Always check the ingredients label of processed food for synthetic dyes and for high levels of added sugar. If a product contains either, you are better off not buying it, especially for your kids. About 19 percent of packaged foods and beverages contain synthetic food dyes, according to research evaluating... Read more →

Consumers need to be wary of sham charities attempting to take advantage of them and ensure they’re giving to legitimate charitable organizations. Fraudulent organizations can try to take advantage of consumers’ good intentions, especially following natural disasters. Given the significant impact of the flooding in Texas, it’s essential for consumers... Read more →

Walmart is recalling about 850,000 Ozark Trail water bottles because the lid can forcefully eject, posing serious impact and laceration hazards, when a consumer attempts to open the capped bottles after food, carbonated beverages, or perishable beverages, such as juice or milk, are stored inside over time. Walmart has received... Read more →

I’m feeling stressed. How about you? Everyone has some type and level of stress, but the past few years have increased Americans’ stress levels with record-high inflation and economic uncertainty. About 77 percent of Americans feel stressed about the future of the nation these days, and 73 percent feel stressed... Read more →

In a move that contradicts campaign pledges to crack down on toxic pesticides, President Donald Trump has appointed longtime agriculture lobbyist Kyle Kunkler to serve as the nation’s top pesticide regulator at the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA. Kunkler is a former lobbyist for the American Soybean Association and the... Read more →

Summer is in full swing now with many areas of the country sweltering and some suffering in torrential rain and flooding. Here in the Pacific Northwest, June was mostly coolish with some nice days and a hot one or two now and then. Our annual July Fourth party was great,... Read more →

As he had wanted, President Donald Trump signed his budget bill on July Fourth that will give tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy while slashing Medicaid and food-assistance benefits for millions of Americans. The budget measure puts the country on a perilous fiscal path by increasing the federal deficit through huge... Read more →

Usually, I enjoy celebrating July Fourth, the anniversary of what I used to call our great nation. As a supporter of government after membership in the League of Women Voter for decades and being a candidate for public office and an employee of state government, I’ve urged people on our... Read more →

July 4, 2025, marks the 249th birthday of the United States of America. Millions of people celebrate the day with barbecues, parades, and fireworks. And also travel, with more than 72 million Americans planning to travel 50-plus miles from home this year. About 61 percent of Americans will attend a... Read more →

AstroAI is recalling about 249,100 minifridges because the electrical switch can short circuit, posing fire and burn risks. At least 70 reports of the minifridges smoking, burning, melting, or catching fire have been received by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Two fires resulted in extensive property damages, totaling more... Read more →