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On October 18, 2023, NPR and the Climate Investigations Center (CIC) brought attention to the health risks linked to using gas stoves. Both reports discussed the gas industry’s long strategy to sweep this information under the rug, using public relations programs modeled after Big Tobacco’s infamous spin campaigns in the ‘50s and ‘60s. NPR and CIC’s joint investigation discovered documents revealing the industry was made aware of these health risks as early as 1970 and that, along with the American Gas Association (AGA), gas utilities funded studies that countered the emerging research into safety concerns.

Following the two original sources, Grist published an article by Kate Yoder a day later that strongly stated the gas utility industry has been actively downplaying the health risks of gas stoves since the 1970s. Gas stoves have been linked to the same health issues associated with smoking, including increased risks of cancer and respiratory illnesses such as asthma.

More than one-third of Americans still use gas stoves, which studies are starting to show pollute homes with toxic chemicals, including benzene and nitrogen dioxide. Gas utilities intentionally hid this explosive problem with the help of Richard Darrow, the architect of Big Tobacco’s PR strategies, who advised these companies to “mount the massive consistent, long-range public relations programs necessary to cope with the problems.”

The deceptive practices of the gas industry have influenced the efforts to bring issues to the surface. Yoder reported that one study, published in June 2023, found that “using a single gas stove burner on high can raise levels of cancer-causing benzene above what’s been observed from secondhand smoke.” Yet, studies from 1974-1982 found no significant evidence to show that gas stoves increased the risks of respiratory illness.

In fact, the industry secretly funded many research efforts in order to keep the truth from coming out. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, not only was the public confused, but so was the government. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviewed five studies and found no sufficient evidence of health risks posed by gas stoves. 

However, four of the five studies reviewed by the EPA were directly funded by the gas industry, as the Climate Investigations Center’s study revealed. Indeed, for the past fifty years, the American Gas Association has made astonishing efforts to minimize the health effects of gas stoves, characterizing peer-reviewed studies that linked gas stoves to asthma as “reckless.” In response to the NPR and the Climate Investigations Center findings, the American Gas Association’s CEO, Karen Harbert, claimed that present science “does not provide sufficient or consistent evidence demonstrating chronic health hazards from natural gas ranges.”

The deceptive nature of gas utilities has gotten some coverage by smaller nonprofit news outlets,  notably Grist, but not much attention from national corporate media. The establishment press, including the New York Times, CNN, and the Washington Post, has long reported on the health risks and environmental impact of gas stoves but has neglected to address how gas utilities have purposefully deceived the public for decades.

Sources:

Jeff Brady, “How Gas Utilities Used Tobacco Tactics to Avoid Gas Stove Regulations,” NPR, October 17, 2023.

Kate Yoder, “To Obscure the Risks of Gas Stoves, Utilities Borrowed from Big Tobacco’s Playbook,” Grist, October 18, 2023.

Rebecca John, “Burning Questions: A History of the Gas Industry’s Campaign to Manufacture Controversy over the Health Risks of Gas Stove Emissions,” Climate Investigations Center, October 17, 2023.

Student Researcher: Grace Harty (North Central College)

Faculty Evaluator: Steve Macek (North Central College)

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Joe Biden on Saturday called the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah a “measure of justice” for his four-decade reign of terror.

The comments came after Lebanon’s Hezbollah group confirmed earlier Saturday that Nasrallah, one of the group’s founders, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous day.

Biden noted that the operation to take out Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’ massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023.

“Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a ‘northern front’ against Israel,” Biden said in a statement.

He also noted that Hezbollah under Nasrallah’s watch has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans.

Read More: Hezbollah Confirms Its Leader Hassan Nasrallah Was Killed In an Israeli Airstrike

The White House sees the death of Nasrallah as a huge blow to the group. At the same time, the administration has sought to tread carefully as it has tried to contain Israel ‘s war with Hamas, which, like Hezbollah, is backed by Iran, from exploding into an all-out regional conflict.

The White House and Pentagon were quick on Friday, shortly after the strike, to say publicly that Israel offered it no forewarning of the operation.

