Consumer Watchdog

Santa Maria Times – Despite lame duck status, Newsom could take a final shot at utilities’ liability for wildfires | Dan Walters

Santa Maria Times https://santamariatimes.com/news/calmatters/commentary/dan-walters/despite-lame-duck-status-newsom-could-take-a-final-shot-at-utilities-liability-for-wildfires/article_990dde58-e3e8-4095-a58e-ea26eb0e91f6.html When the California Legislature adjourned for the year nearly two months ago, it left a big issue on…

Voice of OC – Santana: OC State Legislator’s Golf Fundraiser Triggers Questions About Utility Influence Peddling

By Norberto Santana Jr., VOICE OF OC https://voiceofoc.org/2026/10/oc-state-legislators-golf-fundraiser-triggers-questions-about-utility-influence-peddling/ Irvine Democratic State Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris – who is up for re-election next week…

Imperial Valley Weekly – Despite lame duck status, Newsom could take a final shot at utilities’ liability for wildfires

By Dan Walters, IMPERIAL VALLEY WEEKLY https://www.imperialvalleyweekly.com/calmatters/despite-lame-duck-status-newsom-could-take-a-final-shot-at-utilities-liability-for-wildfires/article_bfbc361c-379b-5f74-8a68-8c8bac9012fd.html When the California Legislature adjourned for the year nearly two months ago, it left a…

KERO 23 ABC: ‘She was the life of the house’: Demi Dominguez’s mother remembers her daughter after wrongful-death verdict

By Lindsey Belsky, KERO 23 ABC NEWS BAKERSFIELD https://www.turnto23.com/news/in-your-neighborhood/bakersfield/she-was-the-life-of-the-house-demi-dominguezs-mother-remembers-her-daughter-after-wrongful-death-verdict BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — For years, Demi Dominguez’s name has been connected to…

Investors Hangout – PG&E Halts Service; Groups Demand Regulatory Action

By Dylan Bailey, INVESTORS HANGOUT https://investorshangout.com/pge-halts-service-groups-demand-regulatory-action-538731-/ It’s rare that you hear a utility company flat-out say it can’t afford to keep the…

CalMatters – Who’s spending money on the California insurance commissioner race

By Levi Sumagaysay, Jeremia Kimelman, CALMATTERS https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/insurance-commissioner-campaign-funding/ Both Democratic candidates for insurance commissioner have promised not to take campaign donations from the…

Insurance News Net – Mendocino County FAIR Plan policyholders face statewide 29% average rate hike

By Roger Coryell, INSURANCE NEWS NET https://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/mendocino-county-fair-plan-policyholders-face-statewide-29-average-rate-hike MENDOCINO CO., 10/23/26 — If your home is insured through the California FAIR Plan, your…

Bakersfield Californian – Local OB/GYN ordered to pay $9.25M in death of mother, infant

By JOHN COX, The Bakersfield Californian https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/local-ob-gyn-ordered-pay-035900654.html A Bakersfield obstetrician-gynecologist was ordered to pay two local families a total of $9.25 million…

Action News Now – Is PG&E pressuring California with a utility bailout scheme?

By Robert Sheridan, ACTION NEWS NOW https://www.actionnewsnow.com/news/top-stories/is-pg-e-pressuring-california-with-a-utility-bailout-scheme/article_ab1c7589-21ae-4e80-bc89-6126094eedd8.html OAKLAND, Calif. — PG&E’s Chief Executive Officer Patti Poppe told investors during an earnings call that…

Politico – The cracks are showing in California’s Big Oil block

By NOAH BAUSTIN and ALEX NIEVES, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/22/california-big-oil-block-01132325 SACRAMENTO, California — Big Oil wields immense power in California politics, and has been…

NBC Bay Area – PG&E warns 25,000 would-be customers of potential six-month delays in getting electricity

By Jaxon Van Derbeken, NBC BAY AREA https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/pge-electricity-service-delays/4162462/ Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is warning about 25,000 prospective customers that they could…

KERO-BFL (ABC): Jury Awards $9.5M In Demi Dominguez Wrongful Death Case

Sacramento Bee – After utility wildfire fight, PG&E may delay renewable projects up to a year

By Stephen Hobbs, Andrew Graham, Sacramento Bee https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article317642637.html Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it has sent letters to customers notifying them…

KERO 23 ABC News Bakersfield – Wrongful death trial begins 7 years after Demi Dominguez’s death

By Lindsey Belsky, KERO 23 ABC NEWS BAKERSFIELD https://www.turnto23.com/news/in-your-neighborhood/bakersfield/wrongful-death-trial-begins-7-years-after-demi-dominguezs-death BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — Seven years after the deaths of Demi Dominguez and…

KGET – High-profile maternal death civil case set to begin trial this week

By Connor Dore, KGET https://www.kget.com/news/local-news/high-profile-maternal-death-civil-case-set-to-begin-trial-this-week/ BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It’s been seven years since a Bakersfield mother and her newborn baby died…

The Bakersfield Californian – Community Voices: Record profits, higher premiums and their hand out in Sacramento: The insurance

By CHRIS HAGAN, THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN https://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community-voices/community-voices-record-profits-higher-premiums-and-their-hand-out-in-sacramento-the-insurance-crisis/article_31685694-79fb-480c-beee-d607002ad684.html For years, I was part of the machine. I was one of the lawyers that…

SMDP – California Home Insurance Law Protects Homeowners From Drops

By Maaz Alin, SMDP https://www.smdp.com/new-law-aims-to-protect-californians-from-losing-home-insurance-coverage/ A bill by state Sen. Ben Allen, D-Pacific Palisades, has been signed into law to help more…

Law 360 – Alito Explains Recusal But Says It Shouldn’t Become Practice

By Katie Buehler, LAW360 U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said this week he “reluctantly” recused himself from a dispute that could…