How to stock up your pantry as inflation is on the rise
With inflation on the rise, stocking the pantry may seem like a challenge. Yet, there are ways to stock the pantry to ensure you save time and money in a pinch. These are some of the ways Beth Eggleston, a Meijer Nutrition Education Specialist, advises people to stock their pantry.
Flashpoint Interview: Prosecutor Karen McDonald talks latest on Oxford High School shooting
Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald sat down with Flashpoint host Devin Scillian to discuss her thought process behind charging Ethan Crumbleyโs parents in connection with the Oxford High School shooting.
Flagstar Bank customersโ personal information stolen in ransomware attack, officials say
Flagstar Bank is warning customers that their personal information, including social security numbers, may have been stolen in a ransomeware attack. The company said the hack was discovered in January but customers said they were recently notified. Local 4 learned that the thieves got social security numbers as well home addresses not only of customers but also possibly employees. Flagstar has reached out to customers impacted and offering a credit monitoring service. The one-click Microsoft tool was created to protect against cyberattacks and to scan systems for compromises and fix them.
โAnchor itโ: Tips to protect children from furniture, TVs tipping over
Families are spending more time at home and that has experts worried that more kids can get hurt from furniture and TVs. A new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said tip-over incidents have killed 451 children since 2000. Carlson shared video of her daughter for the CPSCโs latest โAnchor Itโ public service announcement warning about the dangers of tipping furniture and TVs. Parents, grandparents and caregivers should do the following to protect children:Anchor TVs, furniture like dressers and bookcases to the wallPut you TV on a sturdy low base and back as far as possible if you cannot anchor it. The guilt and shame that you feel as a parent for not protecting your child by doing something as easy as anchoring a piece of furniture.
Michigan attorney general warns of law enforcement scam calls
LANSING, Mich. โ Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning residents of scammers posing as law enforcement agencies or other companies, demanding payment for warrants or services via gift cards. โMake sure to be aware that no law enforcement agency will ever contact you by phone demanding that you pay, regardless of payment method, for your warrant to disappear. Spoofing allows scammers to disguise their actual phone numbers and instead show a local phone number on the caller ID. โThe framework of these scams โ whether itโs a law enforcement, grandparent, or tech support scam โ are always the same. AdTo report fraud or if you have a general consumer complaint, contact the Attorney Generalโs Consumer Protection Team online or by calling 877-765-8388.
Michigan officials issue order to stop use of Bamboo brand hand sanitizers, call for product to be removed from shelves
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued an order to stop use of Bamboo brand hand sanitizers. LANSING, Mich. โ The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) issued a Stop-Use and Stop-Removal order for Bamboo Moisturizing brand hand sanitizer, citing that the product does not meet the labeled alcohol content. โHand sanitizers have become one of the critical tools for preventing COVID-19. The departmentโs Weights and Measures section is conducting additional sampling of various hand sanitizers to ensure they meet the minimum criteria. View the Stop-Use and Stop-Removal order below
Somerset Collection Studio opens in Downtown Detroit
DETROIT โ The Somerset Collection Studio is now open at the Metropolitan Building in Downtown Detroit. โWe wanted to bring window shopping back,โ said Somerset Collection corporate communications director Linda McIntosh. In early 2021, the space is going from only window shopping to in-store shopping. There will be a rotating selection of merchandise from Somerset Collection stores. Vending machine proceeds are headed to charity.
Michigan shoppers: Are you more likely to shop at small businesses or big-box stores?
The day after Black Friday is commonly known as Small Business Saturday, when consumers are encouraged to patronize and support small, local businesses. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. said if Michiganders switched one in every ten purchases from big-box stores to local businesses, it would pump more than a billion dollars into the economy and create more than 10,000 jobs. With the coronavirus pandemic hitting locally-owned businesses extra hard, itโs safe to say that itโs important to support small businesses on more than one day this year to help them stay afloat. Michigan shoppers, we want to know: Are you more likely to shop at small, locally-owned businesses or big-box stores? Take the quick poll and give us your reasoning in the form below.
Holiday shopping for your pets? Consider supporting small, local businesses
LIVONIA, Mich. โ This Small Business Saturday, consumers are encouraged to patronize small businesses to support their local communities. Even those shopping for holiday gifts for their pets can find those special items at small, local businesses, like Premier Pet Supply in Livonia. Shopping locally can have significant benefits on individual communities and their economies. Watch the full report in the video player above. Related: Michigan leaders encourage residents to support local shops
Better Business Bureau warns of texting scams offering money to participate in COVID study
Scam artists have found many ways during the coronavirus pandemic to try and con people out of their money or personal information. The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new text message claiming to offer $1,200 for participation in a local COVID study. โWe have heard from consumers that thereโs a text message going around that says if you participate in the study, youโll earn $1,200,โ said Melanie Duquesnel, president and CEO of eastern Michigan Better Business Bureau. The difficulty is that you cannot, through a text message, determine if theyโre a reputable company.โClick here to view the Better Business Bureau Scam TrackerWhen it comes to phishing scams, beware any unsolicited communication. Never click on links or download anything from a text message or email.
What kinds of childrenโs toys are you buying this holiday season amid the pandemic?
As we inch closer to the holidays, most of us are adapting our celebrations to meet new restrictions and protocols designed to prevent the spread of coronavirus. With the pandemic likely affecting your plans and events, weโre wondering if it is also affecting how youโre shopping for holiday gifts -- specifically those for children. Are you buying different kinds of toys for children this holiday season due to the coronavirus pandemic? In what ways -- if at all -- has the pandemic affected what toys youโre shopping for? Let us know using the form below.
Experts explain why shopping early for holiday gifts is beneficial
READ: Tips for managing your money ahead of holiday seasonโRetailers are rolling out Black Friday deals earlier than ever. Walmart has been hosting a series of Black Friday doorbusters leading up to Thanksgiving so itโs really changing and impacting what we can expect this holiday season,โ Woroch said. Shopping early can help spread purchases out over a longer period and avoid debt or racking up high credit card bills. Woroch said some stores are offering incentives to shop now like cash back and gift cards that consumers could hold onto to use later in the holiday shopping season as well. No matter your shopping plan, consider shopping local and taking advantage of small businesses in your area.
Healthcare coverage options available for Michigan residents during coronavirus outbreak
DETROIT โ If youโve lost healthcare coverage due to the coronavirus pandemic in Michigan, there are options to find new coverage. Michiganders impacted may have low or no-cost healthcare options available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, Medicaid, or the Childrenโs Health Insurance Program (CHIP). โMichiganders who lose employer-based health insurance may have options to continue or replace their coverage,โ said DIFS Director Anita G. Fox. Depending on income and their situation, consumers may qualify for cost sharing reductions, premium tax credits, coverage for their children (CHIP), or Medicaid. Consumers should contact DIFS toll free at 877-999-6442 if they need assistance.Act now and applyEnrollment help is available