WildSnap // Shutterstock

Chevrolet Corvette owners have faced a troubling safety issue that turns routine refueling into a potential fire hazard. Reports of fires igniting during or shortly after filling up at gas stations have raised serious concerns about a gas pump defect that Corvette models may experience.

This hazard has affected thousands of vehicles and prompted investigations into the root cause of these frightening incidents, LawtonCates reports.

Understanding the Corvette Gas Pump Defect

The gas pump defect Corvette owners have reported involves fuel spills while pumping gas, caused by the vehicle’s design that allows excess fuel to leak from the filler neck into nearby hot components. General Motors (GM), which owns Chevrolet, issued a recall (NHTSA 25V-536). The recall notice explains that spilled fuel or fuel vapors can be drawn into the engine bay by the left-side radiator fan, which runs after the engine shuts down. Once inside, the fuel can come into contact with ignition sources, such as the hot exhaust or radiator, creating a fire risk.

Which Corvette Models Are Affected?

The Corvette models affected by this recall are the C8-generation Z06 (2023–2026) and ZR1 (2025–2026) models. These high-performance supercars are among the fastest Chevrolet has ever made, and the recall impacts over 23,000 vehicles.

Has My Corvette Been Recalled?

General Motors has issued recalls for certain Corvette models due to concerns about the fuel system. However, owners should verify whether their specific vehicle is included in recall campaigns by checking their Vehicle Identification Number through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website or by contacting a Chevrolet dealer directly.

Recall remedies typically involve a fuel-diverting shield to redirect spills away from the cooling fan and hot surfaces, not a replacement or modification of the filler neck itself.

Even if your vehicle has been recalled and repaired, you may still have grounds for a gas pump malfunction lawsuit if you suffered losses or if the recall remedy proves inadequate.

Why This Issue Is So Dangerous

The Corvette gas pump defect is particularly hazardous because it combines flammable materials with ignition sources. Two incidents involved minor burn injuries.

These fires also destroy expensive vehicles and can cause significant property damage to gas stations. At least two incidents resulted in total vehicle loss. Anyone affected should consult an attorney about a possible claim.

This story was produced by LawtonCates and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.

Read more

Tricky_Shark // Shutterstock

A new analysis of more than 3,000 vehicle models finds that the annual gap between the cheapest and most expensive cars to insure is around $4,400.

The analysis, conducted by CarInsurance.com, ranks vehicles from the most affordable to the most expensive to insure. The findings show a clear divide: Safe, affordable compact SUVs and crossovers are among the least expensive to insure, while luxury, high-performance models, especially BMW’s M-series, are among the most expensive.

Your car’s make and model play a major role in how much you pay for insurance because insurers use that information to estimate future claim costs. They look at past data for each vehicle, including repair expenses, theft rates and safety ratings.

In almost all cases, a vehicle’s overall risk profile matters just as much as its sticker price. Cars with strong safety ratings, lower repair costs and affordable parts are typically cheaper to insure and can help keep premiums in check. Understanding which vehicles carry lower premiums and why can help drivers make smarter purchasing decisions before they commit to a car. This CarInsurance.com analysis ranks vehicles from the most affordable to the most expensive to insure.

Still uncertain? An online car insurance calculator can help estimate how much you can expect to pay in your state.

Key findings: Cheapest and most expensive cars to insure

• The BMW M8 Gran Coupe ($6,744), BMW M5 Touring ($6,708) and BMW M5 ($6,593) are the most expensive vehicles to insure.
• Subaru Crosstrek ($2,299), Jeep Wrangler ($2,307) and Honda CR-V ($2,316) are the cheapest cars to insure in 2026, according to CarInsurance.com’s data study.
• Car insurance rates vary by make and model based on factors such as repair costs, safety ratings, theft rates, crash statistics and performance, all of which help insurers estimate the likelihood and cost of future claims.
• The cheapest cars to insure typically have high safety ratings, lower horsepower and low theft rates. Comparing insurance quotes before buying and choosing a slightly older model can further reduce premiums.

Cheapest cars to insure in 2026

Some models consistently have lower insurance rates due to favorable safety records and low repair costs.

These are the cheapest vehicles to insure and their average annual rates for full coverage car insurance:

1. Subaru Crosstrek: $2,299
2. Jeep Wrangler: $2,307
3. Honda CR-V: $2,316
4. Subaru Outback: $2,322
5. Volkswagen Tiguan: $2,329

Most expensive cars to insure in 2026

Luxury and high-performance models often carry higher insurance premiums due to costly repairs and a higher theft risk.

These are the most expensive vehicles to insure and their average annual full-coverage rates:

The post Glendale Man Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Prison For Role in Darknet Network that Sold and Distributed Narcotics Nationwide appeared first on edhat.

The post Attorney General Bonta Files Lawsuit Against the Trump Administration for Illegally Terminating Funding for Energy and Infrastructure Programs appeared first on The Santa Barbara Independent.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KEYT) – Last week, Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo filed a formal request to audit the state's High-Speed Rail Authority Project with the state's joint legislative oversight authority.

The audit request was filed with the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, a bicameral oversight group that works alongside the California State Auditor's Office to investigate the state's investments and operations.

The 14-member groups is split between members of the state's Assembly and Senate and requires at least four members from each chamber before conducting business.

Requests for audits can end up approved, denied, retained, or referred to another agency by the Chair of the group and can focus on financial or performance oversight depending on the analysis of the request by the State Auditor's Office the statewide watchdog explained.

That analysis remains confidential until a hearing is held by the Audit Committee and then made publicly available. A searchable database of reports between 1993 and 2023 can be found here and a list of upcoming reports can be found here.

Once the audit is approved, the full analysis of the request can take up to six months noted the Audit Committee.

After a decade of preparation, a $9.95 billion down payment on an 800-mile, high-speed train system between San Francisco and Los Angeles was approved by California voters in 2008.

"Californians will be able to travel from Los Angeles to San Francisco in less than two hours and 40 minutes, cruising at speeds of 220 mph," boasted the 2008 California High-Speed Train Business Plan. "California’s high-speed train will be built with major capital contributions from multiple sources, including the State of California, the federal government, local and regional governments and private sector investors. Under Proposition 1A, state bond funding for construction cannot be spent until matching federal, local and private funding is also secured."

The system's backbone, linking Los Angeles/Anaheim and San Francisco was initially expected to cost the state $33 billion with an estimated $12-$16 billion from federal sources in 2008 dollars shared the 2008 High-Speed Train Business Plan.

The initial construction cost projections were developed by international engineering and management firm Parson Brinckerhoff as well as financial projections by Infrastructure Management Group with input from Barclays Capital and Goldman Sachs and was reviewed by European and Japanese government rail agencies noted the 2008 Business Plan and the High Speed Rail Authority which expected the system to be operational by 2030.

The Rail Autho