More than a year after my first NewsMom blog on the topic, we finally aired the TV version of "How I Forced the Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit."The two-part TV news series (below) was followed by a first-of-its-kind #FacebookLive chat where thousands gathered to ask me … [Read more...]
Orbit Baby Responds to Flame Retardants in Car Seats
The day before publishing "Concerning Chemicals in Orbit Baby and Other Car Seats", I reached out to Orbit for a response to the Ecology Center-Duke University study. Orbit's website claimed its products were “Free Of Brominated Flame Retardants” and other concerning chemicals … [Read more...]
Child Organ Donation & The “TV Good Luck Charm”
#ReportersNotebook The day after Thanksgiving, I had to work a rare night shift. I was resigned to the fact that I was probably going to be assigned a Black Friday story, and I don't particularly like Black Friday: The crowds are massive, and I end up spending a bunch of money on … [Read more...]
Nail Polish: Out of Bottle, Into Your Body
#ReportersNotebook Normally I blog about the stories I cover on CBS San Francisco. But in the case of this report on nail polish chemicals, it was the other way around. The TV story idea actually came from this NewsMom blog. It began last month when my little cousins were playing … [Read more...]
Before You Pay for Credit Monitoring or ID Protection…
#ReportersNotebookEvery other day it seems like there's a new breach. Between the Anthem and Premera insurance hacks alone, it's estimated 1 out of 3 Americans have been compromised.As a result, there are a growing number of companies offering a growing number of credit monitoring … [Read more...]
The State Owns Your Newborn Blood Spot DNA
UPDATE: May 2018State Biobank Stores Every Baby’s DNA. Who Else Has Access? The #ReportersNotebook entry below was first published in 2015. Since then, we've identified new concerns. Please also see the updated story here:If you or your child was born in California … [Read more...]
Nanny Background Check • A Nanny Nightmare Every Parent Should Hear
#ReportersNotebook As a mom of three, chances are when I am online, I am checking one of the many parenting or motherhood groups I belong to on Facebook. Last year, right after Christmas, I saw a frantic and desperate post from a mom of two, whose newborn son was in the hospital … [Read more...]
Maternity Clothes–Four Ways to Rent, Trade and Save
#ReportersNotebook When I was pregnant, I had about five different maternity outfits… period. Maternity clothes are expensive! Especially the cute stuff, so I rotated though the same few pieces week after week. That was particularly problematic since I’m on TV every day (and no we … [Read more...]
The Power of Moms on Facebook
#ReportersNotebook Like most modern moms, I am a member of several private Facebook parenting pages. While I mostly turn to these forums for advice on everything from potty training to finding a new family-friendly restaurant, I have also been able to find a good number of stories … [Read more...]
What I Learned While Covering a Child Sex Offender
#ReportersNotebook Last week, I did a story on a little girl who was (allegedly) sexually assaulted by a convicted child sex offender while she shopped with her family. What struck me about this crime was that it happened right under her mom's nose. Her mom wasn't being careless … [Read more...]