Pet owners should check the packaging of their feed and keep an eye on their pets

Hawaii joins West Coast states in starting a new health alliance to replace CDC

• Hawaii becomes the fourth state to join the West Coast Health Alliance, expanding the coalition to include California, Oregon, and Washington in providing independent, science-based immunization guidance
• The alliance formed in response to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s removal of all 17 members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and their replacement with vaccine skeptics
• The coalition will coordinate health guidelines and align immunization recommendations with "respected national medical organizations" rather than following CDC guidance

Hawaii Governor Josh Green announced Thursday that his state is joining the West Coast Health Alliance, less than 24 hours after California, Oregon, and Washington launched the coalition to provide independent public health guidance amid what the states describe as the federal government's dismantling of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Hawaii is proud to stand with our West Coast partners to ensure public health decisions are grounded in science, not politics," said Green, an emergency room physician who became governor in 2022. The addition of Hawaii extends the alliance's reach to include roughly 57 million Americans across the Pacific region.

The four-state coalition represents a direct challenge to the Trump administration's overhaul of federal health agencies. In June, Kennedy removed all 17 members of the CDC's vaccine recommendations committee, calling it "little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine," and replaced them with advisers with a history of criticizing vaccine recommendations or questioning their safety.

Green emphasized Hawaii's public health track record, noting that "using science as our guiding star, Hawaii had the highest vaccination rate and lowest mortality rate of virtually any other state or region across the globe" during the COVID-19 pandemic. He called the alliance "critical as we all go forward into an era with severe threats from infectious diseases."

"Our guiding star"

The alliance states commit to ensuring public health recommendations are guided by safety, efficacy, transparency, access, and trust. Rather than relying on federal CDC guidance, the coalition will coordinate health guidelines and align its immunization recommendations with those of "respected national medical organizations."

In their joint announcement, the governors criticized recent changes at the CDC, stating that "leadership changes, reduced transparency, and the sidelining of long-trusted advisory bodies have impaired the agency's capacity to prepare the nation for respiratory virus season and other public health challenges."

The alliance said it will maintain respect for tribal sovereignty, recognizing that tribal nations retain authority over vaccine services for their communities. While each state will independently pursue strategies shaped by their unique circumstances, the shared principles will form the foundation for coordinated public health responses.

The formation comes as the states express concern about a "vacuum of clear, evidence-based vaccine guidance" that they say leaves manufacturers without reliable information for production planning, creates inconsistency in healthcare provider recommendations, and generates uncertainty for families about access and coverage.

In the coming weeks, the alliance plans to finalize shared principles aimed at strengthening public confidence in vaccines and public health more broadly, positioning the four-state coalition as an alternative source of scientific guidance independent of federal health agencies.

The decision marks a shift in pediatric health policy

• Florida plans to eliminate all childhood vaccine mandates, a first in the U.S., aiming to boost parental rights and medical choice.

• Experts and pediatricians warn of potential risks, citing past evidence showing how vaccines help prevent outbreaks.

• Current exemption rates are already above the national average, signaling rising hesitancy among families.

Florida just announced a major shift: the state intends to do away with all childhood vaccine requirements for schools and daycares potentially becoming the first in the nation to do so.

This change is being framed by officials as a win for parental rights and informed medical decisions. However, experts including those from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) are sounding an alarm, saying this could reverse hard-won public health gains.

When everyone in a school is vaccinated, its harder for diseases to spread, and easier for everyone to keep the fun and learning going, AAP President Susan J. Kressly, M.D., FAAP said in a news release.

When children are sick and miss school, parents also miss work, which not only impacts those families, but also the local economy. We are concerned that today's announcement will put children in Florida public schools at higher risk for getting sick, and have ripple effects across their community."

The strategy behind the decision

According to state Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, current vaccine mandates are "immoral" and infringe upon personal choice.

While no timeline has been set, the plan is dual-tracked: the Health Department can drop some rules directly, but others will require legislative approval.

Governor DeSantis backs the move and has launched a Make America Healthy Again commission to promote medical freedom, prioritize parental rights in health decisions, and reshape public health guidelines.

What do the numbers and pros say?

Even before this move, Florida had a higher rate of vaccine exemptions among kindergartners about 5.1% compared to the 3.6% national average.

Groups like the AMA (American Medical Association) say scrapping mandates reverses decades of progress in preventing serious childhood illnesses.

The American Medical Association strongly opposes Floridas plan to end all vaccine mandates, including those required for school attendance, AMA Trustee Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, MD, said in a statement.

This unprecedented rollback would undermine decades of public health progress and place children and communities at increased risk for diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, and chickenpox resulting in serious illness, disability, and even death. While there is still time, we urge Florida to reconsider this change to help prevent a rise of infectious disease outbreaks that put health and lives at risk.

The hedge fund manager has stepped up his warnings about 'unsustainable' US debt.

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has warned that the U.S. economy faces mounting risks from debt, inflation, and geopolitical tensions.

• He cautions that Americas debt-fueled spending and rising interest rates could trigger a painful debt crisis.

• For everyday Americans, this could mean higher borrowing costs, weaker job markets, and lower investment returns.

For the last couple of years, billionaire hedge fund manager Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, has been sounding alarms about the U.S. economy. In recent interviews and writings, the warnings have increased.

Dalio has cautioned that rising government debt, persistent inflation, and geopolitical rifts could converge into a perfect storm with significant consequences for both markets and ordinary households.

Dalio has repeatedly said that the U.S. governments debt burden is becoming unsustainable. Federal debt has climbed above $34 trillion, and higher interest rates mean that servicing that debt is increasingly expensive.

Were reaching a point where borrowing to finance deficits is no longer sustainable without consequences, he warned. Higher borrowing costs, he added, could crowd out private investment and reduce overall economic growth.

Inflation and geopolitical strains

Despite some signs of easing inflation in 2025, Dalio cautioned that the threat remains. He pointed to global supply chain realignments, deglobalization, and geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, as long-term inflationary pressures. In his view, the world is moving into a more fragmented era, which could make goods and capital more expensive and less available.

In an interview with Fortune Magazine, Dalio said he is a lone voice warning about the economy because others are remaining silent, fearing retaliation. However, ConsumerAffairs found some others who have voiced similar concerns lately.

A recent Business Insider commentary spotlighted consensus among expert economists:

• Economist Ken Rogoff forecasts a debt crisis within four to five years due to rising rates and warns against complacency on the costs of debt.

• Historian Niall Ferguson points out that when debt interest approaches defense spending levelsas seen in fiscal year 2024it signals growing financial vulnerability and waning investor confidence.

• A Wall Street Journal analysis warned that the U.S. deficit has ballooned toward $2 trillion, exceeding sustainable norms. Without structural reforms, its analysis concludes that markets may be compelled to react with higher yields and diminished demand for Treasuries, leading to higher mortgage rates.

Impact on average Americans

For everyday Americans, Dalios warnings, should they materialize, could translate into real-life concerns:

• Higher borrowing costs: Rising interest rates mean mortgages, car loans, and credit card debt are more expensive.

• Job market uncertainty: Slower growth could limit hiring and wage gains, putting pressure on household budgets.

• Weaker investment returns: Stocks and bonds may deliver lower returns in the coming years, challenging retirement savings and long-term financial planning.

• Potential policy shifts: To manage its debt, the government may consider higher taxes or changes to entitlement programs, both of which would directly affect households.

Dalio advised investors and households to diversify their assets, manage risk carefully, and avoid overexposure to debt. He has long argued that resiliencewhether in personal finances, businesses, or national economiescomes from preparing for a range of scenarios, not just the most optimistic ones.