The FCC will require retailers to warn consumers that certain television models will not work without additional equipment after the conversion to digital television in early 2009. The FCC nicely asked retailers to help educate the public, but concluded that voluntary efforts are “not working.”
Government Policy
Walmart Investigates Nuns As A Potential Threat
By 5.4.07
A group of Benedictine nuns in Texas are shocked that Walmart considers them a threat and ordered a “threat assessment” from their crack security team. The nuns had filed a shareholder resolution that was critical to Walmart. “The Benedictine Sisters of Boerne, Texas have written a letter to Lee Scott, Wal-Mart’s chief executive, to say they were “deeply disappointed, appalled and shocked.”
Arkansas State Police Director Resigns To Go Work At Walmart
By 5.4.07
The director of the Arkansas State Police, Colonel Steve Dozier, has resigned from his position, (with provides a salary of $98,400 a year), to join Walmart’s security force. According to WMC TV, Walmart spokesperson Sarah Clark says that Dozier will “oversee several elements of the company’s security program” and will report to Ken Senser, Wal-Mart’s senior vice president for global security, aviation and travel.”
Reported Pet Deaths Top 8,500
By 5.4.07
The FDA said yesterday that consumers have reported 8,500 pet deaths as a result of eating contaminated pet food. Of those, only 20 have been confirmed. However, that number should increase as officials work through a call backlog.
$50k For Injury Sustained Holding Open The Door Of A Pizza Hut?
By 5.3.07
Amanda Verett is asking a judge to enter a default judgment in her civil lawsuit againt Pizza Hut and the Pizza Hut customer she was holding the door open for. The co-defendant Clarence Jackson, has not responded to Verett’s lawsuit in the required 30 days.
Lead Poisoning/Choking Hazard Recall Round Up
By 5.3.07
There have been quite a few lead poisoning and choking hazard related recalls lately, so we thought we’d just round them up for you. Here they are:
Manager of Chinese Wheat Gluten Manufacturer Arrested
By 5.3.07
The mystery of the poisoned pet food continues to unravel as Mao Lijun, head of the Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Company, has been arrested and is being held “in coastal Jiangsu Province, about 320 miles northwest of Shanghai, though a police spokesman in Pei County declined to say on what charges,” according to the New York Times.
Stop Michael Baroody
By 5.3.07
A campaign to stop Michael Baroody from getting nominated as head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission sprung up at StopBaroody.com. While Baroody was Executive Vice President of NAM, the manufacturer’s lobby:
FDA Names "Food Safety Czar"
By 5.2.07
The FDA has appointed a “Director of the Food Safety and Security Staff,” which the media has shortened to “Food Safety Czar.” The new Director of Food Safety is David W.K. Acheson, M.D, whom we will, naturally, be nicknaming “David W.K.”
Dude Busted For Running An Illegal Bank For Tax Evaders From His Suburban Home
By 5.2.07
An IRS investigator said Robert Arant had hundreds of customers, many of whom apparently used his bank, Olympic Business Systems LLC, to conceal assets for the purpose of evading taxes.
JetBlue Employees Charged In Credit Card Scam
By 5.1.07
Don’t leave your credit card on the JetBlue counter at JFK! Four JetBlue employees and a city corrections officer are charged with stealing credit card numbers from JetBlue passengers, according to Newsday. The “JetBlue 5” as we’ve decided to call them, used the cards to go on a “spending spree” that included “restaurants, liquor stores, and shops including Bloomingdale’s and Victoria’s Secret.” Naughty!
Why Does American Airlines Need To Examine The Gynecological Records Of Crash Victim's Daughter?
By 5.1.07
This has to be the weirdest press release we’ve ever read, and that’s really saying something.
Help Catch "The Leprechaun Bandit" Before He Robs A 6th Bank
By 5.1.07
Lt. Dean Sullivan, police spokesman, said the freckled bank robber with reddish-brown hair earned his nickname because of the “Luck of the Irish” green and white baseball cap that he sometimes wears featuring a shamrock and leprechaun.
Post-Tax-Day Tips
By 5.1.07
Tax day is over but that doesn’t mean the party has to stop. WFMY has a roundup of tax tips for lingering tax issues, like setting up an installment payment plan, who to call if you have a major problem, and fixing errors.
Check On Your Tax Refund
By 5.1.07
Don’t have your tax refund yet? You can check on it! It’s easy just click here and fill out the form. Knowledge will be yours. —MEGHANN MARCO
Feeling Cingular
By 4.30.07
Justin Callaway’s Cingular cellphone sent radio interference that destroyed one of his prized speakers, so he made an awesome music video about it.
Chinese Frequently Cut Pet Food With Melamine
By 4.30.07
The melamine thought to be the cause of dozens of pet deaths is routinely added as a filler to food in China, New York Times reports.
Bankers Join The Class Action Fun Against TJX
By 4.28.07
TJX, the parent company of TJ Maxx and Marshall’s, is facing a class action lawsuit from the 45 million customers whose credit card data they lost; now, bankers associations representing 300 banks in Maine, Connecticut and Massachusetts have decided to file a class action suit of their own. From InfoWorld:
Banks — especially in states like Massachusetts — were also hard hit. Why? Because under current federal law, its banks, not merchants, who have to pay to make customers whole again: forgiving fraudulent purchases on credit and debit cards and, of course, cancelling compromised cards and bank accounts, then issuing new ones to their customers. Needless to say, that’s an expensive process, especially when you’ve got to repeat it 45 million times, as banks across the country will have to do in the wake of TJX. Not surprise, then, that banks aren’t taking this sitting down.
Banks are in the process of notifying consumers, some who did not think they were affected, that they will soon receive new debit and credit cards in the mail. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER
