Until this week, I hadn’t heard about a potential safety problem with electric bicycles or “e-bikes.” An article in The Washington Post, “A Child’s Death Prompts Questions About Brake Safety on E-bikes,” caught my attention. A lawsuit filed against Rad Power Bikes by the parents of a 12-year-old girl who was killed in 2021 in […]

If you have a child or grandchild or are a caregiver, you need to know about the dangers of infant sleepers. More than 100 deaths have been reported in Rock ‘n’ Play Sleepers, which were recalled in April 2019. However, although 4.7 million were recalled, as of March 2022, only 9.5 percent of the sleepers had […]

Another issue that should have been adequately addressed decades ago was also included in the congressional end-of-year spending bill. Starting in mid-2023, all new dressers and other clothing storage furniture in the United States will have to meet strong stability requirements before going to market. Tip-overs of unstable dressers have taken the lives of hundreds […]

When travel blogger Gabby Petito went missing in 2021 then was found murdered in a national park, the news media and social media went wild. For weeks, the headlines blared. Now the same media blitz is occurring over the deaths of four University of Idaho students in Moscow, Idaho. In America, there’s just too interest […]

I don’t know about you, but 2022 went by so fast for me. After four years, I was finally able to get the first draft of the book about my journalism career done, but the printed copy is still elusive. I’m not a person who makes resolutions, but I’ve written about why people make them […]

It’s time for my annual article on the top consumer and personal finance articles of the year. As usual, there aren’t many reporters covering this important topic. However, in addition to the best news, health, political, and science stories of the year, there’s a new category: the top climate change stories. Of course, climate change […]

Every year I write about children’s toys to avoid, according to W.A.T.C.H., World Against Toys Causing Harm, a group that helps raise awareness about the dangers in toys, children’s products, and recreational activities. W.A.T.C.H.’s list of nominees for the “10 Worst Toys” of 2022 includes: Cocomelon Musical Learning Watch: Potential for battery ingestion injuries. Disney […]

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in the United States, and it can be one of the most expensive. Decorations, food, cards, gifts, travel, and more can add up fast. Americans are expected to spend a record amount for the holidays in 2022, between $943 billion and $960 billion, according to a survey […]

Are you aware of the problems with infant flotation rings? A drowning and serious injury have occurred with infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corp. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is recommending consumers should immediately stop using the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings, as well as the discontinued Otteroo models: the Version 1, […]

My memories of Thanksgiving include family trips to Cashmere, Washington, to my great aunt Mable Kenyon’s home for a fabulous meal, how to go to both parents’ homes for the celebration after I was married, and my mom enjoying the Thanksgiving dinners I cooked after she was no longer able to make them. Several times, […]