The administration proposes to allow commercial drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Proposed FAA rule would allow commercial drones to fly beyond visual line of sight without case-by-case waivers

• Industry-backed move seen as boost to drone delivery firms like Wing, Walmart, and Zipline

• New safety, cybersecurity, and traffic-management standards required for drone operations

In a major policy shift aimed at accelerating the growth of the drone delivery sector, the Trump administration has proposed a rule that would allow commercial drones to fly beyond the visual line of sight of their operators without requiring individualized approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The new framework, unveiled Tuesday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, would streamline the current regulatory process that industry leaders say has hampered innovation and growth in the U.S. drone market.

Its not that America cant innovate, Duffy said. Its that weve had a bureaucracy in place that makes it incredibly difficult.

Clearer path for industry players

If finalized, the rule would eliminate the need for case-by-case waivers, enabling companies like Alphabets Wing, Walmart, and Zipline to scale operations more efficiently. Drones weighing up to 1,320 pounds including cargo would be allowed to fly beyond line of sight at or below 400 feet, provided they meet industry consensus standards and comply with new cybersecurity and safety protocols.

Operators would be permitted to fly drones over people in general, but not over large public gatherings such as concerts or sporting events. Personnel involved in drone operations may also be subject to TSA threat assessments, and drones operating in certain airspaces must be equipped with collision-avoidance technology and yield to manned aircraft broadcasting location data via ADS-B.

Supporters say the rule could put the U.S. on stronger footing in the global drone market, where China currently dominates 90% of consumer drone sales. It also introduces new air traffic management standards designed to prevent midair collisions with manned aircraft and other drones.

Yet safety advocates and industry voices emphasized the importance of strong controls. In a Bloomberg report, Beth Flippo, CEO of drone tech firm DEXA, warned:We dont want people just flying any homegrown drone over people and beyond line of sight. Manned air travel is the safest form of travel in the world we dont want to jeopardize that.

The FAAs plan still requires public comment and further review, but it marks a pivotal shift toward normalizing commercial drone operations in sectors ranging from package delivery and farming to manufacturing and emergency services.

While some hurdles remain including risks from aircraft not broadcasting location data advocates hope the proposal signals a long-awaited modernization of U.S. airspace policy.

Chemours, DuPont & Corteva settle for $875M in NJ Forever Chemicals case

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Companies to pay $875 million over 25 years to resolve PFAS pollution claims in New Jersey

• Settlement adds to growing list of billion-dollar payouts tied to toxic forever chemicals

• Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva to begin payments in 2026; $16.5M covers off-site contamination

In one of the largest state-level environmental settlements to date, Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva have agreed to pay $875 million to the state of New Jersey over 25 years to resolve claims tied to pollution from PFAS, the toxic substances widely known as forever chemicals.

The agreement settles state allegations that the three companies contaminated New Jerseys environment and drinking water with PFAS, a class of manmade chemicals that do not break down in nature or the human body. The payments with a present value of roughly $500 million before taxes will begin no earlier than January 1, 2026, the companies said in a joint statement.

Under the terms:

• Chemours will pay 50% of the settlement

• DuPont will cover 35.5%

• Corteva will pay the remaining 14.5%

The settlement includes $16.5 million specifically allocated to PFAS contamination not linked to the companies operating sites, signaling a broader scope of environmental harm.

PFAS litigation continues to grow

This is not the first time these firms have faced scrutiny over PFAS contamination. In 2023, the same trio settled similar claims with the state of Ohio for $110 million, and also paid $1.19 billion to settle a sweeping national lawsuit with U.S. water providers. That year, chemical giant 3M agreed to a $10.3 billion settlement for widespread PFAS pollution in public water systems.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foams and industrial products. But their resistance to breakdown has turned them into a major environmental and public health concern. Linked to cancer, hormonal disorders, and developmental issues, PFAS have now become the focus of sweeping regulatory reforms and legal action across the U.S.

More legal action expected

Experts say the New Jersey deal is likely just the beginning of more state-led action. With new federal regulations on PFAS in drinking water and a deeper understanding of the chemicals long-term effects, more lawsuits and multibillion-dollar settlements are expected.

