By Hannah Wiley, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
December 4, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…
A ballot initiative to adjust the cap on medical malpractice payouts was cleared for circulation on Tuesday, according to the California Secretary of State’s office.
By Hailey Branson-Potts & Maria L. La Ganga, LOS ANGELES TIMES
December 3, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-02/pge-camp-fire-equip…
For years, Pacific Gas & Electric failed to do climbing inspections of a century-old tower that malfunctioned and sparked last year’s devastating Camp fire, a state investigation has found.
By John P. Mello, Jr., TECH NEWS WORLD
December 3, 2019
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/EU-Digital-Czar-to-Probe-Facebooks-…
The European Union has launched a probe into how Google and Facebook gather, process, use and monetize data for advertising purposes.
By Jeanette Settembre, FOX BUSINESS
December 3, 2019
https://www.foxbusiness.com/money/gloves-for-juul-smokers-being-markete…
Op-Ed by Susan Shelley, THE LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
November 27, 2019
https://www.dailynews.com/2019/11/27/you-cant-save-the-world-if-you-can…
Recycling is garbage.
That’s rapidly becoming the only logical conclusion to draw from a series of failed and failing policies that seem to be throwing your money in the trash.
His departure follows the closing of rePlanet CRV redemption centers throughout the state this summer.
By DeAnne Toto, RECYCLING TODAY
November 25, 2019
https://www.recyclingtoday.com/article/calrecyle-director-scott-smithli…
By Dan Bacher, INDYBAY MEDIA
November 24, 2019
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/11/24/18828400.php
The FracTracker Alliance and Consumer Watchdog unveiled a new website on November 19 to continually map and update the number of oil and gas wells permitted by the Newsom Administration: http://www.NewsomWellWatch.com.
By Adam Beam, ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 22, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article237687549.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The director of the agency that oversees California’s recycling programs said Friday he will resign by the end of the year.
By Vanessa Borge, Good Day LA, KTTV FOX TV-11 Los Angeles, CA
November 21 2019
https://www.foxla.com/news/consumer-watchdog-shares-ways-to-avoid-onlin…
LOS ANGELES - It's the holidays meaning more of us are shopping - specifically shopping online.
By Good Day LA, KTTV FOX TV-11 Los Angeles, CA
November 21, 2019
https://www.foxla.com/news/consumer-watchdog-shares-tips-on-protecting-…
LOS ANGELES - The United Postal Service says they delivered more than 30 million packages a day last holiday season and that means more opportunities for thieves. Consumer Watchdog shared tips on preventing porch pirates from nabbing your packages.
By Keith Laing, THE DETROIT NEWS
November 20, 2019
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2019/11/19/di…
Washington — Distraction caused by a personal cellphone call is the probable cause of a 2018 crash in which an Uber self-driving car struck and killed a pedestrian, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled Tuesday.
By Sophia Bollag, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
November 19, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday announced a crackdown on fracking projects and a moratorium on new oil wells that use high-pressure steam.
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, involves shooting a high-pressure stream of water or another substance into rock to extract oil or gas.
By Phil Willon, LOS ANGELES TIMES
November 19, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-11-19/california-fracking…
SACRAMENTO — In a victory for critics of California’s oil drilling industry, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday stopped the approval of new hydraulic fracturing in the state until the permits for those projects can be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists.
By Chris Mills Rodrigo, Maggie Miller, Chris Mills Rodrigo, THE HILL - HILLICON VALLEY
November 13, 2019
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/overnights/470370-hillicon-valley…
SHAKE IT UP/OFF: Microsoft shook up the debate over privacy rules with its announcement that the company will follow the principles of California's tough online privacy law across the U.S.
By Staff Reporter, AUTO WORLD NEWS
November 4, 2019
https://www.autoworldnews.com/articles/39390/20191104/will-you-press-yo…
When cars were analogue and mechanical, all we had to fear was a face to face hold up. Any connected car is a smart car-like "Swiss Cheese" with holes waiting for a breach. The solution as recommended, by Consumer Watchdog is to slap in a "Kill Switch".
By Dan Bacher, INDYBAY MEDIA
October 31, 2019
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/10/31/18827743.php
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), again in the spotlight of the national and international news media because of its shutoffs of electricity to millions of Californians as fires now rage throughout the state, spent $876,445 on lobbying from January 1 to June 30 of his year.
By Rose Aguilar and Lea Ceasrine, KALW 91.7 FM SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC RADIO
October 31, 2019
https://www.kalw.org/post/how-did-pge-go-wrong-preventing-wildfire-risks
On this edition of Your Call, we’ll discuss the history of PG&E and its role in California’s wildfires.
By David Lazarus, LOS ANGELES TIMES
October 31, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-31/fire-insurance-david-…
Vida Hamadani was hit twice this week by the Getty fire. As a Brentwood resident, she was forced to evacuate from her house and move in with her son.
