Hyundai Recalling More than 390,000 Vehicles for Engine Fire Risk
Hyundai is recalling more than 390,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada for problems that can cause engine fires.
On Your Side
Toyota Recalling SUVs Because of Air Bag Issue
Toyota is recalling about 373,000 Venza SUVs worldwide because a wiring problem could stop the side air bags from inflating in a crash. The recall covers Venzas from the 2009 through 2015 model years, including nearly 280,000 in the U.S.…
Honda Recalls More than 628,000 Vehicles to Replace Fuel Pumps
Honda is recalling more than 628,000 vehicles in the U.S. to replace fuel pumps that can fail, causing the engines to stall. The recall covers much of the Honda and Acura model lineup from the 2018 to 2020 model years…
Delta Air Lines to Stop Blocking Middle Seats in May
Delta Air Lines will stop blocking middle seats in May, meaning that no more U.S. airlines will limit capacity on flights to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. Delta's announcement…
What the Tech? FTC Warns of Scam Involving COVID-19 Vaccine Surveys
As further proof that cyber-criminals will stop at nothing to scam you, the Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about emails offering rewards for information about the COVID-19 vaccine. The emails offer…
What the Tech? Beware of Online COVID-19 Vaccine Scams
Scammers are cybercriminals are taking advantage of COVID-19 and the recently released vaccines to prey on people anxiously waiting. "Since January, we've seen over 5,000 websites registered that include the word 'vaccine',"…
Kia Says Some Owners Should Park Vehicles Outside Because of Fire Risk
Kia is telling owners of nearly 380,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outdoors due to the risk of an engine compartment fire. The Korean automaker is recalling certain 2017 through 2021 Sportage SUVs and 2017 through 2019 Cadenza…
Engine Fires in 1.9 Million Toyota RAV4 Vehicles Under Investigation
The U.S. government is investigating complaints of engine compartment fires in nearly 1.9 million Toyota RAV4 small SUVs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began investigating after getting 11 fire…
What the Tech? How to Avoid Scams When You Sell on Craigslist
You hear about scams all the time but it's still fairly rare to see one show up in your email inbox or by text. Trying to sell something online through Craigslist or…
On Your Side Consumer Alert: Apple Warns of Security Flaws
Apple is urging iPhone and iPad users to update their devices to fix security flaws that might have been "actively exploited" by hackers. Apple made the software upgrades available Tuesday, adding a rare note suggesting it was a serious threat.…
Belk Says It Will File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
North Carolina-based department store chain Belk says it will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In our area, the company has stores in Montgomery, Prattville, Selma and Auburn. The Charlotte Observer reports that private equity firm Sycamore Partners made the announcement…
More than 762,000 Pepperoni "Hot Pockets" Recalled
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that Nestlé is recalling about 762,615 pounds of not-ready-to-eat pepperoni Hot Pockets that may be contaminated with pieces of glass and hard plastic. The products were made from Nov. 13, 2020 through Nov.…
Consumer Alert: Blades Can Fly Off Over 190,000 Ceiling Fans Sold at Home Depot
More than 190,000 ceiling fans sold at Home Depot are being recalled after reports that the blades fell off while spinning, hitting people and causing property damage. The Hampton Bay Mara indoor and outdoor ceiling fans were sold this year…
Hyundai, Kia Fined for Delaying Recalls Regarding Engine Failures
Hyundai and Kia will spend $137 million on fines and safety improvements because they moved too slowly to recall over 1 million U.S. vehicles with engines that can fail. The National Highway Traffic…
Consumer Alert: GM to Recall Seven Million Vehicles to Replace Airbags
General Motors will recall about 7 million big pickup trucks and SUVs worldwide to replace potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators. The move came Monday after the U.S. government told the automaker it had to recall 6 million of the…
PNC Buying BBVA's U.S. Subsidiary for $11.6 Billion
PNC Financial Services Group says it is buying the U.S. subsidiary of Spain’s BBVA bank for $11.6 billion in cash. BBVA’s U.S. operations are based in Houston, Texas. It has $104 billion in assets and operates 637 branches, mainly in…
Ford Recalls More Than 700,000 Vehicles Due to Backup Camera
Ford Motor Company is issuing a recall of more than 700,000 vehicles in North America because of an issue with the backup camera. The recall affects several 2020 model year vehicles. The issue is the camera may intermittently display a…
Prattville Police Warn Residents of Phone Scams Targeting Elderly People
The Prattville Police Department is warning citizens about financial scams targeting the elderly. The scam is spreading across the state and Southeast Region of the U.S. Police say elderly people receive phone calls saying that a family member is in…
Delta, American Airlines Join United in Dropping $200 Change Flight Ticket Fee
Delta and American are following the example set by United Airlines and saying they will drop an unpopular $200 fee on customers who change a ticket for travel within the United States. The moves come as airlines try desperately to…
Alabama's Unemployment Rate Rising Slightly
Alabama's unemployment rate rose slightly in July as the state continues to feel the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alabama Department of Labor reported Friday that the state's preliminary July unemployment rate is 7.9%, up from June's rate…
On Your Side: A Warning about Getting Seeds in the Mail
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries has a warning if you get unsolicited seeds in the mail from China. State Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate says people from Alabama and several other states…
What the Tech? FBI Warns of Fake Banking Apps
During the pandemic millions of people who have primarily have stayed at home in isolation have been doing their banking using a mobile app for the first time. CNBC reported earlier…
Blue Bell to Pay $19 Million as Part of Guilty Plea in Listeria Case
Blue Bell Creameries has pleaded guilty to distributing contaminated goods and its former CEO has been charged with conspiracy and attempted wire fraud in connection to a 2015 listeria outbreak that left three people dead, federal prosecutors have announced. Blue…
Consumer Alert: Ford Recalls More than 268,000 Vehicles
Ford Motor Company has announced that it is issuing a safety recall to fix door latches on some cars. It says some of the cars are registered or have been registered in Alabama. Ford is recalling some 2014-15 Ford Fiesta,…
Macon County EMA Issues Coronavirus Scam Warning
The Macon County Emergency Management Agency has issued a warning about a coronavirus-related scam. The EMA says it has been made aware of people going door-to-door in some areas saying they are authorized to do coronavirus/COVID-19 home testing. The EMA…
