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From airfares to used cars, slowing US inflation eases pressure on households

WASHINGTON (AP) — Squeezed by painfully high prices for two years, America’s households have gained some much-needed relief with inflation reaching its lowest point since early 2021 — 3% in June compared with a year earlier — thanks in part to easing prices for gasoline, airline fares, used cars and groceries. The inflation figure the government reported Wednesday was down sharply from a 4% annual rate in May, though still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. From May to June, overall prices rose 0.2%, up from just 0.1% in the previous month but still comparatively ...

US probes complaints that Ford Escape doors can open while SUVs are being driven

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators are investigating complaints that the doors on some Ford Escapes can open while the SUVs are being driven. The investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration covers 346,000 Escapes from the 2020 and 2021 model years. The agency says in documents posted Tuesday on its website that it has 118 complaints that spot welds in a door assembly bracket can fail. Investigators contacted some of the owners and found 25 reports of minor injuries. Many reported a popping noise when they opened the door as a bracket begins ...

Be wary of scams as Amazon Prime Day kicks off, experts warn

NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon Prime Day is here. And, once again, experts are warning consumers of scams. Scams targeting online shoppers — often by impersonating companies like Amazon and other major retailers — are nothing new. But phishing attempts increase amid busy spending seen during significant sales events — from Black Friday to, of course, Prime Day, according to the Better Business Bureau. “This is a huge moment on the retail calendar,” Josh Planos, vice president of communications and public relations at the Better Business Bureau, told The Associated Press. “And ...

Landmark First Bank building in Philadelphia to be renovated and will become a museum

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The landmark First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, subject of a fierce debate in the early years of the American republic, will be getting a $22.2 million renovation as part of a planned transformation into a museum focusing on the institution’s role in the development of the U.S. economy. Closed to the public for decades but a popular site for photos because of its neoclassical facade featuring six giant columns supporting a triangular pediment, the building in Philadelphia’s Old City was constructed between 1795 and 1797 and was the first structure ...

Van Zandt opens third OR

From Staff Reports ALTOONA — On Friday, July 7, a ribbon cutting was held at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center (JEVZ VAMC) to present a new operating room (OR) – the third OR housed at the JEVZ VAMC’s Altoona Facility. The OR is a newly renovated, 342 square foot net surgical space designed for Orthopedic, Gastrointestinal, Dental, Ophthalmological, Gynecological, Urological, Ear Nose and Throat, and General Surgeries. “The addition of a third operating room allows us to continue our mission of providing Veteran-centered care – by allowing us to complete more daily ...

The FDA is being asked to look into Logan Paul’s energy drink

NEW YORK (AP) — An influencer-backed energy drink that has earned viral popularity among children is facing scrutiny from lawmakers and health experts over its potentially dangerous levels of caffeine. On Sunday, Sen. Charles Schumer called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate PRIME, a beverage brand founded by the YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI that has become something of an obsession among the influencers' legions of young followers. "One of the summer's hottest status symbols for kids is not an outfit, or a toy—it's a beverage," said Schumer, a Democrat from ...