Consumer News: Single-family rent growth hits 15-Year low

The FBI said a total of 34 people have been charged

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FBI arrested Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, among 34 individuals charged in one of the largest illegal sports-betting operations ever uncovered.

• Federal investigators say the scheme, active since 2021, used offshore servers, proxy bettors, and insider sports data to manipulate events and launder millions of dollars in illegal wagers.

• FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrests in Washington, noting that several sports insiders and organized crime affiliates are among those accused.

Millions of Americanslegally bet on sporting events through a number of online apps. But federal officials say some of those games might not have been on the up and up.

The FBI has announced the arrests of Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, charging them with illegal sports betting. They are just two of the 34 people charged by the federal agency.

The FBI detained the suspects in connection with what officials say is one of the largest illegal sports-betting rings ever uncovered. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice say the scheme involved the manipulation of sporting events, the placing of covert wagers, an illegal gambling business, and money-laundering operations.

According to an FBI internal memo, the operation began as early as 2021 and was designed to evade oversight by using offshore servers, proxy bettors, and insider access to sports data. The ring allegedly funneled millions of dollars in bets through multiple states and international channels.

Federal officials, including FBI Director Kash Patel, announced the arrests at a news conference in Washington.

Among the accused are bettors, bookmaking operators, sports-event insiders and enablers with alleged ties to organized crime groups. While the full list of names has not yet been released, multiple media outlets indicate that high-profile figuressome with direct ties to major sports leagueswere detained.

Medicare open enrollment begins October 15

By Truman Lewis of ConsumerAffairs

• Open enrollment runs Oct. 15Dec. 7: Seniors can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, or change Part D drug coverage.

• Plans change every year: Premiums, drug formularies, and provider networks may shift, meaning last years plan may no longer be the best fit.

• Review before choosing: Compare costs, confirm drug coverage, and check doctors networks using Medicares Plan Finder or free state counseling programs.

Medicares annual open enrollment period starts October 15 and runs through December 7, giving more than 65 million Americans a chance to review their coverage and make changes for 2026.

During this seven-week window, beneficiaries can switch between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, change prescription drug (Part D) plans, or update their Advantage coverage. Experts caution that failing to review options can be costly, since premiums, drug lists, and provider networks often shift year to year.

Key considerations for 2026 coverage

Plan costs may change
Premiums, deductibles, and copayments typically adjust annually. Even modest increases can strain fixed incomes.

Drug coverage shifts
Formulariesthe lists of covered medicationsare updated every year. A plan covering prescriptions in 2025 may not cover them in 2026.

Doctor and hospital networks
Medicare Advantage plans contract with specific providers. Seniors should confirm their doctors and hospitals remain in-network.

Extra benefits
Some Advantage plans include vision, dental, hearing, or wellness programs. These perks can be useful but should not outweigh core medical coverage.

Why it matters

Health needs evolve with age, and sticking with the same plan year after year can mean higher costs or missed benefits.

• Financial risks: Choosing a poorly matched plan could lead to higher out-of-pocket costs, especially for chronic conditions.

• Coverage gaps: Skipping a drug coverage review may lead to unpleasant surprises at the pharmacy counter.

• Access concerns: Seniors may lose access to trusted doctors if they dont confirm network participation.

Consumer advice

Experts recommend the following steps before making any decisions:

• Review your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC): Mailed by your plan each fall, this document outlines next years costs and coverage updates.

• Use Medicares Plan Finder tool: Available at Medicare.gov, the tool allows side-by-side comparisons of plans in your ZIP code.

• Consult free counseling: State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) offer trained counselors who can help navigate options.

• Beware of marketing pitches: Seniors are frequent targets of ads promising extra benefits. Always confirm plan details directly through Medicare or a trusted counselor.

Bottom line

Medicare open enrollment is seniors once-a-year chance to ensure their health coverage and costs match their needs. With plan details changing annually, even those satisfied with their current plan should take time to compare options.

Consumer tip: Dont wait until December. Reviewing your plan early leaves time to ask questions, compare alternatives, and avoid last-minute stress before the December 7 deadline.

The government shutdown has left the courts short of funds

Donald Trump is a big client of the federal court system so he is likely to be irate when he learns the courts are running out ofmoney, thanks to the government shutdown.

