services in 2014, including Apple Card, which launched in partnership with Goldman Sachs in 2019. This partnership helped Apple boost sales of its expensive devices by offering financing options.

Goldman Sachs was warned

Before the Apple Card launched, Goldman Sachs was warned that the system for handling customer complaints wasn’t ready, but both companies pushed ahead anyway. This led to serious issues with how customer disputes were handled, such as Apple not passing along some disputes to Goldman Sachs and Goldman Sachs failing to investigate others properly. Misleading marketing also caused confusion about the interest-free payment plan for Apple devices.

The CFPB is holding both companies accountable for their actions by fining them and demanding better practices in the future.

Every year about this time, sleep experts come forward to recommend that we stop turning out clocks back in the fall and forward in the spring. This year it's a group of top sleep experts from the British Sleep Society urging the UK government to stop the twice-yearly clock changes due to their negative impact on sleep and body rhythms. 

Based on scientific evidence, they argue that morning daylight helps sleep and body clocks, while changing the clocks—especially moving forward in spring—disrupts this. The Society recommends sticking to Standard Time all year round.

Research shows that the shift to Daylight Saving Time can harm sleep patterns. Professor Malcolm von Schantz from Northumbria University emphasized that keeping Standard Time year-round would better align our body clocks with natural daylight, improving sleep and health, even if it means earlier sunsets in the summer.

Dr. Eva Winnebeck added that DST forces us to wake up an hour earlier without changing daylight, making darker mornings especially difficult in the autumn.

Dr. Megan Crawford warns that keeping DST all year round is not ideal for sleep and body clocks. She explained that our body clocks need morning light to stay in sync, and at the UK's latitude, there's no extra daylight to save in the winter. Morning light is more important than afternoon light for health.

The full statement is available in the Journal of Sleep Research, supported by various sleep organizations. Experts at Northumbria’s Sleep Research Centre continue to study sleep disorders and their treatment, working in a specialized facility.

Prime members can get ready to save the next time they need to fill their car’s gas tank. 

Amazon announced its latest perk for Prime members – a $0.10/gallon savings on gas that will be available at nearly 7,000 gas stations across the country. 

“With free shipping on more than 300 million items, free access to remarkable video, sports, and music content, free food delivery, and substantial savings on grocery delivery and medications, Prime is an incredible value for members,” said Jamil Ghani, vice president of Amazon Prime. “We’re constantly looking to add more value for Prime members and perhaps the broadest and most popular additional benefit we could offer is fuel savings — we’re excited to give this to Prime members.”

Where can consumers save? 

Prime members will get the $0.10/gallon savings at select bp, Amoco, and ampm gas stations across the country. 

The first step to start saving is to visit amazon.com/fuelsavings. Once there, Prime members must activate the offer for the fuel savings. After the initial activation, this step won’t need to be completed again. 

Then, consumers will be guided to link their Prime accounts with earnify, a free loyalty program from bp that Prime members can use to earn points and save more every time they fill their cars. 

The earnify app, while not required to get the Prime discount, also has a station locator for consumers to utilize to know exactly which gas stations will honor the Prime discount. It can also be used to activate the pump at your local gas station and complete your fueling transaction. 

Prime members will save at the pump regardless of which fuel type they select, and there are no minimums or maximums on how much or how little gas is required to redeem the savings. 

Amazon anticipates this new fuel perk will save Prime members $70 per year on gas. 

Doing more for electric vehicles

In addition to the fuel savings, Amazon announced that it will be doing more for electric vehicles (EVs) in the new year. 

While more information will be announced in the coming months, the company plans to offer a similar savings benefit for Prime members with EVs at select bp stations across the country. This would mean EV drivers will save on charging their cars with their Prime memberships. 

Quick, do you know which La Niña is which? Most people don't but the weather experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center do, and they predict a 60% chance that a weak La Niña will form this fall and could last until March.

What would that mean? It could mean that southern areas of the U.S. and parts of Mexico could be drier. The northern U.S. and southern Canada might see wetter conditions.

La Niña is part of a natural climate cycle that can lead to extreme weather around the world, though its effects vary by region.