The confirmation of Nasrallah’s death comes during a week that began with Biden’s top national security aides working on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to build support for a 21-day Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire that they hoped might also breathe new life into stalled efforts to secure a truce in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech Friday to the United Nations, vowing to keep up operations against Hezbollah until tens of thousands of Israeli citizens displaced by rocket attacks can return home. Shortly after, Israel carried out the strike killing Nasrallah.

Biden reiterated on Saturday that he wants to see cease-fires both in Gaza and between Israel and Hezbollah.

“It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability,” Biden said.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States of supporting the killing that took out Nasrallah and dozens of others.

“The world community will not forget that the order of the terrorist strike was issued from New York and the Americans cannot absolve themselves from complicity with the Zionists,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying in a statement read on Iranian state television.

The State Department on Saturday ordered the departure of the families of U.S. diplomats who are not employed by the embassy in Beirut and authorized the departure of those who are, as well as nonessential employees because of “the volatile and unpredictable security situation” in Lebanon’s capital.

The move comes after an Israeli strike on Friday killed the leader of the Hezbollah militant group, intensifying the fighting along another front of war, this time between Israel and Hezbollah.

The State Department has previously advised American citizens to consider leaving Lebanon and reiterated its warning against all travel to the country.

“Due to the increased volatility following airstrikes within Beirut and the volatile and unpredictable security situation throughout Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Lebanon while commercial options still remain available,” the department said in a statement Saturday.

The State Department routinely orders or authorizes the departure of nonessential embassy staffers and the families of diplomats when security conditions deteriorate in the country where they are posted.

An ordered departure is not technically an evacuation but does require those affected to leave. An authorized departure allows those affected to leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

SPAIN’S Costa Daurada simply translates as the Golden Coast.

It’s named after the colour of the sand when the sun shines along its 50 miles of Mediterranean beaches, running south- west from Barcelona.

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I hadn’t taken the time to explain its meaning to my children while sitting in the departures lounge at Stansted Airport.

But it was the first that thing they exclaimed as they dived into the surf three hours later.

“Daddy, there’s gold in the water!”

They weren’t wrong. Tiny grains of sand floating in the crystal-clear sea shone like a golden twinkling disco ball suspended in the sun’s rays.

My two grew up paddling in the familiar dark-grey murk of the North Sea.

So they were certainly thrilled to be snorkelling in 34C sunshine off Platja dels Pilans.

The beach was just a ten-minute walk from our Eurocamp holiday home at the Playa Montroig Resort, in Miami Platja. And that was just as stunning.

Our Ultimate lodge slept six in comfort — with efficient air-conditioning that came into its own on during our scorching summer holiday.

Outside, comfy patio furniture on the shaded decking was perfect for chilling at any time of day, and the dining table and chairs were great for al-fresco meals.

The beachside resort is a 20-minute drive from Reus Airport, and around an hour from Barcelona.

And it lives up to its 5H rating, with immaculate grounds, three restaurants, a beach bar and round-the-clock entertainment for both kids and grown-ups.

On our first night, a magician sawed his glamorous assistant in half to the wonder of watching children.

The same stage hosted intense-looking exercise classes in the mornings, which were definitely not for the hungover.

And by the afternoon it had turned into a kid-friendly Ibiza foam party with huge cannons coating the dancing crowds in clouds of bubbles.

Gigs on the beach, fireworks, and a swimming pool complex with triple-flume action only added to the fun.

The poshest restaurant on site was the Espai Grill, which offered a full three courses of prime meats, with courtyard entertainment from a Beatles tribute band.

Unfussy and simple

Mid-tier was the Terrassa Restaurant, which served traditional Spanish fare and cold lagers, just a stone’s throw from the main square.

Our favourite was the Tucanamar beach bar.

Unfussy and simple, fresh fish and meat were grilled here over woodsmoke and washed down with copious Del Boy cocktails.

You can’t beat tapas and an ice-cold mojito while overlooking the waves with sand at your feet.

There was a bakery for morning baguette runs, and a decent-sized supermarket which offered the wonderful European adventures of 15 types of chocolate spread and tinned olives.