New Jersey, one of the first states to aggressively regulate PFAS, has repeatedly sued chemical manufacturers over alleged contamination. Mondays settlement provides a significant financial commitment to cleaning up decades of pollution but for many impacted communities, the legal and environmental fight over PFAS is far from over.

19 years of data reveal Indias struggle with preventable temperature-related deaths

• Over 34,000 deaths in India were related to extreme heat and cold between 20012019, most of which were preventable.

• Men aged 4560 (especially outdoor workers) were disproportionately affected by both heatstroke and cold exposure.

• Certain states like Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab have emerged as hotspots for temperaturerelated mortality
  

Temperature extremes, like scorching summers or unexpected cold snaps, are often more than just uncomfortable. Findings from a recent study have confirmed exactly that.

A new 19year study published in Temperature (covering 20012019 across India) finds extreme temperatures are causing thousands of avoidable deaths.

With heatwaves breaking national records and cold waves hitting regions unprepared for freezing conditions, the death toll is climbing and sadly, many lives could be saved.

Deaths due to heatstroke are more significant, compared to deaths due to cold exposure, albeit recording an upward trend, researcher Professor Pradeep Guin, said in a news release.

The study

Researchers from O.P. Jindal Global University in Sonipat combined national- and state-level data to track temperature exposure and mortality over nearly two decades.

They used official sources including the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), and the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner. The national-level analysis spanned from 2001 to 2019, while state-level data covered 2001 to 2014 due to data availability.

By linking daily temperature records with natural-cause death reports, researchers calculated deaths attributable to heatstroke and cold exposure. They also examined demographic patterns such as age, gender, and state location to understand who is most at risk and where. This method enabled them to spotlight trends over time and across regions within India.

The results

Across the full study period, India saw a minimum of 19,693 deaths from heatstroke and 15,197 from cold exposure and the authors suggest these figures may be underestimated. The deadliest single year was 2015, when heatstroke killed 1,907 people and extreme cold exposure claimed 1,147.

Contrasting with global trends where women often face greater heat risks, in India men were 35 times more likely than women to die from heatstroke, and 47 times more likely from cold exposure.

The most affected age group? Working-age adults (4560 years old), likely because many men work outdoors, followed by those aged 60 and above, and those aged 3045.

The higher death toll from heatstroke in working-age men may reflect the fact that men are more likely to work outdoors than women, Professor Guin said.

Even with improvements in the female labor force participation rate in India in recent years, there are more men working outside in the open environment to meet their household needs. Physically demanding outdoor work, such as construction work, should be halted during heatwaves, and those with other outdoor jobs, such as auto rickshaw drivers and gig economy workers, should be provided with adequate relief measures, such as shaded parking areas with provisions for drinking water and toilets.

Essentially, those who are working outside are more exposed to extreme heat, thereby the more vulnerable gender to death.

State-level findings identified Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab as hotspots for heatrelated deaths. And some states not traditionally used to cold weather are reporting increasing deaths from cold exposure highlighting a lack of preparedness in areas experiencing new temperature extremes for the first time.

Looking to the future

While these findings are specific to India, they highlight the importance of taking extreme weather seriously.

Extreme temperatures arent just seasonal annoyances theyre fatal threats, especially in areas that lack the infrastructure and safety nets to keep vulnerable groups safe.

The researchers hope that these findings lead to similar work in the future that helps to protect people around the world.

We are hopeful that our work will lead to a further momentum of collaborations to understand the global and national impacts of climate change on human health, researcher Keshav Sethi said in the news release.

Researchers say smarter urban planning could mean better breathing for everyone

• About 11.6% of asthma cases could be prevented if urban environments were healthier.

• The study combined exposure to air pollution, urban density, and lack of green space.

• Based on nearly 350,000 people across 14 cohorts in seven European countries.

Asthma affects millions worldwide, making breathing difficult and everyday life a challenge.

A recent study led by researchers at the Karolinska Institutet shows how city design especially air quality, urban density, and access to green spaces can influence asthma risk.