As an independent insurance broker, she’s been fielding calls from clients asking what’s going to happen to their rates.
By Hannah Wiley and Dale Kasler, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
October 30, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article23…
As California’s largest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, battled bankruptcy and prepared for another round of mass power outages across the state, the company’s executive said Californians should expect to see fire-preventing blackouts for the next 10 years.
By J.D. Morris and Trapper Byrne, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
October 29, 2019
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california-wildfires/article/PG-E-will-cred…
Bowing to pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will provide some form of compensation to people affected by widely criticized mass power outages the utility implemented earlier this month.
Californians consistently pay a dollar to a dollar fifty more for our gasoline and there`s no good reason for it.
By Anne-Marie Green, CBS NEWS
October 28, 2019
ANNE-MARIE GREEN: And California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered an investigation into soaring gas prices in the state. Carter Evans reports.
(Begin VT)
CARTER EVANS: Eye-popping prices at the pump are a harsh reality for Californians.
By Wendy Davis, DIGITAL NEWS DAILY - MEDIAPOST
October 23, 2019
https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/342396/encrypting-domain…
A controversial new technology that encrypts domain name requests would boost online privacy and security, watchdogs say in a new letter to lawmakers.
By Rob Nikolewski, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 23, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-1…
Every California motorist knows that gasoline is expensive in the Golden State. Taxes and fees on the state and federal levels account for more than 80 cents per gallon at the pump.
By Staff Reporters, KCBS TV-2/KCAL TV-9 Los Angeles, CA
October 22, 2019
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/10/22/why-are-california-gas-price…
WEST LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Ever wondered why California’s gas prices were so high compared to the rest of the country?
By John Myers, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 22, 2019
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday asked the state attorney general to investigate whether California's leading oil and gas suppliers are involved in price-fixing or other unfair practices related to high pump prices.
By Pete Bigelow, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
October 21, 2019
https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/cybersecurity-firm-attracts-oe…
There hasn't been a high-profile car hack since researchers commandeered a Jeep Cherokee by remote control four years ago. That doesn't mean the threats have diminished.
Decision announced Monday means company cannot sell policies in California
By Jeff McDonald, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 21, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2019-10-21/sta…
By Dan Bacher, INDY BAY MEDIA
October 20, 2019
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2019/10/20/18827485.php
The appointments of Shabazian and Ntuk come in the wake of increased opposition by environmental justice, conservation and public interest groups to the expansion of onshore and offshore drilling in California under Governors Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom.
Expert: Per-gallon price to drop back below $4 by Halloween
By Rob Nikolewski, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 17, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-1…
Op-Ed Column by Thomas Elias, CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD
October 14, 2019
https://www.chicoer.com/2019/10/14/gasoline-gouging-9-0-same-as-earlier…
For the ninth time in the last five years, gasoline prices spiked this fall in California, with per-gallon pump charges briefly leaping above $5.15 at many stations around the state.
By Staff Writers, ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 12, 2019
http://www.startribune.com/california-governor-signs-bill-limiting-oil-…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday signed a law intended to counter Trump administration plans to increase oil and gas production on protected public land.
By Staff Writers, SCRIPPS NATIONAL
October 11, 2019
https://www.10news.com/news/national/prudential-to-start-charging-same-…
A change is coming to some people’s life and health insurance policies that will make them more expensive.
Prudential recently announced it will consider e-cigarette users the same as traditional smokers.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from company named in complaint
By Jeff McDonald, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
October 4, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2019-10-04/jud…
By Staff Writers, INSURANCE JOURNAL
October 2, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/10/02/541727.htm
Mercury Insurance Co. has agreed to pay more than $41 million to end a two-decade long battle with the California Department of Insurance battle over the Los Angeles-based carrier improperly tacking fees onto auto insurance policies and over false advertising claims.
By Dan Walters, THE MERCURY NEWS
A dad who says his infant’s lungs were ‘blown up’ by malpractice and Consumer Watchdog propose nullifying it
October 2, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/10/02/walters-new-battle-over-250k-cap…
California’s longest-running single-issue political battle, over limits on damages in medical malpractice lawsuits, is about to heat up again.
By Rob Nikolewski, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
September 30, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2019-0…
First, it was a missile attack in Saudi Arabia. Now, it’s another spate of refinery closures. Regardless of the reasons, San Diego motorists are being greeted by an unwelcome sight when they pull into the service station: The return of $4-a-gallon gasoline.
Consumer Watchdog filed a new ballot measure Thursday to make a frontal assault on the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act, known as MICRA, a 1975 law capping non-economic medical negligence damages at $250,000,
By Malcolm Maclachlan, THE DAILY JOURNAL OF LOS ANGELES
September 27, 2019
