Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria
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Articles by Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria
Sacramento initiative connects Hmong youth internationally, fosters cultural exchange
By Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria, Solving Sacramento Later this year, a group of Hmong American young women from Sacramento will travel to Laos to finally meet their yearlong pen pals in person. They are part of Hmong Youth Beyond Borders (HYBB), a Sacramento-based initiative that has mentored and fostered the relationships between the four Hmong young women from Sacramento and 13 young women in Laos.
Trending Food and Beverage Updates
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy has begun his campaign to improve Americans’ health by increasing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s oversight of the food industry. His first step was directing the FDA to explore eliminating the "self-affirmed GRAS" pathway for food ingredients. GRAS stands for “Generally Recognized As Safe.” The directive signals a potential shift in how new food additives are introduced into the American marketplace.
By Mark Huffman Verified, Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria Verified, James Hood Verified, Kristen Dalli Verified
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ConsumerAffairs
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Consumer News: LG gas ranges have a fire problem. LG's solution: a warning label
March 10, 2025 Ricardo Beas of Buffalo, New York, had just finished remodeling his kitchen and decided to host a party at his home. During the gathering, a guest bumped into his newly installed LG electric range, prompting it to turn on without anyone noticing. A plate left atop the range exploded. It couldve been much worse, Beas said about the incident, noting there are no children and only he, his wife and cat live in the home.
Consumer News: States must step up as fate of consumer watchdog CFPB remains in doubt
February 28, 2025 The future of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the independent agency charged with for enhancing consumer protections and fighting financial harm, remains unclear, as the current administration works toward potentially dismantling the bureau. A judge has already halted efforts to fire CFPB employees, return funds, and delete data or records pending a preliminary injunction hearing for March 3.
News for February 2025
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ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers.
By Dieter Holger Verified, James Hood Verified, Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria Verified, Mark Huffman Verified
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ConsumerAffairs
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Consumer News: How safe are old emails? Depends on the settings, experts say
February 25, 2025 Those Hotmail and America Online email addresses may seem ancient, making you think about changing to a different and more secure email platform. Maybe that old address has become a cesspool for spam, or its linked to personal information thats been leaked and is being flooded with phishing emails. But changing email addresses might not be necessary. Those older email platforms can offer up the same security asany other platform, cybersecurity experts told ConsumerAffairs.
How to spot, avoid and report romance scams
Love is in the air with Valentine’s Day every year, but when it comes to romance and dating online, not all are lucky. Finding a partner presents its own set of challenges, and with romance scams blooming, it’s costing people their mental health and money. But just how big is the problem?
Consumer News: Love, lies and loss: The tolls of romance scams
February 12, 2025 Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love, and human kindness. But unfortunately, romance is a tactic used by scammers to make money by defrauding lonely and isolated people who would like a little bit of love themselves. Romance scams are a problem every day, a litany of broken dreams,cleaned-out bank accounts and endless embarrassment.
Consumer News: Love, lies and loss: The tolls of romance scams
February 12, 2025 Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love, and human kindness. But unfortunately, romance is a tactic used by scammers to make money by defrauding lonely and isolated people who would like a little bit of love themselves. Romance scams are a problem every day, a litany of broken dreams,cleaned-out bank accounts and endless embarrassment.
Consumer News: County farm bureaus stand with farmers amid deportation fears
[unable to retrieve full-text content]February 5, 2025 At the Farm Bureau of Ventura County in California, office staff field daily calls from concerned farmers who ask whether their workers are safe to continue their daily jobs.
Consumer News: County farm bureaus stand with farmers amid deportation fears
[unable to retrieve full-text content]February 5, 2025 At the Farm Bureau of Ventura County in California, office staff field daily calls from concerned farmers who ask whether their workers are safe to continue their daily jobs.
The Trump administration could roll back key consumer protections; advocates are monitoring
As the incoming administration begins appointing new leaders to fill federal agency roles that directly impact consumers, what remains to be seen is how the next four years will play out in terms of consumer safety and protection. Consumer advocates, however, are paying attention, and keeping a wide range of issues in their line of sight, such as food and product recalls, the future of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and the reduction of federal workers who help with enforcement.
What's worse than no insurance? Not having enough insurance.
Homeowners seeking to rebuild their homes after a devastating disaster may be surprised to find themselves in another conundrum – their home insurance doesn’t cover enough to help them move on with their lives and rebuild their devastated house. They are underinsured. Researchers who looked into the underinsurance phenomenon found that most homeowners lack enough coverage to rebuild their house after a total loss.
Consumer News: GoFundMe could interfere with FEMA grants
[unable to retrieve full-text content]January 16, 2025 As numerous families flock to online fundraising sites such as GoFundMe to raise money for recovery efforts from the Los Angeles wildfires, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is warning consumers that it could impact their eligibility for assistance.
