Self-Driving Vehicle Proving Ground Opens At Willow Run Near Detroit
By Eric D. Lawrence, DETROIT FREE PRESS
December 18, 2017
https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2017/12/18/self-driving-cars-pro…
The launch of self-driving vehicle testing at the American Center for Mobility west of Detroit came with something that frequently confounds human drivers in Michigan — snow.
California Driverless Car Regulations Changed Again
By David A. Wood, CARCOMPLAINTS.COM
December 17, 2017
Google and Amazon Really DO Want To Spy On You
By Tim Collins, THE DAILY MAIL (UK)
December 15, 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5182577/How-Google-Amazo…
Patent reveals future versions of their voice assistants will record your conversations to sell you products
Kids and Smart Speakers: What Could Go Wrong?
By Wendy Lee, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
December 15, 2017
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Kids-and-smart-speakers-Wha…
Driverless Cars Won’t Need Backup Drivers In California Next Year
By Isha Salian, PENINSULA PRESS
December 14, 2017
Consumer Watchdog, Anti-Trust Experts Warn of Higher Prices From Disney-Fox Merger
By Ricardo Lopez, VARIETY
December 14, 2017
http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/consumer-impact-disney-fox-1202641240/
Consumers can expect to pay more for streaming subscriptions if regulators give the greenlight to the proposed $52.4-billion merger of Disney and Fox, a consumer advocacy group and anti-trust law experts warned Thursday.
Op-Ed Commentary by Jacques Leslie, LOS ANGELES TIMES
December 14, 2017
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-leslie-brown-oil-california-…
By Nitasha Tiku, WIRED
December 12, 2017
https://www.wired.com/story/are-tech-companies-trying-to-derail-sex-tra…
By AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE (AFP)
December 9, 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-5163753/Tech-titans-ramp-t…
From smartphone messaging tailored for tikes to computers for classrooms, technology titans are weaving their way into childhoods to form lifelong bonds, raising hackles of advocacy groups.
By Kieran McCarthy, THE REGISTER UK
December 5, 2017
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/12/05/pressure_mounts_net_neutrality/
With just a week to go before the head of the FCC will put his plan for a repeal of current net neutrality rules up for a vote, Ajit Pai has come under another barrage of criticism, this time with a focus on consumer protection.
By Kathleen Pender, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
December 4, 2017
http://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Governors-howl-Why-tax-plan…
By Justin King, LEFT LANE NEWS
December 4, 2017
http://www.leftlanenews.com/california-shoots-down-gms-autonomous-immun…
California DMV Ditches Rule to Limit Liability for Self-Driving Car Manufacturers
By Tom McKay, GIZMODO
December 3, 2017
https://gizmodo.com/california-dmv-ditches-rule-to-limit-liability-for-…
Opinion: Gov. Brown Should Stop Protecting The Oil Industry
By Liza Tucker, CONSUMER WATCHDOG for THE MERCURY NEWS
December 3, 2017
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/03/opinion-gov-brown-should-stop-pro…
LADWP Approves Controversial $241M Transfer Which Critics Call ‘Theft From Ratepayers’
By Staff Reports, KCBS TV-2 Los Angeles, CA
November 28, 2017
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2017/11/28/ladwp-to-vote-on-241m-transfe…
Jerry Brown's Cap-and-Trade Program Isn't Working
California's greenhouse gas emissions declined last year. But it was primarily due to the rainy weather — not the governor's climate policies.
By Alastair Bland, EAST BAY EXPRESS
November 22, 2017
Big Oil Spent More on California Lobbying in First 6 months of 2017 Than In All of 2016
By Dan Bacher, ELK GROVE NEWS
November 21, 2017
http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2017/11/big-oil-spent-more-on-california.ht…
Is Jerry Brown Really the Climate Hero He’s Made Out To Be?
By Derek Seidman, EYES ON THE TIES
November 17, 2017
https://news.littlesis.org/2017/11/17/is-jerry-brown-really-the-climate…
California Governor Jerry Brown made headlines earlier this week, but for a reason he might want to forget.
California Fines Anthem $5 Million For Failing To Address Consumer Grievances
By Chad Terhune, LOS ANGELES TIMES
November 15, 2017
http://beta.latimes.com/business/la-fi-anthem-fined-20171115-story.html
California's managed-care regulator has fined insurance giant Anthem Blue Cross $5 million for repeatedly failing to resolve consumer grievances in a timely manner.
California May Limit Liability Of Self-Driving Carmakers
By Michael Liedtke, ASSOCIATED PRESS
November 15, 2017
https://apnews.com/39a98dfb5bd442698de0c31126db5ae0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators are embracing a General Motors recommendation that would help makers of self-driving cars avoid paying for accidents and other trouble, raising concerns that the proposal will put an unfair burden on vehicle owners.
Emissions Drop Not Due To Cap And Trade — Study
November 15, 2017
By Debra Kahn, CLIMATE WIRE
https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060066583
As California Gov. Jerry Brown touts his state's economy-wide carbon cap-and-trade program at U.N. talks in Bonn, Germany, critics of the policy are taking the opportunity to launch jabs back at home.
