Video

KNTV NBC Bay Area – DTSC Leaders Have Owned Major Stock in Companies the Department Oversees

March 6, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Some deputy directors at the Department of Toxic Substances Control are heavily invested in hazardous waste producers.<br /> Economic Interest Forms obtained by the Investigative Unit show two top DTSC staffers held stock for the past seven years in companies such as Chevron, General Electric and Abbott Laboratories—companies the department regulates...<br /> <br /> By Vicky Nguyen, Liz Wagner and Felipe Escamilla<br /> This story aired on March 5, 2013.</p>

KNTV NBC Bay Area – Lawmakers Demand Senate Investigation into DTSC

March 4, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Lawmakers are now demanding a Senate investigation into the Department of Toxic Substances Control after NBC Bay Area s investigative report exposed flaws in the agency. Vicky Nguyen reports. (Original air date: 2/21/13)</p>

KNBC TV-4 LA – Lawmakers Demand Review of Agency that Polices Polluters

February 26, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>At least four senators are behind the demand for an independent investigation of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), the agency that is supposed to protect the public from poisons dumped into the water and soil. Lawmakers are determined to find out why the organization is not enforcing California's pollution laws.<br />  </p>

KNBC TV-4 LA – Investigation: Regulators Failing to Protect Neighborhoods From Toxic Waste

February 22, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>The state agency charged with protecting Californians from most polluters is allowing companies to dump toxic waste and put lives at risk, an NBC4 I-Team Investigation reveals.</p>

KNTV NBC TV Bay Area – Insiders Say CA Toxic Regulation Is Weak

February 20, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Sources inside the Department of Toxic Substances Control say the agency has a dirty secret: Regulators are falling down on the job and public health is at risk because of it.<br /> <br /> Two high-ranking DTSC employees with more than 40 years combined in the department told NBC Bay Area’s Investigative Unit that people would be outraged if they knew what was really happening to companies that pollute.<br /> <br />

Bob Pack Is Inducted Into The Consumer Advocates Hall Of Fame

February 13, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Consumer Watchdog President Jamie Court Introduces Citizen Activist Bob Pack As He Is Inducted Into The Consumer Advocates Hall Of Fame at the 2013 Rage For Justice Awards.</p>

KCAL 9 – CBS-TV, LA – Gas Prices Are On The Rise, And Artificial Shortages Are To Blame

January 31, 2013  ·  Jamie Court

<p>Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court discusses the incentive ol companies have to artificially short the California market for the sake of higher profit.</p>

KCBS-TV 2 LA – Consumer Watchdog Goes To Court For Autistic Children Denied Coverage By Their Health Insurer

January 8, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Private insurance companies are required to cover an expensive treatment for children with autism, but that same coverage is being denied to children insured under MediCal and CalPers policies. As CBS 2's Randy Paige tells us, a court battle is underway to try and change that.</p>

KTTV 11 LA – CA AG’s Office Files Suit Against Pollution Violators

January 2, 2013  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Attorney General Kamala Harris didn't waste any time getting down to business this year.<br /> <br /> Fox 11 investigative producer Heidi Cuda reports that the state is suing two California companies for allegedly violating the state's hazardous waste laws.<br /> <br /> The lawsuit, filed by the AG's office, make some serious allegations: That since 2006, the companies neglected proper maintenance of underground storage tanks.</p>

KPIX-TV CBS-5 SF – Are MPG Claims Just Window Dressing?

December 25, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>CBS-SF's ConsumerWatch investigates our long standing claims that car makers are fixing their MPG claims.  Now that the EPA has forced Hyundai and Kia to reissue MPG claims on models like the Elantra, ConsumerWatch takes a look at the Ford C-Max Hybrid.</p>

KNBC-TV 4 LA – Add-On Allows Web Users to Track Prying Eyes

December 21, 2012  ·  John M. Simpson

<p>If you're reading this article and think no one knows what you are doing because you're alone, think again.</p> <p>"Most people don't really understand the extent to which their web activities are tracked when they go online or on the Internet to different websites," said John Simpson of consumerwatchdog.org.</p> <p>Simpson demonstrated how one visit to the Los Angeles Times website generated a lot of interest by third-party tracking sites. Using a software add-on called Collusion, Simpson was able to spy on the spies.</p>

KNBC-TV 4 LA – Dynamic Pricing In Online Shopping

December 18, 2012  ·  Consumer Watchdog

<p>Online shoppers looking to save money may want to change their web browser settings to avoid "dynamic pricing," a common practice among web retailers looking to maximize revenue.<br />  </p> <p>Retailers track spending habits through "browser cookies," small files automatically downloaded from websites. Previous behavior could be an indicator of what someone is willing to spend: a consumer who shops at high-end retail websites may be willing to spend more than a discount shopper.</p>