Consumer News: EXCLUSIVE: LA rent prices spike 41% average for hundreds of rentals since fires, volunteers say
By Dieter Holger and Amritpal Sandhu-Longoria of ConsumerAffairs [unable to retrieve full-text content]January 15, 2025 Los Angeles landlords are facing accusations of price gouging after volunteers have collected hundreds of rental listings with eye-popping price hikes following devastating fires. Rent prices have shot up an average of around 41%, often by thousands of dollars,among more than 400 LA rental listings since the fires broke out as of Jan.
EXCLUSIVE: LA rent prices spike 41% average for hundreds of rentals since fires, volunteers say
Los Angeles landlords are facing accusations of price gouging after volunteers have collected hundreds of rental listings with eye-popping price hikes following devastating fires. Rent prices have shot up an average of around 41%, often by thousands of dollars, among more than 400 LA rental listings since the fires broke out as of Jan. 14, according to a ConsumerAffairs analysis of online rental listings in a public spreadsheet collected by volunteers.
Asian students face racism, harassment at school. What would make it stop?
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments.
Asian students face racism, harassment at school. What would make it stop?
Reading Time: 17 minutes Editor’s note: This story has graphic language and descriptions of racial slurs, harmful rhetoric and violence against Asians and other students of color attending public schools. If you need support or have experienced violence, discrimination, harassment or racism, find an organization that can help in this database. Hai Au Huynh was fed up.
Today's FCC's net neutrality vote affects your internet speed. We explain
Betty Lin-Fisher and Amritpal Kaur Sandhu-Longoria April 25, 2024 at 7:25 AM·6 min read The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday voted to reinstate rules repealed in 2017 that would prevent internet service providers from disrupting your internet speed. The 3-2 vote along political party lines restores net neutrality – a policy that ensures your internet service provider doesn’t block or slow legal traffic, or charge more to deliver some content more quickly.
FCC's net neutrality vote could affect your internet speed. We explain
The Federal Communications Commission is set to vote Thursday on whether to reinstate rules that would prevent internet service providers from disrupting your internet speed. If approved, the vote would restore net neutrality – a policy that ensures your internet service provider doesn’t block or slow legal traffic, or charge more to deliver some content more quickly.
Cable blackout over 24 hours? How an FCC proposal could get you a refund.
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Exclusive: Internet blackout over 24 hours? How an FCC proposal could get you a refund. Original
If your internet and TV goes out for more than 24 hours, you would be entitled to a refund under a proposal being introduced by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday. The proposal would push cable and internet providers to give consumers their money back when they fall short on a service, according to a senior FCC official. Two prominent blackouts this year alone served as a catalyst for the commission’s proposal, the senior official said.
Exclusive: Internet blackout over 24 hours? How an FCC proposal could get you a refund.
Exclusive: Internet blackout over 24 hours? How an FCC proposal could get you a refund. If your internet and TV goes out for more than 24 hours, you would be entitled to a refund under a proposal being introduced by the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday. The proposal would push cable and internet providers to give consumers their money back when they fall short on a …
Costumes, candy, decor fuel $12.2 billion Halloween spending splurge in US: A new record
Consumers are expected to spend a record $12.2 billion for Halloween candy, costumes and decorations, according to National Retail Federation's annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics. “More Americans than ever will be reaching into their wallets and spending a record amount of money to celebrate Halloween this year,” said Matthew Shay, NRF president and chief executive officer. This year's Halloween spending is expected to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
Prime Day deals you can't miss: Amazon's October 2023 sale is (almost) here Original
Amazon Prime members can enjoy exclusive sales and savings starting Tuesday when the next Prime Day kicks off. This second Prime event of the year, known as Prime Big Deal Days, comes just in time for the holiday season. Prime shoppers can expect new deals every five minutes on the website during select periods on a wide selection of products, Amazon said in a release.
Clorox ransomware attack which caused product shortages linked to earnings loss Original
The Clorox Company announced that an August cyber attack that caused product shortages, will impact first quarter earnings for 2024, and they expect sales to drop 23% to 28%.
Tired of spam? Soon, Gmail users can unsubscribe with one click
Can’t stand the spam? Well, if you’re a Gmail user, it’s going to get easier to unsubscribe with just one click. Beginning February 2024, who email more than 5,000 messages a day to Gmail addresses, requiring them to authenticate outgoing email, avoid sending unsolicited or unwanted email, and make it easier for consumers to opt out. While Google already has measures in place to help keep spam out of their inboxes and for users to report, the new rules are aimed senders.
A very cheesy celebration: These are the National Pizza Month deals you can't miss
Americans, rejoice. October is National Pizza Month, which means you can take advantage of some great pizza deals nationwide. Whether you like your pizza vegan, thin-crust, meaty, Chicago-style, or New York-style, plenty of pizza joints are offering specials on pies for the celebratory month. Whether it's served up in thin or thick crust or eaten folded or with a fork, there's a lot of dough, so to speak, in pizza.
What is net neutrality? As FCC chair weighs return, what to know about the internet rule Original
The initiative to create a fair and open internet −one where your internet service provider doesn’t get block or slow legal traffic, or charge more to deliver some content quicker − is back on the Federal Communication Commission’s radar. Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel announced last week that open internet access − or net neutrality −was “a necessity for daily life,” and rules needed to be set for internet service providers.
