uMarijuana Sales Legal In Oregon Today, But Not Available Statewider

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  As of this morning, Oregon became the latest state to allow the legal sale of marijuana for recreational use. But some shoppers in the state will have to go pretty far out of their way to do their pot purchasing.

  As the Oregonian notes, when state lawmakers drafted Measure 91, the legislation that legalized marijuana, they provided an out for communities that demonstrated an objection to retail weed sales.

  If more than 55% of a county voted against Measure 91, the local governments are allowed to ban marijuana sellers. So far, 13 cities — primarily in the eastern half of the state — and six counties — Baker, Malheur, Harney, Crook, Wheeler, and Klamath — have said no to drugs. The ban only applies to unincorporated parts of these counties, adding to the possible confusion over where exactly one can stock up.

  For now, retail pot sales in Oregon are only being done through licensed medical marijuana dispensaries. Six cities — this time mostly in the western half of the state — have dispensaries, but have banned them from retail sales.

  Next fall, another eight cities and one county will be asking local voters to decide on bans against marijuana related businesses.

  Beyond legal efforts to limit retail pot sales, a number of communities have ever simply decided to not license any dispensaries. The Oregonian notes that around 20 cities in the Portland area have no dispensaries.

  The paper also notes that, in spite of legalized recreational sales, the Oregon law does nothing to prevent employers from using a positive marijuana drug test as a reason for firing an employee — even if you’re not smoking on the job.

  
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by Chris Morran via Consumerist

uTrump Hotel Breach Likely The Result Of Malware, May Have Lasted More Than A Yearr

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  Three months after the Trump Organization confirmed that several of its hotels’ credit card systems had been breached, the company is releasing additional details on the hack that appears to have started with a computer virus and went undetected for more than a year.

  Trump Hotel Collection, which previously confirmed the breach in July, announced on Wednesday that hackers apparently managed to hide inside the company’s website from May 19, 2014 to June 2, 2015, potentially gathering guests’ credit card data.

  The company goes on to say that it appears there may have been unauthorized malware access to payment card information as it was entered.

  Payment card data — including account numbers, expiration dates, and security codes — of guests at the following hotels: Trump SoHo New York, Trump National Doral in Miami, Trump International New York, Trump International Chicago, Trump International Waikiki, Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas, and Trump International Toronto, may have been affected.

  Additionally, transactions on the point-of-sale terminals at the Las Vegas and Waikiki properties may have compromised cardholder names.

  “THC takes the privacy of personal information seriously,” the company said. “Immediately upon learning of a possible incident, THC notified the FBI and financial institutions, and engaged an outside forensic expert to conduct an investigation of the incident.”

  The company says it has removed the malware and is in the process of reconfiguring various components of its network and payment systems to further secure our payment card processing systems.

  “THC is confident that customers can safely use payment cards at all of the properties managed by THC,” the notice states.

  The organization recommends customers who stayed at the affected hotels carefully review their credit and debt card accounts to determine if their information has been compromised. One year of fraud resolution and identity protection services is being offered to all customers who used credit or debit at the properties between May 19, 2014 and June 2, 2015.

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uMicrosoft And Google Decide To Kiss, Make Up And Drop All Those Pesky Patent Lawsuitsr

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  Giant technology companies — they’re just like us! Instead of continuing to duke it out over a slew of patent infringement claims in court, Microsoft and Google have decided that peace is the answer, and have announced they’re dropping all pending litigation against each other.

  Microsoft and Google are burying the hatchet, settling all 18 cases in the United States and Germany, the two companies said on Wednesday, reports Reuters.

  The move will put a bunch of court fights to bed, involving everything from a number of technologies, including mobile phones, WiFi and patents Microsoft uses for its Xbox game consoles and other Windows products.

  It also ends all litigation over Motorola Mobility, a company Goole sold to Lenovo last year while holding on to its patents.

  It’s not like these two are going to be best friends forever anytime soon, as they still make competing products — Bing and Google search engines, mobile devices, etc. — and it doesn’t mean they won’t ever sue each other over infringement in the future, a Microsoft spokeswoman noted.