The federal Judicial Branch said yesterday that it has run out of funds to sustain full operations, saying it will now operate on a limited basis until Congress restores government funding.

Until the ongoing lapse in government funding is resolved, federal courts will maintain limited operations necessary to perform the Judiciarys constitutional functions, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts said in a statement posted on its website.

Essential functions only

Federal judges will continue to serve in accordance with the Constitution, but court staff may only perform certain excepted activities permitted under the federal Anti-Deficiency Act. Employees performing such duties will not be paid during the shutdown, while those not engaged in excepted work have been furloughed.

Examples of excepted work include activities necessary to perform constitutional functions under Article III, activities necessary for the safety of human life and protection of property, and activities otherwise authorized by federal law, officials said.

Each court will decide which cases will continue on schedule and which will be delayed.

Systems and access

The Administrative Office said the Case Management/Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF) system remains operational for electronic document filing, and case information continues to be available on PACER. The jury program is not affected by the lapse, officials said, although the Administrative Office will not have staff available to answer public phone calls during the shutdown.

Supreme Court operations

At the Supreme Court, the building is closed to the public but remains open for essential business. Patricia McCabe, head of the courts Public Information Office, told SCOTUSblog that the court will continue hearing oral arguments, issuing orders and opinions, processing case filings, and providing police and building support needed for those operations.

Shutdown timeline

The shutdown began when the federal fiscal year ended on September 30. The Judiciary was able to continue paid operations through October 17and some limited work through October 19by using fee balances and other funds not dependent on congressional appropriations.

Officials did not indicate when funding might be restored, leaving the nations courts operating under emergency procedures until further notice.

OpenAI enters the browser wars; consumers should proceed with caution

• New browser integrates ChatGPT as the main interface for online activity

• Aims to redefine how users navigate the web through conversational search

• Currently available only for MacOS, with Windows and mobile versions to follow

OpenAI on Tuesday unveiled a new web browser called Atlas, a free tool built around the companys artificial intelligence technologies including its popular chatbot, ChatGPT. The move puts OpenAI in direct competition with industry heavyweights like Google, Apple, and Microsoft, whose browsers have long dominated the internet.

This is an A.I.-powered web browser built around ChatGPT, said Sam Altman, OpenAIs chief executive, during a livestream announcing the launch. We think that A.I. represents a rare, once-a-decade opportunity to rethink what a browser can be about.

If OpenAI can lure users to Atlas, it could steer them toward its own online services and collect valuable data to further train and refine its A.I. systems.

ChatGPT as the internet gateway

In Atlas, the familiar browser address bar is gone. Instead, users type web addresses or questions directly into a ChatGPT chat window. Each new browser tab opens to ChatGPT itself, making conversation rather than search the default way to explore the internet.

Altman said the company envisions a future where chatting with an A.I. replaces typing queries into a search box. The way that we hope people will use the internet in the future and that were starting to see is the chat experience, he said.

By removing the traditional address bar, OpenAI effectively sidelines rival search engines like Google and Bing while keeping all user interactions within its own ecosystem.

Privacy advocates aren't too keen on the concept. They note that behind the scenes, Atlas is working to learn much more about you. If you grant permission during setup, the browser builds a trove of memories about sites you visit and coughs them up when you need them. You could ask about a vacation spot you looked at last week and it could retrieve it quickly. That will probably be convenient but it raises the question of how much you really want ChatGPT to know about you and who you think will have access to the data.

Competition and capabilities

Atlas follows a similar move by Perplexity, another A.I. start-up that recently launched its own browser, Comet, to integrate conversational A.I. directly into web navigation. Both companies are betting that intelligent chat-driven interfaces can challenge the dominance of existing search engines and browsers.

Currently, Atlas is available only for computers running Apples MacOS. OpenAI said versions for Microsoft Windows and mobile platforms including Android and iOS are in development.

The company also introduced an experimental agent mode, which can perform tasks like filling out online forms, using web apps, or even managing shopping lists. For now, that feature is limited to paying ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscribers.

A familiar playbook, but with A.I.

Tech analysts note that OpenAIs strategy echoes Googles introduction of Chrome more than a decade ago a move that integrated its browser tightly with its search engine and helped cement Googles dominance.

With Atlas, OpenAI appears to be taking a similar approach for the A.I. era, positioning ChatGPT as both the browser and the search engine and potentially redefining how people experience the web.