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Weights and Measures in the News

LA Countyology: Metrology with Lina Ng

LA Countyology, YouTube
By: David Sommers
December 2, 2024


A variety of fresh vegetables on the store shelf. Farm produce. Natural background.
Credit: Adobe Stock

Safeway, Albertsons, Vons settle price overcharges, false weight advertising complaint for nearly $4M

Supermarket News
By: Bill Wilson, Senior editor at Supermarket News
October 4, 2024


Man holding a drill in a hardware store
Credit: Adobe Stock

Home Depot Settles Violations Related to California Price Accuracy Law for $1,977,251

Sonoma County District Attorney
Santa Rosa, CA
September 16, 2024


Home Depot to pay $2 million settlement for overcharging customers

CNN
By: Ramishah Maruf
September 14, 2024


Person weighing bananas
Credit: Adobe Stock

How we ensure the high value of fair scales 

California County Weights and Measures officials ensure the trust and transparency of everyday consumer transactions, from buying bulk produce to fuel at the pump.
Farm Progress
By: Todd Fitchette
September 10, 2024


Photo of Hand holding a gas pump handle pumping gas into a vehicle
Credit: Getty

FUELING RAGE:  ‘It’s illegal,’ says 7-Eleven shopper as she’s overcharged 77 cents a gallon – company’s ‘reply’ left her stunned

The U.S. Sun
By: Debbie White, U.S. News Reporter


Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE)
Credit: Photo courtesy of Kistler

New York City DOT Tackles Overweight Truck Problem

ENRNewYork
The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is frequently used by overweight trucks.
By: Marigo Farr
August 1, 2024


Man pushing a shopping cart at the supermarket
Credit: Adobe Stock

Consumer Reports: Save bucks by using 'unit pricing' when shopping

ABC4 Utah
Consumer tip: Use unit pricing to identify the best value for your money.
July 29, 2024


Planet Money Logo
Credit: NPR, Planet Money

How to fight shrinkflation? Pay attention to unit prices at grocery stores

National Public Radio (NPR)
The Planet Money podcast describes how to use unit pricing and current shrinkflation challenges facing U.S. consumers.
By: Greg Rosalsky
July 9, 2024


Northeastern University students tour the Massachusetts state metrology laboratory, observing the state standards, as well as the precision weighing and volumetric calibration processes
Credit: Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Division of Standards’ Metrology Laboratory: Scientific Study in the Heart of Ashland Benefitting Consumers

Massachusetts Consumer Affairs Blog
Northeastern University students tour the Massachusetts state metrology laboratory, observing the state standards, as well as the precision weighing and volumetric calibration processes.
June 24, 2024


Modern, brightly lit supermarket aisle with stocked shelves and refrigeration units, showcasing a variety of products and organized layout.
Credit: Adobe Stock

New Jersey fines Walmart over in-store pricing practices

Reuters
New Jersey Attorney General and the Division of Consumer Affairs regulators and U.S. retailer Walmart reach a settlement over allegations of unlawful pricing practices at 64 retail stores.
June 18, 2024


Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park
Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park in California, United States
Credit: Adobe Stock

Here's the real reason the U.S. doesn't use the metric system 

National Geographic
By: Erin Blakemore
June 18, 2024


Graphic Image of Blue Electric Car at Charging Station
Credit: Adobe Stock

Vermont’s EV chargers

CBS Channel 3 
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, Weights and Measures Program begins Electric Vehicle (EV) fueling system charging station testing. 
June 7, 2024 



Earth View from Lunar Surface
Credit: Adobe Stock

Memorandum for Departments and Agencies Participating in the White House Cislunar Technology Strategy Interagency Working Group 

Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) 
White House directs NASA to develop lunar time standard based on the International System of Units.
April 2, 2024


Electronic Shelf Label
Credit: Adobe Stock

Dynamic pricing is coming to grocery stores

National Public Radio (NPR) All Things Considered
March 17, 2024


West Virginia State Flag
Credit: Adobe Stock

State lab consolidation is taking shape

West Virginia, WCHS Network
February 19, 2024



US Survey Foot Comic
Credit: Credit: xkcd.com

Gasoline Fuel Dispenser
Gasoline fuel dispenser
Credit: Adobe Stock



Image of contactless payment logo with a red arrow pointing to a hole in the screen
Credit: Alexander Kirk, Briana Fernandez

Scammers are drilling holes into gas pump payment machines

KUSA-TV, Denver, CO
By:  Alexander Kirk, Briana Fernandez
September 27, 2023


 

blue backgrond with a coiled yellow metric tape measure
Credit: Shutterstock

Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains…Will the U.S. Adopt the Metric System?
Why didn’t the US switch to the metric system? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice breakdown how Americans are sliding closer to using the metric system, what measurements would change, and which will stay the same. What if time was metric?

