An expert shares everything consumers need to know

• Standard homeowners insurance doesnt cover everything floods, sewer backups, and some storm damage may be excluded, so its critical to review your policy closely.

• Replacement cost vs. actual cash value, coverage caps, and event-specific deductibles (like wind or hail) can greatly affect what youll pay out of pocket after a disaster.

• Check your policy every year, consider endorsements like extended replacement cost, and stay on top of changes so your coverage keeps pace with rising risks and costs.

While natural disasters like wildfires and floods are affecting more and more consumers across the country, insurance companies arent necessarily keeping up.

After a disaster, it isnt uncommon for homeowners to be left with damages to their homes and lacking the proper coverage.

To help break this down, Leslie Kasperowicz, executive editor of Insurance.com, shared everything consumers need to know to make sure their homes are covered before the next emergency.

Check your policy

Kasperowicz explains that its of the utmost importance for consumers to regularly check their homeowners insurance policies.

First, it's important to understand that homeowners insurance does not cover floods, she told ConsumerAffairs. This will be listed in the exclusions portion of the policy along with other excluded perils.

It's vitally important to understand what your insurance does not cover. Because a standard home insurance policy is an all-perils policy it covers anything that is not specifically excluded. It's essential to know and understand those exclusions, particularly as they apply to water damage.

Kasperowicz said that water damage from a burst pipe or rain that enters through a storm-damaged roof (when it is part of the same storm) is covered. However, overland flooding and water and sewer backup are not.

Know your limits

In addition to knowing whats covered in your policy, its also imperative to know the limits of your policy.

In a standard homeowners policy, the house is covered at replacement cost, but personal property is usually not; it's covered at actual cash value, Kasperowicz said. Be sure to check and understand how things are covered and the limits of coverage. You can upgrade your personal property coverage to replacement cost for a small premium increase, and it's well worth it.

Her last piece of advice: check your deductibles.

It's common for insurance companies to add a separate deductible for certain weather events, such as a windstorm or hail deductible. That deductible only applies to those claims, and it may be a percentage of your dwelling coverage. You need to know what you will pay if you file a claim.

What kind of coverage is most important?

According to Kasperowicz, checking your coverage every year to ensure your policy is as up-to-date as possible is key.

It's important to have replacement cost coverage for your home that matches its current cost to rebuild, and, as mentioned, to carry replacement cost coverage on your personal property, she said.

I highly recommend adding an extended replacement cost coverage endorsement to your policy, which gives you wiggle room to account for inflation. It is usually 125% or 150% of the dwelling coverage. Check your dwelling coverage every year.

Information is power

This advice applies to everyone, Kasperowicz said. Severe weather is on the rise across the country, and as summers become hotter that's not likely to get better anytime soon.

Review your policy on every renewal and be sure to read the section that outlines any changes from the year before. If anything is unclear, call your agent or insurance company representative and ask questions. You'll be better prepared for a disaster claim if you understand your coverage.

Low expectations index may signal a looming recession

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Index edges lower: The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Indexfell 1.3 points in August to 97.4, as views on jobs and incomes weakened.

• Recession signal: Expectations Index stayed below 80, a threshold that often signals a looming recession.

• Inflation concerns: Write-in responses showed growing worries about tariffs, high prices, and rising inflation expectations.

U.S. consumer confidence slipped modestly in August as concerns about job prospects and household income outweighed more optimistic views of business conditions, according to new data from The Conference Board.

The Consumer Confidence Index fell to 97.4 this month, down from 98.7 in July. The Present Situation Index, reflecting consumers view of current business and labor market conditions, dropped to 131.2. The Expectations Index, which tracks the short-term outlook for income, jobs, and business conditions, fell to 74.8remaining under the level of 80 that often foreshadows a recession.

