Katie Wedell
Dayton
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At this point I just come here to observe the mayhem and follow Chicago sports 🤷🏼♀️
Articles by Katie Wedell
Does Airbnb do criminal background checks? Yes. Policy sparks backlash among consumers Original
Airbnb began conducting background checks on hosts and guests in 2016 to ensure safety. Advocates for people with prior convictions say the growth of background check companies will lead to more people being barred from sharing economy. If a user gets an email saying they're banned from Airbnb because of something that appeared on their criminal background check, they have a right to see the report. Bethany Hallam has made no secret about her past struggles with drug addiction.
Santa pictures at the mall? Virtual visits remain popular option as parents aim avoid RSV Original
While many families will make the trek to their local mall in the coming weeks to get the traditional photo of the kids with Santa, a trend that started during the pandemic appears here to stay: Virtual Santa visits. For a fee, dozens of websites offer the option to chat with Santa via Zoom, Facetime, Skype or other video chat apps.
Black Friday online shopping: How to up your cybersecurity game and protect your identity Original
Online shopping is more popular than ever, with global e-commerce sales expected to hit $5.5 trillion in 2022, according to eMarketer. New research from marketing software firm Wunderkind found 71% of U.S. consumers planned to shop online this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With that surge has come more opportunities for identity thieves, hackers and scammers to get a hold of shoppers' financial information.
Black Friday online shopping: How to up your cybersecurity game and protect your identity Original
Online shopping is more popular than ever, with global e-commerce sales expected to hit $5.5 trillion in 2022, according to eMarketer. New research from marketing software firm Wunderkind found 71% of U.S. consumers planned to shop online this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. With that surge has come more opportunities for identity thieves, hackers and scammers to get a hold of shoppers' financial information.
SpaceX employees file unfair labor charges alleging they were fired for criticizing Musk Original
Former SpaceX employees who say they were fired for writing an open letter criticizing the behavior of CEO Elon Musk have now filed unfair labor practice charges against the company. The eight employees filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board on Wednesday, alleging their firings were retaliatory and illegal under the National Labor Relations Act.
Elon Musk sells Tesla stock, net worth plunges amid Twitter takeover Original
Elon Musk has seen his net worth nearly cut in half from last year's peak. Here's some numbers that illustrate what's going on with the fortune of the (still) richest person on Earth. $177 billion Musk's net worth has fallen to $177 billion after reaching a peak of $340 billion last year, according to Bloomberg. According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, Musk is still the richest person in the world, ahead of Amazon's Jeff Bezos whose net worth is listed at $113 billion.
Kathy Griffin suspended from Twitter, Musk walks back layoffs and more Original
Heading into the second full week with Elon Musk at the helm of Twitter there are a number of stories about the social media company making news Monday. Walking back layoffs Mass layoffs at Twitter began Friday, a week after Musk bought the company. Musk blamed the cuts on "activist groups pressuring advertisers," in a Tweet, saying in another the company was losing more than $4 million a day.
Musk's Twitter takeover raises more questions than answers about data privacy
Play Pause ClosedCaption Open Share Enter Full Screen Exit Full Screen The $44 billion purchase of Twitter by the world's richest person, Elon Musk, has immediately launched speculation about the future of content moderation, hate speech and subscription models on the social media platform.
Spotify Wrapped doesn't include any listening data from the last two months of the year Original
You better have listened to "Midnights" on repeat the past week. That's if you want Taylor Swift's newest album to appear in your end-of-year list of what you listened to the most on Spotify. It turns out the music streaming service's annual breakdown of yearly activity, called Spotify Wrapped, isn't actually a reflection of your full year. Spotify has previously confirmed to numerous news outlets, as well as on Twitter, that Wrapped only collects data from Jan. 1 to Oct. 31.
How do patient assistance programs work? The pros and cons of prescription coupons and more. Original
Play Pause ClosedCaption Open Share Enter Full Screen Exit Full Screen In the search to lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, consumers will encounter a number of different coupons, discounts and assistance programs available to them. They don't all work the same way and can have fine print that impacts insurance deductibles and other costs.
