Congress passed a law in 2021 requiring back-seat safety equipment but no implementation rules have been issued

• A 4-month-old baby boy died after being left in a vehicle in Williamsburg County, South Carolina, earlier this week.

• He is at least the 24th child nationwide to die in a hot car in 2025, according to Kids and Car Safety.

• Safety advocates warn that federal regulators are more than a year overdue on implementing life-saving technology mandated by Congress.

Authorities confirmed that a 4-month-old infant boy died on August 25 after being left inside a vehicle in South Carolina. The case marks at least the 24th child hot car death this year in the United States, continuing a tragic pattern that has claimed more than 1,150 young lives since 1990.

According to the nonprofit Kids and Car Safety, the vast majority of victims are 3 years old or younger, with more than half unknowingly left behind by otherwise responsible parents or caregivers.

Death toll continues to rise despite available technology

Hot car deaths surged after children began riding in back seats, where they are less visible to drivers. Safety advocates stress that technology already exists to detect rear-seat occupants and alert caregivers before tragedy strikes.

Congress included a requirement for such technology in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, ordering the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize rules by November 2023. That deadline has passed, leaving the regulation more than 18 months overdue.

Since the law was signed, more than 130 children have died in hot cars.

On May 1, grieving families sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urging immediate action to issue the long-delayed rule.

Families and advocates demand action

Janette Fennell, founder and president of Kids and Car Safety, said the continuing deaths highlight the cost of inaction.

We are committed to the push for occupant detection technology in all cars immediately. As we continue our advocacy, children continue to die week after week. It is beyond heartbreaking, Fennell said. Automakers do not have to wait for the final regulation they can add occupant detection technology to their vehicles today.

Education and prevention

While technology is viewed as the ultimate safeguard, Kids and Car Safety continues to educate families on preventive steps. The group stresses that tragedies often occur in ordinary families who never imagined such an accident could happen to them.

Resources, including fact sheets and information on currently available hot car detection technology, are available from Kids and Car Safety.

AGs want platforms to help prevent the creation and spread of sexually exploitative AI-generated content

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Attorneys general from 48 statesare urging major search and payment platforms to take stronger action against nonconsensual deepfake pornography.

• The coalition is pressing companies to disclose their current safeguards and commit to further steps to prevent the creation and spread of sexually exploitative AI-generated content.

• Officials say the technology is increasingly being used to harass, intimidate, and exploit victimsparticularly women and girls.

A bipartisan coalition of 47stateattorneys general in sending letters to search platforms and payment processors, demanding stronger measures to combat the growing problem of nonconsensual deepfake pornography.

DeepfakesAI-generated videos, images, or audio clips that appear authenticare increasingly being used to create sexually explicit material without the consent of those depicted. Such content has been weaponized to bully, harass, and exploit victims, raising urgent legal and ethical concerns.

Tools that allow people to generate intimate images and videos of real people without their consent can cause significant harm to the public particularly to women and girls, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said. As technology rapidly evolves, I am committed to engaging with industries to ensure were all working together to guide AI toward positive potential that will benefit us not hurt us.

The letters request information from major search engines and financial platforms about the steps they are taking to limit access to deepfake porn and call on them to strengthen their policies. Search providers, for instance, can filter out results that promote deepfake creation tools, while payment processors can ensure they are not facilitating transactions for those selling such content.

A growing threat

Deepfakes pose a growing threat to all of us, but especially to women and girls, and tech companies must do more to stop the spread of these harmful materials, said Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark. Vermont law already includes non-consensual deepfakes in its revenge pornography statute. Its time for search engines and payment platforms to take responsibility for their role in spreading this harm and crack down on the proliferation of deepfakes. I am proud to have led these bipartisan letters.

In their letters, the coalition points to existing industry practices that can be deployed to address these deepfakes. For example, search engines already limit access to harmful content such as searches for how to build a bomb and how to kill yourself.

The attorneys general urged these companies to adopt similar measures for searches such as how to make deepfake pornography, undress apps, nudify apps, or deepfake porn. The coalition also urged payment platforms to deny sellers the ability to use their services when they learn of connections to deepfake non-consensual intimate imagery tools and content and remove those sellers from their network.

The bipartisan coalition behind the deepfake pornography crackdown spans nearly every U.S. state and territory, underscoring the widespread concern about the potential harms of artificial intelligence when left unchecked.

Research shows red states and blue states have different economic issues

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• California tops the list of states most at risk of stagflation in 2025

• Blue states face higher inflation, while red states struggle with weak growth

• More than one in three U.S. households reports difficulty paying monthly bills

Of all the economic conditions, economists generally fear stagflation the most. Thats when the economy becomes stagnant and doesnt grow, but inflation keeps rising. The last time the U.S. had a case of stagflation was the 1970s, and it wasnt pleasant.

While the U.S. economy has so far avoided that fate, new research from National Business Capital has identified the top 10 states where stagflation is a real threat.

California has emerged as the state most at risk of falling into stagflation in 2025, with findings suggesting that Pacific states are bearing the brunt of stagflationary pressures. The Northeast is not far behind.

By contrast, red states are seeing less inflation but are struggling with weaker growth, creating a different but equally destabilizing form of economic stress.

Blue vs. red state divide

Researchers found that blue states, led by California and Connecticut, are more likely to experience stagflation due to high shelter and energy costs, as well as elevated underemployment rates.

On average, blue states recorded a stagflationscore of 53.4 nearly 6.5% higher than red states at 50.1. Six of the 10 most vulnerable states were Democratic-leaning.

Red states, while less affected by inflation, reported heavier household financial strain. Roughly 38% of residents in Republican-leaning states said they struggled to pay bills, compared with 34% in blue states. These states also endured sharper GDP declines in early 2025 and posted slower productivity growth, leaving many families with thinner paychecks.

Regional breakdown

By region, Pacific states had the highest average stagflation risk score at 60.6, well above the Northeast (53.1), Midwest (50.5), South (49.2), and Mountain states (48.5). Californias top ranking stemmed from steep housing costs, soaring utility bills, and high underemployment. Connecticut placed second, while Kentucky ranked third due to sluggish GDP growth and low salaries.

Nationwide, more than one in three households reported struggling to cover monthly bills, highlighting the widespread financial stress behind the macroeconomic data. Kentucky households were hit the hardest, with 45.6% reporting difficulty, while Minnesota fared best at 27.4%.

The economy can go in any direction from here, said Joe Camberato, CEO of National Business Capital. However, this report shows if stagflation hits, the rest of 2025 could look very bleak.

For the first time, federal officials are restricting broad access to Covid shots

• For the first time, federal officials are restricting broad access to Covid shots, authorizing them mainly for older adults and those with health risks.

• Healthy children and younger adults will only qualify if a doctor determines they are medically vulnerable.

• The move comes amid growing controversy over vaccine policy changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

New limits on vaccine eligibility

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved updated Covid vaccines for the coming fall season, but imposed the most restrictive policy since the shots first became available.

The agency cleared the Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines only for people 65 and older, and for younger individuals who have at least one underlying medical condition that increases their risk of severe illness. Healthy children under 18 may still be eligible, but only after consultation with a medical provider.

The FDA also revoked emergency authorizations for children under 5, making Pfizers vaccine unavailable to that age group.

Next steps hinge on CDC advisory panel

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must still decide whether to recommend the shots, a step that strongly shapes insurance coverage and pharmacy access. But the CDCs advisory committee was recently overhauled by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who reduced its size and added several vaccine skeptics.

A decision is expected within a month. In many states, pharmacists can only administer vaccines recommended by the CDC, raising concerns among providers about their legal exposure if they move ahead without updated guidance.

Political and scientific tensions

Mr. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic before entering government, praised the FDA approval, saying it balanced availability with stronger demands for safety studies. He pointed to a new requirement for placebo-controlled trials and research into post-Covid-19 vaccination syndrome, a condition that remains disputed among experts.

Public health officials, however, warn that narrowing vaccine eligibility could put vulnerable groups at risk and stall progress in developing better therapies. Critics also point to Kennedys cancellation of $500 million in research grants for flu and Covid vaccines as a major setback.

Concerns for pregnant women and children

Medical groups are also diverging from federal policy. Earlier this year, the CDC stopped recommending the Covid vaccine for pregnant women. But the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continues to advise vaccination, citing evidence that it reduces the risk of maternal death and stillbirth.

Its really heartbreaking to see a person who is pregnant on a ventilator, said Dr. Brenna Hughes of Duke University Medical Center, recalling the early pandemic waves, in a New York Times story. I hope to never see anything like that again.

Covids ongoing toll

Covid deaths have declined sharply from prior years, though the virus still kills hundreds of Americans each month. In July, the CDC reported about 170 deaths per week, compared to up to 850 per week in the same month last year.

Health insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, say they are monitoring the changes but expect to continue covering vaccinations for now. Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens are reviewing the new rules to determine how and when they can administer shots.

The old timer and the barrel return to the logo

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Cracker Barrel faced backlash after a controversial rebranding move alienated parts of its customer base.

• The company has since announced it will backtrack, restoring elements of its traditional brand identity.

• Analysts say the episode highlights the risks of abrupt brand shifts in legacy companies with loyal customer bases.

In case youve been on vacation to Mars over the last week, Cracker Barrel, the Southern-themed restaurant and retail chain known for its rocking chairs and homestyle cooking, has been the center of a public relations storm.

After the company announced a new logo and changes to its restaurants, the internet erupted. The popular chain is now retreating from a recent rebranding campaign after facing widespread criticism from longtime customers.

The company originally said it was attempting to modernize its image, including a new logo, updated color scheme, and a push toward more contemporary menu items. While intended to broaden appeal among younger diners, the move quickly sparked outrage among loyal patrons who felt the chain was abandoning its roots. Social media posts criticizing the changes went viral, with many accusing Cracker Barrel of turning its back on tradition.

A swift reversal

In a statement released this week, Cracker Barrel executives confirmed they would scale back the rebranding efforts, restoring several visual elements and menu offerings that had been removed.

We hear our guests loud and clear, the statement read. Cracker Barrels identity is built on comfort, familiarity, and tradition. While we remain committed to evolving, we will honor the heritage that has made us a gathering place for generations.

The reversal comes just weeks after the rebrand rollout, signaling the companys recognition of the intensity of the backlash. Industry experts note that the swift pivot was likely necessary to stem potential damage to sales and reputation.

Sensing another Bud Light marketing disaster, Wall Street sold the stock in the wake of the announcement, resulting in a $100 million loss in market value.

Brand analysts say the controversy underscores the delicate balance legacy chains must strike when courting new audiences without alienating existing ones. They note that while consumers are often resistant to change, that resistance is amplified when the change is seen as reducing nostalgia and Americana.