Skip to main content

Recalls this week: LED light bulbs, bicycles

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

LED light bulbs that can separate from their sockets and fall onto consumers are among this week’s recalled products. Others include patio set chairs that can fall apart.

Here’s a more detailed look:

LED LIGHTBULBS

DETAILS: Fourteen Halco LED bulb models used in recessed lights, as outdoor security lighting and in retail displays. “ProLED” is printed on a label on the plastic housing of the bulb along with model numbers, product names, and date codes. They were sold at lighting retailers and distributors nationwide from June 2009 through March 2014. Details on the recalled models can be found at http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2014/Halco-Recalls-LED-Bulbs/

WHY: The LED bulbs can overheat and fall onto consumers below, posing impact and burn hazards.

INCIDENTS: Five reports of the bulbs separating from the socket. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 9,500.

FOR MORE: Call Halco at 844-277-0177 or visit www.halcolighting.com and click on “LED Bulb Recall” for more information.

FITNESS BANDS

DETAILS: Bollinger Fitness Classic and SoftTouch resistance bands with door attachment, model numbers 5771, 5772, 5773, 5774 and 5775. The Bollinger Fitness logo appears on the handles. The model number can be found on the product’s packaging. They were sold from July 2012 through March 2014.

WHY: A black plastic ball attached to the resistance band’s door anchor can unexpectedly release and strike the user, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

INCIDENTS: One report of the door anchor ball releasing resulting in an injury to the user.

HOW MANY: About 60,000 in the U.S. and 3,000 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Bollinger at 800-255-6061, send email to SGuess@alliancesportsgroup.net, or visit www.bollingerfitness.com and click on “Important News” at the bottom right corner of the page for more information.

PATIO SET CHAIRS

DETAILS: Nantucket Distributing resin wicker outdoor patio set chairs. The set includes two brown powder-coated outdoor metal resin wicker chairs and a round table with aluminum top with brown resin wicker trim. The chairs were sold with a hang tag with item number RT043SET. They were sold at Christmas Tree Shops and That! stores nationwide during March 2014.

WHY: The rear legs of the chair can break, posing a fall hazard.

INCIDENTS: Two reports of the rear chair legs breaking. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 4,000.

FOR MORE: Call Christmas Tree Shops at 888-287-3232 or visit www.christmastreeshops.com and go to the “Product Recalls” link at the bottom of the homepage for more information.

USB CHARGERS AND ADAPTORS

DETAILS: Popkiller mini USB car charger power adapters, universal USB power adapters and 8-pin USB data sync charging cables. The car charger has model number HHT-001 located on the flat side of the charger below the USB port. The Universal USB Power adapter has model number A1265 printed directly above the plug blades on the grey surface. There is no model number printed on the 8-pin USB charging cables. All of the recalled products are sold separately and come in red, orange, green, blue, purple and pink. They were sold at Popkiller retail locations in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, California, from June 2013 through April 2014.

WHY: Improperly mounted plug blades, and inadequate electronic circuitry create a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 2,500.

FOR MORE: Call Popkiller at 888-345-0724 or visit http://www.popkiller.us and click on “About Us” located at the bottom of the home page, then click “Important Recall Notice” for more information.

BICYCLES

DETAILS: All 2014 GT Fury Expert and 2014 GT Fury Team downhill mountain bicycles. The recalled Fury Expert model is blue with red and white accents. The recalled Fury Team model is black with lime green and blue accents. “Fury” is printed on the top tube and the bottom of the chainstay, the GT logo is on the down tube and the top of the chainstay. The model names are printed in small letters on the top tube of the bicycles just above the word Fury. They were sold at authorized GT dealers from February 2014 to June 2014.

WHY: The wheel hubs can break and cause the brake system to fail, posing crash and injury hazards to the consumer.

INCIDENTS: Five reports of broken hubs. No injuries have been reported.

HOW MANY: About 120 in the U.S. and 32 in Canada.

FOR MORE: Call Cycling Sports Group at 800-726-2453, send email to custserve@cyclingsportsgroup.com, or visit www.gtbicycles.com and click on “Recalls” under Recalls & Safety at the bottom of the page.

PAIN RELIEVERS

DETAILS: Bottles of 100-count Panadol Advance pain relievers sold in Puerto Rico from November 2012 through February 2014. The medicine was sold in white containers with a blue label, inside a blue box. “Panadol” and “Advance” are printed on the label. Lot numbers and dates codes are located on the left side panel of the box and on the left side of the label on the bottle, near the bar code. They include: Lot number: 14241, expiration date: 02/2015; Lot number: 14002, expiration date: 10/2014; Lot number: 13881, expiration date: 09/2014; and Lot number: 13801, expiration date: 09/2014.

WHY: The packaging is not child-resistant as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The products contain acetaminophen which is required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act to be sealed with child-resistant packaging.

INCIDENTS: None reported.

HOW MANY: About 10,600.

FOR MORE: Call GlaxoSmithKline at 888-912-8455 or visit www.us.gsk.com and click on “Media & news” in the upper left and, if not listed with current releases, click on “Press release archive” on the left side for more information.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote