A California bill would let insurers monitor customers’ driving data in exchange for discounted premiums.

Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, the author of AB 311, said the digital monitoring, known as telematics, rewards good driving and would improve safety. In real time, telematics technology would track data such as speed, location and how a vehicle is being driven.

“We have to slow people down,” McKinnor said. “That is the whole purpose for this bill, is driver safety.”

A voter-approved law from 1988, Prop 103, required insurance rates to be based mainly on driving record, miles driven and experience. It made California the only state in the country to prohibit telematics. 

McKinnor believes the law is outdated. She argued that her bill would also help good drivers who pay higher rates because of where they live. 

“Where I live definitely brings my insurance up,” McKinnor said. “If we both drive the same way, we’ll get charged the same way, instead of by our ZIP code.”

California’s Department of Insurance and consumer groups oppose the bill, citing privacy concerns. 

“We can’t look behind the algorithm and see what weight it’s giving to different criteria, which is a big problem,” said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog. “Auto insurance, otherwise, is transparent. This is why the Department of Insurance is opposed, because of the lack of transparency in the algorithm.”

The proposed savings in exchange for good driving might not be guaranteed. Telematics data from the Maryland Insurance Administration showed that 31% of drivers who opted into the program saw a drop in rates, 24% saw an increase and 45% saw no change to their premiums. 

“This collects an awful lot of data about people, more than they know, and it’s like having Big Brother in your back seat,” Court said. 

McKinnor insisted that drivers will not be forced to enroll in the program. 

“It’s still opt-in in the other 49 states,” she said. “We’re not going to make this mandatory. It’ll be a per-volunteer situation.”

McKinnor’s bill passed through the legislature’s insurance committee. It’s expected to be presented to the full Senate in August.

As health officials investigate a growing multistate Cyclospora outbreak, Colorado public health leaders say there is no evidence of an increased risk from produce sold in Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has recorded about 90 Cyclospora cases so far this year, according to State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy.

“We typically annually see about 167 cases of this infection in the state,” Herlihy said. “We do typically see more infections due to Cyclospora in the spring and summertime.”

Cyclospora is a parasite that causes an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis. Symptoms typically begin about a week after exposure and commonly include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea.

“It is not pleasant, that’s for sure,” Herlihy said. “But we don’t see high hospitalization rates associated with this particular infection.”

The parasite is most often spread through contaminated food or water. Produce such as leafy greens, herbs and berries has been linked to previous outbreaks.

“This particular parasite can be difficult to wash off of produce,” Herlihy said. “It can stay attached to greens or herbs or berries, even after you wash them.”

The warning comes as federal investigators work to identify the source of a growing outbreak affecting several Midwestern states. While the CDC’s public dashboard currently lists only 1 to 10 Colorado cases, Herlihy said those numbers are outdated because they only include reports through the middle of June.

“The outbreak that is occurring outside of Colorado really appears to have started to increase significantly in late June,” she said. “We certainly expect the CDC numbers to go up because the state health department numbers that are not yet reported on the CDC website are much higher.”

Reba Pousma, who lives in the Denver area, has been suffering from symptoms like the parasite for a week. A doctor she spoke with believes Cyclospora could be the cause of her illness, though her source of exposure has not been confirmed.

“It’s definitely different from regular food poisoning,” Pousma said. “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy.”

She believes her symptoms started after eating a salad last week. She’s still battling stomach cramps, exhaustion and relentless trips to the bathroom.

“I’m on day five now of going to the bathroom over 40 times a day, and nothing has been solid,” she said.

She posted about her experience online, and the video has drawn thousands of comments, many from people who say they’re experiencing similar symptoms.

“There’s a lot of people commenting that they’re experiencing the same symptoms,” Pousma said. “I think some people are worried, and some people are like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is me too. Thankfully, somebody’s talking about it.’”

Unlike the Midwest outbreak, Herlihy said most Colorado cases reported so far this year have been linked to international travel, not food purchased or consumed in Colorado.

When someone tests positive, CDPHE investigators conduct detailed interviews about where they traveled, what they ate, restaurants they visited and grocery stores where they shopped to help identify possible sources of exposure.

Testing for Cyclospora requires a stool sample, typically using a PCR test that detects the parasite’s DNA.

Most people recover without treatment, but Herlihy said symptoms can linger for weeks and may come and go. Antibiotics can shorten the illness, particularly for people at higher risk, including young children, older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

For now, CDPHE says Coloradans don’t need to avoid fresh produce but should continue to follow safe food-handling practices by washing produce under cold water, washing their hands before and after handling food, scrubbing firm fruits and vegetables when possible, and refrigerating cut or cooked produce promptly.

“There is no reason to believe that there’s any increased risk of exposure to Cyclospora from eating produce in Colorado,” Herlihy said. “But it is always a good idea to thoroughly wash produce.”

For more information, visit the CDC website.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Democratic Party of Hawaii selected three nominees to fill the vacant Senate District 18 seat, serving Central Oahu, Mililani, Waipio and Waipahu, after Sen. Michelle Kidani’s retirement.

Kidani’s retirement took effect on June 30.

The party announced Thursday that Sechyi Laiu, Beth K Fukumoto, and Danielle Bass were submitted for selection to fill the seat.

Laiu is a senior Hawaii civil service administrator with more than 15 years of experience in commercial, family, immigration and legislative law. He is the litigation coordinator for the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and was a staff attorney for the city on transportation, public safety, legal affairs and salary compensation.

Fukumoto is a political columnist, longtime Miliani resident and former state representative. She served as vice chair of the House committees on Tourism and Veterans, Military and International Affairs and Culture and the Arts.

Bass is a fourth-generation, lifelong Miliani resident, with more than 20 years of experience serving Central Oahu and Hawaii. She served as Legislative and Committee Manager in the House and advanced sustainability and resilience initiatives and policies as the state’s sustainability coordinator.

The governor will choose one of the three to serve as the next state senator for Central Oahu.