Instacart Faces Lawsuit Over Shoppers’ Tips
By Staff Reporters, PYMNTS.COM
February 6, 2019
https://www.pymnts.com/gig-economy/2019/instacart-lawsuit-shoppers-deli…
Instacart, the delivery on demand service, is facing a class-action lawsuit over how it handles tips earned by drivers.
Bankrupt Utility PG&E Spent $10 Million On Lobbying Last Year (Even More Than Big Oil!)
PG&E spent almost $10 million on lobbying California officials in 2018, surpassing even the Western States Petroleum Association in lobbying spending in 2018. The nation’s largest utility, PG&E filed for reorganization in federal bankruptcy court under Chapter 11 on January 29.
By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE
February 4, 2019
Why Instacart and Doordash Workers Don't Always Receive The Tips You Give Them
“For a consumer to somehow glean that this tip is in fact just subsidizing what the company would have paid on the back end is a completely deceptive practice,” said one consumer advocate.
By Olivia Solon, NBC NEWS
February 4, 2019
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/why-instacart-doordash-w…
Big Business Sets New Record For Lobbying In State Capitol
Watchdogs alarmed by $360 million that companies spent to guard their interests
By Patrick McGreevy, LOS ANGELES TIMES
February 3, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-cal-record-california-lobbying-…
Once Powerful PG&E Has Few Friends Left in California Capital
State political leaders have no plans to help once-influential utility; ‘The landscape has really shifted’
By Alejandro Lazo, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 30, 2019
SACRAMENTO—In the hours following PG&E Corp.’s filing for bankruptcy protection, leaders here in California’s capital had very little to say.
'Shameful': PG&E is trying to KEEP a $130 million cash bonus program for its employees despite declaring bankruptcy and 'being too poor to pay wildfire victims'
By Lauren Fruen and Jennifer Smith, THE DAILY MAIL UK
January 30, 2019
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6648935/PG-E-trying-130million…
Pacific Gas & Electric, the nation's largest utility company, is trying to keep their $130million bonus program for employees despite declaring bankruptcy.
Consumer Watchdog Says The CPUC Gave PG&E “The Whole Farm”
By Staff Reports, KSRO 1350 AM, Sonoma, CA
January 30, 2019
http://www.ksro.com/2019/01/30/consumer-watchdog-says-the-cpuc-gave-pge…
Click here to listen to the audio segment of this radio broadcast.
PG&E Bankruptcy: Utility Seeks To Pay $130 Million In Bonuses, Void Green Energy Contracts
PG&E asks court to approve payments of $130 million in incentives for thousands of employees
By George Avalos, THE MERCURY NEWS
January 29, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/29/pge-bankruptcy-utility-seeks-to-…
PG&E Wildfire-Linked Bankruptcy Sparks Warnings Of Higher Utility Bills, Harm To Fire Victims
PG&E lists $51.69 billion in debts, while warnings erupt of higher power bills due to bankruptcy case
By George Avalos, THE MERCURY NEWS
January 29, 2019
https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/29/pge-files-for-bankruptcy-facing-…
50 Years After Santa Barabara’s Iconic Oil Spill (We’ve Learned Next To Nothing)
Oil industry and environmental leaders in California both marked the 50th anniversary of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill, but they did it in very different ways.
By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE
January 28, 2019
http://redgreenandblue.org/2019/01/28/50-years-santa-barabaras-iconic-o…
Doctors Say That Board's Probe Of Opioid Deaths A 'Witch Hunt'
By Cheryl Clark, CALIFORNIA HEALTHLINE
January 22, 2019
https://californiahealthline.org/news/death-certificate-project-califor…
The Medical Board of California has launched investigations into doctors who prescribed opioids to patients who, perhaps months or years later, fatally overdosed.
Consumer Confidential: Why Are Glasses So Expensive? The Eyewear Industry Would Prefer Keeping That Blurry
By David Lazarus, LOS ANGELES TIMES
January 22, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-why-are-eyeglass…
It’s a question I get asked frequently, most recently by a colleague who was shocked to find that his new pair of prescription eyeglasses cost about $800.
Why are these things so damn expensive?
Editorial: Lawmakers Here Today, Gone To Maui
By Editorial Board, THE DAILY NEWS OF LOS ANGELES
January 17, 2019
https://www.dailynews.com/2019/01/17/lawmakers-here-today-gone-to-maui/
The following editorial ran in The Long Beach Press-Telegram, Redlands Daily Facts, and The San Gabriel Valley Tribune in addition to The Daily News.
