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The product was sold at Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger and other major chains

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Champion Foods has recalled certain batches of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread because of potential Salmonella contamination linked to a recalled milk powder ingredient.

• The affected frozen products were sold nationwide through major retailers including Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger and Publix.

• No illnesses or injuries have been reported, but consumers are urged not to eat the recalled products and to return or discard them.

Champion Foods LLC has issued a recall for certain batches of its Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread after learning that an ingredient used in the product may be contaminated with Salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported the recall on its website. It appears to be another case in which a contaminated ingredient has spread through the supply chain.

The New Boston, Michigan-based company said the recall was prompted by a separate recall involving milk powder supplied by California Dairies Inc. The milk powder was used in a seasoning blend incorporated into the cheese bread's sauce.

Although routine testing of the seasoning blend showed no positive results for Salmonella, Champion Foods said it initiated the recall as a precautionary measure.

The recall applies to specific lots of Motor City Pizza Co. 5 Cheese Bread sold in both single-pack and two-pack formats. Affected products can be identified by their UPC codes and sell-by dates printed in black within the cheese bread image on the front of the package.

Nationwide distribution

The products were distributed nationwide through a wide range of retailers, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Publix, Meijer, Food City and other grocery chains.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare cases, the infection can spread beyond the intestinal tract and cause more severe illness.

Champion Foods said it has received no reports of illnesses or injuries associated with the recalled products. Consumers who purchased affected packages are advised not to consume them and should discard the products or return them to the place of purchase.

The recall is one of several food safety actions tied to California Dairies' milk powder recall, which has led to recalls involving multiple food brands and products nationwide.

The defendant was accused of misleading consumers about its tax-relief services

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A federal court settlement will require operators of an alleged tax-relief scam to surrender nearly $10 million in cash and assets.

• The Federal Trade Commission and the State of Nevada accused the defendants of falsely claiming they could dramatically reduce consumers' tax debts and impersonating government agencies.

• The settlement permanently bans the defendants from marketing or selling tax-relief services and imposes strict restrictions on future telemarketing activities.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the State of Nevada have reached a settlement with the operators of an alleged tax-relief scheme that regulators charge deceived consumers with false and misleading claims.

Under the proposed court order, the defendants will be required to turn over cash and assets valued at nearly $10 million and will be permanently barred from offering tax-relief services. The settlement resolves allegations that the companies misled consumers seeking help with IRS debt and collected millions of dollars for services that frequently failed to deliver the promised results.

According to regulators, the defendants operated under the American Tax Service brand and told consumers they could settle tax debts for "pennies on the dollar" or for only a fraction of the amount owed. The FTC alleged those claims were often made before the companies had reviewed a consumer's financial circumstances or determined whether they qualified for any relief programs from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Misleading marketing

The agency also alleged the companies used mailers and other marketing materials that appeared to come from government agencies, including the IRS, in order to generate sales leads. Consumers were allegedly told their tax situations had been flagged as high risk or were under investigation, creating pressure to purchase the companies' services.

Federal and state regulators filed the lawsuit in October 2025, accusing the defendants of violating the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the FTC's Impersonation Rule. A federal court subsequently halted the operation and froze assets while the litigation proceeded.

The settlement represents one of the larger recoveries in a tax-relief enforcement action and demonstrates regulators' continuing focus on companies that target financially vulnerable consumers with misleading debt-relief promises. In addition to the monetary judgment, the defendants will face ongoing compliance and record-keeping requirements designed to prevent future violations.

Will consumers be compensated?

The settlement requires the defendants to surrender nearly $10 million in cash and assets, funds that could ultimately be used to compensate consumers who paid for the allegedly deceptive tax-relief services. However, the FTC has not yet announced whether consumers will receive refunds or how any recovered money would be distributed.

Consumer advocates have long warned taxpayers to be wary of companies that guarantee debt reductions or advertise blanket solutions to tax problems. The FTC advises consumers to be skeptical of unsolicited communications claiming to come from the IRS and to verify any tax-relief claims before paying for services.

Landlords are ponying up record incentives and concessions

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Nearly 40% of rental listings on Zillow this spring include concessions such as free rent, waived fees, or discounted move-in costs, the highest share recorded for this time of year.

• A surge in apartment construction has boosted rental inventory and pushed the national vacancy rate to 7.3%, giving renters more negotiating power.

• Denver, Charlotte, Dallas, Austin, and Nashville lead the nation in rental concessions, while Buffalo, Providence, and New York have the fewest deals.

The spring housing market has been somewhat disappointing for both buyers and sellers. However, renters across the U.S. are finding more bargaining power this spring as landlords increasingly offer incentives to fill vacant units, according to a new Zillow analysis.

Nearly 40% of rental listings on Zillow featured concessions this spring, up from about one-third a year ago and more than double the share seen before the pandemic. The incentives include offers such as free rent, waived application or parking fees, and reduced move-in costs.

The trend reflects a significant shift in market dynamics. After years of intense competition among renters, a wave of apartment construction has added substantial inventory in many metro areas, particularly across the Sun Belt. As a result, the national rental vacancy rate has climbed to 7.3%, compared with 5.6% in 2021, when demand far exceeded supply.

Renters are in the drivers seat

"Renters don't have to settle this spring," Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng said in the report, noting that increased supply has created more opportunities for renters to negotiate pricing, lease terms, and other perks.

The most concession-heavy markets are concentrated in fast-growing Sun Belt cities where apartment development has surged in recent years. Denver tops the list, with 68.3% of listings offering incentives, followed by Charlotte (66.6%), Dallas (64.2%), Austin (63.8%), and Nashville (62.6%).

In contrast, landlords in highly competitive rental markets have less need to entice prospective tenants with discounts. Buffalo reported the lowest share of concessions at 11.1%, followed by Providence (12.6%), New York (18.4%), New Orleans (19.2%), and Chicago (21.7%).

So, just how much can you save?

For renters, the savings can be substantial. Zillow estimates that a typical U.S. renter now needs an annual income of nearly $77,200 to comfortably afford rent. With the typical rental costing about $1,930 per month, a concession such as one month of free rent can translate into nearly $2,000 in savings.

The report suggests the rental market is becoming increasingly favorable for tenants, particularly in regions where new housing supply continues to outpace demand.

As landlords compete for residents, industry analysts say renters may find opportunities not only to secure lower upfront costs but also to negotiate better lease terms overall.

The coupon stacking tricks that turn good deals into great ones

• Stack your savings: Combine Kohl's Cash, Rewards, coupons, and clearance deals to cut your bill by 40% to 70%.

• Use Kohl's Cash wisely: Treat it like a rebate and spend it on clearance items to stretch its value even further.

• Shop seasonal clearance: Holiday and seasonal merchandise often drops 70% to 90% off, creating some of Kohl's best deals.

Kohl's is one of the few stores where stacking discounts isn't just allowed, it's practically encouraged. That's the primary reason why savvy Kohl's shoppers rarely pay full price.

Between Kohl's Cash, percentage-off coupons, rewards points, and special promotions, it's often possible to cut your final bill in half or more if you know how the system works.

Despite what some shoppers think, couponing at Kohl's isn't nearly as complicated as it looks from the outside. Here's how to do it.

Start with a Kohl's Rewards account

Before buying anything, sign up for Kohl's Rewards. The program is free and gives shoppers 5% Kohl's Rewards on every purchase you make.

Those rewards eventually convert into Kohl's Cash certificates that can be spent on future purchases. The rewards aren't huge by themselves, but they become much more valuable when combined with the other discounts that Kohl's offers.

Your earned Kohls Cash will be issued to you in $5 increments on the firstof every month.

Pro tip: Get in the habit of always entering your phone number at the checkout register, even on small purchases. Many shoppers forget to do this and miss out on the rewards they already earned.

Understand Kohl's Cash (it's basically free money)

If Kohl's has a secret weapon, it's definitely Kohl's Cash.

Throughout the year, Kohl's regularly runs promotions that help you earn additional Cash.

These often include the following:

• Earn $10 Kohl's Cash for every $50 spent
• Earn $20 Kohl's Cash for every $100 spent

The biggest mistake shoppers make is treating Kohl's Cash like a bonus. Smart shoppers instead treat it more like a rebate.

For example: Spend $100 during a promotion and receive $20 Kohl's Cash. Your effective purchase price isn't really $100 anymore. It's closer to $80 if you know you'll use the Kohl's Cash later.

Also, its worth noting that Kohls Cash does have an expiration date on it, but I was told by several employees that theyll still accept it (in-store) for up to 10 days after the expiration date. Unfortunately, you cant use expired Kohls Cash when shopping online.

Pro tip: Try to hit the Kohl's Cash threshold exactly when possible. If you're spending $47, find a small clearance item and get over the $50 mark. Leaving $10 in Kohl's Cash on the table is one of the most common mistakes shoppers make.

How Kohl's stacks your discounts

One thing many shoppers don't realize is that Kohl's applies discounts in a specific order, regardless of how you enter coupon codes online or hand over coupons at checkout.

Here's how the math typically works:

• First, any department-specificcoupons are applied, such as $5 off a fragrance purchase or a similar category-specific promotion.
• Next, percentage-off coupons are deducted from eligible items. For example, a 15% off beauty coupon would be applied to qualifying beauty products.
• Then, Kohl's subtracts dollar-off rewards, including Kohl's Cash, Rewards Cash, and qualifying storewide dollar-off coupons.
• Finally, if you have a storewide percentage-off coupon, such as 15%, 20%, or 30% off your entire purchase, Kohl's will apply the single highest-value coupon you're eligible to use.

Also, when shopping online, if your order still meets the $49 free shipping threshold after all discounts are applied, the free shipping promotion will kick in automatically.

Pro tip: Before spending your Kohl's Cash, be sure to do a quick calculation. Sometimes using a percentage-off coupon first and saving your Kohl's Cash for a future clearance purchase can lead to bigger overall savings.

The best places to find these coupons

Kohls coupons can be found in a wide variety of places.

Specifically, they can be found on the Kohls app, Kohls website, in the emails they send you, and they even still mail you coupons the old-fashioned way.

Also, get in the habit of doing a Google search for Kohls coupon codes and youll find a plethora of coupon websites that have verified coupons that you can either use online or print out and use in-store.

Download the Kohl's app

The Kohl's app is the easiest ways to manage your savings and keep track of your balances.

Inside the app you'll find the following:

• Digital coupons
• Kohl's Cash balances
• Rewards tracking
• Sale notifications

The app also helps you prevents the classic mistake of forgetting a coupon at home as they are all stored within the app.

You can also take a picture of a paper Kohl's coupon with the app, and it will save the coupon to your account so it's ready to use at checkout.

Pro tip: Make it a habit to open the app before you head to checkout. Kohl's will often load surprise coupons and bonus offers into the app that many shoppers never notice.

Use Kohl's Cash on clearance items

Did you know that you can use Kohls Cash on items on clearance? This is where experienced Kohls shoppers really separate themselves.

Its not uncommon for a $10 Kohl's Cash certificate to completely wipe out the cost of a clearance shirt, toy, kitchen gadget, or seasonal item completely.

Remember that Kohls Cash works just like store credit, which means it can be used on clearance merchandise, even when percentage-off coupons no longer apply. Consider saving your Kohls Cash specifically for clearance racks because the value stretches much further.

Pro tip: Consider making your Amazon return at your local Kohls,as many locations will hand you a 15% off Kohls coupon or $5 Kohls Cash when you make the return.

Shop seasonal clearance at the right time

Kohl's aggressively clears out their seasonal inventory, perhaps more than any other department store.

For this reason, the biggest opportunities often happen right after:

• Christmas
• Valentine's Day
• Easter
• Halloween
• Back-to-school season

In particular, items like holiday dcor, gift wrap, seasonal clothing, and themed merchandise can become ridiculously cheap.

Markdowns often start around 50% off and eventually climb to 70%, 80%, and even 90% off.

Pro tip: Its not unusual to find items marked down 70%, then you can use your Kohls Cash to bring your total to nearly zero. Many shoppers walk out with clearance merchandise while paying only the sales tax.

Pay attention to excluded brands

This is where many shoppers get frustrated as not every Kohl's coupon works on every product.

Popular brands frequently excluded from percentage-off discounts include Nike, Levi's, Under Armour, Adidas, and certain premium beauty brands.

Before getting super excited about a coupon, be sure to take a close look at the exclusions list.

That doesn't mean these brands are never discounted. It simply means you'll often need to rely on sales, Kohl's Cash, or Rewards instead of percentage-off coupons.