By Nadia Dreid, LAW 360
July 8, 2019
https://www.law360.com/publicpolicy/articles/1176121/youtube-shouldn-t-…
Advocates who take issue with YouTube content that targets children warned the Federal Trade Commission a resolution that shifts the burden of opting out of targeted advertising to content creators won't cut it.
Ricardo Lara previously pledged not to accept campaign donations from insurers.
By Jeff McDonald, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE
July 7, 2019
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2019-07-05/sta…
California is one of several states which will see hefty hikes in fuel taxes as of July 1 thanks to recently passed legislation.
By Rob Stumpf, THE DRIVE
July 1, 2019
https://www.thedrive.com/news/28789/new-gas-tax-increase-has-california…
By Larry Mantle, AIR TALK - KPCC 89.3FM SOCAL PUBLIC RADIO
July 1, 2019
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2019/07/01/64644/california-s-tax…
California’s nation-leading gas prices are set to climb even higher Monday, when the state gas tax increases another 5.6 cents a gallon.
By J.D. Morris, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
June 28, 2019
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/California-lawmakers-propo…
Three Assembly members have introduced legislative language that would enact Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to address the wildfire crisis enveloping California’s electric utilities, setting off a political scramble to act quickly on one of the state’s most urgent and complicated problems.
By Andrew Oxford, ASSOCIATED PRESS
June 28, 2019
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A closely watched wildfire law proposed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom would exempt a new safety board from some of the state's government transparency laws.
By Jefferson Graham, USA TODAY
June 27, 2019
https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/06/27/does-faceboo…
My editor, Michelle, was at a birthday party for her son's friend recently, when the mom mentioned a company she liked called Joymode. Minutes later, an ad for Joymode appeared on Michelle’s Facebook news feed.
By Harper Neidig, THE HILL
June 25, 2019
https://thehill.com/policy/technology/450084-advocates-push-ftc-crackdo…
Consumer advocates are pushing regulators to investigate what they paint as a shadowy online practice where retailers use consumer information collected by data brokers to decide how much to charge individual customers or the quality of service they’ll offer.
By Dell Cameron, GIZMODO
June 25, 2019
https://gizmodo.com/the-surveillance-scores-companies-use-to-rip-you-of…
The next time you go to buy toilet paper online, an algorithm may decide to charge you $5 more than your neighbor. You’d probably never know. But even if you did, there’s no way for you to find out why.
By David Lazarus, LOS ANGELES TIMES
June 25, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-dark-patterns-co…
Even if you’ve never heard the phrase “dark patterns,” you’re almost certainly familiar with them. They’re the sneaky ways online companies trick you into agreeing to stuff you’d normally never assent to.
By Leo Stallworth, KABC TV-7, Los Angeles, CA
June 22, 2019
https://abc7.com/traffic/ca-to-have-highest-gas-prices-in-nation-when-n…
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- When the new gas tax kicks in July 1, California will have the highest gas tax in the country.
The new gas tax will add an additional 5.6 cents per gallon of gas.
By Sophia Morris, LAW360
June 21, 2019
https://www.law360.com/consumerprotection/articles/1171401/ftc-said-to-…
Sen. Edward J. Markey, D-Mass, has welcomed the possibility of a Federal Trade Commission investigation into potential child privacy violations by YouTube, following media reports that the agency is looking into the streaming site's data collection practices.
By Ivan Penn and Peter Eavis, THE NEW YORK TIMES
June 21, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/21/business/energy-environment/newsom-c…
With the effects of climate change intensifying, California is under ever-greater siege from wildfires, often caused by the equipment that brings power to homes. One of the state’s utilities is already in bankruptcy largely because of the resulting liability claims.
By Camila Domonoske, NPR WEEKEND EDITION SATURDAY
June 15, 2019
https://www.npr.org/2019/06/15/728256381/why-safer-cars-dont-lead-to-ch…
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.
By Nicole Nguyen, BUZZFEED NEWS
June 14, 2019
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/nicolenguyen/amazons-choice-bad-pr…
A review of dozens of Amazon’s Choice products by BuzzFeed News found listings with troubling product defects and warnings, as well as review manipulation
By Staff Writers, PLASTICS IN PACKAGING
June 14, 2019
https://plasticsinpackaging.com/online/consumer-groups-condemn-loss-of-…
Consumer and recycling advocates held a press conference in front of the Santa Monica Community Recycling Center on Wednesday to protest its closure tomorrow.
By Dakota Smith, LOS ANGELES TIMES
June 14, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-dwp-david-wright-step-down…
David Wright, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power since 2016, will step down Oct. 1, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office said Friday.
By Donna Horowitz, THE DEAL PIPELINE
June 11, 2019
The California insurance regulator defended the state's new cost-of-insurance law after two market members said they viewed it as a weak response to often massive rate increases.
The legislation at issue, AB 2634, was signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown in September.
Op-Ed Commentary by Thomas Elias, OROVILLE MERCURY-REGISTER
May 28, 2019
https://www.orovillemr.com/2019/05/28/gas-gouging-returned-in-spring-an…
The days when oil companies could credibly deny they gouge California drivers in fairly regular cycles should now be over.
