Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is looking into the enforcement of federal regulations that are meant to protect consumers from financial fraud but might be penalizing bank employees for old, minor infractions that are not a threat to current financial consumers.  The Des Moines Register reported that Wells Fargo has fired workers including a 68-year-old customer service representative in Des Moines for putting a cardboard dime in a washing machine 49 years ago.  Grassley's staff has had an initial conversation with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the agency that promulgated the rule, to learn more.  His staff has asked the agency for a briefing to cover the topic in more depth, especially regarding allegations that banks including Wells Fargo are seeking waivers from the regulation for executives but simply firing low-level employees rather than pursue waivers for them.  Grassley also wants to know whether the firing of individuals for minor infractions, such as the washing machine incident, was an unintended consequence of the rules.  Grassley's staff also contacted Wells Fargo for a briefing on how the bank is implementing the rules.

Sen. Grassley comment:

There was a time when specialty underwear was the domain of women. Not anymore!

"It used to be that the old standby, 'tighty-whities,' was a man's all-purpose underwear. They were worn with business attire, sweat pants for tooling about the house or shorts while playing a pick-up basketball game, but they weren't ideal for each function," says Darnell Jones, a sports-playing business professional and creator of TUKZ Undergarments, (www.TUKZ.com).

"Now, a man's underwear says something about who he is, whether it's a serious businessman, an athletic weekend warrior or a romantic. Let's be honest - your grandfather's underwear probably didn't look the coolest, and it certainly didn't say much about him."

Manufacturers are responding to men's desire for products, including underwear, that cater to his lifestyle with style and functionality, Jones says.

He points to these hot new undies:

• Saxx: This brand debuted in 2006 as a very specific kind of athletic undergarment for men. The apparel features comfortable side panels, which create a hammock-like effect for genitalia. No more chafing!

• SPANX for men: The underwear famous for shaping women, including Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow, released its men's version in 2010. Recognizing a burgeoning market for guys who want a GQ look, SPANX offers men the same comfortable firming and smoothing as women get.

• TUKZ: Like many of today's specialty underwear, TUKZ features a 3-D pouch for comfort and an enhanced profile. But the primary defining innovation is how the underwear improves business attire, Jones says. The underwear is equipped with four elastic straps and clips to neatly secure tucked shirts for a crisp, professional appearance all day. "The idea came to me organically - by necessity," Jones says. "I got so sick of having to tuck my shirt back in after sitting and standing dozens of times a day at the office." When men let their tucked shirts flare, it makes their midsection look thicker, he says.

• $100-dollar underwear, various brands: Yep, it's happened!
Brands like Calvin Klein, featuring the "Frigo," are capitalizing on men's desire to be just as sexy as the women in their lives - or almost. Consumers are routinely paying more than $50 for sexy men's underwear at retail stores in malls nationwide.

"Whether you want a clean silhouette at work or safety and comfort when you're on the athletic fields, you can choose the proper undergarment for the purpose," Jones says.

"We've come a long way, baby!"

About Darnell Jones

Darnell Jones is the founder and president of TUKZ Undergarments, LLC, specializing in a unique functionality that prevents shirts from becoming un-tucked. He earned his bachelor's in health with an emphasis in management at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colo. Jones' vision is for TUKZ Underwear to reside in every household to improve appearance and build confidence in men and women of all ages. He currently serves as an investor and a Region Manager for Olive Medical Corp.

State Achieves Nearly 94 Percent Usage Rate

"Labor Day Weekend should be a time of parades, barbeques and baseball, not sitting in a hospital ER, wondering if a loved one will survive a crash," Governor Quinn said. "Seat belts save lives, and Illinois' high seat belt usage rate is the result of our comprehensive efforts to ensure that drivers in Illinois are buckling up. When traveling this Labor Day, make sure everyone is buckled up, including those in the back seat, and such precious cargo as infants, the elderly and pets."

Prior to the primary safety belt law, police could not pull a driver over based solely on a seat belt violation. Since the primary belt law was enacted in July 2003, belt usage has climbed each consecutive year, going up 17.4 percentage points from 76.2 percent in 2003 to nearly 94 percent in 2012.

"Through our effective partnerships with law enforcement and advocacy groups across Illinois, we have been able to achieve a record rate of seat belt usage," Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider said. "The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is working diligently toward 100 percent statewide usage and to help drive zero road fatalities to reality."

Additional legislation signed by Governor Quinn last summer required that all passengers buckle up, including those riding in the back seat of vehicles, to help further prevent traffic accident-related injuries or fatalities. Along with successful awareness programs and enforcement efforts, these laws have helped lead to an overall reduction in fatalities on Illinois roads over the last ten years.

"State troopers work with IDOT and other organizations to promote safety awareness and enforce seat belt usage statewide, and we are pleased that more motorists are using their seat belts every year," Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau said. "We also want to remind the public to drive sober and safely as the holiday weekend approaches - remember, don't text and drive and watch for road workers."

For more information on IDOT's Traffic Safety programs, including the Occupant Protection or Click It or Ticket campaigns, please visit www.trafficsafety.illinois.gov.