Bay Area Subway franchises must pay $1 million for endangering children, stealing checks Original
Children as young as 14 working at various Bay Area Subways were directed to use dangerous equipment and work hours not permitted by law. And now the Subway owners have to pay them nearly $1 million in back wages and damages, according to an order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Federal investigators found that the owners and operators didn't pay employees regularly, issued them hundreds of bad checks, and illegally stole their tips.
'Monopolistic practices': Amazon sued by FTC, 17 states in antitrust lawsuit Original
The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general announced they sued Amazon, alleging the online retailer maintains monopoly power by blocking competition, inflating prices, overcharging sellers and degrading product selection and quality for shoppers. “Today’s lawsuit seeks to hold Amazon to account for these monopolistic practices and restore the lost promise of free and fair competition, said Lina M. Khan, FTC chair.
Shimano recalls bicycle cranksets in U.S. and Canada after more than 4,500 reports Original
Shimano is recalling 680,000 units of its bicycle cranksets after getting 4,519 reports of injuries that included fractures and lacerations, according to a release by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The company issued the voluntary recall because the bonded crank parts, the part of the bicycle that the chain and pedals attach to for pedaling, are at risk of separating and breaking and can cause people to crash.
Costco partners with Sesame to offer members $29 virtual health visits Original
Love shopping at Costco? How about a virtual doctor's visit for the Costco price of $29? Costco members will be able to access health services for outpatient care like doctor's visits, labs, and mental health therapy at a "special discount," through a partnership with Sesame, a healthcare marketplace. Sesame connects providers to consumers at a low cost, through its platform to make appointments and make payments.
Lectric recall warns of issues with electric bike company's mechanical brakes Original
Lectric eBikes is contacting consumers about the ebike's mechanical disk brake calipers which can cause riders to lose control and can lead to injury, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The CPSC reported that 45,000 bikes are in need of repair. The commission has received four reports of loss of braking power which included two injuries involving cuts, scrapes and a broken bone. Lectric eBikes wants people to immediately stop using the bikes until the brakes are repaired.
Howard Schultz, former Starbucks CEO, retires from coffee chain's board of directors
Howard Schultz, former chief executive officer of Starbucks, is retiring from the company's board of directors, the company announced Wednesday. Schultz, who has been with the company 41 years, moved from his native New York to Seattle in 1982 to start his job as the director of operations and marketing. As he retires from his position, he will be honored as "lifelong Chairman Emeritus," the company said. Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.
Fall fever is upon us: Häagen-Dazs brings back Pumpkin Spice Shake in time to celebrate Original
Joining the pumpkin spice crusade is Häagen-Dazs, with the announcement of its Pumpkin Spice Shake featuring Dulce de Leche ice cream. The shake was first launched in 2021 and will return nationally Friday through Nov. 14 "Through the combination of the popular pumpkin spice flavor and our delicious Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche Ice Cream, our Pumpkin Spice Shake continues to be a highly anticipated fall special," said Rachel Jaiven, the company's marketing director.
What do you do if you find a lost dog or cat? Ring's new Pet Tag lets you contact owners. Original
Ring, the Amazon-owned company known for its doorbell cameras, just launched Pet Tag to help owners find their lost pets. The tag attaches to a pet's collar and has a custom QR code printed on it, which when scanned, allows a person to contact the pet's owner.
CVS, Walgreens and others warned by FDA about unapproved eye products Original
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned CVS, Walgreens and other companies that they violated federal law by marketing unapproved eye products. The eye products are being illegally marketed as being able to treat cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis and more. The FDA said some of the eye products are labeled to contain silver and long-term use can cause skin and body tissues, including the eye, to permanently turn gray or blue-gray.
Walgreens settlement with Theranos patients sees company dole out hefty $44 million Original
Walgreens has agreed to pay $44 million to patients who used Theranos blood testing services, Arizona court documents revealed. The lawsuit spanned seven years and Walgreens is not admitting fault. Court records show that Walgreens will create a $44 million non-reversionary common fund for people who will receive direct payments without a claims process.
Breakup in the cereal aisle: Kellogg Company splits into Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co Original
Kellogg Company is splitting in to two independently traded companies, spinning off their global snacking business into Kellanova and North American cereal brand into WK Kellogg Co. The company unveiled the new names in March 2023, but the company's board of directors approved the plan to separate on Monday. The separation is effective Oct. 2, according to the company's press release. What can consumers expect?
Google policy requires clear disclosure of AI in election ads
Google released an update to its political content policy, requiring election advertisers to disclose clearly if they used artificial intelligence in the ad. The updates take effect mid-November, a year ahead of the 2024 presidential election, which promises to be the first election cycle with artificial intelligence potentially playing a pivotal role at the ballot box.
Google wants advertisers to disclose the use of AI in election ads
Google released an update to its political content policy, requiring election advertisers to disclose clearly if they used artificial intelligence in the ad. The updates take effect mid-November, a year ahead of the 2024 presidential election, which promises to be the first election cycle with artificial intelligence potentially playing a pivotal role at the ballot box.
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