Last weekends winter storm disrupted blood drives nationwide

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Blood drives were canceled and donors stayed home as the winter storm swept across large parts of the country last weekend.

• The American Red Cross says its blood supply has dropped to critically low levels as a result.

• Officials are urging eligible donors to roll up their sleeves in the coming days to help avert potential shortages at hospitals.

The American Red Cross is issuing an urgent call for blood donations after last weekends powerful winter storm forced the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives and sharply reduced donor turnout across several regions.

According to the organization, severe weather conditionsincluding heavy snow, icy roads, and widespread power outagesmade it unsafe or impossible for many donors to reach scheduled appointments. In some areas, entire blood drives were called off, cutting off a vital source of supply for hospitals that rely on daily donations to treat patients.

"This time of year is always challenging for blood collection but right now, the perfect storm of a long holiday season, record flu activity and winter weather are all impeding donation efforts," said Dr. Courtney Lawrence, executive medical director for the Red Cross. "Every person's blood donation can help save lives plus you help ease the tremendous burden on our doctors and nurses, allowing them to focus on caring for patients."

The Red Cross says the impact is being felt nationwide, with certain blood typesparticularly O-negative and O-positivenow in especially short supply. These types are frequently used in trauma situations and emergency surgeries, making consistent availability critical.

Low inventories are typical

Hospitals typically operate with a narrow margin when it comes to blood inventory, and even a brief disruption can strain the system. The Red Cross warns that if donations do not rebound soon, some medical centers may be forced to postpone non-emergency procedures.

To address the shortage, the organization has reopened donation sites as weather conditions improve and is extending hours at some locations. Additional safety measures are also in place to ensure donors can give blood comfortably and securely.

Officials are encouraging anyone who is healthy and eligible to schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Donors can find nearby blood drives and make appointments through the Red Cross website or mobile app.

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Indianapolis leads the pack

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Home buyers are likely to face less competition and lower stress in Indianapolis, Atlanta and Charlotte this year, according to new housing market research.

• Zillow has named those three metros the most buyer-friendly large housing markets of 2026, leading a list of 10 U.S. cities where conditions favor shoppers.

• The top markets combine affordability, easing price growth and lighter competition, giving buyers more leverage than in hotter markets such as Hartford.

Home shoppers tired of bidding wars may finally find some breathing room in 2026 especially in parts of the Midwest and the South.

Zillow has released its annual ranking of the most buyer-friendly housing markets among the nations 50 largest metros, with Indianapolis, Atlanta and Charlotte taking the top three spots.

The markets were singled out for offering a rare mix of relative affordability, cooling home price growth in the near term and the potential for appreciation down the road.

These conditions, Zillow said, create a more favorable entry point for buyers who have been sidelined by high prices and intense competition in recent years.

Lower competition gives buyers more time to decide and more room to negotiate, said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. Cooling prices today, paired with expected growth ahead, make for a good entry point for those who have been waiting for the right moment.

Rounding out Zillows top 10 buyer-friendly markets of 2026 are Jacksonville, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Detroit, Miami, Tampa and Pittsburgh.

What makes these cities more affordable?

Zillows analysis focused on three major factors: current home value trends and expected appreciation, how much of a typical households income goes toward a mortgage payment, and the level of competition measured by the companys Market Heat Index. Together, those metrics highlight markets where buyers are more likely to find homes within budget and negotiate favorable terms.

Many of the strongest buyer markets are clustered in the Midwest and the Sun Belt. Midwest cities largely avoided the sharpest price spikes during the pandemic housing boom, helping preserve affordability. In the Sun Belt, a surge in new construction has boosted inventory and reduced pressure on buyers.

In half of the top 10 markets, Zillow found that a median household can afford a typical home while keeping mortgage costs under 30% of income, assuming a 20% down payment a benchmark often used to gauge housing affordability.

The buyer-friendly outlook stands in contrast to Zillows recent designation of Hartford, Connecticut, as the hottest housing market of 2026, where competition remains fierce.

The national outlook

Nationwide, Zillow expects modest home value growth this year following a mostly flat 2025. Mortgage rates are forecast to gradually decline toward 6% or potentially lower, a shift that could help revive home sales activity.

For buyers, Zillow recommends leaning on local real estate expertise and being willing to negotiate, as sellers in softer markets may be more open to covering closing costs or offering other concessions. Sellers, meanwhile, are encouraged to price homes realistically and focus on presentation to stand out in markets where buyers have more choices.

After years of frenzied competition, Zillows latest outlook suggests that 2026 may finally offer a calmer, more balanced landscape at least for buyers in the right cities.

Some class members could receive up to $1,500

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• SiriusXM agreed to a $28 million settlement in a nationwide class action lawsuit over unwanted telemarketing calls alleging violations of federal Do Not Call rules.

• Eligible people can receive a **pro rata payment of up to $1,500 if they file a claim by the deadline.

• Compensation is available to U.S. residents who received repeated sales calls between April 27, 2019 and October 31, 2025 and were not paying subscribers or asked to be placed on no-call lists.

SiriusXM Radio LLC has agreed to pay $28 million to resolve a major class action lawsuit accusing the satellite radio provider of making unsolicited telemarketing calls to consumers who had registered on federal or internal do-not-call lists.

The proposed settlement stems from alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and similar state and federal laws, which govern how and when companies may contact consumers by phone.

The lawsuit claimed that SiriusXM repeatedly called landlines, wireless phones, and mobile numbers to pitch its radio services even after consumers asked the company to stop contacting them. SiriusXM has denied liability but agreed to the settlement to avoid protracted litigation and additional legal costs.

Do you qualify for compensation?

Eligible individuals can receive a share of the settlement fund if they meet specific criteria tied to the telemarketing calls they received:

To qualify for a payout, a person must:

• Be a natural person residing in the United States.

• Have received more than one telephone solicitation call from SiriusXM (or on its behalf) on a landline, wireless, or mobile phone within any 12-month period between April 27, 2019 and October 31, 2025.

• Not have been a self-paying SiriusXM subscriber at the time of the first call or before the second call.

• Have either received calls more than 31 days after registering the number on the National Do Not Call Registry or received calls after asking SiriusXM to put the number on its internal do-not-call list.

If more than one person in the same household meets these criteria, each eligible individual may file a separate claim.

How much could you get?

Settlement payments will be distributed on a pro rata basis, meaning the actual amount each person receives depends on the number of valid claims submitted and the remaining funds after legal and administrative costs are deducted. Participants may receive up to about $1,500 each, with final amounts determined after the claims process closes.

Payments will be issued roughly 30 days after the court grants final approval of the settlement and resolves any appeals.

Class members must submit a claim form online or by mail by the deadline (currently set as March 21, 2026). The claim requires basic information such as the telephone number that received the calls.

The settlement adm inistrator will provide additional details via the official settlement website, including how to file, payment options (e.g., PayPal, Venmo, check), and any updates on the final approval process.

This settlement offers relief to consumers frustrated by persistent telemarketing calls and underscores ongoing enforcement of telemarketing and consumer protection laws.

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