Evidentiary hearings are underway in a Washington, D.C., courtroom this week, to decide if a massive lawsuit against the cellphone industry will be allowed to go to trial.

Multiple families are suing most of the major wireless companies and their trade association, asking for hundreds of millions in damages, claiming cellphone use causes brain tumors.

Monique Solomon Martinazzi, a plaintiff whose husband Andy passed away at age 43, said he had a brain tumor which developed right where he used to hold his cellphone.

"When cellphones first came out he got one of the original battery-held Motorolas," Solomon Martinazzi recounted. "And it was held to his ear 6-7 hours a day. He was in commercial real estate. And we just felt so strongly that was the reason the brain tumor developed where it did."

The industry trade association and Motorola did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but they have said their products are safe and comply with all government standards.

The lawsuit claims the Federal Communications Commission standards are outdated and pointed to a government study showing exposure to cellphone radiation can cause brain and heart tumors in rats.

Industry lawyers argued in court if cellphones caused cancer, we'd be seeing an epidemic of tumors.

Ellie Marks, founder of the California Brain Tumor Association and another plaintiff whose husband Allan has had two brain surgeries so far, said the industry and the government are ignoring the evidence.

"There is a rise in primary brain tumors, especially gliomas, especially in the younger population," Marks pointed out. "These tumors used to only be seen in those over 65. Now we're seeing people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, perishing from this."

The families are claiming wrongful death, personal injury and loss of consortium.

Dr. Joel Moskowitz, director of the Center for Family and Community Health in the School of Public Health at the University of California-Berkeley, said if a U.S. court rules cellphone use leads to brain cancer, the implications are huge.

"It probably would lead to many additional cases being filed by brain cancer victims," Moskowitz explained. "It also may force our government to finally take this issue seriously."

In related news, a judge in Canada recently ruled a class-action lawsuit can go forward against Apple and Samsung. The plaintiffs claimed cellphones emit more than the allowable levels of radiation, and the defendants knowingly harmed users.

As Oregon is seeing its first major heat event of the summer, some simple tips can help you keep your home cooler.

Most of Oregon was under a heat advisory over the holiday weekend.

And with summer just starting, Cameron Starr - senior operations customer experience manager with Energy Trust of Oregon - said more hot days are likely ahead.

He said one recommendation is to keep out heat by pulling down window shades during the hottest part of day, and open windows when temperatures cool down.

"During that time when it's cool outside," said Starr, "a box fan or window-mounted fan on the shady side of the house can really be effective in drawing in cool air."

Excessive heat can be dangerous.

Starr said cooling centers are open across the state for people struggling with the heat. He also noted that you can visit many local businesses with air conditioning to cool down.

Starr advised people to use heat-generating devices, such as ovens, less frequently during hot days.

He added that it's important to check the filters in your air conditioners, especially if they're window-mounted or portable units.

"You want to make sure you're checking those filters, and a lot of manufacturers state to check and clean those every two weeks," said Starr. "And if you've got pets, you probably want to increase that cycle."

For people with fans, Starr said check to ensure it's spinning in the direction that cools, allowing you to feel a breeze rather than pulling cool air upward.

And making sure there aren't any gaps in doors and windows is also important.

"Sealing off any gaps," said Starr, "can very much help reduce the amount of cool air that you're losing to the outside."

Energy Trust offers cash incentives for people to install systems that cool - or provide heat during the winter. There are also federal tax credits available for equipment like energy-efficient heat pumps.




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Two of the largest credit card companies in the United States want federal regulators to greenlight a merger and the deal has been met with skepticism from a consumer rights group.

Capital One and Discover Financial Services agreed in February to combine their services in a $35 billion deal.

Patrick Woodall, managing director of policy at Americans for Financial Reform -- which is composed of civil rights, labor and other civic organizations and promotes an equitable financial system for consumers -- noted the merger would pose a hardship for some.

"This disproportionately impacts Black and Latino families who are much more likely to have subprime credit scores, much more likely to struggle paying their credit card bill," Woodall pointed out. "It would give the company the power to extract value and money from these working families."

Corporate mergers often mean excess jobs will be cut. In 2021, Discover opened a customer care center in Chicagoland, but Woodall fears call center and marketing positions there are on the line. Should the merger receive approval, Capital One has vowed to retain all Discover workers for one year. Then, Capitol One's management can legally close all Discover operations.

The Bank Merger Review Modernization Act mandates federal regulators consider the effects of a proposed merger on the community it serves. According to the financial site Experian, Illinoisans hold an average yearly credit card balance of almost $7,000.

Woodall believes the merger will lead to increased credit card costs, which he said are "likely to gouge consumers."

"It's creating a bank so large and so weighted towards credit cards that in the event of sort of an economic downturn, this bank could be in trouble," Woodall contended. "That could cause systemic problems across the broader economy and banking system."

The Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will hold an open meeting July 19 for community input. Woodall hopes federal regulators will "do the right thing" by standing up for the statutory requirements and blocking the merger.

Summer is in full swing and as temperatures increase across the state of Arizona, so do energy bills.

Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, said Arizonans can easily cut down on their electric bills, from steps as simple as turning off lights or electronics when they are not in use, to investing in a "smart" thermostat to provide better control of a home's temperature.

Brown added people should check with their utility company to ensure they are on the best rate plan, especially if there has been a change in the number of people living under one roof.

"Often your utility can help you cut down on your monthly bill through energy efficiency discounts and rebates," Brown explained. "Helping you to assess if you're on the best rate plan for your household."

For people struggling to pay their bill, she noted utilities offer financial assistance or can point you to a nonprofit to can help. An appliance taking in one watt of electrical current at all times is equivalent to nine kilowatt-hours per year. These so-called "energy vampires" cost the average household between $100 and $200 a year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Brown pointed out cutting energy waste does not require a dramatic change in daily habits or comfort. Just closing curtains during the hottest part of the day can reduce the amount of heat entering a room by up to one-third. She added using ceiling fans to help offset air conditioning is another money-saver; and avoiding using your oven in the summer is another smart strategy.

"Using an air fryer, a slow cooker, microwave or a grill can help to reduce the amount of heat in a room," Brown emphasized. "Which will help to reduce the amount of air conditioning that is being employed, thereby saving money."

Brown acknowledged utility companies often propose raising households' monthly rates and fees. She added if you are behind on an electric bill or anticipate having a hard time paying it, contact the company or the statewide nonprofit Wildfire, to learn more about the Home Energy Assistance Fund.