La Niña is the cooler phase of a global climate pattern called El Niño-Southern Oscillation. It involves changes in wind and ocean temperatures in the Pacific, which can impact weather worldwide.

El Niño, the warmer phase, happens when trade winds weaken, causing warm water to pile up near South America. During La Niña, the opposite occurs—the winds get stronger, and cooler water rises to the surface, cooling the eastern Pacific.

These changes in ocean temperatures affect the jet stream, a fast-moving band of air that influences storm patterns and rainfall. During La Niña, the jet stream shifts northward, affecting storm paths and increasing precipitation in certain areas.

A rare "triple-dip"

Recently, Earth went through a rare "triple-dip" La Niña from 2020 to 2023, where La Niña conditions occurred three winters in a row, something that had only happened once before in the 1970s. Climate scientist Michelle L’Heureux from NOAA explained that La Niñas tend to last longer and recur more often than El Niño events.

Ben Cook, a climate scientist at NASA, said that while another La Niña this year would be unusual, it’s not impossible. He added that frequent La Niñas can be tough for regions already dealing with drought, like East Africa, as it could worsen dry conditions.

In the U.S., areas like the Northeast and Ohio Valley are often wetter during La Niña, with more storms due to the jet stream’s position. The central U.S. may experience more cold outbreaks, and regions like New England and the Great Lakes often see more snow, though this isn’t guaranteed. In contrast, the southern U.S. tends to be drier and warmer.

Scientists are still uncertain about how climate change affects La Niña and El Niño. Some models suggest El Niño events may become more frequent, while La Niñas may occur less often, but there’s no consensus. Climate scientist Paul Roundy notes that it’s hard to separate natural climate cycles from the influence of climate change, but the patterns we see now could shift in the future.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the vehicles from the 2025 model year that will be tested for its 5-Star Safety Ratings as part of the New Car Assessment Program. 

These vehicles, along with previously tested models that haven't changed much, will account for about 87% of the new cars on the market. This wide range of tested vehicles will help consumers choose the safest option that meets their needs.

This year, 37 vehicles have been chosen for testing, including eight electric and hybrid models. They will be tested in various crash scenarios like front, side, and rollover crashes. NHTSA will also test five vehicles to check how well their advanced safety features work, including lane departure warning, forward collision warning, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support.

"NHTSA is dedicated to giving people the most accurate safety information to help them choose the right car," said NHTSA Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman. "The 5-Star Safety Ratings program encourages automakers to add advanced safety features to more vehicles, saving lives and reducing injuries on our roads."

The safety ratings, ranging from one star (lowest) to five stars (highest), will be available at NHTSA.gov/Ratings and on new car window stickers once testing is done. The New Car Assessment Program supports the Department's National Roadway Safety Strategy, which aims to reduce serious injuries and deaths on U.S. highways and streets.

Following on the heels of Amazon’s recent announcement about expanding its same-day pharmacy delivery, Walmart has now made a similar announcement. 

The budget-friendly retailer said it will begin offering same-day prescription delivery, and shoppers will be able to combine their prescriptions and general merchandise into one single order. 

“Helping customers solve missions is core to everything we do. By combining Pharmacy Delivery into a single order, we're strengthening our commitment to providing everything they need, whenever and wherever they need it,” said Tom Ward, executive vice president and chief eCommerce officer, Walmart U.S.

“If you’re sick, we can deliver the necessary medicine along with everything else you need to feel better: cough drops, a heating pad, blanket and orange juice.” 

What can consumers expect?

This new same-day pharmacy delivery option will be available for shoppers in the Walmart app or on the Walmart website, and consumers can get either new medications or prescription refills delivered to their doors.  

The same way you’d add in your grocery order or the school supplies you need, you can now also add in your prescription or other pharmacy essentials. All of the items in your order – prescriptions included – will be delivered in one shipment. 

Consumers can expect to see the following options: 

• Same-Day Scheduled Delivery: Scheduled delivery for a specific time that fits your schedule. 

• On-Demand and Express Delivery: These options will be available a bit further down the road, giving consumers the option to get their prescription orders within 30 minutes. 