  “Google and Microsoft have agreed to collaborate on certain patent matters and anticipate working together in other areas in the future to benefit our customers,” the companies said in a joint statement, without adding information about what the financial terms of the deal may be.

  Microsoft, Google stand down in patent battles [Reuters]

  
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by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist

uFord Issues Six Recalls Covering 380,000 Vehicles Over Crash, Fire Risksr

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  Ford significantly increased the number of vehicles its recalled in 2015 on Wednesday when the car manufacturer announced six new recalls covering nearly 380,000 automobiles — some of which have already been called back, but may continue to have issues. 

  The largest of the recalls includes 342,271 model year 1998 to 2003 Ford Windstar minivans that were originally recalled in 2010 for having a rear axle that could crack over time.

  Ford said on Wednesday that the previous recall remedy of placing brackets on the axle may not have fixed the problem. The parts many continue to contain cracks, which can lead to complete failure and an increased risk of crashes.

  The brackets used to remedy the initial recall may have been incorrectly installed, Ford claims, limiting the effectiveness of the repairs.

  According to the 2010 recall notice [PDF] posted with the National Highway Traffic Safety Commission, the affected vehicles – located in cold weather states were road salt is used – contain axles that can corrode overtime, making it more difficult to maintain control of the vehicle.

  Prior to the initial recall, NHTSA opened an investigation into the issue after receiving 891 complaints alleging axle cracking in the subject vehicles. Of the complaints, 334 claim that the cracking progressed to a complete fracture of the rear axle, including eight allegations of crashes resulting in three injuries.

  Ford said on Wednesday that it is aware of “a small number of accidents that might be connected to the issue, but no injuries.” Dealers will inspect the vehicles and determine if the brackets are correctly installed.

  In addition to re-recalling the Windstar minivans, Ford issued five smaller safety campaigns this week.

  Approximately 36,857 model year 2015 Ford F-150s were recalled for a potential cruise control issue that could increase the risk of a crash.

  According to the automaker’s announcement, when passing a large, highly reflective truck, the adaptive cruise control radar in some of these vehicles could incorrectly identify the truck as being in the F-150’s lane of travel when it is not.

  As a result, the cruise control system might apply the brakes until the truck is no longer perceived to be in the lane of travel. Additionally, the collision warning system red warning light might also flash and a tone might be heard at the same time. If this occurs, the brake lights will illuminate, increasing the potential of a crash.

  The recall will be remedied by a software upgrade, Ford says.

  The company is also recalling 250 model year 2015 Ford Taurus and Lincoln MKS, as well as model year 2016 Ford Explorers because the fuel tank attachment bolts may not be properly tightened.

  If the bolts are not properly attached, the fuel tank straps could break over an extended amount of time, causing the fuel tank to separate from the vehicle and ultimately leading to a fuel leak, Ford said. This could lead to a fire.

  The company is unaware of any accidents or injuries. The vehicles will be inspected by dealers to ensure bolts are tightened.

  Another recall was issued for 1,477 model year 2016 Ford F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis vehicles for a potential issue with a shift control bracket. The bracket may have been improperly manufactured, and could allow the vehicle to be shifted in to reverse without the driver applying the brakes.

  No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the issue. Dealers will replace the shift control bracket.

  Nearly 70 model year 2001 to 2008 Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner SUVs with re-manufactured transmissions are being recalled because a shift lever bolt may not have been tightened properly. This could lead the gear shift to disengage from the transmission without warning.

  Ford said it knows of no injuries or accidents related to the issue. Dealers will inspect the bolt to ensure it is properly tightened.

  Finally, the manufacturer announced it would initiate a compliance recall related to 708 model year 2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ cars that contain fuel tanks that may not have been properly built. In the event of a crash, Ford believes the fuel tank could crake, increasing the risk of a fire.

  So far, the automaker is unaware of any injuries or fires related to the issue. Dealers will replace the fuel tanks in affected cars for free.