Never has the gulf between a British booze aisle, and alcohol on the Continent, been so vast.

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You could get three bottles of tip-top rioja and a slab of beers for the price of a petrol station chardonnay back home.

For a spot of offsite culture, we headed to the town of Montroig del Camp, which was famed as the rural retreat of the late Catalan painter and surrealist icon Joan Miro.

He began his painting career here at his parents’ farmhouse retreat and the landscape was the inspiration for some of his most famous works.

Montroig del Camp is overlooked by the remarkable 13th-century hermitage of Our Lady of the Rock, which is itself topped by the 19th-century Chapel of Sant Ramon.

Perched on top of a column of eroded red rock, it defies physics while also offering panoramic views all the way to the coast.

Wildlife and waterfalls

Thankfully, you can park at the top before clambering up to the chapel.

We then took the short drive to Cambrils to see the beautiful botanical gardens at Parc Sama.

It’s like a National Trust stately-home experience parachuted into the Med.

The wonderful 35-acre grounds are packed with wildlife and waterfalls.

You can feed the deer and marvel at the terrapins in the lake where fish will nibble your fingertips.

But it’s the peacocks that are the star of the show.

Chicks beside showboating grown-ups, and even their rare white- feathered cousins, strut among the tourists.

The coastal capital is Tarragona, home to the ruins of a magnificent Roman amphitheatre and an amazing 12th century Cathedral.

But it’s human structures that are the modern marvel — the city hosts the Castells competition, the world’s largest human tower contest.

The gravity-defying, centuries-old Catalan tradition sees incredible towers created from the crowds which stand up to 40ft high.

A wonderful life-size city centre-statue pays soaring tribute to their efforts.

There’s no doubt that the Costa Daurada, with all its sun-soaked family fun and Catalonian culture, delivers a gold-star break.

EATING out with friends and family is always a real treat, but soaring costs can leave a lump in your throat when the bill arrives.

This week, Mel Hunter reveals how to take a bite out of your bill and save money on dining out . . . 

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FAMILIES

EATING out with children is an expensive business unless you know where to find the best deals.

The average cost of a family meal out is around £90, according to Greene King ­— but with some discounts you can treat the family for less than half that.

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Ricky Willis, founder of the money-saving community skintdad.co.uk, says: “There are lots of offers out there, even outside the school holidays, and there are plenty of ways to get more for your money.”

Here, we round up the best.

Tesco shoppers can swap Clubcard points for double their value at Pizza Express, ASK Italian, Prezzo and Zizzi.

Sign up to newsletters and apps to get discounts.

For example, Brewers Fayre gives 25 per cent off your food bill when you join.

With Pizza Express Club, get free doughballs worth about £5.95 on a first visit and collect stamps to get free food on future visits.

Wagamama fans can get a free portion of edamame beans worth around £4.90 when you first sign up and spend over £12.

At Bella Italia, children eat for £1 from 4pm-6pm Sunday to Wednesday and for free Thursday.

Children eat free at Dobbies Garden Centres and for £1 at Hungry Horse pubs every Monday.

Get a free kids’ meal for every £10 spent by an adult at Real Greek restaurants on Sundays.

With TGI Friday’s app Stripes Rewards, children under 12 eat free all day every day when you buy a full price adult meal.

BEST: Dine out as a family for under £15 at a Sizzling Pub on weekdays from 3pm to 7pm. Families of four can enjoy two adult main meals for less than £12 and two kids’ mains for £1 each.

COUPLES

IF you’re heading out for a date night or meeting up with a friend, there are ways to save cash.

Aim for a Monday to Thursday night, as this is when you can gobble up the best offers.

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It is when restaurants run two-for-one deals, which rarely apply at weekends.

A Tastecard is a great source of meal deals. It can cost £7.99 a month, but look out for a free trial.

Myvouchercodes.co.uk is currently offering 60 per cent off annual membership, taking it down from £79.99 to £29.99.

If you work in the civil service or public sector, or used to before retiring, a Boundless membership, from £40 a year, gets you a free Tastecard as part of its benefits.

