Here’s something to honk about. A new California law set to take effect October 1 takes aim at slimy car salesmen, protecting Golden State buyers and lessees from hidden costs, misleading terms, and predatory sale tactics. Dubbed the California Combating Auto Retail Scams, or CARS Act, Senate Bill 766 requires dealerships to advertise the total … Read more
They’re pushing back. A fed-up Southern California town is fighting the growing, unattractive “nuisance” of abandoned shopping carts — by slapping scofflaw businesses that don’t pick up after their customers with steep fines. The city council of Wildomar, a small suburb about an hour and a half from Los Angeles and just next door to on-the-grow … Read more
It gave them an unsettling “feline.” A sinister trend involving AI footage of Dr. Seuss’ most iconic character is sparking school safety concerns and even leading to arrests of students responsible for the prank’s proliferation. The trend involves AI-generated depictions of someone dressed as the Cat In The Hat, the dapper, hat-wearing feline agent of … Read more
A proposed law may change how Amazon, FedEx and others deliver packages — and it’s not good news for New Yorkers. For some time now, Walmart, Amazon, Target, FedEx and more have implemented last mile delivery — the final step of the shipping process where packages go from a local hub to one’s doorstep, which … Read more
Cue the “Law & Order: SVU” theme music for Jalen Brunson. During an appearance on the “Today” show on Thursday, the television show’s star and Knicks fan Mariska Hargitay revealed you could see the NBA Finals MVP on screen soon. “Don’t tell anyone but see him on ‘SVU,’” she whispered to Savannah Guthrie on Thursday. … Read more
California is putting a digital leash on AI fakes. A landmark new state law taking effect this week will require artificial intelligence companies to add invisible “digital fingerprints” to AI-generated images, videos and audio, giving users a way to determine whether the content they’re seeing was made by a human — or a machine. Written … Read more
Airplanes are about to be as quiet as libraries. Gone are the days of having to shush flyers or throw some nasty side-eye at your seatmate because Congress has officially introduced another bill to ban phone calls during flights. The Quiet Skies Act is a rare move of bipartisan legislation that would “finalize a ban … Read more
Check yourself out; it could pay off. A 10% discount could be up for grabs — if you’re willing to work for it. New York lawmaker, Nikki Lucas, proposed a 10% discount for shoppers who use the self-checkout lane. The bill, which was introduced in May, would only require retail establishments that also sell food … Read more
Check your receipts, because a restaurant might be charging a fee before you even order. A restaurant in Tampa, Florida, recently came under fire after a guest spotted a “venue fee” on her check. The restaurant — RO in Hyde Park — tacked on a 3% fee, a surcharge that was not posted anywhere on … Read more
Diners at Outback Steakhouse and other major restaurant chains in California are about to see a permanent shakeup on their menus — and it isn’t a new cut of beef. Starting July 1, the chain will be required to clearly disclose if each menu item contains any of the nation’s nine major food allergens, thanks … Read more
Sell-by dates in New York City are spoiled rotten. A quick peek inside your refrigerator and you may see the following phrases on your food: “sell by,” “best if used by,” or “use by,” but what do they actually mean, and which one do you follow — if any? New Yorkers aren’t sure, lawmakers say. … Read more
Skipping school may finally pay off. High school grads in Florida find a new passion — or path — after graduation instead of a four-year college or trade as…a customer service rep? The state passed law HB 1343, allowing Florida grads to meet licensure requirements to be an insurance customer representative right out of high … Read more
Democratic lawmakers complained in late May about employers not providing paid leave for painful menstruation cycles, calling it “economic violence.” “Forcing a worker to choose between paying her rent or losing a day’s pay to recover from a grueling gynecological procedure is not a choice. It’s economic violence,” Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., said during a press conference on … Read more
Your teen might need a new summer or after-school gig. Walmart — long seen as a common starting place for American teens to get their feet wet in the workforce — is being forced to crack down on a no-workers-under-18 rule in several stores, due to standards set by the US Department of Labor under … Read more
A $20 million divorce unraveled over a paltry $49 toaster oven. In another case, a woman had a tanning bed moved out of her marital home and into her hotel room mid-divorce — to keep up appearances, obviously. Then there was the man who tried to claim a couch. Not for comfort, but because it … Read more
A sexual abuse victim gave heart-wrenching testimony to state lawmakers, begging them at a committee hearing to fix what she called “a terrible law” by California Democrats that lets elderly criminals qualify for early parole hearing. Lawmakers are facing public outrage after the law paved way for approving the release of serial child rapist David … Read more
It’s the eye of the tiger. The first photo has emerged of Jude Law and Andrew Garfield in their costumes as Siegfried and Roy for their upcoming AppleTV+ series “Wild Things.” Law, 53, could be seen in a platinum blonde mullet and aviators. He will play Siegfried Fischbacher. Garfield, 42, had long hair, a soul … Read more
A “Law & Order: SVU” episode featuring Timothy Busfield will no longer air following the actor’s child sex abuse charges. NBC has pulled the episode, titled “Corrosive” from its originally scheduled airtime on Thursday, Jan. 15, according to Variety. Instead, the following episode, “Fidelis ad mortem,” will now be bumped up by one week and … Read more
Starting today, California is taking a stand against thirdhand smoke. While most people are well aware of the health threat of secondhand smoke — what you inhale from someone smoking a cigarette nearby — “thirdhand smoke” is much less discussed. But it may actually be more toxic. It can certainly have a very real effect … Read more
A bill introduced in Florida takes aim at paper drinking straws and stirrers at food businesses and restaurants. Senate Bill 958 was introduced Dec. 18 — with an identical House bill, HB 2195, introduced Dec. 26 — to limit what cities and counties can do to regulate drinking straws and stirrers. “Many businesses and communities in this … Read more