Lurking bacteria gave an Indiana mom 'hot tub rash'. She nearly lost her leg - USA TODAY
Lurking bacteria gave an Indiana mom 'hot tub rash'. She nearly lost her leg - USA TODAY |
- Lurking bacteria gave an Indiana mom 'hot tub rash'. She nearly lost her leg - USA TODAY
- Want to buy a home? These are the top 10 hottest housing markets in the country - USA TODAY
- Nathan's hot dog eating champ Joey Chestnut ate 413 Hooters chicken wings in 12 hours - USA TODAY
- Despite a solid economy, Fed cuts its key rate by quarter point to ward off a recession - USA TODAY
| Lurking bacteria gave an Indiana mom 'hot tub rash'. She nearly lost her leg - USA TODAY Posted: 30 Jul 2019 02:08 PM PDT CLOSE  The gym can be a breading ground for bacteria! Here are 4 diseases that might be lurking at your gym. Buzz60 A dip in a hotel hot tub is supposed to be a relaxing experience, but an Indiana mother found that bacterial guests floating in the water can prove dangerous. Use of a hotel hot tub in March left Taylor Bryant with a bacteria-borne infection that nearly cost her her leg. The contraction occurred in Tennessee while she was on a trip with her husband and two children, she told USA TODAY. Bryant used the hot tub several nights in a row on the trip, she told RTV6-TV. Bryant said she began to feel sick Wednesday, three days after arriving. "My ankle was starting to swell and the pain was getting worse," said Bryant, who visited a doctor's office on Thursday. Doctors told her she likely had been infected by bacteria while submerged in the hotel hot tub. A germ called Pseudomonas aeruginosa grows in hot tubs that are not properly taken care of. It leaves a bumpy red rash with itchy spots, and pus-filled blisters around follicles known as 'hot tub rash' according to the Centers for Disease Control. When Bryant's family left Tennessee that Friday, the nasty rash had started to grow on her ankle. It eventually swelled so much that she needed a wheelchair, she said. Doctors started Bryant on oral antibiotics and aspirin and sent her home to Indianapolis, but her leg did not improve. Eventually, after more antibiotics, Bryant was referred to a wound specialist. The wound specialist called an infectious disease specialist to her room. Bryant felt scared, she said. "You're literally thinking at that point that it's possible you're going to lose your leg. I was a bawling mess in the room," Bryant said to RTV6-TV. "I was like, I could be without a leg at 26." She was admitted to the hospital for four days. An IV of antibiotics helped the infection subside. She continued the IV at home. "I did that for two weeks, and I could tell a difference as my skin was dying," she said. Her skin turned black. New skin grew. She was able to stand again. Half of Americans: Have used swimming pools as an alternative to showering But the infection process still isn't over: Bryant returned to work July 15 and continues to heal. "I am lucky to still have my leg, but more lucky that I am still here today," she said. Bryant did speak to the hotel about what happened, she told USA TODAY. The business refunded her for two nights at first, then the whole week. The hotel never asked for proof or pictures, she said. "I feel like they know they're at fault so didn't ask," she said. Brian Katzowitz, health communication specialist at the CDC, told USA TODAY that the organization doesn't have data on how common hot tub rash is, or the frequency of severe outcomes. But Katzowitz said that from the CDC's National Outbreak Reporting System, which officials use to track waterborne and foodborne disease outbreaks, he was able to find out more. From 2009 to 2017, nine states -- Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin -- reported 25 outbreaks of hot tub rash. All were linked to swimming, playing and relaxing in water and suspected to be caused by Pseudomonas. Kentucky Fried Hot Tub: KFC launches a new campaign Between two and 26 people were impacted in each outbreak. No hospitalizations or deaths were reported, Katzowitz said. Typically, hot tub rash clears up without medical treatment within a few days, Katzowitz said. If it persists longer than a few days, the CDC recommends a visit to a doctor. Other infections that can come from hot tubs include urinary tract infections, Legionnaires' disease (a type of pneumonia), allergic reactions to chemicals in the water, and hot tub lung, according to Live Science. Follow Morgan Hines on Twitter: @MorganEmHines. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/07/30/bacteria-hot-tubs-can-cause-hot-tub-rash-indiana-mom-found/1855935001/  |
| Want to buy a home? These are the top 10 hottest housing markets in the country - USA TODAY Posted: 31 Jul 2019 02:00 AM PDT CLOSE Millennials are looking for cheaper housing that isn't too far away from the downtowns of the nearby cities where they can dine, shop and work. USA TODAY Homebuyers are skipping the suburbs and exurbs of big cities and instead flocking to smaller, more affordable metro areas, according to Realtor.com's list of hottest ZIP codes in the U.S., released exclusively to USA TODAY early Wednesday. Millennials are driving the popularity of these areas – from Shawnee, Kansas, to Goffstown, New Hampshire. They are looking for cheaper housing that isn't too far away from the downtowns of the nearby cities where they can dine, shop and work. Affordability has been the motivating factor for the last five years as housing prices in some markets become too high. But this year's even more extreme, says Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. "Those markets that came on the list versus those that fell off are much less expensive, about a third less expensive," she says. "That's helping those areas to attract buyers, particularly entry-level buyers and millennials, who are the biggest segment of buyers in the market." Half of the top 10 ZIP codes are making their debut on the list. The study ranked how hot a ZIP code was by how long it took a house to sell in a market, as well as how often that market was viewed on realtor.com, an aggregate of home listings. Here are the hottest ZIP codes for housing: Grand Rapids, Michigan (49505)Just north of downtown Grand Rapids, this ZIP code runs along the Grand River and features four large parks and a strong school system. Time on market before selling: 10 days Median listing price: $178,050, up 11.3% year over year Millennial buyers make up 48% of new purchase mortgages. Omaha, Nebraska (68144)This ZIP code is just 12 miles west of downtown Omaha. Affordable housing and abundant job opportunities at Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific Railroad, and Werner Enterprises are bringing millennials to the area. Time on market before selling: 21 days Median listing price: $238,950, up 6.2% year over year Millennial buyers make up 43% of new purchase mortgages. Boise, Idaho (83704)Ranked sixth in last year's list, this ZIP code is attracting California residents looking for more affordable housing. Local tech companies like Micron Technology provide good job options, too. Time on market before selling: 14 days Median listing price: $289,950, up 5.5% year over year Millennial buyers make up 28% of new purchase mortgages. Shawnee, Kansas (66203)Southwest of downtown Kansas City, this suburb is known for its walkable downtown with boutiques and restaurants along with its low housing costs. Time on market before selling: 13 days Median listing price: $220,050, up 16.4% year over year Millennial buyers make up 43% of new purchase mortgages. Hack attack! 3 ways to protect your info after Capital One breach Central bank, explained: Why does the Fed lower interest rates? Rochester, New York (14609)Young professionals are flocking to this city on Lake Ontario for job opportunities in education and health care, along with the Wegmans Food Markets, which is headquartered there. Time on market before selling: 17 days Median listing price: $125,050, up 13.7% year over year Millennial buyers make up 43% of new purchase mortgages. Livonia, Michigan (48154)A Detroit suburb, Livonia is an easy commute to downtown cultural destinations as well as major employers in the broader metro area. Time on market before selling: 17 days Median listing price: $254,950, up 6.2% year over year Millennial buyers make up 36% of new purchase mortgages. Love, money don't mix: Millennials say dating has gotten 'way too expensive,' 30% can't even afford love Melrose, Massachusetts (02176)One of the more expensive areas on the list, this charming, gas-lamp lined ZIP code has a strong school system and is close to the area's high-paying jobs in education, medical and pharma. Time on market before selling: 18 days Median listing price: $629,050, down 1.7% year over year Millennial buyers make up 43% of new purchase mortgages. Arlington, Texas (76018)Situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is close to many of the area's major attractions, including Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium and biggest employers such as Arlington ISD and the University of Texas at Arlington. Time on market before selling: 20 days Median listing price: $215,050, up 7.5% year over year Millennial buyers make up 34% of new purchase mortgages. Goffstown, New Hampshire (03045)Near Manchester, New Hampshire, this ZIP code is a quintessential New England small town with a walkable downtown and historic buildings. Time on market before selling: 22 days Median listing price: $325,050, up 4.9% year over year Millennial buyers make up 43% of new purchase mortgages. Colorado Springs, Colorado (80916)This affordable ZIP code is a welcome change to the pricey neighborhoods of Denver, 70 miles away, and features local breweries and beautiful outdoors. Time on market before selling: 21 days Median listing price: $245,050, up 2.5% year over year Millennial buyers make up 34% of new purchase mortgages. CLOSE Elizabeth Keatinge tells us about the most popular city to rent in. Buzz60 Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/31/homes-sale-heres-where-housing-market-hottest/1870556001/  |
| Posted: 30 Jul 2019 10:21 AM PDT Competitive eater Joey Chestnut, a 12-time Nathan's hot dog-eating contest champion, now has another title to add to his résumé: Chicken wing king. Chestnut ate 413 Hooters chicken wings over the course of 12 hours on Monday — National Chicken Wing Day — at the Mall of Georgia. That equals an average of 34 wings per hour. Chestnut was taking advantage of the restaurant's $15.99 all-you-can-eat wing deal. After starting at 11 a.m., he was presented a T-shirt for downing his 250th wing around 5:50 p.m. Then he ate for several more hours. JOEY CHESTNUT FIRES BACK: Joey Chestnut blasts sportswriter for criticizing competitive eating The 35-year-old Chestnut made history at the beginning of the month when he won yet another annual Independence Day hot dog eating contest at Coney Island. He's won 12 of the last 13 competitons, including 2018's record of 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. He previously won Philadelphia's Wing Bowl when he ate 182 wings in just 30 minutes (six wings per 30 seconds) in 2007.  |
| Despite a solid economy, Fed cuts its key rate by quarter point to ward off a recession - USA TODAY Posted: 31 Jul 2019 11:03 AM PDT CLOSE USA TODAY personal finance reporter, Janna Herron, explains how changes in the Federal Reserve's interest rates affect your financial accounts. USA TODAY WASHINGTON – The Federal Reserve gave the U.S. economy a rare immunization shot Wednesday as it sought to extend a record 10-year-old expansion that faces mounting risks. Despite a generally healthy economy, the Fed cut its key short-term interest rate for the first time in more than a decade in a bid to head off a possible recession spurred by global troubles and trade tensions. As expected, the Fed lowered its federal funds rate by a quarter-percentage point to a range of 2% to 2.25%. The move is likely to ripple through the economy and financial system, nudging down rates for credit cards, home equity lines and auto loans and theoretically sparking more economic activity. While the rate cut should aid borrowers, it will frustrate savers who were just starting to benefit from higher bank account yields. Impact on you: How the Fed's rate cut affects credit card, home equity line, savings rates Hot real estate: Want to buy a home? These are the top 10 hottest housing markets in the country Yet it reverses just a fraction of the nine rate hikes the Fed enacted from late 2015 to late 2018 to prevent an eventual inflation run-up and bring borrowing costs back to normal – years after the Great Recession of 2007-09. "In light of the implications of global developments for the economic outlook as well as muted inflation pressures, the (Fed's policymaking committee) decided to lower" its key rate to a range of 2% to 2.25%," the Fed said in a statement after a two-day meeting. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell told reporters he didn't see Wednesday's move as the start of a lengthy rate-cut cycle. "That's not what we're seeing now," he said. But he didn't rule out further decreases, saying it would depend on global growth, trade tensions and low inflation. "We see (these risks) as threats to the favorable outlook," he said. Wall Street reacted with disappointment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down 334 points, or 1.2%, at 26,864. The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped to 2.02%. "Markets were expecting an insurance cut. Instead, they got a confusing cut," said Jamie Cox, managing partner for Harris Financial Group in Richmond, Virginia. "Chairman Powell followed through with a (quarter-point) cut, but flip-flopped on what markets should expect with regard to future monetary policy," Cox continued. "Is this a mid-cycle cut or isn't it?" The central bank also agreed to end a campaign to shrink its $3.8 trillion balance sheet two months earlier than anticipated in a move that should hold down long-term rates. Despite a 3.7% unemployment rate and economic growth averaging a solid 2.6% the first half of the year, inflation has remained stubbornly below the Fed's annual 2% target. Powell said meager inflation can lead to a "difficult to reverse" slide, resulting, for example, in falling prices, or deflation, that encourages consumers to delay purchases. Meanwhile, sluggish growth in Europe and China has hobbled U.S. exports, and President Donald Trump's trade war with China has damped business confidence and investment. The upshot is a split-screen economy, with strong job gains and consumer spending, but lackluster manufacturing output and business outlays threatening to undermine growth. Lower rates, Powell said, can bolster