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James R Hood

California Spells Out Tenant Rights; Does Your State?

California Spells Out Tenant Rights; Does Your State?

More than a third (34.7%) of homes in the U.S. are rented, and as a group, renters tend to be younger, less white and lower-income than those who own their homes. It also makes them susceptible to disputes with landlords who are often much better informed about rental

Watch Out for Sky-High Obituary Prices

Watch Out for Sky-High Obituary Prices

Consumers are often surprised by the high price of a simple newspaper obituary, which these days can easily exceed $500. Not too long ago, newspapers ran obits for just a few dollars, but as classified and display advertising have largely moved to the internet, newspapers are taking a more predatory

FDA Taking Another Look at BPA, Most Recently Found in Sports Bras

FDA Taking Another Look at BPA, Most Recently Found in Sports Bras

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of those long-lasting chemicals that’s just about everywhere — even in sports bras, according to a new study. Now, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has agreed to reconsider the chemical’s safety. The sports bra revelation came a few days ago, in a

E-cig Use by Teens Remains High, Disposables Most Popular

E-cig Use by Teens Remains High, Disposables Most Popular

Years of progress in reducing cigarette use are going up in smoke, as teens turn to vaping for their nicotine hits, public health officials at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration say. “The FDA remains deeply concerned about e-cigarette use among our nation’s youth. It’s clear that

Looking for a 'Lifestyle Health' Doctor?

Looking for a 'Lifestyle Health' Doctor?

New online directory lists certified lifestyle medicine practitioners You might not know what a “lifestyle medicine practitioner” is, but there’s a new online directory that will help you find one when you need it. It’s just been launched by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and lists

Ian Swamps Insurers, Interest Rates Hamper Rebuilding

Ian Swamps Insurers, Interest Rates Hamper Rebuilding

Hurricane Ian is gone but the devastation it leaves behind will weigh heavily on homeowners for years and may drive some low-income residents from the state. Wind and storm-surge losses from Hurricane Ian could reach as $47 billion in Florida alone, according to an analysis by CoreLogic. Damage claims are

Four Red Flags that Spell 'Scam'

Four Red Flags that Spell 'Scam'

Fraudulent schemes directed at consumers, known popularly as “scams,” seem to increase every year. In the first half of 2022 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received 793,000 complaints about scams, with about 27% resulting in financial losses of $3.56 billion. Trying to warn consumers about every scam is