By Chris Reed, CALWATCHDOG.COM
May 27, 2019
Recyclable goods are much more likely to be thrown out in California now than at any time in the last 30 years. California has long considered itself to be a global beacon on environmentalism. But the state is now going on four straight years with a poor record on one of the core environmental practices: recycling.
By David Lazarus, LOS ANGELES TIMES
May 23, 2019
https://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-cable-bills-2019…
The most-hated businesses in the country, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, are pay-TV companies and internet service providers, which frequently are one and the same.
Op-Ed Commentary to the SACRAMENTO BEE by Jamie Court - President, Consumer Watchdog
May 21, 2019
https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article230618564.html
Californians now pay an extra $1.17 per gallon at the gas pump more than other Americans. Three to four dimes per gallon may be attributed to higher taxes, carbon credits and environmental issues.
By Timothy Darragh, BESTWIRE
May 21, 2019
http://news.ambest.com/newscontent.aspx?altsrc=108&refnum=217240
Farmers Insurance Exchange and an affiliate will face a public hearing next month to answer allegations they systematically overcharged their long-time California automobile insurance customers.
By Mark Huffman, CONSUMER AFFAIRS
May 20, 2019
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/california-to-probe-possible-marke…
Hawaii historically has had the highest gasoline prices in the nation. In addition to high state taxes, there’s the costly issue of transporting the fuel across an ocean.
Annette Ramirez inducted into the Consumer Advocate Hall of Fame; Ricardo Echeverria received the Lifetime Legal Achievement Award; Alastair Mactaggart honored as Citizen Activist of the Year. The Rage For Justice Awards were held on May 18, 2019 at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.
By Jeremy Siegel, KQED PBS San Francisco, CA
May 17, 2019
https://www.kqed.org/news/11747960/state-officials-high-gas-prices-coul…
Refinery outages and potential market manipulation could be to blame for California's high gas prices, according to the California Energy Commission.
By Don Jergler, INSURANCE JOURNAL
May 16, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2019/05/16/526698.htm
Michael Peterson has had about five months to come in and tackle what promises to be unique job.
By Staff Reporters, INSURANCE JOURNAL
May 14, 2019
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2019/05/14/526374.htm
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara plans to hold an investigatory hearing into how insurers’ use of occupational, educational, and other groups for setting automobile insurance rates affects insurance premiums for lower-income Californians.
The hearing is set for Sept. 17 at the Ronald Reagan State Building in Los Angeles.
By John P. Mello, Jr., TECHNEWSWORLD
May 14, 2019
https://www.technewsworld.com/story/86015.html
The United States Supreme Court on Monday gave thumbs up for a class action antitrust lawsuit to proceed against Apple for alleged monopolistic practices at its App Store.
By Kevin Smith, THE RIVERSIDE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
May 10, 2019
https://www.pe.com/2019/05/10/california-insurance-commissioner-to-inve…
If some California motorists pay reduced auto insurance premiums because they’re part of a group plan, does that hike rates for other low-income drivers?
By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS
May 8, 2019
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/insurer-hit-…
Mercury Insurance is facing $27.5 million in California state penalties for charging customers for illegal broker fees.
By Bob Egelko, THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
May 7, 2019
https://www.sfchronicle.com/business/article/Mercury-Insurance-must-pay…
A state appeals court reinstated $27.5 million in state penalties against Mercury Insurance Co. on Tuesday for charging illegal broker fees in more than 180,000 transactions with auto insurance customers from 1999 to 2004.
By Staff Reports, MYNEWSLA.COM
May 7, 2019
https://mynewsla.com/crime/2019/05/07/appellate-court-upholds-27m-penal…
Fourth District Court of Appeal justices Tuesday overturned an Orange County Superior Court judge’s ruling striking down $27 million in penalties imposed by former Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones against Mercury Insurance for broker fees he found were improperly added to rates.
By Wire Reports, ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 7, 2019
https://ktla.com/2019/05/07/mercury-insurance-must-pay-27-5m-to-califor…
A state appeals court says Mercury Insurance Co. must pay $27.5 million to California for charging its customers illegal fees.
By Debra Kahn, POLITICO PRO
May 2, 2019
Several oil groups are ramping up their spending this year in California, including a $1 million ad campaign aimed at state and local restrictions on the industry, according to new state filings.
The heavy political spending comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom begins to flesh out his energy policies and local governments pass measures to curtail oil and gas drilling.
By Ivan Penn, THE NEW YORK TIMES
May 2, 2019
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/business/energy-environment/pge-sec-…
LOS ANGELES — The Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into Pacific Gas and Electric’s accounting for its losses related to three years of wildfires in Northern California, the utility reported to shareholders Thursday.
By Kevin Koeninger, COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
May 1, 2019
https://www.courthousenews.com/specialty-status-of-hiv-medications-deba…
CINCINNATI (CN) – An attorney representing a class of HIV-positive patients insured by BlueCross BlueShield argued before a Sixth Circuit panel Wednesday that the insurer’s designation of their prescriptions as specialty medications violates federal disability laws.
By Sharon McNary, KPCC 89.3 FM SOCAL PUBLIC RADIO
April 26, 2019
Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment: https://www.scpr.org/news/2019/04/26/89251/the-environmental-disaster-t…
By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA
April 25, 2019
https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/ca-insurance…
California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara recently rejected a petition from over 60 public interest groups to have insurance companies operating in the state to disclose their fossil fuel business.
