Friday, January 3, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration is set to ban the sale of all fruity flavors in cartridge-based e-cigarettes

Analysts estimate that the flavors accounted for roughly 80% of retail-store e-cigarette sales in 2019. The ban will not apply to tank vaping systems, however, which so far haven’t been as widely used by younger vapers. The move is seen as a compromise between the White House and those concerned with an outright ban’s impact on small businesses. (The Wall Street Journal)

Americans are moving less than they used to

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, only 9.8% relocated in 2019, or the lowest rate since tracking began in 1947. What’s the deal? Millennials are staying put due to the housing crunch and job limitations, while the aging population is reluctant to move, or simply can’t afford to. With industries clustered in certain areas, researchers suggests that middle-class jobs have declined, and that both low-wage and high-wage workers feel stuck. This is bad for economic mobility and leads to worsening income gaps. (Axios)

Illinois became the 11th U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana use

This will allow residents and visitors to buy the drug from licensed dispensaries starting January 1st. With pot purchases to be taxed according to THC content, the state could reap between $440 million and $676 million from the industry each year, according to some estimates. Under the new law, more than 11,000 people with low-level marijuana convictions will be pardoned, a move officials say will help individuals find jobs and obtain financial aid for college. (CNBC)

How A Routine Doctor Visit For A Sore Throat Resulted In A $28,000 Medical Bill

A woman in New York City went to her doctor because of a sore throat. Then days later, she got a medical bill for more than $28,000. The woman is insured by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, wanted to be sure her cold symptoms weren’t anything serious, so she made an appointment with a doctor she had seen before. Her doctor gave her a step throat culture. Within 10 days, she felt better, but then she got several unexpected messages from the doctor’s office. While both the doctor and the lab that performed the blood tests were in her insurance network, the lab that processed the throat swab was not. She learned that the doctor had ordered an extensive, and expensive, array of respiratory tests. The bill for those throat swab tests totaled more than $28,000. After deducting a co-pay, the insurance company paid the claim, sending her a check for $25,865. She said her doctor’s office, which shares a phone number and address with the lab, wanted her to turn over that entire insurance payment immediately. She gave the check to the doctor, but Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that it is now reviewing the claim and has placed a hold on the check. (NPR)

Russia’s Newest Weather Satellite May Have Been Killed By Space Junk

Just a few months after launch, Meteor-M 2-2 suffered a sudden orbital anomaly. Analysis of the data makes it pretty clear what happened: the satellite was struck by something, and despite some ground-controller heroics which appear to have stabilized the spacecraft, the odds are that Meteor-M 2-2 will eventually succumb to its wounds. The satellite was equipped with the latest in imaging and sensing instruments and launched into sun-synchronous polar orbits. It was begin as a series that would afford Russia scientists complete coverage of the vast country every couple of days, with special emphasis on monitoring conditions in the Arctic regions. (Hackaday)

Delivery company closes leaving workers without paychecks

Employees of an Oklahoma City delivery company are without a job and several paychecks after the business unexpectedly shut down via a note on the door. When the employees of Taytan Delivery showed up to work on December 31st, they were greeted by a sign on the door that reads, “Unfortunately, as of today 12/31/2019, Taytan Delivery is not [no] longer in business. You will be paid as soon as I am paid by my customers. Thank you for your cooperation.” Without those paychecks, employees are left scraping the piggy bank, unable to pay those first of the month bills. Each time they’ve tried to reach the owner, they said they haven’t had any luck. According to a lawsuit filed back in October, Taytan is also owed money, $25,841.94 to be exact, in unpaid invoices by one of their vendors, Certified Drivers LLC, a company based in Texas. However, regardless of what Taytan is owed, their former employees just want to know when they’ll get their hard-earned paychecks. The employees were told they may soon have employment with another company that will take over operations of Taytan, but that is not yet set in stone. (KFOR)

Underage Michigan men arrested after drunken horse-and-buggy ride

Michigan deputies nabbed four underage suspected drunken drivers after they were spotted throwing beer cans from their horse-and-buggy. The Gladwin County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post that it received a complaint from a motorist that four men were riding on a buggy through Beaverton Township and they seemed to be intoxicated. The four men were tossing beer cans from the horse and buggy, the driver said. According to the sheriff’s office, when deputies found the buggy, the four were identified by the motorist. Initially, they gave deputies false information about their ages and refused to give their names. Inside the buggy, deputies found several open and unopened containers of alcohol. Police determined the four were under the influence of alcohol. The men were arrested for felony obstruction of justice, disorderly person, and issued civil infractions for minors in possession of alcohol. (Fox News)

Finally Feelgood Friday Steps On The Scene With:

• Congress Assembles
• Drinking Straw Day
• Festival of Sleep Day
• J.R.R. Tolkien Day
• Memento Mori “Remember You Die” Day
• National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day