Google's Missouri Problem Mirrors Woes In EU
By Julie Charpentrat, AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE (AFP)
November 15, 2017
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/googles-missouri-problem-mirrors-woes-eu-0352…
Carmakers Grapple With Robot-Car Hacking Fears
By Keith Laing, THE DETROIT NEWS
11/15/17
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2017/11/15/car…
New Reports Expose Racial and Economic Injustice, Ineffectiveness of Pollution Trading
by Dan Bacher, INDYBAY MEDIA
Tuesday Nov 14th, 2017
Wyden Tries to Stop Momentum Behind Bipartisan Sex-Trafficking Bill
11/13/2017
By Susan Crabtree, WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
http://freebeacon.com/politics/wyden-tries-stop-momentum-behind-bipartisan-sex-trafficking-bill
Is Your Vehicle Under A Recall? Some Ideas For Getting The Word Out To Millions Of Owners
11/13/2017
By Eric D. Lawrence, THE DETROIT FREE PRESS
http://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/chrysler/2017/11/13/checking-vehicle-recalls/802376001/
Jerry Brown Tells Indigenous Protesters In Bonn, 'Let's Put You In The Ground'
11/13/2017
By Dan Bacher, INTERCONTINENTAL CRY BLOG
https://intercontinentalcry.org/jerry-brown-tells-indigenous-protesters-bonn-lets-put-ground/
Chart of the Day: California’s Mysteriously High Gasoline Prices
11/12/2017
By Kevin Drum, MOTHER JONES
This chart illustrates a mystery:
Waymo Trials Take Humans Out Of The Driver's Seat
11/10/2017
By Hailey Desormeaux, AMERICAN SHIPPER
Waymo to Give Phoenix Riders a Lift in Driverless Minivans
11/8/2017
By Paul A. Eisenstein, THE DETROIT BUREAU
http://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2017/11/waymo-to-give-phoenix-riders-a-lift-in-driverless-minivans/
Pilot program just getting underway, but critics question safety.
Waymo Taxis First To Ditch Drivers
11/7/2017
By Nora Naughton, THE DETROIT NEWS
Waymo’s Autonomous Cars Cut Out Human Drivers In Road Tests
By Daisuke Wakabayashi, THE NEW YORK TIMES
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/technology/waymo-autonomous-cars.html
SAN FRANCISCO — The self-driving car is edging closer to becoming driverless.
Look, Ma, No Driver! Waymo Robot Cars In Arizona Go Fully Autonomous
By Carolyn Said, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
November 7, 2017
http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Look-ma-No-driver-Waymo-robot-cars-in-Arizona-12339152.php
Look, Ma, No Anything Whatsoever: Waymo Begins Operating Fully Driverless Test Cars on Public Roads
11/7/2017
By Pete Bigelow, CAR AND DRIVER
Internet Companies Drop Opposition To Bill Targeting Online Sex Trafficking
By Tom Jackman - THE WASHINGTON POST
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/11/07/internet-c…
Harris, Feinstein Back Anti-Sex Trafficking Bill After Months of Silence
By Susan Crabtree, WASHINGTON FREE BEACON
http://freebeacon.com/politics/harris-feinstein-back-anti-sex-trafficking-bill-months-silence/
Self-Driving Cars Could Save Lives Even Before They’re Perfected, Report Says
By Carolyn Said, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
November 6, 2017
http://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Self-driving-cars-could-save-li…
In Reversal, Tech Giants Back Sex Trafficking Bill
By Cecilia Kang, THE NEW YORK TIMES
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/03/technology/sex-trafficking-bill.html
WASHINGTON -- After a bruising week before lawmakers, big internet companies including Facebook and Google relented to pressure in Washington on Friday and agreed to support a sex trafficking bill they had vehemently opposed for months.
Harris, Feinstein Sign On For Bill Targeting Sites That Enable Sex Trafficking
By Jill Tucker, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Harris-Feinstein-sign-on-for-bill-targeting-12331051.php
California’s two U.S. senators said Friday they will back a bill to give victims and state officials more power to go after websites that promote or benefit from online sex trafficking.
Oil Industry Spent Millions On Lobbying As California Lawmakers Debated Cap-And-Trade Extension
By Patrick McGreevy, LOS ANGELES TIMES
Report: Trump to Withdraw Proposed V2V Mandate
By John Eggerton, BROADCASTING AND CABLE
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washington/report-trump-withdraw-proposed-v2v-mandate/169789
Administration said to be backing away from DSRC requirement
Industry Faces Long Haul To Legalize Self-Driving Semis
By Keith Laing, THE DETROIT NEWS
October 30, 2017
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/mobility/2017/10/30/ind…
Washington — Trucking companies are not giving up the fight to put self-driving semis and delivery trucks on U.S. highways.
Expose rip-offs and injustice. Confront the industries and politicians responsible. Change the world. Our mantra at Consumer Watchdog is simple, but effective. Whether we’re at the Capitol, in the media, or in the courtroom, these are the strategies we use to make sure that we win justice for American consumers and taxpayers.
In 1988, Californians revolted against excessive auto, homeowner and business insurance premiums and passed Proposition 103, a ballot measure written by Consumer Watchdog founder Harvey Rosenfield to rein in insurance companies. Using the provisions of Prop 103, Consumer Watchdog has lowered rates and saved Californians over $100 billion over the last twenty-five years.
CVS Halts Patient Mailings That Revealed HIV Reference Through Envelope Window
By Leslie Small, FIERCE HEALTHCARE
September 1, 2018
https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/cvs-halts-mailings-revealed-hiv-…
Just days after Aetna was hit with a lawsuit tied to a similar incident, CVS Health says it has halted mailings that inadvertently made a reference to HIV visible through a window in the envelope.
By Susan Morse, HEALTHCARE FINANCE
August 31, 2017
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/cvs-caremark-suffers-envelope…
CVS Accused Of Revealing HIV Status Of 4,000 Ohio Customers
By Ashlee Kieler, CONSUMERIST
August 31, 2017
https://consumerist.com/2017/08/31/cvs-accused-of-revealing-hiv-status-…
CVS Exposes Patients’ HIV Status In Mailings
By Lou Chibbaro, Jr., WASHINGTON BLADE
August 30, 2017
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/08/30/cvs-caremark-exposes-patients/
