SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — While the Common Core education standards provoked political backlash and testing boycotts around the country this year, California was conspicuously absent from the debate. Gov. Jerry Brown and California’s elected K-12 schools chief are united in their support of the embattled benchmarks. The heads of the state’s teachers’ unions, universities and…… MORE
SCOTUS Sides with Fresno Raisin Grower
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a 66-year-old program that lets the government take raisins away from farmers to help reduce supply and boost market prices is unconstitutional. In an 8-1 ruling, the justices said forcing raisin growers to give up part of their annual crop without full payment is an illegal…… MORE
Attorney Says Fresno PD Are “Lax” Enforcing Domestic Violence Law
FRESNO (KMJ) — A Fresno attorney has announced his intention to file federal charges against Fresno Police, alleging city residents are being severely harmed by the lax enforcement of domestic violence laws. Attorney Kevin G. Little describes it as a “systematic problem” within the police department. Two women are listed as the first two names…… MORE
Fresno Co. Unemployment Dips to 9.8%
(KMJ) Fresno County’s jobs picture appears to be improving, albeit slightly. According to the California Employment Development Department, the unemployment rate in Fresno County dropped to 9.8% in May, down from 10.1% in April. As a whole, California’s unemployment rate increased slightly in May to 6.4 percent. It’s the first such bump in nearly five…… MORE
“Sky Fire” Near Oakhurst Continues to Grow
(KMJ) The wildfire burning near Oakhurst and Cedar Valley continues to burn and billow thick smoke into the air. As of Friday morning, the blaze, called the “Sky Fire”, had charred more than 500 acres. Containment is at 15%, according to fire officials. Iveth Hernandez of the U.S. Forest Service said Friday that no homes…… MORE
Too Much Chlorine Hospitalizes 17 Kids
ANTIOCH, Calif. (AP) — About 40 children became ill while swimming at a city-run water park in Antioch after excessive chlorine apparently leaked into the water. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that victims started vomiting and feeling burning in their eyes around 2 p.m. Thursday at the Prewett Water Park. Lifeguards shut down the park…… MORE
California Lures HBO’s Veep from Maryland
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — HBO’s “Veep” is leaving Maryland after four years after the series scored $6.5 million in California film tax credits. HBO announced Thursday that it will move production of the show starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus to southern California. HBO spokeswoman Cecile Cross-Plummer says Maryland has been home to many vital HBO projects, including…… MORE
Illegal Fireworks Raid in Gilroy
GILROY, Calif. (AP) — A Northern California bomb squad uncovered about 100 pounds of explosive powder during an illegal fireworks raid. KNTV reports Friday that the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s bomb squad raided a home in Gilroy late Thursday. They also found equipment to make illegal fireworks. The home is located across the street from…… MORE
Potential Monsanto-Syngenta deal would Prompt Industry Review
The Head of Bayer AG’s CropScience unit told Bloomberg this week, a potential merger of Monsanto and Syngenta would prompt an industry review. Liam Condon said “there’s only six research and development based players in this industry so if the two biggest were to go together, inevitably it would force others to review their strategies.”…… MORE
Local Law Enforcement “Torch Run” for Special Olympics
Members of the California Highway Patrol, Fresno Police Department, Department of Corrections and the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Clovis Police Department, SCCD Police and American Ambulance will hit the pavement on June 20th, to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics and our local athletes. “The Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest single…… MORE
