FCC Issues Largest ever “Robocall” Fine

Florida-based Travel Club Marketing was hit with the largest automated-calling fine in Federal Communications Commission (FCC) history on Tuesday for making at least 185 unsolicited calls without customer consent, including 142 households on the National Do-Not-Call Registry. The fine of $2.96 million, reported by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, is the largest fine the agency has


New York’s “Responsible Banking” Law Ruled Unconstitutional

In U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday, Judge Katherine Polk Failla issued New York’s mayor Bill De Blasio a notable defeat of a law intended to regulate the community-mindedness of the many financial institutions that inhabit the city. New York’s city council passed the Responsible Banking Act (RBA) in 2012, requiring banks in the


FDA Approves Nestle’s Maggi Noodles, Banned in India

Foodmaker Nestle scored a major victory late Monday night when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing approval for the company’s Maggi noodles within the U.S. The U.S. joins six other countries in allowing the sale of the two-minute instant snack noodles, which had been tested by the regulator for unsafe levels of


Parent Company of Columbia House Records files for Bankruptcy

Much like A&P supermarkets and that company’s bankruptcy announcement last month, another piece of Americana is close to officially entering its historical enshrinement. Nearly everyone of a certain age has at least once in their life taken advantage/been taken advantage of the Incredible Deal™, 8 cassette tapes or CDs for a penny, by subscribing to


Congress Considers Lifting Oil-Export Ban

According to U.S. Representative Joe Barton (R-TX), Congress is expected to vote on legislation that would lift a 40 year-old crude-oil export ban for U.S. producers. In an August 6th phone interview with Bloomberg, Barton said “We’ve got green lights in the House all the way,” saying that “The whip, the majority leader, the speaker


Florida Governor Settles Public-Records Transparency Lawsuit…Again

Recently re-elected Republican Florida Governor Rick Scott agreed to terms with Tallahassee attorney Steven Andrews regarding a dispute over public records disclosure involving a property close to the governor’s mansion. Andrews sued Scott in 2012 after the governor stated his intent to use state funds to buy a building near a property known as “The


How has Ferguson Changed a Year after Michael Brown’s Death?

On Saturday, Michael Brown Sr. led a group of about 100 marchers during a peaceful five-mile journey through the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, accompanied by a state-police escort. The peaceful march was intended to not only commemorate the anniversary of the controversial killing of his son by police officer Darren Wilson a year ago Sunday,



Medtronic Issues Recall for Newly-Approved Heart Device

Leading medical device manufacturer Medtronic has issued its second recall in as many weeks involving recently developed technology. Coming off of the European recall of its MiniMed 640 insulin pump last week, which is scheduled for a Pre-Market Approval (PMA) review in the U.S. later this year, the company has recalled nearly 7,000 EnVeo R