The batter may contain pieces of wood

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Hillshire Brands is recalling 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage-on-a-stick products packaged from March 17September 26, 2025, for possible wood pieces in the batter.

• Products were sold nationwide online and to retail, food service, school districts (not via USDAs NSLP), and DoD facilities; the issue surfaced after multiple consumer complaints, including five injuries.

• Do not consumecheck fridges/freezers, discard or return; see FSIS for product lists/labels and distribution details. Contacts: Consumer Care 888-747-7611, Media 810-391-6680, USDA Hotline 888-674-6854.

The Hillshire Brands Company has issued a major recall of approximately 58 million pounds of corn dog and sausage on a stick products that may be contaminated with extraneous material, specifically pieces of wood embedded in the batter.

The company has received multiple complaints from consumers, including five reports of injuries. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service has classified the recall as Class I, the highest threat level.

The corn dog and sausage on a stick products were packaged between March 17, 2025, and September 26, 2025. A list of the products subject to recall can be found here.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number EST-582 or P-894 printed on the packaging. These items were sold online and shipped to retail and food service locations nationwide.

Nationwide distribution

They were also sold to school districts and Department of Defense facilities nationwide. While the products were distributed to schools, they resulted from commercial sales and were not part of the food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program.

After receiving complaints, the Hillshire Brands Company conducted an investigation and determined that the wooden sticks entered the production process prior to product battering. FSIS has received no additional reports of injury from consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be in consumers refrigerators and freezers, along with school and institutional refrigerators and freezers. Consumers, schools, and institutions that have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Christina Self, The Hillshire Brands Company Associate Director of Customer Care, at 888-747-7611. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact MaKenzie Taylor, The Hillshire Brands Company Communications Manager, at 810-391-6680.

The D.C. region feels the economic blow as do other sections of the country

• Thousands of federal employees lose pay as deferred resignations, firingstake effect.

• Unemployment rising faster than the national average in affected areas, with federal job cuts piling on.

• A looming government shutdown could deepen the economic pain for workers and contractors.

When the fiscal year ends Tuesday, thousands of federal employees on paid leave will officially exit the government payroll. In addition, the White House budget office has told agencies to prepare for mass firings if a shutdown occurs, raising the prospect of another blow to the civil service. We see a lot of strong early warning signs, said Tracy Hadden Loh, a fellow at Brookings Metro, in a Washington Postreport.

The Washington region in particular faces economic hardship as paychecks stop coming for thousands of federal employees who accepted the governments deferred resignation offer. The change coincides with the threat of a federal shutdown, which could delay pay for those who remain on the job and cut off income altogether for contractors.

Although most acutely felt in the D.C. region, the cutbacks are biting into the economy throughout the country, especially in areas with large numbers of federal employees and military installations.Cities with high federal or agency presence face disproportionate vulnerability. These include Baltimore, Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Ogden (UT), Tampa, San Antonio, and smaller metros reliant on VA hospitals or federal research sites.

The Washington regions unemployment rate has climbed more than eight times faster than the national rate since January, according to a Brookings Institution analysis. Federal job losses have accelerated, while the share of residents with low credit scores and homes for sale has grown more quickly than elsewhere in the country. Private sector job growth has stalled, leaving the economy with little cushion against government cuts.

The American Communities Project mapped federal employment by county, finding that many smaller counties (including those with military bases, federal labs, or federal land) have 5 % or more of the workforce tied to the federal government.

A report from the Atlanta Fed estimates thatthe federally supported workforce (i.e. including contractors/grant recipients) could number in the millions, so layoffs could ripple further than just the civil service.

Workers describe despair in job search

For many federal employees, the hardship has already begun. One former State Department worker said he has applied for more than 50 jobs without success.

Some employees accepted the resignation offer because they were near retirement. Others left out of principle or fear of termination. The initiative, pushed by PresidentTrump and billionaire Elon Musk through the U.S. DOGE Service, was billed as part of a sweeping reorganization of the federal bureaucracy. More than 154,000 federal workers nationwide had volunteered to resign while still drawing pay earlier this year, with officials estimating that roughly 275,000 will have departed through buyouts and retirements by the end of the fiscal year.

In the Washington metro area, where one in ten jobs are federal and many others depend on federal spending, the cuts land especially hard. Private sector growth is not making up the difference. DOGE has been a disaster for Washington, D.C., said Ankit Jain, one of the citys shadow senators. For some, the question now is whether to stay in the region at all or to leave behind lives and careers built around federal service.

Fewer firm plans have been announced in the lead-up to the latest possible shutdown

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

A looming government shutdown will be felt by travelers throughout the nation. Expect longer airport lines, national park closures and other disruptions. The witching hour is 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and there's little sign of progress in Congressional negotiations. President Trump plans to meet with the four Congressional leaders Monday but the outcome remains uncertain.

Fewer preparations have been announced then in the lead-up to previous closures as federal agencies struggle with staffing shortages resulting from the earlier government cutbacks.