PG&E’s Bankruptcy Could Slow California’s Fight Against Climate Change
By Sammy Roth, LOS ANGELES TIMES
January 15, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pge-bankruptcy-climate-change-20…
Climate change helped fuel the deadly fires that prompted California’s largest power company to announce Monday that it would file for bankruptcy in the face of $30 billion in potential liabilities.
PG&E Bankruptcy Tests Who Will Pay for California Wildfires
By Ivan Penn, Thomas Fuller and Lisa Friedman, THE NEW YORK TIMES
January 14, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/business/energy-environment/pge-bank…
LOS ANGELES — Pacific Gas and Electric said on Monday that it would seek bankruptcy protection as “the only viable option” as the giant California utility faces billions of dollars in liability claims from two years of deadly wildfires.
Hueso And Other Lawmakers Went To Maui With Utilities While Wildfires Burne
By Jeff McDonald, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
January 13, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-legislators-ma…
Sen. Ben Hueso, chairman of the state Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, was one of a dozen California lawmakers to join 60 utility executives and other paid sponsors at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Hawaii last November.
California Bans Insurance Companies Of Charging Drivers Based On Their Gender
By Michael Karkafiris, CARSCOOPS
January 10, 2019
https://www.carscoops.com/2019/01/california-bans-insurance-companies-c…
The California Department of Insurance has come up with new rules, under which the auto insurers are now prohibited from charging drivers based on their gender.
Watchdog Group Demands Faster Disclosure Of Lawmaker Trips
By Staff Reporters, ASSOCIATED PRESS
January 9, 2019
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article224189000.html
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A consumer advocacy group is calling for California lawmakers to immediately disclose their trips to educational events with lobbyists following a report that a dozen legislators were attending an event in Hawaii with utility lobbyists while deadly wildfires raged in California.
Government Shutdown Prompts NHTSA To Pause Car Defect Investigations
By Sean Szymkowski, THE CAR CONNECTION
January 9, 2019
https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1120807_government-shutdown-promp…
As the U.S. government shutdown continues to drag on, the NHTSA said Tuesday that it will not investigate car defects until federal funding is restored.
Feds Won’t Investigate Most Vehicle Defects During Government Shutdown
By Eric D. Lawrence and Todd Spangler, THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
January 9, 2019
https://www.postbulletin.com/news/business/feds-won-t-investigate-most-…
Federal workers must go without pay, national parks are a mess, and now vehicle safety investigations are on hold.
State of California Rules Gender Cannot Influence Car Insurance Premiums
Good news (for some), only variables that can influence your car insurance premiums are age and driving record.
By James Gilboy, THE DRIVE
January 8, 2019
http://www.thedrive.com/news/25832/california-rules-gender-cannot-influ…
The California Department of Insurance announced Thursday that it no longer permits the use of gender as a variable in the calculation of car insurance premiums.
California Blocks Use Of Gender In Setting Insurance Rates
New regulations require rates to be determined only by driving records
By Mark Huffman, CONSUMER AFFAIRS
January 8, 2019
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/california-blocks-use-of-gender-in…
A lot of factors go into setting a consumer’s insurance rate but California officials say rates should mostly rest on the consumer’s driving record, not other things they can’t control.
Consumer Group Applauds New California Insurance Rules
By Ryan Smith, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA
January 7, 2019
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/consumer-gro…
A consumer advocacy group has applauded California’s new rule banning gender discrimination in auto insurance pricing.
Gender Inequality In California Auto Insurance Rates Will No Longer Be Allowed
By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
January 6, 2019
https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Gender-inequality-in-Californi…
Thirty years after California voters told auto insurers to focus on a driver’s safety record in setting rates, the state’s outgoing insurance commissioner has banned the apparently widespread practice of charging different rates for male and female drivers, regardless of their records.
California Car Insurers Can No Longer Charge Drivers More Based on Gender
"Gender and sex have no more place in what we pay for auto insurance than race or ethnicity do."
By CITY NEWS SERVICE, KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles, CA
January 4, 2019
New rules issued by the state Department of Insurance say California auto insurers can no longer charge drivers more based on their gender.
Qualifying A California Ballot Measure To Become A 'Playground Of Billionaires’
By John Wildermuth, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
January 2, 2019
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Qualifying-a-California-ba…
The price of putting an initiative on the ballot is soaring, and California voters have only themselves to blame.
