As the evidence piles up showing that teens are still distracted behind the wheel to an unsafe degree, Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has introduced a new initiative aimed at ending the dangerous habits of texting or emailing while driving. [More]
Government Policy
Man At Center Of Vast Phantom Debt Collector Scam Says He’s An Innocent Pawn
By 6.7.12
We’ve written a couple of times during the last several months about the Federal Trade Commission’s efforts to crack down on bogus debt collectors, operating out of call centers in India, who pretend to be police officers in order to scare people into paying money they don’t owe. Now the man identified by the FTC as being at the center of the U.S. side of the operation says he’s merely an innocent pawn. [More]
Ripping Up A Parking Ticket In Front Of Police May Get You Tased, Even If You’re Pregnant
By 6.7.12
If you’re upset with the parking ticket you’ve just received, it’s rarely a good idea to rip it up. It’s certainly a bad idea to rip that ticket up in front of the police officer who just wrote it. Ask the pregnant Chicago woman who says police used a stun gun on her after she tore up her citation. [More]
5 Warning Signs To Look For When Choosing A Debt Relief Firm
By 6.6.12
With many Americans still weighed down by debt, there seem to be an endless number of firms out there offering to help save people from the quicksand. Alas, not all of these people are completely on the up-and-up. [More]
Average Income Among America’s 400 Richest Dropped 25% In One Year
By 6.6.12
Guess who’s making about $202.4 million? Not you, unless you happen to be among the 400 richest tax filers in the nation. While it might bum you out a bit not to be rolling around in piles of cash, those who live like Richie Rich are likely feeling a bit blue about the news because that 2009 average is down 25% from 2008 — and down from a peak of $344.8 million in 2007. [More]
Study Says FDA Could Be Doing Better At Publicizing Drug Recalls
By 6.5.12
Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls drugs that could be harmful around once a month, a new study says the agency has room for improvement when it comes to publicizing those recalls and informing doctors and patients about them. [More]
Californians Get Ready To Vote On Proposed $1-Per-Pack Cigarette Tax Increase
By 6.4.12
Despite that general air of clean living Californians exude, an initiative before voters tomorrow that would add an additional $1 tax to each pack of cigarettes is facing an uncertain future. That’s partly due to the $50 million Big Tobacco has rustled up to oppose the tax. [More]
Homeland Security Hoping To Find Device To Replace Pat-Downs
By 6.4.12
Perhaps the Dept. of Homeland Security is actually listening to all the people who aren’t exactly thrilled with the possibility of being touched by TSA airport screeners. The department is hoping someone out there can come up with a hand-held device that would take the place of the controversial pat-downs. [More]
Facebook Decides It Does Want Access To Your Under-13 Children After All
By 6.4.12
This time last year, Mark Zuckerberg stirred up some controversy when he said the company was willing to fight for the right to allow children under the age of 13 to use Facebook. He later said his statement had been taken out of context, but now it looks like the social media mega-site is actually working on ways to legally allow pre-teens to join. [More]
Michigan Medical Marijuana Users Gain Ability To Defend Themselves In Court
By 6.1.12
People in Michigan who use marijuana for medical purposes now have the right to use their health issues to defend themselves in court — even if they don’t have a medical marijuana card — thanks to a Michigan Supreme Court ruling. [More]
U.S. Officials Shut Down Unsafe Bus Operators From New York To Florida
By 5.31.12
Federal officials just executed a mighty coup against 26 bus operations that transported more than 1,800 passengers a day between New York and Florida, closing them down for safety violations. The government says this is the largest single safety crackdown of the motor coach industry in at least a decade. [More]
Big Corn Still Believes We Are All So Very Confused About HFCS
By 5.31.12
Yesterday, the FDA concluded its 20-month review of a petition by the Corn Refiners Association to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to “corn sugar,” with a pretty solid “no.” Not surprisingly, the CRA says regulators have done you, the American consumer, a disservice by denying the petition. [More]
20 Lawsuits From Across U.S. Say Tropicana's "Natural" Claim Is Pulp Fiction
By 5.31.12
Back in January, we reported on a lawsuit from a California woman against Tropicana, claiming that the juice makers shouldn’t be marketing its products as “natural,” as extensive processing changes its “essential nature.” Now a slew of around 20 lawsuits from across our fair nation have popped up to chime in, claiming the company adds chemically engineered “flavor packs” to the juice. [More]
What Would You Do With A $434,712 Tax Refund Check?
By 5.31.12
Coming into accidental money can be a heady thing — but while some of you might get a little nutty and go out and spend that “free” cash, we know others would return it. A Cleveland waitress spent her mistaken money only in her daydreams, musing about what she’d do with $434,712 from the Internal Revenue Service. [More]
FDA: High Fructose Corn Syrup Isn't "Corn Sugar"
By 5.30.12
Dealing what is surely a mighty blow to those in the corn industry hoping to improve the image of high fructose corn syrup, the Food and Drug Administration has denied the Corn Refiners Association’s petition to rename HFCS as “corn sugar.” [More]
EEOC Investigating Coffee Chain For Alleged 'Hot Chicks Only' Hiring Policy
By 5.29.12
A food-service business that only hires attractive young women for customer-facing jobs? Gasp! Who can imagine such a thing? But that’s what Boston-based chain Marylou’s Coffee has been accused of, and the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has taken notice. They’re conducting an investigation to see whether otherwise qualified uglies, oldies, and fatties are being passed over for jobs at Marylou’s. [More]
Boston Mayor To FCC: Please Don't Listen To Comcast
By 5.25.12
In April, cable subscribers in Boston were offered a glimmer of hope after the FCC ruled that the city would once again, after a decade of price increases from Comcast (the only cable company in town), be allowed to regulate cable pricing. But the war isn’t over, as Comcast has asked the FCC to rethink its ruling while Boston’s mayor has asked the FCC to just please not listen to Comcast. [More]
New Parking Meter Sensors Put An End To Parking On Previous Driver's Dime
By 5.25.12
Have you ever pulled up to a metered parking spot and found that the driver who just left the space still had time left on the meter? It’s like getting free money, especially if that leftover time is enough for you to run your errand without having to feed the meter. But the folks in Denver are testing out new sensors that would delete any remaining time when you drive away from the meter. [More]