Most airport employees, including TSA agents and air traffic controllers, are required to work without pay but previous shutdowns have seen delays as workers call in sick. National park staff with be furloughed and parks may be closed, although no official announcements has been made.

Notably, Amtrak will not be affected. It is an independent federal corporation and is not dependent on Congressionalfunding.

The Smithsonian Museums in Washington are expected to remain open, for at least a few days.

Passports will continue to be issued and border entry points will be staffed.

Tourism is likely to be hit hard. An industry group spokesman said financial losses would likely amount to at least $1 billion per week.

Two storms are brewing in the Atlantic and could create dangerous conditions by Monday

• Storm near Cuba expected to strengthen into Tropical Storm Imelda this weekend

• Up to 2 feet of rain possible in parts of the Carolinas early next week

• Winds up to 85 mph could cause power outages and structural damage

Increasing risk of torrential rain

AccuWeather hurricane experts are warning about the growing threat of heavy rainfall and flash flooding as a storm moves toward the Southeast U.S. coast. The system, currently north of Cuba, is expected to strengthen into a tropical storm this weekend and could become a hurricane early next week.

There is an increasing risk of heavy and persistent rainfall over a long period of time across the Carolinas and parts of the Southeast, said Jonathan Porter, AccuWeathers Chief Meteorologist. If this storm slows down or stalls out, there may be hours of torrential rainfall that could trigger widespread, life-threatening flash flooding. A foot or more of rainfall is not out of the question.

How to prepare now

• Stock up on food, water, medications, batteries and flashlights.

• Secure outdoor items like furniture, grills, and trash bins that could become projectiles in high winds.

• Know your evacuation routes and review local flood zone maps.

• Charge phones and backup batteries in case of extended power outages.

• Avoid flooded roads never attempt to drive through standing water.

• Stay informed by following local emergency officials and AccuWeather updates.

Multiple scenarios still possible

Forecasters say several storm paths remain on the table, ranging from landfall somewhere along the southeastern U.S. coast to a sharp northeast turn out to sea. Regardless of track, AccuWeather expects heavy rain, flash flooding, rough surf, rip currents, coastal flooding, and even a possible tornado threat north and east of the storms center.

A widespread 24 inches of rainfall is expected from eastern Georgia to central Virginia. The highest totals816 inches, with a Local StormMax of 24 inchesare possible from northeastern South Carolina into eastern North Carolina.

Winds add to the danger

The storms wind field is expected to expand as it nears the coast. Wind gusts of 4060 mph are possible from eastern Georgia to southern Virginia, while areas near landfall could see gusts of 6080 mph, with a Local StormMax of 85 mph. These winds could cause power outages and localized structural damage.

Interaction with Humberto

Hurricane Humberto, now a major hurricane, is forecast to pass between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast early next week. Any interaction between Humberto and the developing storm could influence the track and severity of impacts across the Southeast.

Residents urged to prepare

Porter advised residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas to be ready to move to higher ground. Flash floods are incredibly dangerous, especially after dark. Please do not try to drive down a flooded road, he said. Now is the time to prepare and make sure your emergency supplies are stocked up and ready. We dont want anyone to be caught off guard.

Fatalities have been reduced by 78% in the years the cameras have been required in new cars

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• The cameras are credited with a sharp decline in backover accidents.
• Every new car has had the cameras since 2018.
• Fatalities are down 78%, according to the available statistics.

A federal mandate requiring all new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be equipped with backup cameras has been tied to a sharp decline in severe injuries and deaths among small children, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition.

The study looked at cases of children under 5 years old who suffered backover traumainjuries that occur when a pedestrian is struck by a motorized vehicle in reversebetween January 2011 and November 2024. These incidents disproportionately affect young children.

Researchers compared two sets of data:

• Trauma registry data from a level one pediatric trauma center covering 71 patients

• A list of 28 children compiled by Kids and Car Safety from publicly available injury records in nearby counties

Both sets showed nearly identical trends after the 2018 federal mandate took effect. Key findings included:

• Annual rates of pediatric backover events dropped to about one-third of previous levels

• The proportion of injuries classified as severe fell by almost half

• Publicly reported fatal cases decreased by 78%

Expert perspective

Our study demonstrates an important association between the federal mandate in 2018 requiring all new vehicles be equipped with a backup camera, and the reduction in both rate and severity of pediatric backover trauma, said lead author Natalie A. Drucker, MD, MS, an assistant professor of pediatric surgery at UTHealth Houston.

While this is exciting, necessary progress toward injury prevention in a vulnerable population, these events continue to occur and thus demand attention and continued advocacy efforts to promote the safety of our children, she added.

What it means for families

While every new vehicle sold since 2018 has been required to include a rearview camera, many older cars still lack the feature. The authors suggest that backup cameras should be prioritizedand possibly subsidizedfor installation in vehicles built before the mandate.

The research was funded solely by the Pediatric Surgery Department at UTHealth Houston.