Citing stoplights that run on sensors incapable of detecting diminutive vehicles, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill that will allow motorcyclists and riders of scooters and bicycles to legally run “dead reds.” Missouri has a similar law on the books. [More]
Government Policy
Lawsuit: GameStop Collects & Stores Customer Info
By 3.1.11
A class action lawsuit filed in California accuses GameStop of collecting and storing customers’ data, violating state law in the process. [More]
Connecticut Governor Wants Coupon Users To Pay Tax On Full Price Of Purchase
By 2.28.11
Got a coupon for 30% a Blu-Ray player? If the Connecticut governor gets his way, you’d still be paying sales tax on that player’s full price. [More]
Banks Shutting Down Branches In Poorer Hoods While Opening In Richer
By 2.28.11
The New York Times combed through the data and found that when the banks close branches, they’re doing it in poorer neighborhoods. And when they open a new branch, it’s more likely to be in a well-off area. While that makes business sense, it could violate the spirit of the Community Reinvestment Act which was passed to curb “redlining,” where lower-income neighborhoods are discriminated against by the financial services industry. [More]
Supreme Court Tells Parents They Can't Sue Vaccine Makers Over Harm To Children
By 2.28.11
A Supreme Court ruling protects vaccine makers from lawsuits filed by parents who believe vaccines have hurt their children. [More]
Banks Might Limit Amount You Can Buy On Debit Card
By 2.25.11
Grumbling over proposed limits to debit card swipe fees, banks are hinting they’re considering putting a cap on how much you can buy with a debit card. It could even be something like $50 or $100, forcing consumers to either pay with credit card or cash. [More]
No Taxation On My Syrupy Sweet Carbonation
By 2.25.11
So annoying when syrupy sweet Large Sips cost more because they might make you fat! In Colorado, soda lovers are trying to repeal a tax on soft drinks. [More]
FTC Looking Into Kids Racking Up In-App Purchase
By 2.24.11
After stories came out like the 8-year-old girl who ran up a $1400 iTunes bill buying Smurberries inside the “Smurf Village” game for iPad, the Washington Post reports the FTC has said that it is going to look at how in-app purchases are marketed and delivered. [More]
Pier 1 Recalls 400,000 Candles… For Fire Hazard
By 2.24.11
Pier 1 Imports has announced the recall of 400,000 tea lights because the flame on the candle can burn too high and pose a fire hazard. [More]
Student Uses Smart Phone To Beat Speeding Ticket
By 2.24.11
A student describes how he was able to get out a speeding ticket by whipping out his Android. [More]
Justice Department Wants Big Tobacco To Admit Its Products Are Deadly
By 2.24.11
The Justice Department wants major tobacco companies to admit its products cause 1,200 Americans to die every day, and also that it misled consumers with advertisements that “light” and low-tar” cigarettes were less harmful than regular cigarettes. [More]
Toyota Recalls 2.17 Million Cars, NHTSA Closes Investigation
By 2.24.11
At the request of regulators, Toyota is recalling an additional 2.17 million cars dating back to 2003 to deal with concerns over stuck gas pedals that could lead to out-of-control acceleration. And with that, it looks like NHTSA, the National Highway Transportation Administration, has shut the books on the unintended acceleration issue. [More]
Four Bankers Charged With Helping U.S. Taxpayers Hide $3 Billion
By 2.23.11
The latest news in the federal government’s crackdown on taxpayers (or rather, people who are supposed to be paying taxes) with offshore bank accounts: Four bankers from Credit Suisse Group have been indicted on charges of aiding tax evaders in hiding around $3 billion in assets. [More]
Undercover TSA Agent Makes It Through Full-Body Scanners With Gun In Her Undies
By 2.23.11
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Security Theatre: An undercover TSA agent was able to slip through the full-body scanners at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport with a handgun stashed in her undies… And not just once, but five times. [More]
Self-Employed Taxpayers Get Bigger Deduction For Medical Expenses
By 2.23.11
As a self-employed certified tax cat, I make sure to take advantage of every opportunity possible to reduce my taxable income. The health insurance premiums I pay for me and my litter have always worked to bring that number down, but they never did anything to reduce the amount I had to pay in Medicare and Social Security taxes. Until now. [More]
Ford Recalls 150,000 F-150 Trucks Over Airbag Concerns
By 2.23.11
Denis Leary may shout about how crazy smart the engineers at Ford are in those irritating TV ads, but those engineers apparently weren’t smart enough to include an airbag that might not deploy without warning in the F-150 pickup. [More]
FCC Asks Verizon To Investigate 911 Calls Dropped Amid Snowstorm
By 2.23.11
When several thousand Verizon customers needed to dial 911 during a January snowstorm in the D.C. area, they were left hanging by the provider. The FCC has asked Verizon to investigate why an estimated 10,000 911 calls were dropped. [More]
Toy Manufacturers Try To Block Online Injury Report Database
By 2.22.11
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is set to launch a database in the next few weeks that tracks reports of injuries resulting from strollers and cribs. A group of children’s product manufacturers are trying to coax lawmakers to stifle the database and roll back other health regulations. [More]
