PROTECT CONSUMER JUSTICE.ORG

Politically connected University of Phoenix is preparing to make a big pay-out to settle a federal lawsuit filed in Sacramento, while it fends off continued bad press.

For years, California law has been clear on the topic of recording telephone calls: Get the other person’s permission.

The price per share of Entercom Communications stock dropped 9.8% the day after a Sacramento jury awarded $16.5 to the family of a woman who died after taking part in a contest put on by one of the company’s stations. That one day alone saw the value of Entercom CEO David Field’s holdings fall almost $750,000.

Freddie Mac, the once powerful mortgage-finance company, posted a net loss of $6.3 billion in the third quarter of 2009. That may seem ugly. But Freddie Mac lost $25.3 billion the year before.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has proposed legislation that would give consumers more information to help them avoid overdraft fees.

“This is reminiscent of when the tobacco industry enlisted doctors to endorse cigarette brands as ‘mild,’” said Dr. William Walker in announcing his resignation from the American Association of Family Physicians.

Rather than remain on his ranch in rural Sacramento County, Reynoso is chairing a citizen’s commission investigating the officer-involved shooting death of Luis Gutierrez, a 26-year farm worker in Woodland, Calif.