StarTalk
September 26, 2023

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 - Metric in the US
  • 6:56 - Soda, Electricity, & Engines
  • 12:55 - Do We Keep Celcius?
  • 14:30 - Why Don’t We Like The Metric System?
  • 16:00 - Getting the Units Wrong

Missouri Dept of Agriculture Logo
Credit: Missouri Department of Agriculture

 Missouri attorney general sues Dollar General over deceptive pricing practices

KTVO News (Kirksville, MO)
By: Nicolas Fuchs
September 13, 2023
Additional Resources on this topic: NIST OWM Examination Procedure for Price Verification Frequently Asked Questions


Steve Troxler and Stephen Benjamin
Credit: North Carolina Department of Agriculture

How Weights and Measures Regulations Protect Consumers Behind the Scenes

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
By: Sarah Grace Fowler
August 23, 2023

Media Caption: NC Director of Standards Division discusses his career in agriculture


two thermometers, one Farenheit and one Celcius, showing the boiling and freezing temperatures
Credit: NBC

Why does the US use Fahrenheit instead of Celsius? NBC (English Language) and Telemundo (Spanish Language)

NBC’s Miguel Estrada discusses United States temperature scale use with Elizabeth Benham, NIST Metric Program and Don Hillger, US Metric Association President.
August 14, 2023


NASDA Logo

 Protecting Consumers Behind the Scenes: North Carolina Director of Standards Division Discusses His Career in Agriculture

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)
By: Sarah Grace Fowler
August 23, 2023


Measuring stick and metal weights
Credit: Shutterstock/fishman64

Grocery checkout scales, gas pumps tested for accuracy

Consumer 10 News (Columbus, OH)
Highlighting: Nick Griner, Columbus Weights and Measures
March 10, 2023


Gas Station Air Pump
Credit: KOLD News 13

Not getting what you pay for? How to file a complaint

KOLD News 13
By: Rebecca Taylor
February 24, 2023


Man pulling receipt from gas pump
Credit: Shannon Fagan /Getty Images

https://www.farmprogress.com/commentary/state-ag-department-oversees-more-than-crops

Farm Progress
Highlighting: Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division in the Missouri Department of Agriculture
February 22, 2023


A set of small mass standards at the Connecticut Metrology Laboratory sits on display.
Credit: Vincent Gabrielle, CT Insider

CT Laboratory Travels in the Strange World of Weights, Measures, and Standard Peanut Butter

CT Insider
Highlighting: Chris David, Connecticut State Metrologist
January 8, 2023


 Marc Paquette, chief metrologist for the Vermont agriculture agency, says the failure rate of new hydrometers has doubled over the past three years.
Credit: The Maple News

Many Syrup Hydrometers Out of Whack, Officials Say

The Maple News
Highlighting: Marc Paquette, Chief Metrologist for the Vermont Agriculture Agency
January 3, 2023


tanks on the bed of a truck
Credit: Metsa Tanks Inc. via LPGas Magazine

Santa checking receipts
Credit: Shutterstock via County News Center

Tina Butcher speaking
Credit: Fox 13

Why Electric Vehicle Charger Numbers Might Not Add Up

Fox 13
Highlighting: Tina Butcher, NIST OWM 
November 9, 2022


Fuel pump inspection in progress
Credit: Fox 13

Are Utah's Fuel Pumps on the Level?

Fox 13
Highlighting: Utah’s Weights & Measures Office, Miland Kofford
September 21, 2022


Person weighing apples at the grocery store
Credit: TastingTable via Shutterstock

The screen of a gas pump with text below: "is a gallon of gas really a gallon?"
Credit: Kolo 8 News Now

Measurement Standards Verifies a Gallon of Gas Is Really a Gallon

 Kolo 8 News Now:
Highlighting: Nevada Department of Agriculture, James Kellames
August 2, 2022


CNN's Margins of Error Podcast Cover
CNN's Margins of Error Podcast Cover
Credit: CNN

“Why Americans Won’t Give an Inch on Metric”

CNN's Margins of Error Podcast:
Highlighting: Elizabeth Benham, NIST OWM
June 7, 2022


Cover image of the Not Past It Podcast
Credit: Spotify

"Pirates of the Metric System"

Not Past It Podcast: 
Highlighting: Elizabeth Benham, NIST OWM
March 23, 2022

Contacts

Created November 14, 2022, Updated December 4, 2024