Consumer News: Cheese garlic croutons sold at Kroger have been recalled

Rival carriers plan a satellite-based venture aimed at expanding mobile coverage in rural and underserved areas

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• AT&T, T-Mobile,and Verizon plan to form a joint venture aimed at eliminating wireless dead zones across the U.S.

• The companies say the partnership will use satellite-based direct-to-device technology to improve coverage in rural and underserved areas.

• The agreement would allow the rival carriers to pool spectrum resources, while maintaining their separate wireless businesses and existing satellite partnerships.

There may soon be fewer wireless dead spots in the U.S.

AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon are setting aside years of fierce competition to launch a joint venture designed to eliminate wireless dead zones in the United States, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

Earlier this month, the companies announced an agreement in principle to create the new venture, which would combine spectrum resources and invest in satellite-based direct-to-device (D2D) technology to expand mobile coverage where traditional cell towers provide weak or no service.

The proposed partnership represents a rare collaboration among the nations three largest wireless carriers. The companies said the effort is intended to strengthen U.S. leadership in wireless communications while improving connectivity for consumers traveling through remote highways, national parks, and other hard-to-reach locations. It may also improve service in some suburban areas where homeowner associations have blocked new cell towers.

Our goal is to make staying connected simple, no matter where you are, AT&T CEO John Stankey said in the announcement.

Common technical standards

Under the proposal, the joint venture would develop common technical standards and create a unified platform that satellite providers could use to serve more customers. The carriers said the approach would improve customer experience and expand consumer choice by making satellite-based connectivity more seamless across networks.

The companies emphasized that their existing satellite partnerships would remain intact and that each carrier could continue pursuing separate connectivity initiatives independently.

Industry analysts view the agreement as a significant step toward broader adoption of satellite-to-phone services, which are increasingly seen as the next frontier in wireless coverage. The move also comes as companies such as SpaceX, AST SpaceMobile, and Amazon invest heavily in satellite communications technology.

Financial terms of the proposed venture were not disclosed, and the agreement remains subject to final negotiations and closing conditions.

NHTSA is warning consumers to make sure any ticket is legit before paying

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• NHTSA is warning drivers about a surge in scam text messages falsely claiming recipients owe unpaid traffic tickets or tolls.

• The use fake court notices, urgent threats, and QR codes to steal financial and personal information.

• Federal officials say consumers should never pay traffic fines through unsolicited text messages and should verify any notice directly with local courts or state agencies.

The upcoming Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer driving season.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is taking that opportunity to warn consumers nationwide about a growing wave of impersonation targeting drivers through text messages that appear to come from courts, DMVs, or traffic agencies.

According to NHTSA, scammers are sending fake notices claiming recipients owe money for unpaid tolls, parking tickets, or traffic violations. The messages often threaten immediate consequences including suspended licenses, court action, damaged credit, or additional fines unless payment is made quickly.

Many of the include QR codes or links directing consumers to fraudulent payment websites designed to capture credit card numbers, banking information, and other personal data. Cybersecurity experts say the use of QR codes makes the more convincing and harder for automated security systems to detect.

Surfacing in multiple states

The scam campaign appears to be spreading rapidly across the country. Reports have surfaced in multiple states, including Virginia, New York, Texas, California, and New Jersey. In Richmond, Va., earlier this year, local prosecutors warned residents about fake court notices demanding payment for supposed toll or parking violations.

Federal and state officials stress that legitimate courts and motor vehicle agencies generally do not request payments through unsolicited text messages. Consumers who receive suspicious notices are urged not to click links, scan QR codes, or respond to the sender. Instead, they should independently contact the appropriate court or agency using verified phone numbers or official government websites.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently said it has seen a spike in reports involving fake traffic violation notices. In some versions, scammers use official-looking seals, case numbers, and judge names to create a sense of urgency and legitimacy.

Consumers who believe they may have provided financial information to scammers should immediately contact their bank or credit card issuer, monitor their accounts for fraudulent activity, and report the incident to the FTC or FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Some offer up to 5% cash back on a fill-up

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Several credit cards now offer up to 5% cash back or equivalent rewards on gasoline purchases.

• Financial experts say flexible cash-back cards often provide more value than gas-station-branded cards.

• Some rewards programs also include benefits for groceries, dining, travel, and EV charging.

Gas prices are through the roof. Fortunately, there are credit cards that give you a discount or cash back on each gallon of gas. Some are more generous than others.

A growing number of cards now provide between 3% and 5% rewards on fuel purchases, with some also offering benefits on groceries, travel,and dining. Financial analysts say consumers who regularly commute or travel by car can save hundreds of dollars a year by pairing fuel purchases with the right rewards program.

5% cash back

Among the most popular options in 2026 is the Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, which offers up to 5% cash back on gasoline purchases at Costco stations and competitive rewards at other gas retailers. The card also includes rewards on restaurant spending and travel purchases, making it attractive for families and road travelers. Consumers must maintain a Costco membership to qualify.

Another strong option is the Citi Custom Cash Card, which automatically applies 5% cash back to a cardholders top eligible spending category each billing cycle, including gas stations. Analysts say the card appeals to consumers who want flexibility instead of being tied to a specific fuel brand or retailer.

For drivers with high monthly fuel expenses, the PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature remains a favorite among consumer finance experts. The card offers points equivalent to roughly 5% back on gas purchases and carries no annual fee. PenFed membership requirements have also become less restrictive in recent years, broadening eligibility for consumers.

Consumers looking for a no-annual-fee general rewards card often choose the American Express Blue Cash Everyday. The card provides 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, while also rewarding grocery shopping and online retail purchases.

Read the fine print

Financial experts caution consumers to review program details carefully before applying. Some cards cap the amount of gasoline spending eligible for bonus rewards, while others limit higher reward rates to specific stations or warehouse clubs.

Analysts also note that many general cash back cards now outperform traditional gas company-branded cards because they allow consumers to earn rewards regardless of where they fill up.

Another emerging trend is the inclusion of electric vehicle charging as an eligible rewards category. Several issuers have expanded gas station categories to include EV charging networks, as automakers continue shifting toward electrification.

Consumer advocates recommend comparing annual fees, interest rates, and redemption policies in addition to gasoline rewards. Carrying a balance can quickly offset the value of any fuel discounts earned through rewards programs.

For consumers who pay their balances in full each month, however, gas rewards cards can provide meaningful savings at a time when transportation costs remain a major household expense.

Researchers say bills could rise by more than 50% in the next four years

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• A new study warns that electricity bills could rise as much as 57% by 2030, as utilities expand power generation and transmission to support fast-growing data centers.

• Researchers say artificial intelligence is accelerating demand for electricity, with data centers projected to consume a sharply larger share of the U.S. power grid within the next decade.

• Consumer advocates and energy experts are increasingly questioning whether residential customers will end up subsidizing infrastructure needed by major technology companies.

The rapid expansion of AI-driven data centers could significantly increase household electricity costs over the next several years, according to a new study that projects power bills may climb by as much as 57% by 2030.

The report focuses attention ongrowing concerns about the strain that massive computing facilities are placing on the nations electric grid, as companies race to build infrastructure to support artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cryptocurrency operations.

Researchers found that utilities across the country are already investing billions of dollars in new power plants, substations, and transmission lines to meet soaring electricity demand from data centers. Those costs are often passed on to residential ratepayers through higher monthly utility bills.

The issue is especially pronounced in states that have become major data-center hubs, including Virginia and Texas, where utilities are seeing unprecedented requests for new grid connections.

Reshaping power demand forecasts

Industry analysts say the AI boom is dramatically reshaping electricity demand forecasts nationwide. The International Energy Agency projects that electricity use by data centers worldwide will more than double by 2030, with AI systems becoming the largest driver of growth. In the United States, data centers could account for nearly half of all electricity-demand growth by the end of the decade.

Some forecasts are even more alarming. A federally mandated watchdog overseeing the PJM Interconnection the nations largest regional power grid recently warned that data-center growth has already contributed to wholesale electricity price spikes exceeding 75% in parts of the eastern United States.

Consumer advocates argue that ordinary households could end up bearing the financial burden for infrastructure built primarily to serve large technology companies.

Utilities are expanding the grid to accommodate these massive facilities, and those costs dont simply disappear, energy analysts have warned in recent months. Several studies and policy reports have suggested that residential customers may ultimately subsidize upgrades required by hyper-scale computing operations.

Demand rising faster than expected

The study also notes that energy demand from AI servers is rising far faster than earlier projections anticipated. Berkeley Lab estimates that U.S. data-center electricity use more than doubled between 2017 and 2023 and could reach as much as 12% of total U.S. electricity consumption by 2028.

Critics of the current regulatory framework say utilities and state regulators have been slow to address who should pay for the growing energy appetite of the tech sector. Some lawmakers are now pushing for greater transparency in utility agreements with technology companies and exploring policies that would require large data-center operators to shoulder more of the infrastructure costs.

Despite the concerns, utilities and economic development officials continue to court data-center investment because of the jobs, tax revenue, and local economic activity the facilities can generate.

Still, experts warn that balancing economic growth with grid reliability and affordability will become increasingly difficult as AI adoption accelerates nationwide.