Is prescription copay assistance contributing to rising drug prices? Why buyers should beware. Original
When Beth Waldron got a letter from her health insurance provider last year that her blood thinner Eliquis would no longer be covered, she faced two options: Change to another medication that could have adverse side effects or go from paying $30 a month to more than $600 a month out of pocket. She didn’t know initially that the maker of Eliquis offers a copay coupon card that allows patients to get the drug for only $10 a month.
Post-Roe, non-pregnant people are being denied medications over 'hypothetical' babies Original
The nation's two largest pharmacies, Walgreens and CVS, have updated their company policies to allow their pharmacists to deny medication to people who they think could be circumventing new abortion laws by causing a miscarriage. In a case called Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the Supreme Court in June overturned its 1973 decision establishing a constitutional right to abortion.
Black October is here: Transport delays, labor shortages slow supply chain as holiday shopping begins
Despite some easing of backlogs at the nation’s ports and retailers reporting they were flush with inventory this summer, supply chain woes are expected to persist as the holiday shopping season gears up earlier than ever. “Supply chain issues are here to stay,” said Angeli Gianchandani, professor of marketing at the University of New Haven’s Pompea College of Business. “Everything is fragile now, our supply chain is fragile, our crops are fragile … Labor is fragile,” she said.
Black October is here: Transport delays, labor shortages slow supply chain as holiday shopping begins Original
Despite some easing of backlogs at the nation's ports and retailers reporting they were flush with inventory this summer, supply chain woes are expected to persist as the holiday shopping season gears up earlier than ever. "Supply chain issues are here to stay," said Angeli Gianchandani, professor of marketing at the University of New Haven's Pompea College of Business. "Everything is fragile now, our supply chain is fragile, our crops are fragile ... Labor is fragile," she said.
Medicare Part D: Where you live can have a big impact on what you pay for drugs
Medicare Part D: Where you live can have a big impact on what you pay for drugs Katie Wedell Planning to move for retirement? You may want to factor in how much more you'll pay for prescription drugs under Medicare in different locations. New data from the Medicare startup Chapter shows the cost of prescriptions can vary widely from one state to another and even from one zip code to another.
When does Medicare open enrollment take place? Here's what to know when picking your plan. Original
You may have noticed the increase in TV commercials and flyers in the mail reminding you it's that time of year again. Nope, not the midterm election. It's open enrollment period for Medicare plans, running Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. It's when beneficiaries can switch to a different plan, add prescription benefits or make other changes to their Medicare plans.
Medicare Part D: Where you live can have a big impact on what you pay for drugs
Planning to move for retirement? You may want to factor in how much more you'll pay for prescription drugs under Medicare in different locations. New data from the Medicare startup Chapter shows the cost of prescriptions can vary widely from one state to another and even from one zip code to another. For seniors with chronic medical conditions, a difference in geography could mean paying thousands of dollars more per year out-of-pocket for the same medicine.
Railroad strike hinged on lack of paid sick leave. How common is that?
Sick leave policies get more attention after threat of railroad strike Katie Wedell A recently dodged transportation crisis between the country's biggest railroads and the employees that work for them put the issue of sick leave, and who does and doesn't get it in America, squarely at the forefront of national debate. One of the major sticking points in negotiations between the nation’s railroads and the unions representing railroad workers this summer was a request for paid sick leave.
Railroad strike hinged on lack of paid sick leave. How common is that?
A recently dodged transportation crisis between the country's biggest railroads and the employees that work for them put the issue of sick leave, and who does and doesn't get it in America, squarely at the forefront of national debate. One of the major sticking points in negotiations between the nation’s railroads and the unions representing railroad workers this summer was a request for paid sick leave.
