Consumer Watchdog 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.
KTVU-SF (FOX) - San Francisco, CA: Insurance Department Investigation
02:37
ABC 7: Controversial CA Energy Bill Moves Forward
08:15
KCBS-LA (CBS) - Los Angeles, CA: Home Insurance Crisis
05:32
KCAL-LA - Los Angeles, CA: KCAL News Special: Home insurance Crisis
07:04
KCAL-LA - Los Angeles, CA: KCAL News Special: Home insurance Crisis
09:59
ABC10: California bill aims to help struggling doctors, but critics warn of patient safety risks
02:24
KGTV-SD (ABC) - San Diego, CA: Homeowners To Get Surcharge For LA Wildfires
02:48
My 58 - Sacramento, CA: State Farm Looking To Raise Rates
01:05
KGO-SF (ABC) - San Francisco, CA: State Farm Proposes More Insurance Rate Hikes
02:53
KOLO (ABC) - Reno, NV: Home Insurance Rate Hikes From State Farm
02:32
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