• Insurance Benefits: Just as you’d use your prescription insurance benefits at the pharmacy, they can also be added to your pharmacy delivery order. 

Currently, pharmacy delivery is available in six states – Arkansas, Missouri, New York, Nevada, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. However, by the end of 2025, 49 states across the country will have access to pharmacy delivery. 

“Our extensive footprint across the nation combined with our deep expertise in pharmacy uniquely positions us to make a profound impact in the communities we serve," said Kevin Host, senior vice president of Pharmacy at Walmart U.S.

“We understand that health care is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s hyper-local. Each community has unique needs. This new offering allows us to continue serving customers while also giving more time back to our pharmacies for high-touch health services.”

More details

Shoppers will be able to track their packages, and will receive images of their order delivery once the package has been dropped off. Additionally, all prescriptions will be packed in tamper-proof wrapping, and the handling of all medications will be verified by licensed pharmacists. 

The cost of pharmacy delivery will be similar to that of a regular Walmart on-demand delivery. For Walmart+ members, a pharmacy delivery will be free of charge, and those who aren’t members will be charged a $9.95 delivery fee. 

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a final rule, clearing the way for a new type of aircraft – the first such introduction since helicopters were approved in the 1940s. The new type of aircraft is called “powered lift” and will be used for air taxi services and to deliver cargo.

The new aircraft type has characteristics of both airplanes and helicopters. It flies like an airplane but takes off and lands vertically, like a helicopter.

The rule also addresses operational requirements, including minimum safe altitudes and required visibility. The FAA said the rule is the final piece in the puzzle for safely introducing these aircraft in the near term. 

The agency said it expects there will be many uses for the new aircraft type, from transporting passengers in urban areas and short-haul operations such as air ambulance services and cargo operations to potentially serving smaller communities over time. 

“The FAA will continue to prioritize the safety of our system as we work to seamlessly integrate innovative technology and operations,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker. “This final rule provides the necessary framework to allow powered lift aircraft to safely operate in our airspace.” 

Will cruise at 200 MPH

Publicly announcing the new aircraft at an event in Las Vegas, Whitaker unveiled a full-size model of the powered lift, designed by Joby Aviation, a California firm. The company said the six-rotor craft will cruise at a speed of around 200 MPH. Company officials said they hope to begin using their vehicles next year but said it is not yet certified for carrying passengers.

The FAA said it previously determined it could certify powered lift using existing regulations and updated other regulations so air taxis could be used commercially. In 22023, the agency released a blueprint for how Urban Air Mobility vehicles will operate, which the FAA said is a key element in maturing the overall AAM concept.   

The FAA said a new pilot-training and qualifications rule was needed because existing regulations did not address this new category of aircraft. The rule provides a comprehensive framework for certifying the initial cadre of powered-lift instructors and pilots.  

The rule also:

• Makes changes to numerous existing regulations and establishes a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) with new requirements to facilitate instructor and pilot certification and training.  

• Applies helicopter operating requirements to some phases of flight and adopts a performance-based approach to certain operating rules.  

• Allows pilots to train in powered-lift with a single set of flight controls; legacy rules require two flight controls – one for the student and one for the instructor.  

Home prices remain near an all-time high and there continues to be a shortage of available homes for sale. The fact that builders have reduced activity since the 2008 housing crash may be one reason.

However, a new study, co-authored by the Institute for Policy Studies and Popular Democracy, examines another possible reason. It suggests that real estate investors, from individuals to billion-dollar hedge funds, have removed many single-family homes from the market, converting them to rentals. The result, the study concludes, is there are fewer available homes and those that are available cost more than they should.

“Increased corporate control over our housing market — by billionaire investors and their for-profit entities — are driving these trends and placing significant barriers to the preservation and creation of permanently affordable housing,” the authors write.

The report points to an affordability crisis that stems from expensive houses and high interest rates. It says 22.4 million households — half of all renters — spend more than 30% or more of their income on rental housing. 

Housing as an investment

The study found that investors have bought up a huge share of single-family homes, apartment buildings, and mobile home parks to rent to already economically squeezed consumers. Housing has gone from being a basic need to becoming another investment.

