News 12 Talks New Jersey

For years, the advice on how to get your next pet was simple: Adopt, don't shop. The problem is it's not as easy as it used to be.  Some 85 million American families now own a pet – about seven in 10 families -- but many unwittingly get animals raised by mass breeders, sometimes called “puppy mills.” And consumer advocates say thousands of prospective pet owners fall victim to pet scams each year. Last month, authorities in Iowa busted a “puppy-laundering ring.” Dogs from puppy mills were given to fake rescue groups that existed only on paper, then were sold to pet stores. If you're looking for a new pet, you've got to do your homework. Walt Kane talks to Larry Cohen with the Humane Society of the United States & Melissa Companick with the Better Business Bureau about what to know when getting your next pet.

The On The Scene podcast features interviews by John Bathke with artists and entertainers.  In this episode, John talks with designer Isaac Mizrahi about why he's happier not being in the high-end fashion business anymore, his gender identity issues as a kid, and his goal now of becoming a singer and entertainer. Dionne Warwick is going back to the future...re-recording "What the World Needs Now" for a new album. She talks about performing in Donald Trump's casinos, and living without regret. And 24-year-old poet Rashad Wright of Jersey City, joins John to discuss the inspiration and impact of being a young, urban poet.

About $3 million in heating assistance that was supposed to go to low-income families may have gone to applicants who lied about their income, a state audit finds. The report from the NJ state auditor confirms concerns that were first raised in a KIYC investigation. In 2016, KIYC spoke to a whistleblower who described fraud he said he saw while working for the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. In this episode, Walt Kane and investigative producer Karin Attonito reflect on the long-term investigation.

News 12's Walt Kane gives answers to answers to viewers' consumer questions. This conversation touches on the Volkswagen recall, Carfax, health insurance and more.   Note: This episode was record Friday, March 29.

It's the list that no carmaker wants to be on: the annual Car Complaint Index. The list looks at complaints per vehicle sold per year of service that it's on the road. To get more insight into this year's list, Walt Kane talks to The Car Book author Jack Gillis.

Can taxpayers expect bigger or smaller refunds this year? Some employers adjusted the withholding tables with the new tax rates, so it could be smaller. But it’s more complex than that. News 12’s Walt Kane interviews accountant Joe Petrucelli and Joseph Rosenberg of the Tax Policy Center.

Losing a loved one is painful, but some New Jersey families say their loss was made worse by a situation that's so bizarre it's kind of hard to believe. The families bought final resting places at Holmdel Cemetery. But the cemetery and its for-profit sales agent double and triple sold the same spots - meaning that on one of the worst days of their lives, families would find the plots they had paid for was already occupied. A Kane In Your Corner investigation.