  
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by Ashlee Kieler via Consumerist

uJudge Approves Final Plan For RadioShack Bankruptcyr

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  RadioShack’s bankruptcy filing back in February probably surprised no one, and it’s also not surprising that it has taken almost eight months to sort out the affairs of a company that was 95 years old and had 4,000 stores. While many of the chain’s stores were saved and continue under a new owner, and some creditors will be paid in full, the bankruptcy won’t end well for the Shack’s unsecured creditors.

  The electronics retailer had $1 billion in debt, and there simply aren’t enough assets to pay everyone back. The bankruptcy can finally conclude because those unsecured or “junior” creditors agreed to end lawsuits against the senior creditors in exchange for having the senior creditors set aside about $9 million in a trust for them when the company finally liquidates.

  The junior creditors, meanwhile, are still suing the executives of Radioshack for breach of fiduciary duty for their decisions of the last few years: any monetary awards from that will also help cover their losses.

  The RadioShack stores that stayed open were purchased by Standard General, a hedge fund that had lent RadioShack hundreds of millions of dollars when it was in trouble. The company they formed to buy the stores, General Wireless, bid on stores in the bankruptcy auction mostly using RadioShack’s debt to the fund as currency: instead of cash, the former RadioShack will owe Standard General that much less once the retailer’s debts are settled.

  However, that bid wasn’t the highest. While the court approved it because it preserved thousands of jobs, bids that would have shut down all of RadioShack’s stores and held liquidation sales of their inventory, a higher bid from fellow senior creditor Salus Capital would have brought in more cash for lenders.

  Most important for consumers, who are like micro-creditors in corporate bankruptcies if they hold gift cards, the Texas state attorney general led the way in negotiating a settlement to redeem gift cards and setting up an escrow account so card holders won’t have to wait months or years to get their money back.

  RadioShack Wins Final Approval of Chapter 11 Plan [Wall Street Journal]

  
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by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

u9 Things We Learned About Why Better Business Bureau Ratings Don’t Mean Muchr

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  In a lengthy nationwide investigation of Better Business Bureaus across the country, CNN interviewed businesses, consumers, and watchdogs, ultimately learning that how consumers see the organizations as something different, and a good grade from a local Bureau doesn’t guarantee that a business is trustworthy.
  1. The Better Business Bureau isn’t a government entity that serves as a consumer watchdog: you’ll need to contact your state attorney general for that.
  2. There isn’t one single Better Business Bureau covering the whole country: there’s more than 100, which together form the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
  3. The Council does have standards: the former BBB in Los Angeles was shut down after a blogger managed to gain accreditation for the terrorist group Hamas, a prank that was aired on ABC News’ “20/20” in 2011.
  4. Your local Better Business Bureau doesn’t claim to be a consumer watchdog: if you ask (and CNN did) they will claim to be a mediator between consumers and businesses when problems come up.
  5. Companies maintain their good rating if they’re able to “resolve” their complaints, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the customer will be satisfied.
  6. Companies under investigation or actually charged with wrongdoing by government entities can maintain a pristine BBB rating: for example, settling with the federal government over allegedly filing illegal debt collection suits against members of the military didn’t affect the rating of Military Credit Services.
  7. Having active lawsuits from a customer doesn’t necessarily lower a business’s grade.
  8. Local BBBs earn most of their money from dues paid by members, and some former members report their ratings plummeting after they decided not to renew.
  9. Businesses claim that local BBBs put more effort in notifying members than non-members about complaints, when not responding to complaints tanks their rating.

  Slammed by the government, A-rated by the Better Business Bureau [CNN]

  
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by Laura Northrup via Consumerist

uTarget Charges $1 Extra If You Want Your Apple Sauce In A Bigger Boxr

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• Perhaps Target’s goal is to simplify our lives, reducing the number of boxes that we have to carry out of their stores. Probably not, though. There is no logic behind Target math, but at least now they’ll price match to a store with more logical pricing.

  Stuart sent along these examples from his local Target. A box containing four packets of applesauce costs $2…

  

  Put four times as many in a single box, and that’ll cost you an extra dollar.

  

  This may be because it’s harder to stock and move around the larger boxes, but it still makes no retail sense. The last time we checked, Target was in the retail business.

  
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by Laura Northrup via Consumerist