“For instance, Blackstone is the largest corporate landlord in the world, with over 300,000 residential units across the United States,” the authors write. “Blackstone owns 149,000 multi-family apartment units, 63,000 single-family homes, 70 mobile home parks with 13,000 lots, and 144,300 beds of student housing in 205 properties. Blackstone also recently acquired 95,000 units of subsidized housing.”

While this may be a reason for unaffordable housing, there are other factors that may be limiting the expansion of the housing supply – particularly single-family homes. Since the building boom of the early 2000s, there have been a lot of changes.

Other reasons for unaffordable homes

For starters, inflation over the last 20 years has dramatically driven up the cost of construction. Land costs more too. Regulations are also tougher.

After decades of home construction, many of the prime home sites have already been developed in major metro areas. Zoning officials are turning down applications that don’t meet new, and tougher local standards. When builders do build, they go for luxury homes, outside of a first-time buyer’s budget.

But the study makes the case that there is plenty of housing stock. It claims that there are currently 16 million vacant homes, held by investors who are waiting for them to appreciate in value before selling them to other investors.

The study calls on federal, state and local lawmakers to enact stronger protections for low to moderate-income homebuyers, limiting investor access to the housing market.

Food illness outbreak hits McDonald's. Quarter Pounder hamburgers are being pulled in some areas as investigators try to find out what ingredient is responsible for the problem. 

The CDC says one person is dead and 10 hospitalized out of a total of 49 cases.

"The initial findings from the investigation indicate that a subset of illnesses may be linked to slivered onions used in the Quarter Pounder and sourced by a single supplier that serves three distribution centers," said McDonald's North America Chief Supply Chain Officer Cesar Piña in a statement. "All local restaurants have been instructed to remove this product from their supply and we have paused the distribution of all slivered onions in the impacted area.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are also temporarily removing the Quarter Pounder from restaurants in the impacted area, including Colorado, Kansas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as portions of Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oklahoma," he said.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.

Epidemiologic data show that Quarter Pounder hamburgers served at McDonald’s are contaminated with E. coli and are making people sick. Early information from FDA indicates onions may be a source of this outbreak. Investigators from all agencies are working quickly to determine the contaminated ingredient.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for E. coli.

In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 18 people interviewed, all 18 (100%) report eating at McDonald’s, and 16 people report eating a beef hamburger.

Of 14 people who remember the specific beef hamburger they ate at McDonald’s, 12 (86%) report eating a Quarter Pounder hamburger. Some people in this outbreak reported traveling to other states before their illness started. At least one person ate at McDonald’s during their travel.

Call your healthcare provider if you ate a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburger and have severe E. colisymptoms.

About E. coli

E. coli stands for Escherichia coli, which is a type of bacteria commonly found in the intestines of humans and animals.

Here's a breakdown of E. coli:

Types

• Harmless E. coli: These strains live in our intestines and help with digestion.

• Pathogenic E. coli: These strains can cause various illnesses, including:

• Diarrhea: This can range from mild and watery to severe and bloody.

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs): E. coli is a common cause of UTIs.

• Respiratory illness: E. coli can sometimes cause pneumonia or other respiratory infections.

• Other illnesses: In rare cases, E. coli can cause more serious conditions like kidney failure or meningitis.

Transmission

• Foodborne: Contaminated food, particularly undercooked meat and raw vegetables, is a common source of E. coli infection.

• Waterborne: Drinking contaminated water can also lead to infection.

• Person-to-person: E. coli can spread through poor hygiene, such as not washing hands properly after using the bathroom.

• Animal contact: Contact with animals or their feces can also transmit E. coli.

Symptoms

Symptoms of E. coli infection vary depending on the strain and the type of illness. Common symptoms include:

• Diarrhea

• Stomach cramps

• Nausea and vomiting

• Fever

• Fatigue

Prevention

• Practice good hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food.

• Cook food thoroughly: Ensure meat is cooked to a safe internal temperature.

• Wash fruits and vegetables: Wash produce thoroughly before eating.

• Avoid raw milk and unpasteurized juices: These products can harbor harmful bacteria.

• Be cautious when swimming: Avoid swallowing water in pools, lakes, or other bodies of water.

Treatment

Most E. coli infections resolve on their own without treatment. However, staying hydrated is crucial, especially in cases of diarrhea. In severe cases, antibiotics may be necessary.

If you suspect you have an E. coli infection, it's essential to consult a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

In Apple’s September product rollout, it introduced a new set of AirPods, the AirPods Pro 2. Among the new features, the company promised clinical-grade hearing aid functionality, a user-friendly hearing test, and better hearing protection.

Those new features will be activated next week and the media outlets that got a sneak listen are in near agreement that the features live up to the billing. According to The Verge, a technology website, the release could “mark a watershed moment for hearing health awareness.”

“Apple is about to instantly turn the world’s most popular earbuds into an over-the-counter hearing aid,” the Verge reviewer wrote.

Ashley Capoot wrote at CNBC.com that she tested the technology and it “saved me a long-overdue trip to the audiologist.”

The Airpods Pro 2 is the latest version of Apple’s Bluetooth headphones introduced two years ago. The latest version sells for $249. Apple calls it “the world’s first all-in-one hearing health experience” and says it will be available with a free software update to iOS18.1.

Here’s how Apple says it will work

Pro-level Active Noise Cancellation and the in‑ear seal on your AirPods Pro 2 simulate the conditions needed to evaluate and provide you with insights into your hearing. Just find a quiet, comfortable place and launch the test from your AirPods settings or the Health app. The system will automatically check the fit of your AirPods Pro 2 and assess background noise levels before getting started.

When you hear the tones, you tap the screen. Some animations, tap‑back effects, and progress indicators guide you through the experience, which takes about five minutes. 

You will get immediate results. After completing the test, you will see a personalized profile with results and insights about your hearing. If you have little to no loss, but could still benefit from hearing certain frequencies more clearly, you’ll be able to adjust your Media Assist settings for enhanced audio on media and calls. And if you have mild to moderate hearing loss, you’ll be prompted to set up the Hearing Aid feature.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders estimates that only 25% of Americans who could benefit from hearing aids actually use them. Over-the-counter hearing aids were approved last year, but according to the Wall Street Journal, these low-cost options are being returned at high rates, due to a lack of satisfaction.

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have written to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging the department to take stronger action to protect patients from the harmful effects of private equity involvement in health care.

The senators expressed concern over the growing influence of private equity in the sector, particularly highlighting its negative impact on vulnerable populations, including wheelchair users.

The senators said the wheelchair supply market is currently dominated by two private equity-owned companies—National Seating and Mobility (NSM) and Numotion—which they said have failed to provide adequate and timely repair services.

For the approximately 5.5 million wheelchair users in the U.S., repair delays of several weeks have become the norm, leaving many people stuck at home and at risk of further harm.

Surprise medical billing

“Private equity’s role in health care has worsened issues like surprise medical billing, insufficient staffing and training, and a lack of oversight and accountability,” the senators wrote. “We commend HHS for making private equity ownership in nursing homes more transparent, but we remain deeply concerned about its growing influence in other areas of health care.”

Industry data shows that 60-82% of the total delays in wheelchair repairs stem from the industry's failure to provide timely in-home assessments and repairs, even after prior authorizations and parts have been secured.

Private equity firms are driven by a business model that prioritizes profits from selling new wheelchairs over investing in repair services. While companies make significant profits from selling modern wheelchairs, they often lose money on repairs.

The senators argued that this dynamic in the wheelchair industry exemplifies the broader negative impact of private equity in health care, where anticompetitive practices have led to monopolies, declining care quality, and rising costs for patients.

“HHS must do more to address the conflict between private equity’s short-term profit goals and the well-being of our most vulnerable populations,” the senators concluded.

They also praised the Biden administration for launching a cross-agency inquiry into the role of corporate greed in health care. Additionally, they requested that Secretary Becerra provide information on HHS’s ability to address the harms caused by private equity in health care, and whether the department needs additional authority to take further action against private equity ownership in the sector.

Honda is recalling 720,810 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The company has found that the high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel.

That’s a safety hazard because a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

What to do

Dealers will inspect and replace the high-pressure fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PJW

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.