More people are paying for groceries with buy now, pay later apps as inflation pinches
More people are paying for groceries with buy now, pay later apps as inflation pinches Katie Wedell Grocery prices rose again in August, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index released Tuesday, and consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps to cover the cost of rising food bills.
More people are paying for groceries with buy now, pay later apps as inflation pinches
Consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps to cover the cost of their rising food bills amid high inflation. Grocery prices rose again in August, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index released Tuesday, and consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps to cover the cost of rising food bills.
More people are paying for groceries with buy now, pay later apps as inflation pinches
Consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps to cover the cost of their rising food bills amid high inflation. Grocery prices rose again in August, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index released Tuesday, and consumers are increasingly using buy now, pay later apps to cover the cost of rising food bills.
Looming railroad strike could be 'economic disaster,' impacting consumers from all angles
A national railroad strike could begin Friday if additional agreements are not reached, which industry experts warn would shut down 30% of the country’s freight and halt many passenger and commuter trains. Several of the labor unions representing railroad workers in an ongoing contract dispute reached tentative agreements over the weekend, but two of the largest are still holding out for more quality of life provisions in their contracts.
Looming railroad strike could be 'economic disaster,' impacting consumers from all angles
Looming railroad strike could be 'economic disaster,' impacting consumers from all angles Katie Wedell A national railroad strike could begin Friday if additional agreements are not reached, which industry experts warn would shut down 30% of the country’s freight and halt many passenger and commuter trains.
Why is Nomi Health donating to key Democrats in blue state Hawaii after giving big to GOP? Original
As Nomi Health has expanded in Hawaii, the company, its chief executive and others associated with the Utah business have donated the maximum amount, or near the legal limit, to Democratic campaigns in the politically blue state, USA TODAY has found. Nomi, Chief Executive Mark Newman and others associated with the company have since December given almost $35,000 to Hawaii Democrats, with the majority going to Lt. Gov.
Your guide to USA TODAY's investigation of Utah COVID-19 testing startup Nomi Health Original
EDITOR'S NOTE: This page is a guide to USA TODAY's monthslong investigation of Utah-based Nomi Health, the no-bid contracts it received, and questions that officials raised over its testing accuracy and campaign contributions. In early 2020, nearly no one outside of Silicon Slopes, a well-connected, influential business group in Salt Lake City, had ever heard of Nomi Health.
Do you have to pay taxes on student loan forgiveness? Yes, if you live in these 7 states.
President Joe Biden's executive action to erase up to $20,000 in student loan debt has caused some confusion over whether borrowers will have to pay state taxes on their forgiven debt. While many states automatically match their tax rules with the Internal Revenue Code, others will have to decide whether or not to make changes to allow people to avoid these taxes.
'Predatory' payday loan scammers thrive with stolen data, BBB says. What to watch out for.
A new report from the Better Business Bureau warns consumers of numerous ways scammers have found a home within the shadows of the payday loan industry. The report issued this week said that new frauds are often leveraging information stolen from legitimate lenders in order to defraud people. Due to a boom in online payday lending companies in recent years, hackers are able to steal data and more easily imitate real lenders.
'Predatory' payday loan scammers thrive with stolen data, BBB says. What to watch out for. Original
Play Pause ClosedCaption Open Share Enter Full Screen Exit Full Screen A new report from the Better Business Bureau warns consumers of numerous ways scammers have found a home within the shadows of the payday loan industry. The report issued this week said that new frauds are often leveraging information stolen from legitimate lenders in order to defraud people. Due to a boom in online payday lending companies in recent years, hackers are able to steal data and more easily imitate real lenders.
Hate car shopping? Here's how to navigate the current seller's market
Car shopping has never been on most people's list of favorite tasks. But in a market where inventory is scarce and prices are sky-high, car shoppers can feel like they're getting even more of a bait-and-switch on pricing than usual. Pre-pandemic, consumers used to be able to look up a car's Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and find a seller willing to haggle and sell the car at or below that number.
