Consumer Watchdog

KMPH-FRES (FOX) – Fresno, CA: State Farm Rate Increase Request

New York Times – Power Lines Suspected In Eaton Fire

By Ivan Penn, THE NEW YORK TIMES Southern California Edison said video evidence had led it to look more broadly at whether…

The Center Square – Newsom weakens financial disclosure requirements for LA officials as relief pours in

By Kenneth Schrupp, THE CENTER SQUARE https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/article_3d184398-e34a-11ef-8404-af4bae061b9b.html (The Center Square) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order for Los Angeles fire “relief”…

Daily Kos – New 2024 CA Oil Drilling Permits Drop to 73, But Oil Regulators Drop Ball on Bonding

By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOS https://www.dailykos.com/story/2025/2/5/2301645/-New-2024-CA-Oil-Drilling-Permits-Drop-to-73-But-Oil-Regulators-Drop-Ball-on-Bonding Los Angeles, CA—Approvals for new oil well drilling permits in California dwindled to 73 in 2024…

Cal Matters – State Farm asks for more insurance rate increases after LA fires

By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS State Farm, the largest insurer for California homeowners, this week asked the state to approve “emergency” rate increases…

Los Angeles Times – State Farm seeks emergency rate increase averaging 22% after L.A. fires

By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-02-03/state-farm-californias-largest-homeowners-insurer-asked-monday-for-an-emergency-22-rate-increase State Farm General, California’s largest home insurer, asked state officials for an emergency rate hike…

Politico – By The Numbers

By Blanca Begert, POLITICO https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/02/04/why-tesla-needs-a-trump-lifeline-00202519?nname=california-climate&nid=00000189-315c-d8dd-a1ed-797dc9f10000&nrid=9df49bfd-52ce-419e-b9c2-dba48e0990e3 OIL COUNT: The U.S. may have had a record high year (opens in new tab) for oil drilling, but in…

Mercury News – State Farm seeks 22% rate hike for California homeowners to cover Los Angeles wildfire losses

By Ethan Varian, MERCURY NEWS State Farm, the largest insurance company in California, has for its customers and the broader insurance market…

The San Francisco Chronicle – State Farm warns of ‘dire’ financial situation in California, asks for ‘emergency’ rate hike

By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/state-farm-insurance-financial-20137020.php State Farm General, already facing financial peril before the Los Angeles wildfires, has asked…

KFI AM – Los Angeles, CA: Be Careful If You Are Somebody Who’s A Homeowner Covered By State Farm

By Staff Reporters, KFI-AM – Los Angeles, CA Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

The Los Angeles Times – State senator retains key role over fire insurance laws despite cannabis corruption probe

By Anabel Sosa, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-01-30/insurance-committee-chair-corruption-probe State Sen. Susan Rubio, a Democrat from Baldwin Park, was reappointed last week as chair…

San Francisco Business Times – Fire insurance is increasingly a problem for San Francisco homebuyers

By Ted Andersen, SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS TIMES https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2025/01/23/real-estate-fire-insurance-los-angeles-wildfires.html The bulk of San Francisco homes may not be located in forested areas, but when…

New York Port – LA Mayor Karen Bass’ office hit with scandals over hush money, bribes and accusations of ‘legalized corruption’

By Isabel Vincent, NEW YORK POST https://nypost.com/2025/01/17/us-news/la-mayor-karen-bass-office-hit-with-accusations-of-legalized-corruption Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass got into office promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and promising…

CNN – New insurance rules mean homeowners throughout California are likely to pay more after fires

By Chris Isidore, CNN https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/17/business/california-fire-cost-insurance-premium-hike/index.html New York (CNN) – A recent rule change could cause insurance premiums to spike for homeowners across…

San Francisco Chronicle – State Farm’s finances were a worry even before L.A. fires. Here’s what we know about its ability to pay claims going forward

By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/state-farm-insurance-fire-20034384.php Months before the Los Angeles wildfires (opens in new tab) sparked, State Farm’s California arm was already in…

San Diego Union Tribune – Home insurance was already hard to get. Then came L.A.’s fires. Here’s what San Diegans need to know.

By Lori Weisberg & Kristen Taketa, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE David and Peggy Blue were dumbfounded when they were notified last month that…

Bloomberg – LA Fires Test Bond Market Used to Shaking Off Disasters

By Maxwell Adler, Mark Chediak, and Amanda Albright, BLOOMBERG https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2025/01/16/la-fires-test-bond-market-used-to-shaking-off-disasters (Bloomberg) — There’s a truism in municipal debt: Bonds rarely move on natural disasters. That long-tested…

Ohio Capital Journal – California fires show states’ ‘last resort’ insurance plans could be overwhelmed

Homeowners everywhere could get stuck with the bill when disaster strikes, experts fear. By Alex Brown, OHIO CAPITAL JOURNAL In the months…