CVS On Hook for Letters Disclosing HIV Status
CVS On Hook for Letters Disclosing HIV Status
By Lisa Klein, COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
December 24, 2018
https://www.courthousenews.com/cvs-on-hook-for-letters-disclosing-hiv-s…
Facebook Facing New Regulatory Scrutiny After Data Sharing Allegations
Facebook Facing New Regulatory Scrutiny After Data Sharing Allegations
By David Jones, MOBILE PAYMENTS TODAY
December 24, 2018
https://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/articles/facebook-facing-new-regula…
Newsom Will Move Assets To Blind Trust
Newsom Will Move Assets To Blind Trust
His stakes in wineries and hotels made him rich. They also raise some potential for ethical conflicts
By Phil Willon, LOS ANGELES TIMES
December 20, 2018
https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-governor-newsom-business-con…
Jerry Brown Wanted To Save The Planet And The California Budget. How Did He Do?
Jerry Brown Wanted To Save The Planet And The California Budget. How Did He Do?
By Adam Ashton, Sam Stanton, Ryan Sabalow and Dale Kasler, SACRAMENTO BEE
December 18, 2018
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article22…
California's Largest Utility Provider's Role In Wildfires Is Under Scrutiny
California's Largest Utility Provider's Role In Wildfires Is Under Scrutiny
By Madeleine Ayer and Scott Glover, CNN WIRE
December 19, 2018
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- VIDEO OF THE DAY: Carolers Regale CA Assemblyman Chris Holden
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK -- VIDEO OF THE DAY: Carolers Regale CA Assemblyman Chris Holden
By Carla Marinucci & Jeremy B. White, POLITICO - CALIFORNIA PLAYBOOK
December 17, 2018
Protestors Claim Victory Following Demonstration at Assemblymember Holden's Holiday Party
Protestors Claim Victory Following Demonstration at Assemblymember Holden's Holiday Party
Holden reportedly agrees to meet with activist groups opposed to support for PG&E following Woolsey Fire
By Eddie Rivera with David Cross, PASADENA NOW
December 17, 2018
http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/protestors-claim-victory-following-demo…
Brown and Zinke Announce Water Plan That Will Decimate Fisheries And The Sacramento Delta
Brown and Zinke Announce Water Plan That Will Decimate Fisheries And The Sacramento Delta
By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE
December 16, 2018
http://redgreenandblue.org/2018/12/16/brown-zinke-announce-water-plan-w…
As Calif. AV Population Doubles, So Do Crashes
As Calif. AV Population Doubles, So Do Crashes
By Pete Bigelow, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
December 10, 2018
http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/MOBILITY/181219970/as-calif.-a…
In the beginning, self-driving vehicles could be spotted only on the streets near Silicon Valley tech companies whose work made them possible. Now they're much more widespread.
Can Humans and Automated Vehicles Co-Exist?
Can Humans and Automated Vehicles Co-Exist?
By Jeff Gilbert, WWJ NEWSRADIO 950 AM Michigan
December 10, 2018
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://wwjnewsradio.radio.com/media/audio-channel/can-humans-and-autom…
With more self-driving test cars on the road, you would expect more crashes.
Op-Ed: California Voters Enjoy 30 Years Of Gift To Themselves
Op-Ed: California Voters Enjoy 30 Years Of Gift To Themselves
By Thomas Elias, THE UNION
December 10, 2018
https://www.theunion.com/opinion/thomas-elias-california-voters-enjoy-3…
As this winter's gift-giving season proceeds, California voters might want to pause a moment and pat themselves on the back for a gift that has lasted 30 years: Proposition 103.
Consumer Watchdog Warns Pelosi to Not Duck Out on California Privacy & Auto Safety
Consumer Watchdog Warns Pelosi to Not Duck Out on California Privacy & Auto Safety
By Bryan Jonston, AUTO CONNECTED CAR NEWS
December 6, 2018
http://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2018/12/consumer-watchdog-warns-pelosi-…
Will California’s New Governor Drop the Hammer on the Fossil-Fuel Industry?
Will California’s New Governor Drop the Hammer on the Fossil-Fuel Industry?
So far, Gavin Newsom has only affirmed his support for a ban on hydrofracturing, although activists are hopeful he will be more aggressive on environmental issues than Jerry Brown.
By Judith Lewis Mernit, CAPITAL AND MAIN
December 5, 2018