Hate car shopping? Here's how to navigate the current seller's market Original
Play Pause ClosedCaption Open Share Enter Full Screen Exit Full Screen Car shopping has never been on most people's list of favorite tasks. But in a market where inventory is scarce and prices are sky-high, car shoppers can feel like they're getting even more of a bait-and-switch on pricing than usual. Pre-pandemic, consumers used to be able to look up a car's Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) and find a seller willing to haggle and sell the car at or below that number.
Biden student loan forgiveness upsets some who already paid off debt Original
But there was also a noticeable wave of resentment from people who paid off their student loans in the past. "Student loan forgiveness is a middle finger to the people who busted their ass to work hard to do the right thing," comedian and author Tim Young tweeted. User @patriotmimzy posted, "Student loan 'forgiveness' pisses me off beyond belief," along with her military portrait. "This is what paid for most of my college. The rest was paid by loans, which I paid back in full.
20 million Americans are behind on utility bills as inflation spikes
Play Pause ClosedCaption Open Share Enter Full Screen Exit Full Screen More then 20 million U.S. households are currently behind on utility bills. Household electricity charges are up 15.2 percent over last summer. Some utilities report a more than 40% jump in the number of customers being shut off since pre-pandemic.
20 million Americans are behind on utility bills as inflation spikes
More then 20 million U.S. households are currently behind on utility bills. Household electricity charges are up 15.2 percent over last summer. Some utilities report a more than 40% jump in the number of customers being shut off since pre-pandemic. More than 20 million households – about 1 in 6 American homes – are currently behind on their utility bills, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) as reported by Bloomberg.
Why 30% of Americans haven't been to the dentist since before the pandemic Original
Why 30% of Americans haven't been to the dentist since before the pandemic Katie Wedell Nearly 1 in 3 Americans haven’t been to the dentist since before COVID-19. Ever before the pandemic, some Americans delayed care for years. The top reason is cost. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans haven’t been to the dentist since before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a new survey from invisible aligners company Byte.com.
Why 30% of Americans haven't been to the dentist since before the pandemic
Dentists have seen an uptick in teeth grinding and jaw clenching since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans haven’t been to the dentist since before the COVID-19 pandemic began, according to a new survey from invisible aligners company Byte.com. The sample size of that survey was small, but several dentists USA Today spoke with said that figure wouldn’t surprise them.
$300 more for the same insulin: The Medicare rule that makes pump users pay more
Blair Brenner has been an insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetic for more than 40 years, and hasn’t always had the disease under control. She’s been hospitalized for diabetic complications and found that even if she ate healthy foods and exercised regularly, her numbers still were erratic. It wasn’t until she got on an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitor that she saw her condition stabilize and her A1C – an important measure of blood sugar levels – come down below 7%.
$300 more for the same insulin: The Medicare rule that makes pump users pay more
$300 more for the same insulin: The Medicare rule that makes pump users pay more Katie Wedell Blair Brenner has been an insulin-dependent Type 1 diabetic for more than 40 years, and hasn’t always had the disease under control. She’s been hospitalized for diabetic complications and found that even if she ate healthy foods and exercised regularly, her numbers still were erratic.
Republican governors gave lucrative, no-bid COVID-19 deals to Utah firms, who then gave $1M to GOP campaigns
Republican governors gave lucrative, no-bid COVID-19 deals to Utah firms, who then gave $1M to GOP campaigns EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second installment of a series investigating Nomi Health and its deals with GOP governors to secure lucrative COVID-19 testing contracts. Read the first story here.
Buy now, pay later refunds on apps like Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna frustrate consumers
Buy now, pay later refunds on apps like Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna frustrate consumers Katie Wedell Buy now, pay later apps have risen in popularity, accounting for $142B in e-commerce transactions last year. Some customers have reported that it can be difficult to get a refund if something goes wrong with the purchase. Consumer advocates urge more protection for buyers in the event of fraud or canceled purchases.