Otherwise, look out for great value on set menus.

We’re impressed with Bill’s two-course meal for £17.50 each, Cote’s Prix Fixe deal for £17.95 and Bar+Block’s £13.95 menu which runs until 5pm.

To get a prime seat at a posh restaurant, look for deals at opentable.co.uk or squaremeal.co.uk, or maybe tuck into a cheap pre-theatre menu, usually served around 5-6pm.

If that’s a bit too early for you, book a date at a restaurant where you can take along your own booze.

With a bottle of house wine costing upward of £20 at many places, this could immediately cut your bill.

Find a list at wine-pages.com/business-directory and search locally as well.

BEST: Want to impress? The Ivy restaurants, with stylish branches throughout the UK, offer a set menu for under £20.

FRIENDS

THERE’S no need to dread splitting the bill if you choose what you eat and where you go wisely.

If you are going out for your birthday, you can bag yourself a freebie (and leave the others to split the bill) by signing up as a loyalty member at many restaurants.

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They will then reward you with a treat at around the time of your birthday.

This might be a free main meal or bottle of bubbly.

Look out for birthday freebies at Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, Las Iguanas, Frankie & Benny’s and Pizza Express.

Even if it is not your big day, there are big ways to save with friends.

Yasmine Camilla, who posts about her journey to get out of debt on TikTok and Instagram (@yasminecamilla), says: “You need to get organised beforehand.

“Use WhatsApp to talk to the group and make sure everyone is signed up to get the same deal before you go out.

“That way, you won’t end up splitting the bill and paying for someone else’s more expensive meal.”

At Prezzo, you can get a code for a free bottle of Prosecco when you sign up for emails and spend at least £25.

At Hungry Horse pubs you can buy one burger at get another free on Fridays.

BEST: At Bill’s you can get a free birthday bottle of Prosecco worth around £29.50, if you sign up for the newsletter at least four weeks before your big day and meet the other terms and conditions.

UNIVERSAL CREDIT FIASCO

ALMOST 900,000 Universal Credit claims were closed before being paid in the last year.

That was the finding of a freedom of information request by Sun Money to the Department for Work and Pensions.

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Between July 2023 and June 2024, 896,000 claims were shut down without payment.

Having insufficient evidence was the main reason that claims were unsuccessful, with 92,000 such cases recorded.

This could include not having a valid UK passport, payslips dated within the last three months or your most recent P60.

These documents are important because the amount of Universal Credit you are entitled to depends on your individual circumstances.

And almost 64,000 cases were ended because the claimant failed the “habitual residence” test.

This can stop someone who has a right to enter the UK from claiming social benefits after they arrive.

Ayla Ozmen, at charity Z2K, said: “We know that people struggle to meet all of the requirements of the claims process, often because of a disability or because they have difficulty using computers.

“This can lead to people missing out on vital income.”

A DWP Spokesperson said: “We support millions of people every year through Universal Credit, and our priority is to make sure people get the support.”

OLIVIA MARSHALL

PENSION MISTAKE RULING

HUNDREDS of thousands of savers could be owed cash in the aftermath of a huge pension mix-up, Sun Money can reveal.

In July, the Court of Appeal upheld that telecom giant Virgin Media had not obtained a legal sign-off from an actuary, a type of financial expert, on changes it made to its company pension scheme several years ago.

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As a result, these changes were deemed invalid, and the court said they should be reversed.

Savers with reduced pension benefits owing to the changes would therefore be owed money.

We have now learned that between 1997 and 2016, many companies made changes to their pension schemes to save money on National Insurance contributions.

Insiders said a number of those firms did not get the required sign-off, like Virgin Media.

These insiders told us that hundreds of thousands of workers’ final-salary pensions could therefore be worth more than they thought.

But we believe these firms are calling on the DWP to remove the past sign-off requirement.

A DWP spokes-person said: “We have been closely following this case. We will consider the wider implications for both schemes and scheme members as we explore the implications of the judgment.”

A Virgin Media spokesman said: “Following the court decision, we are working to ensure the pension scheme is being administered correctly.”

ELLIE SMITHERMAN