Labor market concerns mount

Consumer confidence dipped slightly in August but remained at a level similar to those of the past three months, said Stephanie Guichard, senior economist at The Conference Board. She noted that consumers appraisal of job availability declined for the eighth straight month, even as assessments of current business conditions improved.

Expectations for the labor market also weakened. Nearly 27% of respondents said they expect fewer jobs to be available in the next six months, up from 25% in July. Optimism about future income also slipped, with fewer consumers expecting raises and more anticipating declines.

Inflation expectations rise again

Consumers reported growing concerns about prices, particularly food and groceries, as mentions of inflation and tariffs increased in survey responses. Average 12-month inflation expectations rose to 6.2% in August from 5.7% in July, reversing three months of easing.

Confidence levels varied across demographics: sentiment fell among those under 35, held steady for people 35 to 55, and improved among those over 55. By political affiliation, confidence weakened for Republicans and Democrats but was little changed for Independents.

Spending intentions mixed

Purchasing plans shifted in August, with buying intentions for both new and used cars rising, while intentions for TVs and tablets fell. Consumers plans to travel, dine out, and spend on entertainment also softened. Non-discretionary spending plans, such as for financial services and home or car maintenance, improved slightly.

The survey, based on an online sample conducted by Toluna, closed August 20.

How a molecular sponge engineered from a bacterial sensor could save lives in minutes

• Rapid CO removal: The engineered protein RcoM-HBD-CCC clears half of the carbon monoxide in blood in under a minute far faster than pure oxygen therapy.

• Selective and safe: It binds CO without disturbing oxygen or critical signaling molecules like nitric oxide, minimizing blood pressure risks.

• Promising pre-clinical results: In mouse studies, it cleared CO quickly and was safely excreted in urine, paving the way for future human trials.

Carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless and odorless danger, binds to our bloods hemoglobin up to 400 times more strongly than oxygen, choking off vital oxygen supply.

Currently, treatments like breathing pure oxygen sometimes under high pressure can take over an hour to clear CO. And even then, nearly half of survivors risk long-term heart or brain damage.

Researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh have now developed a fresh approach: a specially engineered protein dubbed RcoM-HBD-CCC, which is designed to act like a sponge that soaks up CO from the blood with lightning speed.

Unlike other protein-based treatments, we found the compound caused only minimal changes in blood pressure, which was an exciting finding and raised the potential for this new molecule to have clinical applications, study author Mark T. Gladwin, M.D., said in a news release.

This has the potential to become a rapid, intravenous antidote for carbon monoxide that could be given in the emergency department or even in the field by first-responders.

How the researchers engineered the protein

The team started with RcoM, a natural protein that bacteria use to sense tiny amounts of CO in their surroundings.

They fine-tuned it to create RcoM-HBD-CCC a highly selective protein for CO over oxygen, and avoiding interference with oxygen transport.

Using a technique called stopped-flow electronic absorption spectroscopy, they measured how quickly it binds: RcoM-HBD-CCC grabs CO nearly 50 times faster than hemoglobin does.

A critical issue with similar protein therapies has been their tendency to bind nitric oxide (NO), a molecule that helps regulate blood pressure causing dangerous spikes when NO is depleted.

However, in tests with mice, RcoM-HBD-CCC caused no significant changes in blood pressure, suggesting a much safer profile.

The results

In mouse experiments, RcoM-HBD-CCC cleared half of the CO from the bloodstream in less than a minute a dramatic improvement compared to the hour-plus required under pure oxygen therapy, and several hours with no treatment at all.

After binding CO, the protein-CO complex was safely eliminated via urine, showing a smooth exit route and low risk of buildup.

Whats next? Further trials to refine dosage, safety, and effectiveness then, hopefully, human clinical trials.

This novel protein might not only become the first actual antidote for CO poisoning, but potentially a basis for new ways to deliver oxygen or assist in critical conditions like severe anemia or organ preservation.

This molecule could be a game-changer because it can directly and rapidly remove carbon monoxide from the body with such a low risk of off-target side effects, researcher Jason J. Rose, M.D., said in the news release.

Given the promising results, we also see the potential for RcoM-HBD-CCC use in other areas, like as a blood substitute in severe anemia or hemorrhagic shock.

Two lots of frozen dog and cat food being recalled

Viva Raw LLC of Charlotte, N.C., is recalling two lots of frozen dog and cat foods after testing detected contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall covers products from Lot 21495 and Lot 21975, which were distributed nationwide between July 2 and August 21, 2025, through direct-to-consumer sales and select retailers in New York, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, California, and Arizona.

Products affected

• Lot 21495: Viva Ground Beef for Dogs; Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies

• Lot 21975: Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chicken for Cats; Viva Pure Chicken

The products were sold as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging with the lot number printed on top.

Health risks for people and pets

Salmonella and Listeria can sicken both pets and humans. People handling contaminated pet food are at risk if they do not thoroughly wash their hands or clean surfaces after contact.

In people, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. In rare cases, infections can become more serious, leading to arterial infections, arthritis, or miscarriage in pregnant women.

Pets infected with Salmonella or Listeria may show signs such as lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or abdominal pain. Even pets that appear healthy can shed the bacteria and infect other animals or humans.

No illnesses reported so far

The potential contamination was identified through routine testing by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. To date, no illnesses in people, dogs, or cats have been reported in connection with the recalled products.

What consumers should do

Consumers who purchased these lots should:

• Stop feeding the recalled food to pets.

• Contact Viva Raw at info@vivarawpets.com or (919) 371-8882 for a refund.

• Dispose of recalled food safely, where children, pets, and wildlife cannot access it.

• Clean and sanitize all pet bowls, cups, utensils, and storage containers that may have come into contact with the food.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling recalled products or anything they touched.

Viva Raw said only Lots 21495 and 21975 are affected by the recall.

A letter to tech CEOs was signed by 44 state officials

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• 44 state attorneys general warn major tech companies they will be held accountable if AI harms children.

• The letter cites Metas AI assistants that engaged in sexualized roleplay with minors as an alarming example.

• Officials say companies must err on the side of child safety or face legal consequences.

A coalition of 44 state attorneys general has issued a stern warning to major technology companies, pledging to use their full authority to hold them accountable if artificial intelligence products endanger children.

In a strongly worded letter addressed to CEOs of leading AI and social media firms, the state officials expressed concern over recent revelations that Meta Platforms AI assistants were approved to flirt and roleplay romantically with children as young as eight. Internal documents revealed the company allowed bots to engage in behavior that the officials argue would be criminal if committed by a human.

We are uniformly revolted by this apparent disregard for childrens emotional well-being, the letter stated, adding that such conduct appears to be prohibited by our respective criminal laws.

A pattern of risk?

The officials stressed that Meta is not alone. They pointed to lawsuits alleging Googles AI chatbot contributed to a teenagers suicide, and another case where a Character.ai bot encouraged a child to kill his parents. These incidents, they warned, highlight a broader failure by tech companies to implement basic safeguards.

Interactive technology has a particularly intense impact on developing brains, the letter noted. As the entities benefitting from childrens engagement with your products, you have a legal obligation to them as consumers.

Drawing a direct parallel to the rise of social media, the attorneys general argued that history cannot be allowed to repeat itself. They accused tech companies of prioritizing growth over safety, leaving broken lives and broken families in their wake. This time, they vowed, regulators will act more quickly.

Social media platforms caused significant harm to children, in part because government watchdogs did not do their job fast enough. Lesson learned, the letter reads.

The letter was a bipartisan effort, signed by attorneys general from across the political spectrum, including Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, North Carolinas Jeff Jackson, South Carolinas Alan Wilson, Tennessees Jonathan Skrmetti, Alaskas Treg R. Taylor, and American Samoas Gwen Tauiliili-Langkilde, among others.