A University of Kansas ticket official and her husband were convicted of aiding a $2 million illegal ticket ring in which they admitting to stealing and selling basketball and football tickets. [More]
Government Policy
These Sweet Population Maps Make White Flight Look Pretty
By 4.14.11
Here’s a series of really nice-looking maps Datapointed made to visualize the 2000-2010 US Census data released this year. The bluer an area, the more people it gained. The redder an area, the more it lost. In the series of maps across America you’ll see urban centers surrounded by a blossom of red, ringed by a halo of blue. It’s the classic “flight to the suburbs” playing out. But one interesting development is the core of cobalt at the heart of these cities where downtown addresses have become in-demand again. Even beleaguered Detroit, as seen in this graph, is showing glimmers of a comeback in its most central neighbs. [More]
Sears Sues Maker Of Sex-Enhancement Spray Over "DieHard" Name
By 4.14.11
For decades, Sears has been using the trademarked brand name “DieHard” on its car batteries and auto parts. Now the retail relic has filed a trademark infringement suit against a company that makes a sexual enhancement spray under the same name. [More]
Ford Adds Another 1.2 Million Trucks To F-150 Airbag Recall
By 4.14.11
Remember when NHTSA suggested that Ford should recall 1.3 million F-150 trucks over airbag concerns? Probably not, because the car company only chose to recall around 150,000 of them. Well after further conversations with regulators, it appears that all those trucks Ford had originally decided didn’t merit a recall… they do now. [More]
Congress Takes Animal Off Endangered Species List
By 4.14.11
Usually the way off the Endangered Species List does not head through legislators, but Congress let the Rocky Mountain wolf off the list, angering environmentalists who believe the reclassification was inappropriate. [More]
Federal Judge Rules Middle Schoolers Can Express Their Love Of "Boobies"
By 4.14.11
A ruling by a federal judge clears the way for kids to wear clothing that expresses their love of “boobies” without school administrators forcing them to remove it. [More]
Another Day, Another Air Traffic Controller Asleep On The Job
By 4.14.11
The Air Traffic Controller Sleeping Epidemic of 2011 continues. Yet another worker responsible for keeping planes from crashing into one another has fallen asleep on the job, with the FAA investigating yet again. [More]
VIDEO: FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz Chats With Consumerist
By 4.13.11
Earlier today, Federal Trade Commission chairman Jon Leibowitz visited the Consumer Reports compound in Yonkers, NY. While there, Consumerist’s Executive Editor Meghann Marco managed to score a sit-down interview with him. [More]
Senator Durbin To Chase CEO: You're Already Gouging The Consumer, So Stop Complaining
By 4.13.11
The main reason that JPMorgan Chase and other big banks have given for things like $5 ATM fees and prohibitive caps on debit card purchases is a soon-to-be-enacted bit of legislation known as the Durbin Amendment, which limits the amount of money banks can make off of interchange fees, the amount they charge retailers for each debit card transaction. Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has called the laws “price fixing at its worst” and “downright idiotic.” Now Dick Durbin, the Illinois senator whose name graces the legislation, has come out swinging at Dimon, telling the bank exec to quit whining and enjoy being profitable. [More]
Study: Less Than 40% Of Bank Branches Willing To Openly Disclose Account Fees To Customers
By 4.13.11
In spite of legislation requiring banks to disclose all fees associated with consumer deposit accounts, a new study from the Public Interest Research Group shows that only around four out of 10 bank branches don’t make it difficult or impossible for consumers to see the full schedule of fees.Additionally, banks are reluctant to let customers know about the availability of free checking accounts. [More]
Former Foes McCain and Kerry Unite To Tackle Net Privacy
By 4.13.11
Senators John Kerry and John McCain introduced an Internet privacy bill that would require companies to clearly spell out the types of data collected from consumers online, how it’s used and require corporate safeguards from hackers and other criminals. [More]
Texas Considers Upping Speed Limit To 85 MPH
By 4.13.11
Being that Texas is a giant state with wide expanses of dull spaces, you can’t blame people for wanting to rush through it faster. Lawmakers are considering upping the speed limit to 85 miles per hour on some stretches of highway. Currently, Texas has 500 miles of roads with a speed limit of 80. [More]
Chicago Transit Employee Accused Of Demanding Bribe From Filmmakers
By 4.13.11
In what newscasters describe as a “classic Chicago shakedown” during the making of the movie Source Code last year, a Chicago transit employee who negotiated a $19,000 contract for use of the train system reportedly demanded filmmakers deliver $2,000 in an envelope to him or another employee as a tribute to his effort. When he learned the money wouldn’t be delivered, he told a whistle-blower she’d never be able to work with Chicago’s Metra again. [More]
Help Us Out With Questions For FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz
By 4.12.11
Tomorrow, Consumerist Executive Editor Meghann Marco will be sitting down for a chat with Jon Leibowitz, chair of the Federal Trade Commission. And after the two are done discussing the NBA playoffs, they’ll get around to more relevant issues. That’s where we’re seeking your guidance. [More]
MagicJack Loses Some of Its Money-Making Mojo
By 4.12.11
The company behind MagicJack, the $40 USB device that “makes monthly phone bills disappear” for consumers, is about see something else go up in smoke: Its own revenues. [More]
State Farm Ordered To Pay $350 Million To Overcharged Customers
By 4.12.11
A judge in Texas has sided with the Lone Star State’s insurance commissioner, upholding an order for State Farm Insurance to pay out $350 million to over one million overcharged customers. [More]
Chicago Schools Sack The Sack Lunch
By 4.12.11
Citing health factors, some Chicago schools have stopped allowing kids to bring lunches and some snacks from home unless they have medical orders that bar them from eating in the cafeteria. [More]
Sony, Accused Hacker Call Truce In Settlement
By 4.12.11
Sony’s Itchy and Scratchy-esque tangle with an alleged hacker and his supporters has finally reached its apparent end. The parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement with an injunction that bans the man who took credit for jailbreaking the PlayStation 3 from distributing the offending code. [More]
