General Motors Tracked The Listening Habits Of Drivers For Three Months
Monetizing the consumer at every opportunity
By Shawn Knight, TECH SPOT
October 18, 2018
https://www.techspot.com/news/76997-general-motors-tracked-listening-ha…
CFA: Insurance Reform Law Saved California Drivers Billions Of Dollars
By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA
October 18, 2018
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/cfa-insuranc…
Consumer Watchdog Calls For Investigation Into PG&E, Other Utilities Over Power Shutdowns
By Staff Reporters, KABC TV-7 Los Angeles, CA
October 17, 2018
Click here to watch the video of this TV news segment: https://abc7.com/business/consumer-watchdog-calls-for-investigation-int…
GM’s Data Mining Is Just The beginning Of The In-Car Advertising Blitz
The next data minefield is your car
By Andrew J. Hawkins, THE VERGE
October 17, 2018
https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/17/17990052/gm-radio-listen-tracking-h…
Privacy Regulation Could Be a Test for States’ Rights
By Lindsey O'Donnell, THREAT POST
October 16, 2018
https://threatpost.com/privacy-regulation-could-be-a-test-for-states-ri…
As more states take cybersecurity and privacy issues into their own hands, experts worry that big tech will push for preemption.
Fire Season Becomes Blackout Time in California
By Hudson Sangree, RTO.COM
October 16, 2018
https://www.rtoinsider.com/cpuc-wildfires-blackout-inverse-condemnation…
All three of California’s big investor-owned utilities this week shut down power or warned customers they might need to because of dry, windy conditions that could lead to wildfires, prompting one consumer group to call for a probe into the practice.
Utilities Cut Power to Prevent Wildfires. But Who Wins When the Lights Go Out?
By Ivan Penn, THE NEW YORK TIMES
October 15, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/business/energy-environment/californ…
Is PG&E Move To Turn Off Power To Reduce The Risk Of Wildfire Justified?
By Sharon McNary, AIR TALK - KPCC 89.3 FM Pasadena, CA
October 15, 2018
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2018/10/15/63790/is-pg-e-move-to-…
Hackers Stole Millions Of Facebook Users’ Personal Data — Here’s Why You Should Be Worried
By Troy Wolverton, BUSINESS INSIDER
October 12, 2018
https://www.businessinsider.com/bank-accounts-could-be-compromised-becu…
Consumer Watchdog On Google+ Debacle: ‘Google Cannot Be Trusted’
By Dominik Bosnjak, ANDROID HEADLINES
October 11, 2018
https://www.androidheadlines.com/2018/10/consumer-watchdog-on-google-br…
Consumer Advocates Suggest Hunt To Replace DWP Watchdog Is A 'Sham Process'
By Emily Alpert Reyes, LOS ANGELES TIMES
October 10, 2018
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ratepayer-advocate-20181010…
When Los Angeles started hunting for a “ratepayer advocate” to scrutinize the Department of Water and Power, Mike Gatto said he was encouraged by several people at City Hall to apply.
Insurance Industry Needs To Dump Fossil Fuels, Says Watchdog Group
By Ryan Smith, INSURANCE BUSINESS
October 10, 2018
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/environmental/insurance-in…
Google+ Privacy Flaw: What Will Lawmakers And Regulators Do?
By Levi Sumagaysay, BAY AREA NEWSGROUP
October 9, 2018
https://www.siliconvalley.com/2018/10/09/google-privacy-flaw-what-will-…
Aegon Unit Agrees To $195m Settlement Over Universal Life Insurance
By Staff Writers, VERDICT UK
October 5, 2018
https://www.verdict.co.uk/life-insurance-international/news/aegon-settl…
Transamerica, the US unit of Dutch insurer Aegon, has agreed to pay $195m to resolve charges of raising monthly deduction rates on certain universal life policies.
Latest Federal Self-Driving Car Guidelines Stick With Self-Policing Approach
By Eric D. Lawrence, THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
October 4, 2018
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2018/10/04/self-driving-robot-ca…
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Use Mandatory for CA Docs
A new law requires all California doctors to query the state’s prescription drug monitoring program before prescribing opioids.
By Kate Monica, EHR INTELLIGENCE
October 4, 2018
https://ehrintelligence.com/news/prescription-drug-monitoring-program-u…
Transamerica Pays $195 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Universal Life Insurance
Suit alleged the insurer improperly increased monthly costs to avoid guaranteed monthly interest payments
By Ryan W. Neal, INVESTMENT NEWS
October 4, 2018
https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20181004/FREE/181009958/transame…
Op-Ed: Insurance For Fossil-Fuel Projects But Not Homeowners
Op-Ed Commentary by Jamie Court & Michael Mattoch, Consumer Watchdog for SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
October 4, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Insurance-for-fos…
What if hospitals sold crack, doctors offered cigarettes in their waiting rooms, and firefighters gave out flamethrowers?
Their Children Were Killed By An Opioid User. They Changed The Entire System
After Carmen and Bob Pack discovered the driver who hit their children had opioid pill prescriptions from six doctors, they sought to fix California’s drug-monitoring database
By Chris McGreal, THE GUARDIAN UK
October 2, 2018
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/02/california-opioid-syste…
Georgia Dental Board Inaction Could Leave Patients At Risk
Only twice in the past five years has the board yanked the license of a dentist because of poor care
By Yamil Berard, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION
September 20, 2018
https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional/dental-board-inaction-could-le…
‘It’s Literally Drill, Baby, Drill’: Did Jerry Brown’s Climate Crusade Give Big Oil A Pass?
By Alexei Koseff, CAPITOL ALERT - SACRAMENTO BEE
September 13, 2018
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article21…
High-Tech Ferry Backdrop For 16 California Clean Energy Laws
By Staff Reporters, ASSOCIATED PRESS
September 13, 2018
https://www.ksl.com/article/46390761/high-tech-ferry-backdrop-for-16-ca…
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California Gov. Jerry Brown used a high-tech battery-operated San Francisco Bay sightseeing ferry as the backdrop for approving 16 new laws Thursday aimed at easing global warming.
Jerry Brown May Not Be The Ultimate Climate Crusader, But He's A Lot Closer Than Most Politicians
By George Skelton, CAPITOL JOURNAL - LOS ANGELES TIMES
September 13, 2018
http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-skelton-jerry-brown-climate-…
Campaign Calls On US Insurance Industry To Ditch Fossil Fuels
By Ryan Smith, INSURANCE BUSINESS
September 13, 2018
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/environmental/campaign-cal…
A new campaign is calling on the US insurance industry to ditch fossil fuels, calling the industry a major contributor to climate change.
California Gov. Jerry Brown A 'Hypocrite' When It Comes To Oil Drilling, Critics Say
By William Lajeunesse, FOX NEWS
September 12, 2018
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/09/12/california-gov-jerry-brown-h…
L.A. Judge Tosses Aetna Suit Against Plaintiffs' Firms
By Alison Frankel, REUTERS
September 10, 2018
https://uk.reuters.com/article/legal-us-otc-aetna/la-judge-tosses-aetna…
Few Automakers Reported On Self-Driving Car Safety To White House
By Brian Leon, THE CAR CONNECTION
September 10, 2018
https://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1118682_few-automakers-reported-o…
Brown Blasted for Turning Blind Eye to Neighborhood Oil Wells
By Nathan Solis, COURTHOUSE NEWS
September 10, 2018
https://www.courthousenews.com/brown-blasted-for-turning-blind-eye-to-n…
Few Carmakers Submit Self-Driving Car Safety Reports
By Keith Laing, THE DETROIT NEWS
September 10, 2018
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2018/09/10/fe…
Angry Activists Plan To Crash Jerry Brown’s SF Climate Summit
By Matier & Ross, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
September 9, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Angry-activists…
California Senate Denies Vote On Bill To Cede California Electricity Grid To Trump
By Dan Bacher, INDYBAY
September 2, 2018
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2018/09/02/18817263.php
“The Senate leadership was wise to not subject California to another deregulation scheme that would have empowered the Trump administration to stick California with more coal and fracked gas," said Adam Scow, California Director of Food & Water Watch
A Future Of Driverless Vehicles Is Coming. Will SLO Be Ready?
By Nick Wilson, SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE
September 1, 2018
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article216737550.html
The future of driverless cars is coming and, perhaps, faster than some might think: Robot drivers are expected to share public roads within a few years, and mainstream use is potentially 15 to 20 years away, according to industry experts.
