An average of 37 children die each year, and all hot car tragedies are preventable

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As part of a collaborative effort to raise awareness about preventing hot car tragedies, representatives from JPMA Cares, Safe Kids Worldwide (SKW), and Kids and Car Safety are joining local health professionals, first responders, and safety advocates at the Mitchell Learning Academy in Jacksonville, Florida to share proven strategies and tips for parents, caregivers, and bystanders. 

Since 1990, at least 1,125 children have died from heatstroke while unattended in vehicles, including one preventable tragedy so far this year. On average, 37 children die each year–that’s one child every nine days.

“Our goal is to make sure that heatstroke doesn’t claim the life of another child,” said Torine Creppy, president of SKW. “As temperatures rise and schedules change, there’s a real danger that we may see more tragedies this year. Losing one child is one too many, so we’re working with partners to prevent children from dying in hot cars by using every tool necessary, including awareness, education, technology, and advocacy.”

Technologies to prevent hot car deaths are already available, and more continue to develop. Many vehicles have systems that remind the driver to check the back seat under certain conditions. Others have more advanced systems that sense the presence of a child or other vulnerable occupants. Several car seat brands have sensor systems that are paired with the driver’s smartphone to provide warnings when a child is unintentionally left behind.

“Because children are precious and behavior is difficult to change, car seat and vehicle makers are voluntarily adding sensing and reminder features,” said Director of Child Passenger Safety for the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association Joe Colella. “These technologies help prevent hot car tragedies. However, even with advancing technology, I recommend that parents always practice ‘Stop, Look, Lock.’ At each destination, check your back seat and lock the doors before walking away.”

Parents, caregivers, and bystanders are encouraged to help reduce the number of hot car deaths by taking the following steps:

Look before you lock, and never leave a young child alone in a car, not even for a minute.Lock your doors, and keep your keys and key fobs out of the reach of children. Ask your neighbors to do the same.Create reminders by putting something in the back of your car that you’ll need at your final destination, such as a phone, briefcase, or purse.Arrange for your childcare provider to contact you right away if your child hasn’t arrived as scheduled.If you see a child alone in a car, take action. Call 911. Emergency personnel are trained to respond to these situations. One call could save a life.

For more information, please visit jpmacares.org/car-seat-safety-tips, safekids.org/heatstroke, and kidsandcars.org.

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SOURCE JPMA Cares

Americans now need to earn $114,000 to afford the median-priced homePending home sales fall for the fourth straight month YoY, down 3.2%Active listings rise 30.6% YoY, surpassing April 2020 levelsPrice reductions hit 18.0% of listings

AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A U.S. household now needs to earn $114,000 annually to afford a median-priced home. That’s up 70.1% from $67,000 just six years ago according to the Realtor.com® April Housing Trends Report. While it’s clear that buying a home has become significantly more expensive, there are optimistic signs that today’s market is slowly shifting in buyers’ favor. Inventory is climbing, more sellers are adjusting their prices, and buyers are beginning to gain a bit more leverage in the market.

“Even with today’s affordability hurdles, meaningful changes in the market could give buyers a better shot at finding a home,” said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com®. “The number of homes for sale is rising in many markets, giving shoppers more choices than they’ve had in years. Sellers are becoming more flexible on pricing, underscored by the price reductions we’re seeing, and while higher mortgage rates are certainly weighing on demand, the silver lining is that the market is starting to rebalance. This could create opportunities for buyers who are prepared.”

April 2025 Housing Metrics – National (*For metro stats, see Table 1 and Table 2 below)

A $114,000 Homeownership Threshold
Since 2019, the income required to afford the median-priced home has risen $47,000 to $114,00. This figure assumes a 30-year fixed mortgage, a 20% down payment, and no more than 30% of gross monthly income spent on housing. The widening gap is fueled by a combination of rapid home price appreciation and elevated mortgage rates but in some markets, the bar is even higher.

Markets with the Highest Required Incomes to Afford a Home

Five California markets showed up in the list above. The state, along with many others represented here, are among the lowest scorers in a recent Realtor.com® analysis, which assigned a grade (A+ through F) to each state based on home affordability. And, it’s clear that California has a lot of homework to do – pun intended.

