Now that summer is over, many of us have fond memories of a few months splashing around in the pool with family and friends. It’s also an opportunity to reflect on the potential for danger, as a new federal report claims that at least 163 children drowned while swimming in pools or spas in just the last few months. [More]
Quality & Safety
TSA Approves Faster Airport Baggage Scanners
By 9.15.17
No matter how well you prepare for airport security — wearing belt-less pants and slip-on shoes, knowing exactly how to stand when it’s your turn — you may still end up waiting because your carry-on hasn’t finished its trip through the baggage scanner. That may soon improve, now that the Transportation Security Administration has approved new, faster scanners for use at airport checkpoints.
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Proposed Law Could Let Businesses Off The Hook For Complying With Disabilities Act
By 9.14.17
A new piece of federal legislation would delay consumers’ ability to hold businesses legally accountable for failing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) — a move that some critics say could allow companies to never comply with the ADA in the first place. [More]
Facebook Launching Crisis Center To Put Safety Check, Fundraising In One Place
By 9.14.17
Facebook knows that when a natural disaster or other major crisis hits, many people turn to social media to connect with loved ones, ask for or offer help in their communities, and raise money for charitable causes. The company is now putting all of those tools in one place. [More]
Shortage Of Insurance Adjusters May Delay Claims For Hurricane Irma Victims
By 9.14.17
If your home sustained damage from Hurricane Irma, you might have to wait just to get the insurance company to look at your property to see what repairs will and won’t be covered. Why? Because there aren’t enough claims adjusters to go around right now. [More]
175K Dressers Sold At Target Recalled For Tip-Over Hazard
By 9.14.17
Just a week after more than 1.6 million topple-prone dressers sold at Walmart were recalled, Target has issued a safety campaign of its own, recalling 175,000 potentially dangerous dressers. [More]
Is That Sardine-Style Coach Class Seating So Tight It’s Unsafe?
By 9.13.17
Everyone who flies, but who doesn’t have deep enough pockets to travel exclusively in first class, knows it: Airplanes are increasingly crowded and unpleasant. But is that frustrating lack of legroom actually endangering your life when you fly? [More]
Tourists Claim Marriott Rescue Ship Denied Them Boarding After Hurricane Irma
By 9.13.17
Earlier this week, several cruise lines sent ships to rescue people stranded on Caribbean islands after Hurricane Irma ravaged the area. Hotel mega-chain Marriott attempted to undertake a similar rescue mission to St. Thomas, but that effort has come under fire, after some stranded tourists claim they were denied boarding simply because they weren’t guests of the hotel. [More]
Feds Release Guidelines For Self-Driving Cars, But Does It Really Matter Yet?
By 9.13.17
While we might dream of a day where we can sit behind the wheel of a vehicle reading a book or watching a movie, all while the car drives itself, that day remains many moons away. But here’s the thing about technology — it changes, and it changes quickly. To that end, federal safety regulators are working to ensure that carmakers create safe systems to prepare for the day that self-driving vehicles are actually on the road. There’s a catch, though: It’s all voluntary. [More]
Governor Asks State AG To Sue Feds Over Airport Noise
By 9.13.17
While it’s convenient to live near the airport when it comes time to take a trip, it’s not always ideal for folks who have to deal with the noise of planes flying overhead day in and day out. That’s why Maryland’s governor is urging his state to sue the federal government: Airport traffic is making the state’s residents miserable. [More]
Two Police Officers Deliver Babies At Same Burger King One Day Apart
By 9.12.17
When a baby is ready to grace this world with its presence, it’s ready — even at a Burger King. At least that was the case last week for not one, but two babies born two days in a row in the parking lot of a New Jersey restaurant.
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London Sewer Workers Fighting Intense “Sewer War” Against 820-Foot ‘Fatberg’
By 9.12.17
Every time you flush a disposable wet wipe down the toilet, just imagine sewer workers screaming, “Nooooo!” That’s because no one wants to battle a monster “fatberg” of the sort currently blocking London’s sewers. [More]
4 Things To Remember To Avoid Getting Scammed In Wake Of Equifax Breach
By 9.12.17
As everyone now knows, 143 million Americans had their personal data compromised during a two-month-long data breach at credit reporting agency Equifax earlier this year. Authorities are now reminding consumers to watch out for bad actors looking to profit from everyone’s worries about their newfound vulnerability. [More]
Puppies Sold At Pet Stores Linked To Multistate Bacterial Outbreak
By 9.12.17
What’s the first thing you want to do when you see an adorable puppy? Probably snuggle and cuddle the heck out of it. But federal officials say there’s a multistate outbreak of a nasty bacteria going around, and it’s being spread by puppies sold at a national pet store chain. [More]
American Airlines Flight Cancelled Due To Stowaway Scorpion
By 9.11.17
An American Airlines flight out of Sacramento was canceled over the weekend because of a stowaway that made both passengers and crew members uncomfortable. That stowaway? A scorpion. [More]
Best Buy Pulls Controversial Kaspersky Security Products
By 9.11.17
In the modern era, it’s always worthwhile to consider how to protect your systems from unwanted, malicious actors. Kaspersky Labs’ software has been a popular option for doing just that for close to two decades now — but after increasing scrutiny of their founder’s potential ties to the Kremlin, one major retailer has decided to stop selling their security suite. [More]
Tesla Extended Range Of Cars So Customers Could Escape Hurricane Irma
By 9.11.17
As Hurricane Irma drew closer to Florida, many of those in the storm’s path just wanted to get as far away as possible. In an effort to help its customers put some distance between themselves and Irma, Tesla pushed out an update last week to its Model X and S electric vehicles, intended to squeeze more mileage out of a single charge. [More]
Probiotic Supplement For Babies Recalled Due To Confusing Directions
By 9.8.17
Sometimes people take directions too literally. It’s in case of that that Garden of Life, LLC, is recalling a probiotic supplement made for babies. [More]
