AT&T rates skyrocket since deregulation
by James Temple, San Francisco Chronicle
In 2006, the CPUC voted to allow AT&T and other companies that provide local telephone service to raise prices at will…its prices are now the highest among the four competitors. Read More ›
State’s health insurance exchange gets $674-million federal grant
by Chad Terhune, Los Angeles Times
Covered California will use part of the money to market itself to the estimated 5 million Californians who will be eligible to use the health exchange. Read More ›
State audit rips California utilities commission for fund errors
by Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee
In a scathing new review of the CPUC, the Department of Finance found widespread budget errors and inaccurate fiscal predictions of fees that consumers pay each month. Read More ›
Car dealers want out of recalled rentals bill
by Jayne O'Donnell, USA Today
Car dealers are fighting to get exempted from legislation that would prohibit them from selling used cars or renting or lending new models before recall repairs are made. Read More ›
Brown’s budget pushes frontier of online learning
by Tom Chorneau, SI&A Cabinet Report
As Gov. Brown joined an effort aimed at getting Calif universities to offer more courses online, his administration released details of a proposal to expand online learning at K-12 schools. Read More ›
Anthem Blue Cross sued over new HIV/AIDS drug policy
by Kenny Goldbert, KPBS.org
A consumer group is suing Anthem Blue Cross over a new policy that requires HIV patients to get their medications by mail. A San Diego man who is HIV positive is the lead plaintiff. Read More ›
Many workers surprised by hike in payroll taxes
by Dale Kasler, Sacramento Bee
The first paycheck of 2013 contained a nasty surprise for many workers: a tax hike that shrank their take-home earnings by two percent or more. Read More ›
Java’s security flaws prompt warnings to disable the software
by Steve Johnson, San Jose Mercury News
Millions of computer users were advised to temporarily disable Java software because of security weaknesses that make their machines vulnerable to everything from virus-infected websites to ransomeware, which often locks users out of their computers until they pay the perpetrators. Read More ›
Anthem’s mail-order policy may have crossed a legal line
by David Lazarus, Los Angeles Times
The health insurer’s requirement that some customers get their prescription drugs from a single mail-order pharmacy has caught the eye of the California attorney general’s office. Read More ›
More money, more accountability for community colleges
by Kathryn Baron, EdSource
The spending plan for community colleges reflects the new focus in the California 112-campus community college system on increasing graduation and transfer rates through a combination of technology, smoother pathways to Cal State University and, for students, tough love. Read More ›
Gov. Jerry Brown commits to major Medi-Cal expansion
In order to help implement the Affordable Care Act overhaul in California, Gov. Brown proposed a major expansion of the public insurance program in the state budget. Read More ›
Jerry Brown to propose more money, finance overhaul for California schools
by Kevin Yamamura, Sacramento Bee
Gov. Jerry Brown will give more than $2 billion extra to K-12 districts next school year and ask lawmakers to direct more funding to impoverished students and English learners in his budget plan. Read More ›
Rapid DNA: Coming soon to a police department or immigration office near you
by Jennifer Lynch, Electronic Frontier Foundation
In the amount of time it takes to get lunch, the government can now collect your DNA and extract a profile that identifies you and your family members. Read More ›