Bills To Stop New Federal Offshore Drilling Approved, But Offshore Drilling Expands In CA
By Dan Bacher, INDYBAY
August 31, 2018
Yahoo Enters The Privacy Fray Once Again
The new class action suit centers on emails sent from Yahoo Mail to Gmail users
By Gary Guthrie, CONSUMER AFFAIRS
August 31, 2018
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/yahoo-enters-the-privacy-fray-once…
Yahoo’s email woes continue to grow, and this time it involves Google.
Utility Union Benefits From California Wildfire Legislation
By Jonathan J. Cooper, ASSOCIATED PRESS
August 31, 2018
https://apnews.com/0a076ef809f44e74b683d37cb0d54560
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Utility workers would get protections for their jobs, salaries, benefits and pensions as part of a measure allowing California power companies to raise electric bills to cover the cost of lawsuits from last year's deadly wildfires
Trump Donor Buys California Power Plant, Asks Feds To Change Energy Market
By David R. Baker, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 29, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Trump-donor-buys-Californi…
Late last year, a company tied to one of President Trump’s campaign donors took possession of a bankrupt power plant in Kern County.
Deceptive Pricing: Unlawful Trickery or Skillful Selling?
By Andrew Lustigman and Morgan Spina, NEW YORK LAW JOURNAL
August 24, 2018
https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2018/08/24/deceptive-pricing-unla…
Former Head of California Nurses Association Joins Consumer Watchdog Board
By Paul Demko, POLITICO Pulse
August 22, 2018
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-pulse/2018/08/22/schumer-…
Trump’s Coal Plan To Have Little Direct Effect on California
By David R. Baker, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 21, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Trump-s-coal-plan-to-have-…
President Trump’s plan to roll back one of his predecessor’s key climate change programs, governing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, will win few fans in Sacramento.
California Wants to Unite the Western States Under One Power Grid
By Mark Chediak, BLOOMBERG
August 21, 2018
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-21/enron-s-ghost-haunts…
California is ready to remake the U.S. West -- or at least its power grid.
Woman Plans California Supreme Court Appeal Over Injuries in Snowboarding Accident
Kathleen Willhide-Michiulis says she has struggled to recover from the trauma of the incident in 2011
By Eric Leonard, KNBC TV-4 Los Angeles, CA
August 21, 2018
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/Woman-Plans-California-Sup…
Political Notebook: RoseAnn DeMoro Joins Forces With Consumer Watchdog
By Joe Garofoli, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 20, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Political-Notebook-RoseAnn…
Most of the 21,000 Oil Wells Approved Under Gov. Brown Are In Low-Income Areas, Communities of Color
By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOS
August 18, 2018
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/8/18/1789209/-Most-of-the-21-000-…
PG&E Sponsors TV Wildfire Commercials — Though You Wouldn’t Know By Watching Them
By Hannah Norman, SAN FRANCISCO BUSINESS TIMES
August 16, 2018
https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2018/08/16/pge-sponsoring…
STRANGER THINGS - Consumer Watchdog Busts Dodd
By Bryan Anderson, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
August 16, 2018
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article21…
Welcome to California, Home of the Never-Ending Fires, Rising Temperatures and Disappearing Coasts
Why California’s war on climate change may not be enough to save a world on fire
By Alastair Bland, SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW
August 16, 2018
https://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/welcome-to-california-home-of/con…
Capitol Debate On Utilities’ Fire Liability Sparks A Lobbying Frenzy
By Matier & Ross, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 15, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Capitol-debate-…
TV’s New Wildfire Commercials Quietly Brought To You By PG&E
By David R. Baker, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
August 14, 2018
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Those-new-wildfire-TV-ads-…
California’s electric utilities have taken their fight to change wildfire liability rules to the television screen, backing ads throughout the state.
California Today: A Move to Mandate 100% Carbon-Free Electricity
By Ivan Penn and Inyoung Kang, THE NEW YORK TIMES - CALIFORNIA TODAY BLOG
August 14, 2018
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/us/california-today-sb100-clean-ener…
This Silicon Valley Car Tech Firm Is Bringing Secret Weapon To Sacramento Streets
By Tony Bijzak, SACRAMENTO BEE
August 13, 2018
https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/transportation/back-seat-driver/artic…
A Silicon Valley tech company recently posted a video front and center on its website that may startle some Sacramentans.
It shows a sleek black car driving across the Tower Bridge ... with no one in it.