Buy now, pay later refunds on apps like Afterpay, Affirm, Klarna frustrate consumers
If you buy a concert ticket or order online and the event or product gets canceled, you likely expect a refund. And if you made those purchases with a traditional debit or credit card, you’d likely see that refund because financial institutions offer protection against fraud or purchases that are lost, delayed or canceled. But if you paid using a buy now, pay later app, you could wait months for that refund – or never receive it.
Demand for telemedicine abortions increases but could face legal challenges post-Roe
Interest in telemedicine abortion – whether measured by Google searches or calls to virtual clinics – has skyrocketed in the days following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, which removed the constitutional protection for abortion and cleared the way for restrictions or bans to take effect in numerous states.
How to buy now, pay later with popular apps Original
Consumers looking to buy everything from travel to a MacBook to the newest, trendy jeans have the option of financing the cost of their purchase over time with buy now, pay later. BNPL allows consumers to buy items online or in store, and split up the cost over a few weeks or months. There are many BNPL providers out there including Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, PayPal’s ‘Pay in 4’, Klarna, and Sezzle.
Buy now pay later apps are beloved by consumers. Should users be worried about high debt?
Brittany Anderson Givens started using buy now, pay later services like Zip to help spread out the cost of household bills over several paychecks. When the pandemic hit, the Memphis, Tennessee mom couldn’t work because she’d just learned she was pregnant with her second child and the guidance about COVID and pregnancy was unclear.
Hiding behind rainbow flags: These companies' political donations don't match their support of LGBTQ issues
Reminders and tips 🧾 Accounting firm antics ⁉️ 🔎 Checking claims Get loan relief 😌 News Sports Entertainment Life Money Tech Travel Opinion While companies are feeling increased pressure to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion, they also fear being retaliated against by politicians if they speak out too much. Seven companies that earned HRC's 2022 recognition donated to politicians who have voted against LGBTQ interests.
Hertz CEO pledges to 'do right by' false arrest victims over 'stolen cars,' admits customers were harmed Original
Hertz Global Holding's new CEO Stephen Scherr said last week that customers have been harmed by the rental car company's policies, which have led to false arrests. Scherr told multiple news outlets, including CNBC's Squawk Box, that the company "will do right where our customers have been negatively affected," and that "we have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening." More than 230 plaintiffs are suing the company for false arrest and, in some cases, prosecution.
Hertz CEO pledges to 'do right by' false arrest victims over 'stolen cars,' admits customers were harmed
Hertz Global Holding's new CEO Stephen Scherr said last week that customers have been harmed by the rental car company's policies, which have led to false arrests. Scherr told multiple news outlets, including CNBC's Squawk Box, that the company "will do right where our customers have been negatively affected," and that "we have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening." More than 230 plaintiffs are suing the company for false arrest and, in some cases, prosecution.
Hertz CEO pledges to 'do right by' false arrest victims over 'stolen cars,' admits customers were harmed
Hertz Global Holding's new CEO Stephen Scherr said last week that customers have been harmed by the rental car company's policies, which have led to false arrests. Scherr told multiple news outlets, including CNBC's Squawk Box, that the company "will do right where our customers have been negatively affected," and that "we have changed our policies to avoid the possibility of this happening." More than 230 plaintiffs are suing the company for false arrest and, in some cases, prosecution.
Bird flu outbreak and inflation cause rising egg prices ahead of Easter and Passover Original
Egg prices are expected to continue to rise just in time for Easter as more states are hit by an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza A. H5N1 bird flu viruses have been detected in wild birds and commercial and backyard poultry in 24 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service. (How much are you paying for eggs? How is it affecting your budget and holiday plans?
Easter eggs price hike? Bird flu, inflation cause egg prices to rise ahead of holiday and Passover
Egg prices are expected to continue to rise just in time for Easter as more states are hit by an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza A. H5N1 bird flu viruses have been detected in wild birds and commercial and backyard poultry in 24 states, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service. (How much are you paying for eggs? How is it affecting your budget and holiday plans?
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