The bottom line? Around one in ten asthma cases might be avoided simply by improving the environments where we live, work, and play.

Previous studies have typically calculated the risk of one environmental factor at a time, researcher Zhebin You said in a news release.

We have combined several environmental factors and described how they together affect the risk of developing asthma. This provides a better picture of environmental risks, as life in a city usually involves exposure to several environmental risk factors at the same time.

The study

Rather than isolating individual environmental factors, the researchers took a fresh approach: they assessed the combined impact of three key urban features air pollution, outdoor temperatures (partly tied to the heat island effect), and how dense or grey a neighborhood is.

They used satellite images to classify areas as built-up (grey), green, or water zones. By linking each of the nearly 350,000 participants home addresses with environmental data, they could estimate individual exposures.

In total, the data came from 14 cohort groups across seven European countries. This allowed the team to see how real-world urban living conditions relate to asthma risk.

Results: What they found

Out of the 350,000 people studied, close to 7,500 developed asthma either in childhood or adulthood. The combined exposure to poor air quality, limited greenery, and dense urban layout was linked to about 11.6% of these asthma cases. In other words, in an ideal urban environment, roughly one in ten individuals with asthma might never have developed it.

The researchers emphasized that it's this combination of factors as they occur together in a city that most strongly predicted risk. They suggest that urban planners and policymakers could apply these insights to not only identify high-risk neighborhoods but also design healthier cities in the future.

Looking ahead, the team plans to analyze blood samples from some participants to map their metabolome that is, their body's chemical profile to better understand how environmental exposures influence internal biological processes linked to asthma development.

This is useful for politicians and others involved in urban planning. The method makes it possible to identify risk areas in existing urban areas, but it can also be used when planning future urban environments, researcher Erik Meln said in the news release.

The ConsumerAffairs Shopping Cart Index rose nearly 2%

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Whole Bean Coffee (12oz) saw the largest price increase, rising from $13.55 to $13.80 (+$0.25 or +1.8%).

• Bacon (16oz) also increased significantly, jumping from $7.92 to $8.46 (+$0.54 or +6.8%).

• Salted Butter (1 lb) experienced the largest decrease, dropping from $5.42 to $5.36 ($0.06 or 1.1%).

Polls show consumers are worried about the cost of groceries and the July ConsumerAffairs Datasembly Shopping Cart Index suggests those worries are justified.

The Index, which tracks the prices of 24 commonly purchased grocery items, shows a nearly 2% jump from June to July, led by sharp increases in the prices of coffee and bacon.

Price surge: Whats getting more expensive

1. Whole Bean Coffee (12oz): +$0.25

Coffee continues its upward climb, hitting $13.80 in July 2025, a 1.8% increase from June's $13.55. Supply chain pressures and growing global demand may be contributing to this steady rise. Notably, this item has jumped more than $2 since April.

2. Bacon (16 oz): +$0.54

A sharp increase from $7.92 to $8.46 (+6.8%) marks the highest single-item jump this month. Volatility in pork prices or seasonal demand surges could be behind this spike.

3. Frosted Donuts (8 count): +$0.07

A minor increase from $5.30 to $5.37, this follows several months of fluctuation. While not dramatic, it's indicative of a broader trend of rising bakery prices.

Price drops: Where you might save

1. Salted Butter (1 lb): $0.06

Falling from $5.42 to $5.36, butter saw the largest percentage drop in July (1.1%). This could reflect seasonal dairy supply boosts.

2. American Cheese Singles (24 ct): $0.04

From $5.45 to $5.41, cheese prices remain volatile but trended slightly downward this month.

3. Waffles (10 ct): $0.02

Now at $3.22, down from $3.24. While small, the drop continues a subtle downward trend for breakfast items.

Several grocery staples have shown no price change from June to July 2025, indicating possible stabilization:

• Select-a-size Paper Towels: Steady at $22.99

• Peanut Butter (16.3 oz): Holding at $3.26

• Laundry Detergent (96 oz): Slight rise of just $0.01

Compared to July 2024, the Index is down by more than 2%.However, most of the decline was caused by a huge drop in the price of cookies.

July Shopping Cart Index