By Andrew Smith, Federal Trade Commission, director, Bureau of Consumer Protection Gail Hillebrand, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, associate director, Division of Consumer Education and Engagement Free credit freezes and year-long fraud alerts are here, started Sept. 21, thanks to a new federal law. Here’s what you should know: Security freezes, also known as credit…

  During 2016, the state Legislature passed and Gov. Jerry Brown signed hundreds of new laws. While some were effective immediately and some will not go into effect until 2018 or 2019, most were effective Jan. 1, 2017. Below is a small sampling of the new laws and rules with which we have to comply….

Two weeks ago, after taking sworn testimony from 11 individuals, the grand jury issued a report formally recommending that Idyllwild Fire Protection District commissioners consider terminating both Capt. Mark LaMont and Fire Chief Patrick Reitz. In an action that could be described as thumbing their noses at the grand jury, IFPD commissioners this week unanimously…