In The News
Los Angeles Times – State regulators launch inquiry into State Farm’s handling of fire claims
By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-06-12/state-regulators-launch-inquiry-into-state-farms-handling-of-fire-claims-la-widlfires
State Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara announced Thursday that his department is launching a formal inquiry into how State Farm General, California’s largest home insurer, is handling thousands of claims filed by victims of the...
ABC 7: Silicon Valley democrat pushes controversial energy bill, refuses questions about $100K+ advisor gig
https://youtu.be/lAQhxK2LVno
By Stephanie Sierra, ABC7
https://abc7news.com/post/senate-bill-540-ca-state-senator-josh-becker-refuses-answer-questions-energy-donations-100k-advisor-gig/16718061
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- As California faces worsening climate disasters, Silicon Valley Democrats are pushing a bill that could give control of the state's energy markets to the Trump administration.
But the controversy over the legislation is...
New York Times – As Energy Costs Surge, Eastern Governors Blame a Grid Manager
By Ivan Penn, NEW YORK TIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/business/energy-environment/
For decades, a little-known nonprofit organization has played a central role in keeping the lights on for 65 million people in the Eastern United States.
Even some governors and lawmakers acknowledge that they were...
The Mercury News – California Senate greenlights energy reform bills as Democrats pursue “affordability”
By Grant Stringer, MERCURY NEWS
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/06/california-senate-energy-reform-bills-democrats-affordability/?clearUserState=true
After falling short last year, lawmakers in the state Senate are advancing bills intended to give customers relief from rising electricity bills and rein in investor-owned utilities like PG&E, which is raking in record...
Daily Kos – CA Senate Votes for Regional Electricity Deregulation Bill Despite Concerns About Trump
By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOS
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/6/7/2326553/-CA-Senate-Votes-for-Regional-Electricity-Deregulation-Bill-Despite-Concerns-About-Trump
You know when a MAGA Republican Senator calls a piece of controversial energy legislation a “Big Beautiful Bill” that it isn’t going to serve the residents of the state of California.
But that’s what Republican Senator Tony Strickland called...
ABC10: California bill aims to help struggling doctors, but critics warn of patient safety risks
https://youtu.be/4poQGlt0t1Q
By Gurajpal Sangha, ABC10
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/california-bill-aims-to-help-struggling-doctors/103-edabe99f-f523-4401-a0c3-b334ef119685
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are weighing a bill that would allow doctors to seek confidential treatment for substance use or mental health issues before they put patients at risk. It's a proposal supporters call compassionate, but...
East Bay Times – Elias: Blame oil industry, not government, for California’s high gas prices
Chevron, state's largest oil refiner, directly linked to major client of author who wrote study predicting rise to $8 a gallon
By THOMAS D. ELIAS, EAST BAY TIMES
https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2025/06/06/elias-blame-oil-industry-not-government-for-californias-high-gas-prices/
Academics have known for many years the potential for conflicts of interest when...
Mercury News – Bill would create program for doctors with substance use, other disorders
Critics worry mistakes of the past are being repeated, and patients could be at risk
By Harriet Blair Rowan, MERCURY NEWS
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/05/program-doctors-substance-use-disorders/
“Imagine if it was your mother, father, brother, sister, daughter, son or grandchild: would you want them to be operated...
San Francisco Standard – We’re not just watching prices – prices are watching us
By Justin Kloczko, SAN FRANCISCO STANDARD
https://sfstandard.com/opinion/2025/05/27/were-not-watching-prices-prices-are-watching-us
You’re at home, scrolling online to find a nearby store to buy a TV. You find one, drive to the store and park, then pull up the same TV on your phone.
The price jumps...
The San Diego Union-Tribune – Will California’s high gas prices go even higher?
By Rob Nikolewski, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/26/will-californias-high-gas-prices-go-even-higher/
For decades, gasoline in California has been more expensive than in other parts of the country, but there are predictions that already high prices at the pump may climb even higher in...
San Francisco Chronicle – ‘Buckle up, it’s coming’: California insurers are likely to join State Farm in raising rates
By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/home-insurance-rates-20335120.php#
State Farm’s rates for homeowners are set to rise 17% starting next month, and potentially even more in 2026.
Are other insurers going to raise rates too? The short answer is almost certainly yes...
Los Angeles Daily News – State Farm seeks 30% overall hike for California home insurance policies
The company is asking for an additional 11% on top of a 17% rate increase after the Los Angeles fires
By Ethan Varian, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
https://www.dailynews.com/2025/05/21/state-farm-insurance-california-rate-hike/
A week after winning emergency approval to raise Californians’ home insurance premiums, State...
San Francisco Chronicle – State Farm eyes higher rate after emergency hike
By Megan Fan Munce, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/state-farm-insurance-rates-20335755.php
A week after securing approval to raise home insurance rates by an average of 17%, State Farm General revealed plans to ask regulators for an additional 11% increase, as well as considerably...
Enterprise Record – Ethical issue dogs ‘$8 per gallon’ gasoline study | California Focus
By Thomas Elias, ENTERPRISE RECORD
https://www.chicoer.com/2025/05/21/ethical-issue-dogs-8-per-gallon-gasoline-study-california-focus/
Academics have known for many years the potential for conflicts of interest when they conduct studies or write reports on products or companies for which they have consulted. That’s why they almost always disclose...
KGO-SF (ABC) – San Francisco, CA: State Farm Proposes More Insurance Rate Hikes
State Farm will raise insurance premiums by 17% for California homeowners. If this latest request is granted, the company could push that figure as high as 30% by next year.
KCBS-AM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: State Farm Requesting An Additional 10% Rate Increase
By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA
Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Part 2
New York Times – The Home Insurance Crisis Is Getting Even More Expensive
By David Gelles, NEW YORK TIMES
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/15/climate/climate-change-home-insurance-costs.html#:~:text=Overall%2C%20American%20homeowners%20saw%20their,and%20write%20fewer%20insurance%20policies.
In California, a home insurance rate increase by State Farm is yet another sign of growing crisis driven by climate change.
Just months after fires devastated parts of Los Angeles, one of the leading...
KCBS-AM (Radio) – San Francisco, CA: Judge & Ricardo Lara Approve State Farm’s Rate Hike
By Staff Reporters, KCBS – San Francisco, CA
Click below to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
KXTV-SAC (ABC) – Sacramento, CA: State Farm Rate Hike Approved
Consumer Watchdog says policyholders shouldn't be left holding the bag for what it calls bad business choices.
KRON-SF (MyTV) – San Francisco, CA: State Farm Approved For Emergency Policy Rate Increase
This decision will hurt policyholders. State Farm didn't do enough to explain why the rate hike was needed.
KPIX-SF (CBS) – San Francisco, CA:State Farm Emergency Rate Hike Approved
Today's decision that would make consumers pay now, but allow state farm to wait months before having to show its math, is a great disappointment for consumers.
Spectrum News 1 (San Fernando Valley) – Los Angeles, CA: Insurance Agencies Want To Impose Surcharges on Homeowners Because Of LA Wildfires
Insurers are looking to charge homeowners across california for some of the costs of the devastating a county fires.
Los Angeles Times – Four months into insurance claim delays and disputes, a new blow to fire victims: A rate hike
By Steve Lopez, LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-05-13/lopez-column-fire-victim-complaints-state-farm
For four months, the frustrations and indignities have continued for victims of the Palisades and Eaton fires, especially for those still battling their insurance companies.
On Saturday, I watched as more than 200 people...
Cal Matters – State Farm wins first-ever emergency rate hike in California
By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS
https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/05/state-farm-rate-hikes-decision/
State Farm can raise homeowner and other rates starting next month, becoming the first insurance company to win approval to do so on an emergency interim basis in California.
The state's largest insurer made the unprecedented...
Los Angeles Daily News – State Farm gets California nod to hike homeowner policies 17%
By Pat Maio, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
https://www.dailynews.com/2025/05/13/state-farm-gets-california-nod-to-hike-homeowner-policies-17/
California on Tuesday approved a 17% emergency rate hike for State Farm after the state's largest insurer made an emergency request following January wildfires that devastated two Los Angeles communities.
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo...
Los Angeles Times – Insurance commissioner grants State Farm 17% emergency rate hike after L.A. fires
By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-05-13/administrative-law-judge-approves-denies-revises-state-farms-request-for-a-17-emergency-rate-hike-la-wildfires
Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara adopted an administrative law judge's ruling Tuesday and granted State Farm General an emergency 17% hike in its homeowner rates.
The commissioner's decision followed the release earlier in the day...
Los Angeles Times – Sam Altman’s eye-scanning orbs have arrived, sparking curiosity and fear
By Queenie Wong, LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-05-12/dystopian-aesthetic-in-california-sam-altmans-eye-scanning-orbs-spark-curiosity-and-resistance
Earlier this month, a mysterious store selling a vision of the future opened its doors in downtown San Francisco's Union Square district.
A cryptic message appeared on the storefront window: "World is the real...
The Lever – A Potential Trump Power Grab, Brought To You By Democrats
Big Tech-backed Democrats could hand one of the country’s largest and greenest energy markets to Trump and his fossil fuel acolytes.
By Freddy Brewster, THE LEVER
https://www.levernews.com/p/759ba18d-252b-437c-82e0-0aa26c66574f/?member_status=free
Amid ever-worsening climate disasters, Silicon Valley-backed Democrats are pushing a bill that could hand...
Los Angeles Times – Insurers seek to surcharge California homeowners for L.A. County fire costs
By Laurence Darmiento, LOS ANGELES TIMES
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2025-05-13/insurers-seeking-to-surcharge-california-homeowners-for-l-a-county-fire-costs
Insurers are seeking to charge homeowners across California for some of the costs of the catastrophic Los Angeles County fires the companies were burdened with when the state's insurer of last resort needed...
Associated Press – California approves State Farm’s request for 17% premium increase for homeowners
By Tran Nguyen, ASSOCIATED PRESS
https://apnews.com/article/california-state-farm-rate-increase-home-0cf3c463ae54e0ed9466ca2924a9d590
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s top insurance regulator said Tuesday that State Farm can soon start raising premiums by 17% for all of its home insurance customers in the state to help the insurer rebuild its...
Cal Matters – L.A. fire survivors accuse State Farm of delaying claims. Should it get OK for a rate hike?
By Levi Sumagaysay, CALMATTERS
https://calmatters.org/economy/2025/05/state-farm-fire-survivors-complaints/
Rossana Valverde's Pasadena home of 35 years is still standing after Los Angeles County's devastating January fires but more than 100 days later, she and her husband still can't move back in.
That's because they're waiting...
San Diego Union-Tribune – Should doctors with addictions be allowed to get confidential treatment?
By Paul Sisson, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/05/05/should-doctors-with-addictions-be-allowed-to-get-confidential-treatment/
Consumer advocacy groups are opposing a bill that would create a confidential treatment program for physicians struggling with substance use and mental health disorders, rejecting claims from medical professional organizations that it would...
Southern California Record – Insurance commissioner sued over policyholder surcharges resulting from January’s wildfire damage
By Michael Carroll, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD
https://socalrecord.com/stories/671084738-insurance-commissioner-sued-over-policyholder-surcharges-resulting-from-january-s-wildfire-damage
A Los Angeles consumer group is suing Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara over his decision to allow California insurers to raise charges to policyholders to cover California FAIR Plan assessments in the wake of January’s...
Cal Matters – California’s battle over data privacy and algorithm protections reaches a crossroads
By Justin Klozcko, CALMATTERS
https://calmatters.org/commentary/2025/04/california-data-privacy-protections-crossroads/
Let’s say you work in the food service industry for a large company, whose scheduling software assigns shifts to workers. For you, which shifts you receive mean everything because much of your salary depends on...
94.1 KPFA: A Rude Awakening – Consumer Watchdog Report: Dirty Deal
On today’s show, California’s autonomy over its utilities is under threat according to a new report by Consumer Watchdog entitled, “Dirty Deal: How A Corporate Utility Fixer Is Poised To Turn Over CA Climate Law To Trump”. I’ll speak...
San Diego Union-Tribune – Is Gavin Newsom changing his tune with the oil industry?
By Rob Nikolewski, SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/25/is-gavin-newsom-changing-his-tune-with-the-oil-industry/
Gov. Gavin Newsom seems to be taking a friendlier tone regarding the petroleum industry, as two refineries recently announced they would close down operations in California.
Earlier this week, Newsom sent a letter to...
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