Consumer Watchdog

'I Can't Afford This' | Variable Rate Electricity Customers In Disbelief At Massive Power Bills After Winter Storm

“I was saving money with (the) variable rate, but after this, in case this happens again in the future, I'm sticking with the fixed rate.”

By Anastasiya Bolton, KHOU TV-11 Houston, TX

February 23, 2021

https://www.khou.com/article/news/deep-dive-texas/variable-rate-electri…

This Year’s Winter Storm Could Become The Costliest Weather Event In Texas History

By Kyle Arnold, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

February 19, 2021

https://www.bakersfield.com/ap/national/this-year-s-winter-storm-could-…

DALLAS — The deep freeze and snowfall that paralyzed Texas this week could be the costliest weather event in state history as home and auto claims start to pour in, insurance industry officials warn.

Marchers Call For Systemic Reform After Young Black Father-To-Be Dies Following Some 8 Hours In Manteca ER

By Scott Linesburgh, THE STOCKTON RECORD

February 13, 2021

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/local/2021/02/13/this-shouldnt-hav…

MANTECA – Sharon Washington-Barnes led a group of more than 40 people on a 1.5-mile march through southwest Manteca, visiting each of the medical facilities they felt failed her late brother, Shawn Washington II.

‘We Will Not Rest’: March For Justice As Alleged Medical Negligence Case In Manteca Continues

By Laura S. Diaz, THE STOCKTON RECORD

February 12, 2021

https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/local/2021/02/12/manteca-march-see…

MANTECA — Shawn Washington III was coughing up blood and having difficulty breathing when he sought help at the Kaiser Permanente emergency room in Manteca at about 1 a.m. on April 26, 2019. Less than 7½ hours later, he was pronounced dead.

Earthworks Report Reveals California Fails To Safely Manage Toxic Oil And Gas Waste (That’s Also Radioactive)

A new report released by Earthworks, along with allies VISION California and Center for Biological Diversity, reveals that California, often portrayed by the state’s politicians and national media as the nation’s “green” leader, is actually one of the worst states in the U.S. when it comes to regulating the oil and gas industry’s waste.

By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE

January 28, 2021

Elected Watchdogs in Scandal-Plagued Cities Show How SF Might Avert Future Corruption

By Max Pringle, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC PRESS

January 13, 2021

https://www.sfpublicpress.org/elected-watchdogs-in-scandal-plagued-citi…

This article is part of a project examining ways to use the ballot to hold local government accountable. It was supported by the Solutions Journalism Network’s Renewing Democracy program.

HIV Patients CVS Lawsuit Reinstated; Suit That Claims AIDS Patients Lost Medical Information, Guidance May Proceed, Court Rules

By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

December 10, 2020

https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Suit-that-claims-AIDS-patients…

HIV/AIDS patients who said they lost access to potentially vital medical information when their health plans started requiring them to obtain their medications from CVS pharmacies can sue for discrimination, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

CVS Caremark, Others Must Face HIV Patients' Claims Over Pharmacy Program

By Brendan Pierson, REUTERS LEGAL

December 9, 2020

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court has revived a proposed class action by California HIV/AIDS patients alleging that pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark discriminated against them by requiring them to use its own specialty pharmacy in order to benefit from in-network rates through their employer-sponsored health plans.

California Oil Regulators Issued Hundreds Of Improper Permits, Audit Finds

By Janet Wilson, PALM SPRINGS DESERT SUN

November 26, 2020

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/11/26/audit-calge…

California oil regulators ignored their own regulations and issued improper permits for hundreds of new wells last year, according to an audit by the state Department of Finance that was finalized this week.

Newsom's French Laundry Dinner Shows How Lobbyists Get Access To Power In Sacramento

By Alexei Koseff, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

November 23, 2020

https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Newsom-s-French-Laundry-di…

SACRAMENTO - When he dined at the French Laundry in Yountville this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom enjoyed not only fine cuisine at a three-star Michelin restaurant, but also the company of several influential figures with regular business before his administration.

ONE RULE FOR US - Fury As California Lawmakers Ignore Warning To Fly To Hawaii For Covid Conference After Newsom Broke Rules For Dinner

By Magda Ibrahim , THE SUN UK

November 19, 2020

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/13239989/fury-california-lawmakers-hawaii…

EIGHT California lawmakers are facing a furious backlash after flying to Hawaii for a conference despite health officials warning against out-of-state travel amid a spike in coronavirus cases.

Connected Cars Including Tesla Hackable Consumer Watchdog Reports

By Lynn Walford, AUTO CONNECTED CAR NEWS

November 15, 2020

https://www.autoconnectedcar.com/2020/11/connected-cars-including-tesla…

The nonprofit, nonpartisan Consumer  Watchdog released a video showing how a box it built with the help of technologists could hack into the wireless connection of a Tesla and take over the screen with a “This Tesla’s Been Hacked” message.

Expansion Of Landmark California Data Privacy Law Leading

By Jocelyn Gecker, ASSOCIATED PRESS

November 4, 2020

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/03/expansion-of-landmark-california…

SAN FRANCISCO — Two years ago, California became the first state to pass a sweeping digital privacy law seen as the strongest of its kind in the United States. Early returns Tuesday showed a measure to refine and expand the law leading with 57% of more than 7 million votes counted.

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