business confidence and spending. Household consumption makes up about 70% of economic activity. As a result, the Fed's action Wednesday is viewed as an unusual "insurance cut," enacted even though the economy remains sturdy in an effort to stave off a potential downturn. The thinking is that the Fed's key rate is still historically low and so there's little room to trim rates to spur growth in case of recession. But economists pointedly disagree about what the Fed should be doing. Some, like those at Morgan Stanley, predicted the Fed would lower its rate by half a percentage point Wednesday to provide enough insurance against an economic slide. By cutting a quarter point, the Fed would be "wasting a scarce and valuable … bullet" in its arsenal, the research firm wrote to clients. Earlier this week, Trump criticized the Fed's expected quarter-point move, tweeting that it "will do very little" compared to anticipated rate cuts by policymakers in Europe and China. Trump has been blasting Fed rate hikes or exhorting it to lower rates the past year, breaking with a long tradition of presidents steering clear of such comments to preserve the agency's independence. Powell reiterated Wednesday that the Fed isn't influenced by politics. Yet RBC Capital Markets, citing a lack of "economic distress," decried any rate cut. "You are giving away your ammunition today," the firm wrote. That armament could be needed if the economy heads south by next year, as many economists predict.Kansas City Fed President Esther George and Boston Fed chief Eric Rosengren dissented, preferring to keep rates unchanged. What the Fed said about: The economyThe Fed said "economic activity has been rising at a moderate rate." While "household spending has picked up from earlier in the year, growth of business fixed investment has been soft." The economy grew at a respectable 2.1% annual rate in the second quarter following strong gains of 3.1% early in the year and 2.9% in 2018. Strong consumer spending has offset weak business investment manufacturing. Growth is likely to slow to 2% the second half of the year, well below the 3% or better pace that Trump has promised. Sixty percent of economists surveyed by the National Association of Business Economics are forecasting a recession in 2020. Jobs"Job gains have been solid, on average, in recent months, and the unemployment rate has remain low," the Fed said. The economy added a robust 224,000 jobs in June, though monthly job growth has averaged 172,000 this year, down from 223,000 in 2018. That's still a solid pace in light of federal tax cuts and spending increases that juiced the economy last year but are now fading and a jobless rate that's close to a 50-year low and making it harder to find qualified workers. The balance sheetSince October 2017, the Fed was gradually shedding the $3.5 trillion in Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities it purchased after the financial crisis to lower long-term rates and spur growth. As a result, the Fed's total asset portfolio has fallen to $3.8 trillion from a peak of $4.5 trillion. CLOSE Chairman Jerome Powell signaled Wednesday that the Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates late this month for the first time in a decade in light of a weakening global economy and rising trade tensions. (July 10) AP, AP Rather than sell the bonds, the Fed has scaled back reinvestment of their proceeds as they mature, putting upward pressure on long-term rates. Earlier this year, the central bank said it would stop that initiative in September, earlier than anticipated, by reducing the amount that comes off its books each month. On Wednesday, policymakers said they would halt the balance sheet runoff immediately, keeping $62 billion in its portfolio that it would have shed, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. The reason: Earlier this year, the Fed released new guidance saying the balance sheet program should not "work at cross purposes" with its key rate, which is now heading lower. InflationThe Fed said inflation remains below its 2% target and noted that bond prices reflect inflation expectations remain low. The Fed's preferred yearly inflation measure was at 1.4% in June and a reading that strips out volatile food and energy items was at 1.6%, both well below the Fed's 2% benchmark. What it meansThe Fed took a middle-ground approach. It reduced rates by a quarter point, despite a solid economy, to mitigate recession risks. But the cut was less than the half point some economists advocated. Further cuts could be coming depending on trade and global economic developments. "I see the U.S. outlook as being a positive one," Powell said. "The downside risks are really coming from abroad." Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/07/31/fed-interest-rate-cut-officials-lowered-key-rate-quarter-point/1872817001/  |
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