January Set the Tone and April Followed: Pending Home Sales Continue to Drop
From October to December last year, pending home sales were relatively stronger on a year-over-year basis. But since January, the momentum has shifted, and in April, pending home sales declined 3.2% compared with a year ago, marking the fourth consecutive month of annual declines. A renewed rise in mortgage rates, now back to levels seen in early 2024, is likely a key factor behind the slowdown. As borrowing costs climbed again in late April, some buyers who had been waiting for more favorable conditions are hitting pause, injecting new uncertainty into the market as it moves into the typically busy summer season.

Shifts in Pending Home Sales YoY

Where’s the Silver Lining? 
In light of affordability concerns and more choice for buyers, data suggest that some sellers are meeting buyers in the middle. This month, 18.0% of listings saw price reductions. Additionally, active listings were up 30.6% year-over-year, surpassing April 2020 levels, a notable pandemic-era benchmark.

The West (+41.7%) and South (+33.3%) led the way in active listings growth, while certain markets, including San Diego (+70.1%), San Jose (+67.6%), and Washington, D.C. (+69.3%) saw the biggest local gains.  Despite this, nationwide inventory still sits 16.3% below 2017–2019 norms, meaning buyers have more options but the market hasn’t fully recovered.

The full April 2025 monthly housing trends report with additional findings can be found here.

*Table 1: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Median Listing Price and Income

*Table 2: April 2025 Top 50 Metros Inventory, Days on Market and Price Reduction 

Methodology
Realtor.com housing data as of April 2025. Listings include the active inventory of existing single-family homes and condos/townhomes/row homes/co-ops for the given level of geography on Realtor.com; new construction is excluded unless listed via an MLS that provides listing data to Realtor.com. Realtor.com data history goes back to July 2016. The 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB-202301) and Claritas 2025 estimates of household counts. With the release of its January 2025 housing trends report, Realtor.com® has restated data points for some previous months. As a result of these changes, some of the data released since January 2025 will not be directly comparable with previous data releases (files downloaded before January 2025) and Realtor.com® economics research reports.

About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.

Media contact:  Asees Singh, press@realtor.com

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SOURCE Realtor.com

SHENZHEN, China, May 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Syntech, a leading innovator in performance peripherals, proudly unveils the Chronos 68 Rapid Trigger Magnetic Keyboard – a premium gaming keyboard engineered for elite performance and designed to transition seamlessly between high-stakes gameplay and professional productivity.

With its Premium-grade aluminum chassis and carefully curated accessories, including a magnetic dust cover and ergonomic wrist rest, the Chronos 68 makes a striking first impression. But its true power lies beneath the surface – this is a keyboard built to deliver competitive advantage at every keystroke.

At the heart of the Chronos 68 is advanced magnetic-axis technology, offering adjustable actuation from 0.1mm to 3.5mm and a blistering 8000Hz polling rate for lightning-fast response. The Rapid Trigger mechanism resets keys the instant they’re released, while Snap Tap intelligently prioritizes input, preventing command conflicts during intense gaming moments.

What truly sets the Chronos 68 apart is its seamless customization system. Dedicated hotkeys give users instant access to the intuitive software interface, enabling effortless profile switching and real-time configuration. Whether toggling between work and play or fine-tuning in the middle of a match, users remain in control without skipping a beat.

The companion software (available as both an app and web interface) empowers users to:

Remap any key instantlyCreate and assign complex macrosAdjust individual key actuation pointsSave unlimited custom profiles across games and scenarios

For FPS and MOBA enthusiasts, Super Tap redefines what’s possible – allowing up to four unique commands on a single key through nuanced press patterns.

The typing experience is equally exceptional, featuring unique fully-enclosed switches that produce a signature Pebble Cavity Tone, while durable PBT keycaps deliver crisp, consistent feedback with every keystroke.

About Syntech
Syntech (www.syntechhome.com) develops award-winning peripherals that bridge the gap between gaming performance and professional precision – empowering users to excel in every environment.

Media Contact
hello@syntechhome.com 

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SOURCE Syntech