The Financial Influence of Student Loan Payments

73% of Millennials (ages 23-38) who have student loan debt have delayed at least one major life or financial milestone as a result, according to a new Bankrate.com report. Mark Hamrick, Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com said the issue has influenced large percentages of Americans of all ages, affecting decisions such as buying a home or car, saving for retirement, having children and getting married.

Phony Pharmaceuticals

Phony prescription drugs are big business and can be life-threatening to consumers. David Closs, PhD, Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State Universitydiscussed a recent change in federal regulations that requires companies to track prescription drugs from their raw materials stage to their delivery to pharmacies. He explained how copycat drugs sometimes make their way into the system and what consumers need to know.

Teens and Cell Phone Radiation

Martin Röösli, PhD, Associate Professor, Head of Environmental Exposures and Health at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute in Basel, Switzerland led a study that suggests that radiation from phones can harm a teenager’s memory. He found that the problem occurs when a phone is held next to a child’s head for a phone call. His team even found different effects, depending on whether the phone was used on the right or left side of the head. He said Bluetooth devices can help, and that children’s phone calls should be short and infrequent.

Mark Hamrick

Mark Hamrick is Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, operating out of the National Press Building in the shadow of The White House and U.S. Treasury. He is best known for his analysis of the economy, including the job market, and the Federal Reserve and writes about those subjects for Bankrate. You might see him asking a question at a Washington news conference, hear him discussing these topics and more on the radio, see him on television or read his name and analysis in print.



He is a national award-winning business and financial news journalist, who came to Bankrate after leading business news for Broadcast at the Associated Press in Washington for nearly 20 years.



Mark has served as president of SABEW, the leading association of business and financial journalists. He previously was president of the National Press Club. In both capacities, he has been a vocal advocate for press freedom and for transparency.



A native of Kansas, Mark began his career in journalism as a high school student working in radio in his hometown of Coffeyville. Mark lives in Potomac, Md., with his wife Jeanne.

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David Closs

Dr. David J. Closs is the John H. McConnell Chaired Professor of Business Administration in the Department of Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University. Dr. Closs completed his MBA and Ph.D. at Michigan State in 1978 focusing on the topics of marketing, logistics and management science.



Dr. Closs has been extensively involved in the development and application of computer models and information systems for logistics operations and planning. The computer models have included applications for location analysis, inventory management, forecasting and routing. The information systems development focuses on inventory management, forecasting and transportation applications. His experience has focused on the logistics related issues in the consumer products, medical and pharmaceutical products and parts industries. Dr. Closs actively participates in logistics executive development seminars and has presented sessions in North America, South America, Asia, Australia and Eastern Europe. Dr. Closs\'s primary research interests include supply chain strategy, information systems, security, and planning techniques. He was one of the principle researchers in two studies completed by Michigan State University investigating world-class logistics and supply chain capabilities.



Dr. Closs has authored and co-authored numerous articles and made presentations regarding world-class logistics and supply chain capabilities and logistics information systems applications.



Dr. Closs is an active member in the CSCMP and was Editor of the Journal of Business Logistics. He is Executive Editor of Logistics Quarterly.

More information about Dr. Closs