By Andrew Sheeler, CAPITOL ALERT - SACRAMENTO BEE

July 27, 2021

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article25…

Advocacy group Consumer Watchdog reports that permit approvals for new or reworked oil wells dropped by 64% in the first six months of 2021, while the number of permit applications from oil and gas companies fell by 52%.

By J. D. Morris, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

July 22, 2021

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/PG-E-says-it-will-bury-10-0…

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Wednesday that it wants to bury 10,000 miles of its power lines in the coming years, hoping that such a far-reaching and expensive effort will finally turn the company's disastrous track record around.

By Kyle Barnett, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

July 22, 2021

The largest utility in California is planning to bury 10,000 miles of power lines in an effort to prevent fires in the drought-stricken state.

Pacific Gas & Electric said the move is intended to "further harden its system" to prevent accidental outbreaks of wildfires. Several fires in California have been attributed to PG&E equipment over the years.

By Sonseeahary Tonsall, Eric Rucker, Ian McDonald, KXTL FOX TV-40, Sacramento, CA

July 21, 2021

https://fox40.com/news/wildfire-watch/pge-announces-plan-to-bury-thousa…

CHICO, Calif. (KTXL) — Pacific Gas and Electric announced on Wednesday that it plans to bury 10,000 miles of lines in parts of the state with higher fire danger.

By Victoria Colliver, POLITICO PRO

July 19, 2021

A medical malpractice company based in Napa dropped $5 million into the fight against a November 2022 ballot measure to increase California’s medical malpractice compensation cap.

By Barbara Feder Ostrov, CALMATTERS

July 19 2021

https://calmatters.org/health/2021/07/dialysis-california-davita/

Federal conspiracy charges against dialysis giant DaVita and its former CEO have cast one of Sacramento’s biggest political spenders in an unflattering light.

By Blaise Scemama, THE DAILY JOURNAL 

July 16, 2021

The report released this week named prominent attorneys it said had "violated the ethical rules against dishonesty, deceit, and collusion and violated their ethical duties to ... the court in violation of Rules of Professional Conduct."

By Melody Gutierrez, Jack Dolan and Kim Christensen, LOS ANGELES TIMES

July 16, 2021

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-16/who-will-police-cal…

By Carly Olson, LOS ANGELES TIMES

July 14, 2021

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-07-14/usc-keck-norris-cance…

Nurses at two USC hospitals that handle some of the country’s most challenging medical cases are protesting working conditions they say put both medical staff and hospital-goers at risk, the latest in a series of strikes by nurses nationwide that have spotlighted hospital safety. 

By Jack Dolan, Kim Christensen, LOS ANGELES TIMES

July 14, 2021

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-14/how-california-medi…

By Dakota Smith, LOS ANGELES TIMES

July 13, 2021

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-07-13/court-appointed-inv…

Consumer Watchdog says California needs to build its own infrastructure and not rely on outside power companies

By Kurt Rivera, KXTV ABC TV-10 Sacramento, CA

July 12, 2021

https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/california/flex-alert-watchdog…

By Dan Bacher, RED GREEN & BLUE

July 10, 2021

http://redgreenandblue.org/2021/07/10/big-first-californias-oil-gas-reg…

“This is the first permit denial of this scale for reasons related to public health and climate,” according to a statement from the Food and Water Watch.

By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOS

July 9, 2021

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/9/2039081/-California-s-oil-and…

By Dan Bacher, DAILY KOS

July 7, 2021

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2021/7/7/2038352/-CA-oil-industry-has-…

By Trenton Straube, POZ

July 7, 2021

https://www.poz.com/article/supreme-court-hear-hiv-case-involving-cvs-p…

Can health plans force clients to get HIV meds via mail or at a specific pharmacy in order to keep discounts?

Editorial by LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITORIAL BOARD

July 6, 2021

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-07-06/california-medical-boa…

By Jeff McDonald, THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

July 4, 2021

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/story/2021-07-04/lob…

By Kaila Philo, COURTHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

July 2, 2021

https://www.courthousenews.com/supreme-court-potpourri-a-look-at-fall-t…

CVS Pharmacy v. John Doe

By Alexis Shanes, LAW 360

July 2, 2021

https://www.law360.com/retail/articles/1399999/cvs-persuades-justices-t…

Law360 (July 2, 2021, 2:17 PM EDT) -- The U.S. Supreme Court said Friday it will review the revival of an Affordable Care Act case alleging CVS Pharmacy's mail-delivery drug program discriminates against HIV and AIDS patients.

By Bob Egelko, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

July 2, 2021

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Supreme-Court-to-hear-appea…

Hosted by Mina Kim, KQED FORUM

July 1, 2021

https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101884260/californians-in-fire-prone-are…

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

By Craig Fiegener, KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA

July 1, 2021

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment. 

Carmen Balber with Consumer Watchdog explains how insurance companies still owe Californians refunds due to the pandemic. 

By Staff Editors, COLLISION WEEK

July 1, 2021

https://collisionweek.com/2021/07/01/consumer-group-alleges-auto-insura…

By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS AMERICA

June 30, 2021

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/breaking-news/auto-insurer…

Despite the majority of Californians driving less last year, most auto insurance companies operating in the state continued to charge pre-pandemic rates, managing to collect a windfall of about $5.5 billion, new analysis by Consumer Watchdog has found.

By Miranda Green, CALMATTERS

June 30, 2021

https://calmatters.org/economy/2021/06/california-wildfire-insurance-cl…

In hard-hit Napa Valley, which has burned multiple times this last decade, successful winemakers and longtime residents are weighing their options to rebuild or move out entirely simply by looking at their property insurance policies.

By Emily Valdes, KNX 1070 AM Los Angeles, CA

June 29, 2021

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court explains how West LA's Richard Bloom has a bill in the state Assembly that is bad for consumers trying to recycle their bottles and cans. 

By Mike DeWald, KCBS AM, San Francisco, CA

June 29, 2021

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

Consumer Watchdog's Carmen Balber explains how insurance companies have not fully refund the amount they are legally required to return to consumers after the Covid pandemic. 

By Staff Reporters, INSURANCE JOURNAL

June 29, 2021

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2021/06/29/620665.htm

Most California insurance companies continued to charge pre-pandemic auto insurance rates despite a vast majority of Californians driving far less last year, according to an analysis by Consumer Watchdog on Tuesday.

The report shows auto insurers reaped “a windfall of about $5.5 billion.”

By Samantha Young, CALIFORNIA HEALTHLINE

June 25, 2021

https://californiahealthline.org/news/article/doctors-lobby-scores-majo…

SACRAMENTO — The board that licenses and disciplines doctors in California is failing to hold bad actors accountable, endangering patients in the process.

By Zarina Khairzada, SPECTRUM NEWS 1 LA

June 22, 2021

https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/news/2021/06/22/crv-costs-turn-int…

LOS ANGELES — Dozens of bags filled with plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers have been piling up in Nancy Hannickel’s backyard in West Los Angeles.

Hannickel is not happy about it and can’t find somewhere to get the full CRV refund that had been paid for them.

By Dale Kasler, SACRAMENTO BEE

June 21, 2021

https://www.sacbee.com/article251430658.html

They held a potluck picnic on Sunnyside Road a few weeks ago. It was more like group therapy with a side of chicken wings.

By Colby Bermel, POLITICO

June 17, 2021

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/california-playbook-pm/2021/06/17/…

By Colby Bermel, POLITICO

June 17, 2021

https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2021/06/17/how-much-fr…

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom has repeatedly said that fracking accounts for less than 2 percent of California oil production, but he appears to have vastly underestimated its use as the state prepares to ban the technique by 2024.

Progressive consumer groups are already pushing back on catastrophe model recommendations.

By Staff Writers, RISK MARKET NEWS

June 14, 2021

https://www.riskmarketnews.com/california-extreme-heat-reinsurance-pool…

By Pat Thurston, KGO 810 AM San Francisco, CA

June 14, 2021

Click here to listen to Consumer Watchdog's President and Chairman, Jaime Court join Pat Thurston to discuss SB 38 the Bottle Deposit Bill: https://omny.fm/shows/the-pat-thurston-show/june-14-2021-bottle-deposit-bill#description

By JW August, TIMES OF SAN DIEGO

June 11, 2021

https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/06/11/california-insurance-co…

Given a time of fast-moving climate change, wouldn’t you like to know what the chances are of your house being in the path of a wildfire?

WOMEN OF COLOR are disproportionately harmed by California’s outdated limits on compensation for patients injured by medical negligence. Systemic inequities in our health care system mean women of color receive lower quality health care and contend with worse health outcomes. Then the cap deprives them of justice when they seek answers and accountability.

By Lyle Adriano, INSURANCE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

June 8, 2021

https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/news/catastrophe/consumer-watch…

By Thomas Elias, THE DESERT SUN

June 7, 2021

https://www.desertsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2021/06/07/californi…

By John Mac Ghlionn, THE NEW YORK POST

June 5, 2021

https://nypost.com/2021/06/05/how-google-exploits-the-sick-and-vulnerab…

In 2019, Google embarked on a mysterious-sounding venture. 

By Megan Smalley, WASTE TODAY MAGAZINE

June 4, 2021

https://www.wastetodaymagazine.com/article/california-sb-38-passes-stat…

By Cheryl Clark, MEDPAGE TODAY

June 4, 2021

https://www.medpagetoday.com/special-reports/exclusives/92924?xid=fb_o&…

The agency that licenses 152,000 California physicians is facing a crisis of public confidence, with the voices of several lawmakers joining those of angry patients who say it shields bad doctors far too often.

By Staff Reporters, KCRW 89.9 FM NPR Santa Monica, CA

June 2, 2021

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio broadcast segment.

By Kevin Smith, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEWS GROUP

June 2, 2021

https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/06/01/waste-haulers-retailers-play-rol…

By Victoria Colliver, POLITICO PRO

June 2, 2021

Patient advocates lambasted last-minute amendments made to a bill concerning the Medical Board of California, including the gutting of a provision to remake the panel with a public-member majority.

What happened: An earlier version of CA SB806 (21R), by Sen. Richard Roth (D-Riverside), increased the size of the board from 15 to 17 members, allowing for eight physicians and nine public representatives. But amendments made late last week eliminated that proposal from the bill.

By Mansur Shaheen, THE DAILY MAIL UK

May 28, 2021

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9631213/Maryland-New-Mexico-…

States are setting up hotlines amid reports that some Americans are being charged for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is supposed to be free.

The Department of Health and Human Services said to report any vaccine fees.

By Adisa Hargett-Robinson, ABC NEWS

May 28, 2021

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/covid-19-vaccines-free-people-bills/story…

By Staff Reporters, KNX 1070 AM LA

May 27, 2021

Click here to listen to the audio of this radio news broadcast segment. 

Consumer Watchdog's Jamie Court explains why Californian's are demanding changes to the state's broken bottle and can redemption system.

By CBSLA Staff, KCBS TV-2 LA

May 26, 2021

https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2021/05/26/bottles-cans-recycling-crv/

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) – Consumers in California pay five or ten cent deposits for almost every beverage in a bottle or can, but new reports show many are not getting their money back at recycling centers.