'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.
Citing Climate Emergency, California Democrats Introduce A Bill To Ban Fracking By 2027
By Andrew Sheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE - CAPITOL ALERT
February 17, 2021
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article24…
California would ban hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, by 2027, under a bill introduced in the state Senate on Wednesday.
Black Lives Matter On Medical Care
By Andrew Sheeler, SACRAMENTO BEE
February 15, 2021
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article24…
MARCH FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND MALPRACTICE REFORM
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.
USAA Accused Of Discrimination Against Enlisted Personnel
By Daniel Wilson, LAW360
February 5, 2021
A pair of veterans have hit USAA with a putative class action in California federal court alleging the insurer, which only insures military members, veterans and their families, discriminates against enlisted service members by charging them higher rates than officers.
Op-Ed: Compromising A Medical Board
Op-Ed Commentary by Greer Levin, for HOSPITAL WATCHDOG
January 29, 2021
https://hospitalwatchdog.org/op-ed/
Doctors’ Lobby Protect Their Own At Medical Board
Governor Newsom appointed Dr. Richard Thorp to the Medical Board of California in July of 2019. His controversial appointment raises a glaring red flag for health care quality across the state.
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
Suspension of Keystone XL Pipeline To Have No Impact On Local Gas Prices, Experts Say
Experts said the move did little to harm the number of permanent jobs coming from the pipeline.
By Mariah Medina, 13 NEWS NOW, ABC TV North Carolina
January 22, 2021
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/politics/keystone-effect/273-b02…
Permission Slips
By Debra Kahn, Politico California Pro Newsletter
January 19, 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.
Two Years Later, Newsom Has Failed on Climate
Despite bold promises, our Governor has continuously sided with oil and gas.
By Alexandra Nagy, KNOCK LA
January 12, 2021
https://knock-la.com/newsom-oil-and-gas-fracking-2021-48d3c44b015f
Opinion: Gavin Newsom’s cronyism threatens families like mine
French Laundry debacle, appointment of top aide raise serious questions about who the governor really represents
Op-Ed commentary by Charles Johnson, MERCURY NEWS
December 17, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/17/opinion-gavin-newsoms-cronyism-threatens-families-like-mine/
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.
Surgeon Refused to Operate Because Patient Had HIV, Claims Lawsuit
“Everyone deserves health care without judgement,” says the plaintiff.
By Trenton Straube, POZ MAGAZINE
December 2, 2020
https://www.poz.com/article/surgeon-refused-operate-patient-hiv-claims-…
California Appoints New Director Of CalRecycle
Rachel Wagoner will lead California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
By Megan Smalley, WASTE TODAY
November 30, 2020
https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/california-governor-appoints…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed Rachel Wagoner as the state’s new director of the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).
Former Gov. Newsom Leg Secretary Named New Head of CalRecycle
Rachel Wagoner has much support, may face questions over helping kill wildfire mitigation bills
By Evan Symon, CALIFORNIA GLOBE
November 28, 2020
https://californiaglobe.com/section-2/former-gov-newsom-appointee-is-ne…
New CalRecycle Leader Eyes Overhaul Of Deposit-Refund System
By Adam Beam, ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 27, 2020
https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/11/27/calrecycle-chief-eyes-overhaul-o…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has appointed a new head of the state's troubled recycling agency, who has pledged to overhaul its troubled bottle deposit system that has worsened during the pandemic.
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.
KCBS AM SF, CA: Gov Newsom Criticized For Meeting With CMA Lobbyist While Ignoring Activist
KCBS AM, San Francisco, CA
November 18, 2020
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
Activist Charles Johnson tells KCBS radio why he is more alarmed than most over Newsom’s French Laundry blunder.
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.
KCRW 89.9FM Santa Monica, CA: How Secure Is Your Car From Being Hacked?
By Staff Reporters, KCRW 89.9FM Santa Monica, CA
November 13, 2020
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-11/RADKCRW_11-13-…
Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog explains how easy it was to hack into a Tesla.
Zoom Settles FTC Allegations Over Its Encryption; ZM Shares Plunge
By Marivic Cabural Summers, USA HERALD
November 9, 2020
https://usaherald.com/zoom-settles-ftc-allegations-over-its-encryption-…
Zoom Video Communication (NASDAQ: ZM) agreed to settle with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over its encryption to secure users’ data on its video conferencing platform.
California Voters Back New Data Privacy Law Beefing Up CCPA
By Jonathan Greig, TECH REPUBLIC
November 5, 2020
https://www.techrepublic.com/article/california-voters-back-new-data-pr…
Millions of California voters have backed a controversial amendment to the state's consumer privacy laws, voting in favor of Proposition 24 by a 56%-44% margin.
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.
