It's official: The PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer has been downgraded to the lowest possible rating of "D" from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential independent advisory board that basically decides what types of preventive care are worth the bother. That's "D" as in "discourage," which is what the task force says doctors should do when their patients ask about this test.

Starting this week more than 27,000 consumers who purchased certain vacuum cleaners and air purifiers made by Oreck will be getting checks for $25 from the Federal Trade Commission under an agreement between the government and the manufacturer. Oreck claimed its Halo vacuum and ProShield Plus air purifier could reduce the risk of flu and other illnesses, and eliminate virtually all common germs and allergens. Last year Oreck agreed to pay the FTC a $750,000 fine.

As the Senate prepares to vote on a bill this week to reauthorize the statute governing medical device oversight, Consumers Union, the advocacy arm of Consumer Reports called attention to a loophole that puts patients at risk.

Two recent incidents in which metal bristles from a grill-cleaning brush were accidentally ingested are drawing attention to an unexpected grilling hazard. Men in New Jersey and Washington state were taken to local hospitals with stomach pain after barbecuing. In both cases, they had swallowed a bristle that had become attached to the food after the grill was cleaned. Both men underwent emergency surgery when the bristles perforated their intestines.

A system of text-like Wireless Emergency Alerts, including "imminent threat" (natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes), Presidential, and AMBER (missing children) alerts, are set to roll out to mobile phones soon, via participating carriers. Here are the details you need to know.

A safety recall has been issued for 2010 Jeep Wrangler sport-utility vehicles. Nearly 68,000 of the popular SUVs can catch fire due to a flaw in the design to protect the Wrangler's automatic transmission, warns the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Looking for a fantastic techie gift for your favorite father? Or perhaps a recent grad you're especially fond of deserves a great gadget this year. Consumer Reports' electronics experts picked out some of our recent favorites for your consideration.

Honda has recalled 52,615 of its 2007-2008 Acura TL sedans because over time, the power steering hose can deteriorate and develop a fluid leak, leading to a loss of power steering assistance.

About 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks from Safety 1st are being recalled, warned two government agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The locks fail to keep children out of toilet bowls and prevent drowning nor do they secure household cabinets which may contain harmful home cleaners and other chemicals.

With some of the warmest months on record, folks took to calling 2012 the year without a winter. But we're certainly going to have a summer. Three-quarters of the nation will experience temperatures that are higher than normal from June through August, according to the federal Climate Prediction Center. To help you beat the heat, Consumer Reports has new Ratings of window air conditioners. We also have the results of our central air reliability survey in which readers told us which systems worked for them, as well as energy-saving tips so you can run your A/C without running up your utility bill.

Netbooks could be going the way of the rotary phone: We've seen very few new models in the past several months, and that's not surprising. After all, the Apple iPad and some Android tablets are much more elegant solutions for most of the tasks you'd do on a netbook, and thin-and-light laptops such as Ultrabooks are squeezing netbooks from the other end.

It used to be that spending less on an entry-level refrigerator meant settling for a bare-bones design and limited features. Picture the inside of an old top-freezer, with its wire shelves, single-bulb illumination, and freezer devoid of storage compartments. But our latest report on refrigerators tells a different story, with many low-priced models boasting features once reserved for the higher-end.

iExit Interstate Exit Guide helps take the guesswork out of road trip pit stops, by identifying what restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other services are available at each exit by name. Make a selection, and the smart-phone application gives the option of turn-by-turn directions or calling ahead to a business with one touch.

The HTC Evo 4G LTE should be a fine phone, once it actually reaches consumers and the network technology to support it is up and running. That's my take on this new Sprint phone after using a press sample for a few days.

We've told you before to stay away from so-called toning shoes because of apparent safety risks. Yesterday's settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Skechers over the company's deceptive and unsupported claims gives you another reason to consider other fitness footwear.